In a sense, it's more comfortable than down!? Gruezi Biopod DownWool, a cutting-edge sleeping bag made from Germany (down + wool), has finally arrived in Japan [Hurry to Makuake]

When it comes to comfortable sleeping bags (sleeping bags/sleeping bags) to use in the mountains, down (feathers) is the first thing that comes to mind.

It is true that if you consider the high insulation per weight (in other words, lightness and heat retention), there is rarely a padding material on the planet that is better than down. Just stop here and think about it. I wonder if "light and warm" is the factor that determines the comfort of a sleeping bag, only in a certain "ideal environment."

The new German sleeping gear brand Grüezi bag "invented" is a sleeping bag made from the new eco-friendly padding material "DownWool" that overcomes the weaknesses that are often overlooked by down and in a sense, it aims to "have a more reliable and comfortable sleeping experience than down."

A few years ago, they learned about its existence at the outdoor exhibition "ISPO" in Munich, Germany, and were steadily watching whether to come to Japan, but this season they were finally imported and sold by Evernew. is currently offering advance discount sales on the cloud fadig site "Makuake.com" (July 1, 2021)

So I immediately borrowed a sample from Evernew and slept in this sleeping bag several times, and literally experienced the comfort. I would like to immediately write about the capabilities of this sleeping bag that I learned about, and the completely new comfort that I have never experienced before.

Features of Gruezi Biopod DownWool

The items I borrowed in this sample this time are items sold by the Makuake project (DownWool Subzero / DownWool Summer / Feater), but to avoid duplication, we generally review "DownWool Subzero" unless otherwise specified.

Recommended points

• Even in harsh environments, it's not too hot or too cold. Practical comfort with a healthy sleeping experience
• The strength of wool to moisture reduces stuffiness in the sleeping bag
• Curved zipper line that makes it easy to stick out
• Pocket for small items
• Environmentally conscious specifications with less use of synthetic materials

Points that interest me

• It's a little heavier and bulkier than down
• Currently, only 175cm sizes are sold in Japan.
• expensive

Main Specifications and ratings

"DownWool" is an innovative synthetic padding born from overcoming Down's hidden weaknesses.

The high-end padding material "DownWool" developed by Gruetzi is a synthetic padding made from a blend of natural materials, both of which are 70% duck down and 30% wool.

Why is this a blend? The birth of this new fill was an ambitious plan to fundamentally solve the "moisture" problem that poses in the "100% down" sleeping bags, commonly considered the most comfortable sleeping bag.

The down combines excellent insulation and light weight. However, down is not good at dealing with moisture, and unfortunately its ability cannot be demonstrated unless it is low in humidity or dry conditions. In an environment where humidity is high due to various factors, such as wet and humid environments, condensation inside the tent, sweat and water vapor emitted by humans, the heat retention effect of down can be significantly reduced.

Therefore, synthetic fiber padding and water-repellent down (water-repellent down) are currently available as realistic alternatives to fillings that are resistant to wet and moisture. However, synthetic fibers are much heavier and bulkier than down, and when considering the longevity of water-repellent down, it cannot be said that it is a permanent solution at this time.

DownWool's mechanism that compensates for each other's weaknesses and makes use of their strengths

While overcoming the weaknesses of downs, we will not destroy the strengths of downs, and we will solve them by "environmentally-conscious and sustainable means." The conclusion that a small German outdoor bedding brand came to was the combination of "down + wool."

One of the many features of wool is that it provides heat insulation and "can store moisture inside the fibers." With padding, where down and wool coexist, when moisture fills the baffle, the wool absorbs them like some natural dehumidifier and works to keep the humidity low. In other words, by taking over the moisture disposal process, which is not good at down, the down can be kept dry and maintain 100% insulation performance at all times.

It's easy to put into words, but it's not easy to understand the techniques of combining down and wool fibers without separating them, or to know the best combination of down and wool. The ratio of "down: wool = 7:3" was also derived from repeated field tests and experiments, and is said to be the best balance between insulation, humidity treatment, and weight.

In fact, what's "comfortable"?

After much trial and error, Gruetzi has come up with a unique combination of DownWool, achieving optimal insulation and a perfectly dry sleep environment without adding much weight. Needless to say, your sleep environment has a major impact on the quality of your sleep. So, to see how the actual sleeping comfort differed, I borrowed a sample and then in a tent overnight, then aired the bedroom overnight, or turned off the air conditioning, so I slept in a variety of temperature and humidity environments.

And what I understand is, in a nutshell, the comfort of the Biopod DownWool subzero 175

It's a strange feeling that "it relieves the discomfort of hot, cold, and difficult to sleep in extreme situations that have been felt in the past." In other words,

It could be said that "it ranges from a wider range than down and provides a stable and comfortable sleeping experience in any situation."

From here on, my impressions are just that the temperature is in the middle of the temperature range (low humidity), and when you start to sleep, it is not particularly different to 100% down, as the sleeping comfort is not particularly different. It's a shame that the down used in this product itself is over 650 fill power, and is not extremely bulky *but the warmth and texture of the high-quality down was completely unchanged just because it was blended with wool. The fine nylon texture is also comfortable, almost the same as sleeping on a sleeping bag made of 100% down.

*The manufacturers place the most importance on "balancing environmental impact and technical performance" rather than high specs. Not only is it a renewable natural material, but I don't think this is unrelated to this policy of using only ingredients produced in the right way from animals raised in strict animal protection standards, such as mulesing-free wool and RDS certified down.

However, as the inside of the sleeping bag was warming up and I felt that my body was starting to sweat a little, my experience is that in the case of down, the sweat won't go away and the inside becomes stuffy and uncomfortable to sleep, but with DownWool, he stays persistent just before it becomes difficult to sleep. It gives the impression that the interior of the sleeping bag will last longer.

Down is a lovable, relentless type that can always be thought of insulation in any environment, but the wool gently supports its recklessness, reducing the stuffiness that causes difficulty sleeping, and fills the inside of the sleeping bag with mild warmth. Such an exquisite combination is very impressive.

Also, although it cannot be used in extremely cold conditions, it was quite satisfying to sleep in cold conditions. In the end, wool controls the humidity regardless of whether the temperature is high or low, so unless it is in extreme circumstances, the down can always act according to its ability, providing stable and comfortable throughout the temperature range . The chamber structure (subzero only) is also evident in its accuracy, making it difficult for the loft to be biased even with few partitions and prevents cold spots from appearing.

I thought that the high functionality that creates overall comfort would essentially make you feel more comfortable than down, in the sense that it can provide insulation performance without being affected by the environment, compared to down, which has unstable insulation performance in some environments.

Incidentally, it seems that only 175cm models are imported to Japan this time, but for me, I was able to use them in the perfect size. However, it must be said that this is a shame for larger people.

What is the weight and compactness of the product you are concerned about?

the Biopod DownWool subzero 175 weighs approximately 850g , and while it is not particularly lighter than the 100% down sleeping bag, which has the same level of warmth, it is not particularly heavy either.

It's not easy to compare because each company has different heights and temperature ranges, but for example, NANGA 's water-repellent down model UDD BAG 450DX (comfortable 1℃ to lower limit -4℃, 178cm) weighs approximately 825g, while NEMO's synthetic sleeping bag FORTE™35 (lower limit -1℃, 183cm) weighs 960g. Of course, I think this is a difference that cannot be ignored for people who are even slightly concerned about weight, but looking at the standard models of each company, it is not a noticeable difference.

Similarly, the volume (compactness) when stored is the most compact down <DownWool <Synthetic fiber. It can be compressed quite compactly thanks to the included stuff sack with drawcords and compression straps.

From left, Nalgen bottle (1L), inner sheet Feater, Biopod DownWool Summer 175, Biopod DownWool Subzero 175

It's definitely smaller than the average 3-season synthetic sleeping bag, and can be said to be about the same size as a winter feather sleeping bag.

We also take great care of the smallest parts that are important for a comfortable sleep.

His commitment to true comfort without simply relying on materials or gimmicks is clearly reflected in the details.

The main zipper follows the side of the sleeping bag, while creating a unique curved line that curves towards your feet (photo below). Incidentally, the whiteness of the zipper should be made easier to see in a tent in the dark.

If you feel a little hot, you can open the double zipper at the bottom edge while still holding your upper body tight, and only your feet can be exposed (photo below).

The zipper is a large YKK zipper that is used in many high-quality sleeping bags and is difficult to bite into the fabric. What's more, it was surprisingly light and smooth (photo below).

The feet are prone to chills, and have a three-dimensional shape to prevent excess gaps (photo below 1, subzero only). The hood and neck area can be fitted with drawstrings to fit the size of the head, making it extremely less likely to feel chills (photo 2 below). In addition, face baffles, neck baffles (subzero only), and zipper baffles are firmly placed around the face, which is prone to heat loss, and on the back of the zipper (photo 3 and ④ below), blocking out cold air and keeping warmth in place to the skin.

There is even a pillow pocket on the back of the head that can be used as a pillow by stuffing a fleece jacket or something similar (photo below). I usually use stuffed stuff sacks filled with clothes, but I'm grateful that this one always stays behind my head without slipping.

There is a zipper pocket on the outside chest and a velcro pocket on the inside, allowing you to store your headlamp or smartphone (photo below).

There is also an attachment that allows you to set the optional electric heated inner sheet "Feater" without slipping (photo below).

Summary: Non-pretend comfort, practicality and sustainability are the most future sleeping bags in the future

It is a sleeping bag that is not updated very frequently worldwide, and it was one of the most memorable sleeping bags I've come across in recent years. It would not be surprising at all if a sleeping bag with the same concept was released by a major manufacturer any time soon. That's how it was a sleeping bag that was made based on a solid vision and technology, and gave us a sense of overall high quality. It is well-known that it has received the OutDoor INDUSTRY AWARD 2017 one of Europe's most prestigious outdoor awards

It will be imported and sold in Japan through Evernew from now on. For pre-discount sales at Makuake, which is being held until July 11th, 2021 (closed soon!) the Subzero the Summer which can accommodate the lower limit of 3°C the Feater , a mobile battery heat-generating booster that can be attached to both models and can be used alone (this inner sheet seems quite convenient). Prices are one of the problems with this product, so why not take this opportunity to find it at a lower price?

Go to Evernew's official brand page

   

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