Why We Chose It: DownWool insulation, cosy construction, RDS and OEKO-TEX certified
Though relatively new to the outdoor scene, we’ve had our eyes on Gruezi ever since they came up with the amazingly unique form of insulation that is DownWool. It’s essentially an insulating blend of down and wool that’s built specifically for outdoor sleep systems. Simple, yet incredibly effective.
Whilst in previous years we’ve looked at their more classic styles of sleeping bags, such as the DownWool Ice 185, this year we’ve gone for the Biopod DownWool Quilt to shake things up a bit. Aside from making for an – arguably – comfier night’s sleep thanks to the freeing build, it’s also a much lighter bag, at a better price point. There’s quite a few new features here too that are sure to come in handy on your next adventure.
What Is the Biopod DownWool Quilt Best Suited To?
The Biopod Quilt is rated as a three-season quilt, though Gruezi recommends using it more in the late spring up until the early autumn as it’s not closed all around. In this sense, it’s also more ideal for wriggly sleepers who prefer a less restrictive option than the likes of a mummy-style sleeping bag.
In terms of activities, Gruezi suggests the DownWool Quilt for things like lightweight trekking and last-minute camping trips, as well as hammock sleeping in the midst of summer.
Eco Credentials
Aside from the unique insulation that DownWool provides, it’s crucially also a natural form of insulation that reduces our dependence on synthetic materials. More specifically, it’s a blend of 70% RDS-certified down and 30% wool from the Alpine region, otherwise known as Almwolle (wool of mountainsheeps).The former provides the warmth, whilst the latter gives you a solid amount of breathability to keep the down nice and dry.
This is also handy because down actually only works as an insulator as long as it remains dry and fluffy. Whilst some products rely on chemically harmful water-repellent agents to combat this, DownWool forgoes this problem by using PFC-free water-repellant impregnation (Bionic-Finish Eco with Ruco-Dry Eco Plus), and wool that’s naturally water repellant. Two thumbs up then in terms of eco credentials and effective thermo-regulation.
As a side note, the RDS (Responsible Down Standard) is important here because it ensures that the down and feathers used in production come from animals that have been treated as fairly and compassionately as possible. Specifically, this means that force-feeding and live plucking is prohibited, and that the full supply chain is evaluated from the farm to the final product.
