A small detail makes such a difference!

I'm constantly thinking about how I can improve a sleeping bag or other products. It should always make sense, not be gimmicky.

Today I'll tell you what I was thinking about when designing the Grüezi bag zipper.

Don't you also know the problem of your feet being either too warm or too cold? I initially designed and produced a sleeping bag with a zipper that went all the way down. But then I realized that zippers never seal properly and create cold spots. So it was clear to me that the footwell had to stay closed.

On the way to the current solution, the zipper was on the side of the sleeping bag, but it didn't go all the way down. The problem with this was that if I got too warm, I had to stick my feet out into the dirt on the side.

Then I came up with the idea for our innovative zipper design. With the zipper running all the way around the bottom of the sleeping bag, I can easily stick my feet out when it's warm, yet still have a closed footwell when it gets cooler. The clever thing about it is that you no longer have to put your feet in the dirt.

So I got to work and sewed the sleeping bag. There was another great side effect: It's now even easier to get into. 

To make the zipper easier to find in the dark, I made it out of white, dirt-resistant material. This has often made it easier for me to get in after dark.

But I still wasn't completely satisfied. Everyone knows that feeling: the zipper would occasionally jam when opening and closing... But I was able to solve that, too. I installed a zipper retention tape inside, and the zipper itself got an upgrade. A roughly 2cm thick attachment that, firstly, holds the fabric in place and, secondly, makes it run super smoothly. This expensive but super-functional YKK zipper perfectly rounded it all off.

Now everything fit.

It's often the details that make a great product.

Best regards, Markus