| EN Testing |
| EN, short for European Norm, is a government test for
sleeping bags. |
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| How is EN Testing conducted? |
| First let's be clear that it is challenging to test temp
ratings because there are so many variables. Every person will sleep differently
in the same bag. Choices like clothing, sleeping pad, tent or no tent,
and eating and drinking before bed can all affect one's sleeping experience.
For the EN test, a copper mannequin named Charlie is fitted with 20 sensors
and a clothing layer (top, bottom, and socks) that provides a consistent
thermal value. The mannequin is placed in the sleeping bag and put onto
a wood platform roughly 12mm thick. The board is held above the floor with
some support which allows air circulation under the board. The board is
covered with a mattress that has a consistent thermal value then placed
in a cold room. A mathematical formula is used to measure the data received
from the sensors based on human modeling. |
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| How does EN testing differ from other methods, and is
it better? |
| When Marmot first started testing bags, especially when we used Gore-Tex® fabric, our designers would go into meat lockers and sleep over night. Once they were able to sleep through the night they looked at the amount of fill to determine the temp range. Nowadays it is a bit more scientific. The testing method used in the US is very similar to the EN test. They use a copper mannequin, but the clothing, pad, and math formula are different. Again we feel the EN test is the most reliable and accurate measure of the performance of a sleeping bag currently available. |
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| Has the feedback from the EN testing improved the designs of Marmot bags? |
| Yes it has. The vast majority of our bags have tested to our current temp ratings. In some cases, the tests showed our bags were actually warmer than the rating we gave it. In another instance, there was a spot that showed room for improvement which led to more efficient baffle construction. With our baseline testing started in 2004, we can now measure improvement over time through new fabrics, insulation, and construction techniques. |
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| Will the EN test become an industry wide standard? |
| That is unknown. Currently our industry can’t agree
on how the testing should be done because of all the variables. The European
government has stepped in and taken control of standardized testing. For
the meantime, Marmot will continue to test with the EN standard. |
