Kings Mountain, NC – June 21, 2021 – Appalachian Gear Company is committed to giving customers the best night of sleep possible on the trail. The outdoor lifestyle brand is proud to announce a revolutionary new sleeping bag featuring its All-Paca™ fabric. The highly water resistant, highly breathable Ugly Bag is the first-ever sleeping bag using high-performance 100% alpaca fleece for insulation.
The patent pending Ugly Bag is a logical evolution for Appalachian Gear Company, which has always been committed to creating more sustainable options in performance gear. This innovative sleep system provides a high-functioning and eco-friendly alternative to down insulation. All-Paca Fleece is naturally insulating without having to rely on loft and insulates even when wet. All-Paca also offers unmatched moisture management, breathability, and odor control. The Bag’s shell is constructed from soft-structure Tyvek, a spun-bonded high-density polyethylene fabric that is highly water resistant and extremely abrasion-resistant without sacrificing breathability.
The bag features a zipperless, hoodless construction with elastic at the opening and chest for a comfortable, expandable fit. A unique “turtleneck” feature at the opening provides an extra length of All-Paca fabric that can be tucked inside for additional core warmth, bunched around the neck like a baffle, or pulled completely over the head like a hood. The Ugly Bag can be used on its own or as an overbag with a standard mummy and is suitable to a 30°F range (when used in a tent with the proper base layers). When paired as a system with the award-winning All-Paca Sleeping Bag Liner, it is suitable to a 10-15°F range. The Ugly Bag weighs approximately 2lbs. 8oz. and compresses to a compact size of approximately 10” x 7”.
“The Ugly Bag is the first high-functioning alternative to everything else out there in decades,” says John Gage, Co-founder of Appalachian Gear Company. “It’s a no-brainer for anyone looking for a more sustainable option than down, which can fail as soon as it gets wet and relies on loft to actually keep you warm. In addition, the shell we’re using is much less prone to abrasive breakdown than other synthetics out there, meaning it’s significantly less likely to contribute to microplastic pollution. It’s not the prettiest option, but we think people care more about performance and sustainability than vanity when it comes to their outdoor gear.”
“This bag was my home from February until September last year. I used it in every type of weather over a 4,000-mile adventure—from the snow of the Smoky Mountains to the dry desert of New Mexico, and in high altitudes from Colorado to the Wind River Range of Wyoming,” says Thru-Hiking Triple Crowner and Appalachian Gear Company Athlete Ben Vaughan. “It is lightweight, waterproof, and extremely comfortable, and since it has alpaca fiber on the inside, it’s almost odorless—very important for a thru-hiker! It is unlike any bag on the market.”
The Ugly Bag is available now at appalachiangearcompany.com with an MSRP of $285. For more information, contact Suzanne Hermann at suzanne@darbycommunications.com.
