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We tested the brand's Downclime Sleep System to find out whether or not it's the next big thing. Camping Cot
The outdoor industry isn’t lacking for innovations in sleep systems, but this one from Eddie Bauer pushes the boundaries further than most. Part sleeping bag, part jacket, this modular system enables backcountry explorers and car campers to bring a lighter-weight, higher-fill-power sleeping bag into the great outdoors without weighing their kit down.
This is special for a couple reasons. The bottom bag-like portion is easily compressible and packable, saving space in your pack. You might already have a Downclime Alpine Parka in your closet, saving you money. Indeed, technically, this sleeping bag game changer can zip into any jacket with the same size zipper teeth, so check the lower against your existing parka before you buy the Alpine Parka.
This bag/jacket combo is comfortable, packable, lightweight and crazy warm. While it’s probably too warm for anything other than alpine camping, it’s so convenient to have your arms free (and warm) that you’ll probably try wearing it anywhere you can. It’s not perfect — it’s really long, so it doesn’t fit shorter explorers as well — but overall, Eddie Bauer achieved what it set out to do: revolutionize how campers sleep.
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Sleepwear with “alpine” in the name better be toasty, and Eddie Bauer’s Downclime Alpine Jacket lives up to the hype. It’s supremely warm, thanks to its high-loft, premium 800-fill-power down and strategically placed synthetic insulation to eliminate cold spots; it’s also very durable, thanks to its 30-denier ripstop nylon shell. The sleeping bag portion — I fondly refer to it as my “mermaid tail” — is a continuation of that power: It’s filled with 800-fill-power premium lightweight down insulation and wrapped in rugged-yet-refined fabric.
The down jacket portion of this puzzle is true to size, but the sleeping bag insert is long. I wear an XS in all clothing and my inseam is 29 inches, so I ordered a S/M … and I was drowning in the bottom portion of the sleep system. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re in warmer alpine temps or you’re an active sleeper, but if you’re relying on this to keep you warm in the coldest environments, be aware that there are air pockets for smaller sleepers.
Eddie Bauer changed the sleeping (and packing) game when it introduced the Downclime Sleep System. By halving the bulk of the sleeping bag, packing becomes twice as easy. I could stuff my sleeping bag into my pack no problem, and while wearing my jacket while on the move proved too warm for warmer climes, in colder temps it stayed out of my pack (saving room) and on my body (keeping me warm).
Dog Car Carrier A version of this story first appeared in Gear Patrol Magazine. Learn More.