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Wiggy's Sleeping Bags

Wiggy's Sleeping Bags:

It's not often that I come across a product so exceptional that I feel the need to write about it beyond bare mention. Back in 1993 I was introduced to a sleeping bag design that appeared to be rather revolutionary. I tend to be pretty skeptical about "miracle" products and figured the claims are 10% fact and 90% hyperbole. The bag was being sold through a canoe and kayak store and the purveyor said that this bag would even keep you warm if it was wet--an important feature for those who participate in water sports.

I waited it out to see if he still claimed the same thing the next year and he did. I special ordered a bag, as I'm taller than the average person, and also oversized it in the upper body region for "future growth". (which unfortunately did happen) The manufacturer of the bag, Wiggy's, is a small company in Grand Junction, Colorado and claims a superior product design. As such, the product was priced at a premium compared to other similar products. I spent close to $200 USD for the bag and second guessed that decision for the two month between order date and the first time I used it.

Wiggy's bags are made out of an insulating material called "Lamilite" which has several unique qualities.  To quote from their website: The fiberfill is an unbounded, silicone-coated continuous filament fiber. This is inside and cannot be seen. The silicone coating gives the fiber two very desirable properties. The first is "antistatic" which allows the fibers to perpetually repel each other, regardless of how tightly the fibers are packed against each other (such as compacting in a stuff sack). The loft always returns after removing our sleeping bag from the stuff sack. It is true, I've stored the compressed bag in the stuff sack for years and each time I pull it out it "inflates" back to the normal state. If it doesn't rise, it needs to be washed. 

The water-shedding performance of the bag is incredible. A totally soaked bag is miserable no matter the design and this is no exception. I hate being wet inside a sleeping bag. However, I'm also warm! As long as the bag is allowed to breath it will dry. If you place a survival blanket (aluminum/mylar) over the bag you can get even warmer, but the reflected moisture will quickly soak you in your own sweat. One time I was suffering from a fever and started sweating like crazy. About six hours later I woke up when the fever had broken, and I was laying in a puddle of water. The bag had wicked the moisture to the outside of the bag and drained onto the floor. There were even puddles of water on top of the bag! Inside it was damp, but not wet.

Wiggy's sleeping bags are equipped with YKK #10 zippers. These oversized zippers function perfectly and have never bound, snagged or come apart. The "draft tube" (not a flimsy flap) inside the bag is designed to not get caught in the zipper and naturally positions itself correctly. The mummy hood is easily adjustable and tightened from inside the bag and can close down to just a couple of inches. The ergonomics of the bag are exceptional and the little details make a big difference when trying to get in and out of a sleeping bag in the middle of a dark night or when you needing to get warm in a hurry and your fingers are numb.

The inner lining of the bag is unusual as it is a smooth nylon material that is cold when you first enter the bag. However, in just seconds it becomes warm. It's kinda like jumping into a pool. My wife is entertained everytime I get into the bag as I go "brrrr" and shiver for a second.  But then I'm nice and warm while she's cold in her (non-Wiggy's) bag.  Once in a while I've got to give up my bag so she's warm.  Time to get one for her.

My bag is an oversized "Ultra Light" which comes in just under 4.5 pounds. A standard sized version is about 3.5 pounds. This bag is a +20 degree (F) rated bag and I can attest to it's performance down to this temperature. For warm weather use, this bag is TOO warm. When the temperature is above 50 degrees (F) I don't zip it up or I bring a sheet along and use the bag as either a bed or a blanket. My only complaint with the warmth of the bag is the feet. The "perfect" bag or me would have more insulation in the foot area. It's not that my feet are cold, it's that they are not as warm as the rest of my body which causes me to fixate on the feet. My other complaints have to do with the general shape of mummy bags themselves. The width of the bag for the upper body is fine, but I lack wiggle room at the knees. I'm one of those people that cannot sleep well on my back and mummy bags don't give the ability to move one leg separately from the other and my hips and thighs will cramp. This problem is not the fault of Wiggy's bags, but of mummy bags in general.

The build quality of Wiggy's products are second to none. This company not only has superior insulation, but it's backed up with a manufacturing method and an attention to detail I've rarely seen. They have a lifetime guarantee on their products. From their website: WIGGY'S GUARANTEE: Our Guarantee is for a lifetime of use. If a seam opens, the zipper breaks or the Lamilite insulation deteriorates (such as losing its loft or separating, clumping in one place or another), Wiggy's will repair or replace your bag at no charge to you.

I've had my bag for 10 years now and have used it on numerous trips and outings. It is as good today as it was the first trip I took with it. Will I purchase another?  Probably not--no reason to, but for my wife, yes. I've gone through five different tents, multiple sleeping mats, several hiking boots, and a multitude of other camping gear, but I'm still on my first Wiggy's bag. Maybe if I got into Artic expeditions I'd get one of the warmer bags.

Wiggy's manufacturers many cold-weather sleeping bags, survival bags and outer-wear. I've got my eyes on their Antarctic Parka, but at $350 (USD) it's a purchase made because I need it, not just because I want it.  It DOES get cold in Iowa, though. The other product which is nearly perfect for the outdoor photographer is the Renegade hybrid mitten/glove.

If this sounds like a sales pitch for Wiggy's, well, I'll admit that I'm taken by their products. I wouldn't recommend ANY other sleeping bag. You won't find their products sold "front and center" in your average sporting goods stores. Companies, such as North Face back their products with aggressive marketing campaigns which the stores lean on to make the bulk sales. I've only seen Wiggy's products sold through specialty outfitters and directly from the company. Wiggy's products are "best of breed" and will not disappoint. It is also the only company constructing sleeping bags in the USA. Click on the link below for the Wiggy's website.

Contact information for Wiggy's:

  1-800-748-1827

  Wiggy's Inc.
  PO Box 2124
  Grand Junction, CO 81505

  www.wiggys.com