Functional Design Sweetie Pie Bag Expander Review

Overview

For a family backpacking with a toddler, the options for sleeping bag setups are very limited. Most sleeping bags available for smaller children are more suited for slumber parties than real outdoor pursuits. Enter the Sweetie Pie Bag Expander by Functional Design.

The Expander zips into an existing sleeping bag. One Expander, by itself, widens the top of the bag by 28 inches, allowing for plenty of space for a parent and child to cuddle. By zipping two Expanders together, you get the equivalent of a Sweetie Pie Doubler, or almost 60 additional inches across the top of the sleeping bag. This allows enough room for two adults AND a toddler. The pair of Expanders can also be zipped together on both sides to make a toddler-sized sleeping bag.

We used two Sweetie Pie Expanders together with one bag on several family backpacking trips. The bag has plenty of space for all three of us to sleep comfortably, with even a little extra to move around some. (Disclaimer: Our son, Porter, has slept on my arm, by my side, since the day he was born. Others not used to a "family bed" may experience different results.) The two layers of Polarguard 3D in the three-season Expanders were warm enough for three-season usage, but almost too warm with all the extra body heat during summer trips. Luckily, the zipper options on the Sweetie Pie allow for venting at either feet or shoulders.

In breezy conditions, the Expanders are not quite as comfortable. They do not have a mechanism such as drawstring, Velcro, tonsil, or a draft tube to close of the top edge of the sleeping bag. Any wind that enters the tent enters the bag. In a tent that could be sealed to the ground on both ends, this problem could be somewhat mitigated, but drafts are a serious consideration for tarp and tarp tent users. This gap also makes it difficult to hold in heat.

My other issue with the design of the Sweetie Pie is the choice of materials. I wish there were an option for a down-insulated version or lighter weight fabrics. The overall purpose of the Sweetie Pie system is to leave a sleeping bag (or with a child, two) at home. Two Expanders and even a Doubler by itself weigh the same or more as many three-season down bags, and only compress to the size of a large sleeping bag. The use of down or lighter synthetics as insulation would solve both problems. That said, these materials would surely add to the quite reasonable $59.00 price of the Expander.

Overall, the Sweetie Pie Sleeping Bag Expander system is a great choice for keeping a family together in wilderness. With some updated, lighter weight materials to go along with the inventive, versatile design, Functional Designs would have a definite winner.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Functional Design
• Year/Model: 2007 Sweetie Pie Bag Expander
• Materials: 50 denier ripstop nylon
• Insulation: Polarguard 3D
• Features: Draft tubes along zipper, double layer insulation with offset stitching, full-length 70" YKK #8 separating coil zipper
• Weight: measured 18.7 oz (530 g), manufacturer specification 19 oz (539 g)
• MSRP: $59.00 US each, or two for $99.00 US