PHD Design Your Own Sleeping Bag

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Off the shelf gear is never perfect, unless you're that mythical "average" size. Even then, there may be features you don't want and ones missing that you would like. Ideally, all gear would be custom made to exact requirements. Of course, you can make it yourself, and many people do this. For most of us, though, this isn't an option, especially with complex items like down sleeping bags. Many companies offer options in length and sometimes width, with a variety of features available. But finding a bag the right size with just the features you want, no more or less, can still be difficult. Enter British company PHD and its Design Your Own Sleeping Bag online program. This offers a huge array of options (at least seventeen, depending on the basic style) and is well-designed and easy to use. The bags use the latest, lightest materials and top quality down.

Using this feature, I designed a bag which PHD then made for me. Below, I describe how the process went, what the resulting bag is like, and how it performs. PHD uses metric measurements throughout, and I have followed this. You will need to be familiar with metric weights and measures to use the facility or else have a calculator handy.

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Viewing 19 posts - 1 through 19 (of 19 total)

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Nov 4, 2008 at 6:55 pm #1231887

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

PHD Design Your Own Sleeping Bag

Nov 4, 2008 at 9:38 pm #1457616

cameron eibl
Member

@cjeibl
Locale: San Diego

a

Nov 5, 2008 at 1:28 am #1457624

Adam Kilpatrick
BPL Member

@oysters
Locale: South Australia

why not go to the PHD website and try it yourself then?

Nov 5, 2008 at 11:41 am #1457684

Adrian B
BPL Member

@adrianb
Locale: Auckland, New Zealand

It's a pity that amongst all the options there isn't a hoodless bag, for use together with a hooded insulated jacket.

Nov 5, 2008 at 2:18 pm #1457703

Lynn Tramper
Member

@retropump
Locale: The Antipodes of La Coruna

>It's a pity that amongst all the options there isn't a hoodless bag, for use together with a hooded insulated jacket.

True, it's not a completely customisable bag design, but I wonder how much extra weight does a hood add? Most of the time I don't even use my hood, but it doesn't get in the way of anything I do in my sleep…Of course, if you REALLY didn't want a hood you could always just cut it off and sew off the seam!

They also don't seem to offer a "topbag" design where the bottom of the bag is just a single layer of fabric with no down insulation. Those are my favourite bags.

I have a PhD Minimus pullover, and can attest to the great craftmanship of these products.

Nov 5, 2008 at 4:40 pm #1457730

David Ure
Member

@familyguy

nm

Nov 5, 2008 at 11:04 pm #1457780

Adam Kilpatrick
BPL Member

@oysters
Locale: South Australia

I reckon if you asked, PHD would do you a custom without a hood. They were willing to modify sizes of bags quite out of what they normally do for me (I asked them directly…I was thinking of getting one of their standard bags in a different size, and they promised to do it for the same price. Then I had to pay my student fees, haha). Making it hoodless would be a piece of cake for them.

Not sure about a top bag though…maybe we need to put the pressure on?

Nov 7, 2008 at 7:34 pm #1458116

Jeff Piper
BPL Member

@jmpiper
Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

How would something like this compare to a comperable Western Mountaineering bag? Seems like the expense, wait (and weight) just don't justify the bag. Any thoughts on this?

Nov 8, 2008 at 10:37 am #1458156

Lynn Tramper
Member

@retropump
Locale: The Antipodes of La Coruna

>How would something like this compare to a comperable Western Mountaineering bag?

If you lived in the UK/Europe, the shipping and duties may be a consideration.

Nov 8, 2008 at 11:08 am #1458160

Ken Helwig
BPL Member

@kennyhel77
Locale: Scotts Valley CA via San Jose, CA

Own three WM bags and will never own anything else. 'Nuff said.

Nov 10, 2008 at 9:17 pm #1458459

Jason Brinkman
BPL Member

@jbrinkmanboi
Locale: Idaho

This is a great concept, and I enjoyed reading about it, but the exchange rate would have to be a LOT better before this would be worthwhile for me. And can't you already get a semi-custom bag from WM or FF?

Nov 11, 2008 at 10:33 am #1458513

Tim Kropf
Member

@tkoutdoor
Locale: Pacific Northwest

>It's a pity that amongst all the options there isn't a hoodless bag, for use together with a hooded insulated jacket.<

It sounds like you're describing a bag that I have already!

I've been very happy with my brief testing of my new Golite Ultra 20. It weighs 19 oz, rated for 20 degrees F. It's a variable girth quilt without a bottom. It has a sewn footbox and a snap for around the neck, but it has no hood like a mummy bag has. The website shows a sleeping pad being inserted inside the bag over the straps to form the bottom, but I've always used it directly over a pad with the pad outside the straps. My testing has only been down to 41 degrees so far and I was toasty in minimal clothing, but I'll get some time to test it in freezing and sub-freezing still this fall. Here's a link: http://www.golite.com/Product/proddetail.aspx?p=SS7500&s=1 The bag was pretty affordable at $225 U.S. as well.

I should be able to couple that with my Western Mountaineering Phantom 32 for some pretty low temps with a combined weight of about 2 lbs 9 oz in a couple of small packages. I'm thinking this way mainly because I already have both of them, I'm sure there's a more efficient system out there.

Nov 17, 2008 at 8:20 am #1459271

Charles Kukla
Member

@charleskukla

I have been using my PHD designed bag for several years and also have the minimus bag.

I designed the bag as a 0F bag and use the Minimus bag as an insert to extend the range to -20F.

The combination allows me to adjust my kit more precisely to the conditions.

The process was a great learning experience for me because it helped me to understand how to put really light kits together to fit the conditions.

The bag I designed is bright yellow which is really nice for early morning winter starts as the tent lights up with my headlamp and the light color allows me to use the bag as a platform to organize my gear. The stuff sack is short with a wide opening so that it fits easily into my backpack. It takes me about 50 seconds to stuff the bag and put it in the backpack.

Other bags I know are also of high quality but in this case I get to choose those design options that are most appropriate for me.

The quality is excellent. Lastly, the fleece products like the Taiga and the balaclava are also well designed and made.

Nov 23, 2008 at 1:58 pm #1460349

Andy Howell
Member

@ecotrend

PHD produce great products. I use the standard range rather than the custom stuff. I guess there reason there is no hoodless version is that P{HD is in Britain. Mostly we need a hood!

Nov 23, 2008 at 2:09 pm #1460350

Diplomatic Mike
Member

@mikefaedundee
Locale: Under a bush in Scotland

I prefer a hoodless quilt myself Andy. I've been using a Nunatak Arc Specialist most of this year. I've e-mailed PHD to see if they will make me one to my specs.

Nov 23, 2008 at 2:55 pm #1460357

Martin Rye
BPL Member

@rye1966
Locale: UK

Mike do you use it inside a bivy bag? Lots folks do and that adds warmth and stops drafts etc. I wonder how warm quilts are in cold weather with out a hood and not used in a bivy bag. On PHD kit. I have a down jacket made by them and can not fault it. I have seen comments on poor finishing and customer service from others in the past. They are pushing the bounds a lot with 900 fill power and designs. PTC on his blog tonight said he has a lot to say about PHD kit from his snowy trip in the hills this weekend. Lets see if he comments here.

Nov 23, 2008 at 3:05 pm #1460361

John Haley
Member

@quoddy
Locale: New York/Vermont Border

From the answers I received from Peter Hutchinson to all the questions I had about modifications it sounded to me as if PHD would modify to just about whatever is wanted.

Nov 23, 2008 at 3:37 pm #1460364

Diplomatic Mike
Member

@mikefaedundee
Locale: Under a bush in Scotland

Hi Martin,
Sometimes i use a bivvy-bag, sometimes i don't. Depends on the conditions, and wether i'm in a tent or a tarp.
Depending on temps, i'll wear a hat or my Nunatak Skaha Plus down pullover. As someone said above, with a seperate hood/hat, you don't end up with a face full of sleeping bag hood when you turn over.
I love the quilt and have been toasty down to about -3C this year in a tent. I think it will do me for a lot lower temps.
I would need more insulation under a tarp, i think. That's why i e-mailed PHD. I would like a warmer quilt, made to my specs. The exchange rate has made it prohibitive to go back to Nunatak at this moment in time! :)

Nov 23, 2008 at 3:44 pm #1460365

Martin Rye
BPL Member

@rye1966
Locale: UK

Sounds a good set up Mike. I wonder if PHD will make them as a stock item? PS check your email and Andy's blog and I think it will clear up that misunderstanding.
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