November 2001

Cortland's Pneugear Scores a Triple Play

Cortland's Pneugear, maker of the world's ultimate sleeping bag, has scored a perfect triple play with featured picks in the annual buyer's guides of three leading publications: Wired Magazine, Outside Magazine, and an upcoming edition of Backpacker Magazine. The new international press follows a May 2001 profile in National Geographic Adventurer, and a recent feature in BMW Owners' News, a publication for BMW motorcycle association members who average 10,000 miles per year in long-distance touring.

The December 2001 edition of Wired, the ultrahip magazine that covers people, companies, technologies and ideas that are transforming the world, featured Pneugear's Cocoon4 sleeping bag system in its annual "Wired Tools: Guide to the Ultimate Gear." Wired enthused about a new children's model, "Tell your little adventurers what Iditarod survivors already know: The Cocoon4 won't leave them cold." That's because Pneugear's revolutionary technology ensures that Cocoon4 users will stay warm in temperatures to 45 below. Pneugear was in good company in Wired's annual guide, which features the latest technology developments for home, work and beyond -- along with other standouts like a personal hovercraft and a street luge.

Earlier this year, the Cocoon4 Extreme was picked for Outside Magazine's annual Buyer's Guide. The magazine, which is designed for outdoor recreationists and travel enthusiasts, raved about the Cocoon4 Extreme which features a self contained bag, pad and tent, is virtually indestructible, completely waterproof, lightweight, and provides utter comfort down to 55 degrees below. In early 2002, Pneugear is set for yet another profile in Backpacker Magazine's annual buying guide, in an issue that will feature articles on wilderness travel and resources for packing enthusiasts, along with a gear finder.

Pneugear President Russ Darr says that the international media attention is exciting, reflecting the "calibre-making strides" that have been the company's hallmark since it was formed in Cortland in 1999. "It's also exciting for this region to know that there are homegrown, state-of-the-art technologies being generated here that are getting noticed around the world." Moreover, in a world where most outdoor products are being made overseas, it's impressive that a US product has achieved such a niche.

Russ and a small group of investors incorporated Pneugear two years ago, developing the next generation of a sleeping bag system that utilizes air pressure to control the loft of 650 fill, premium goose down insulation. The combination of an inflated air cushion, goose down fill, 200 Denier Nylon fabric strengthened with a triple urethane coating and an advanced valve system that makes for rapid and simple deployment, has produced a combination that has been hailed as the "world's best four season sleeping system."

Pneugear's Cocoon4 has taken off, largely through Internet sales, and has been used from Mt. Everest to the Arctic, the Amazon and the Ganges. It's been the choice of participants in the Iditarod, and customer groups include camping and hiking enthusiasts, expedition outfitters, rescue services, hunters' associations and armed services worldwide. In fact, Neil Webster, president of the Alaska Professional Hunters Association, recently wrote the company to tell how the Cocoon4 helped quickly revive him from acute hypothermia after he fell through the shore of a frozen snow covered lake in the remote mountain wilderness near Aniak, Alaska. Pneugear's website is filled with similar testimonials, from Iditarod contestants to just ordinary folks who will never climb Mt. Kilimanjaro or trek through Nepal, but love a good outdoor adventure.

The Cocoon product line is a marvel of both technology and design. In short, it works great and looks cool. Uninflated, it's a down bag, but by manipulating the air content, the user can make it as "snug as a brandy flask stopper" according to Outside Buyer's Guide, providing insulation to weather any temperature extreme. It comes in eight vibrant standard colors, as well as black, and virtually any color can be accommodated as an option. "Directly involving the customer in the selection process is very effective, " notes Russ. "Getting input for color preference, accessories and options makes the process more personal, creates value-added and justifies the cost of about $1,500 per system."

This is a product for people who are serious about camping and hiking. "In 30 years of testing, we have never seen anything like it," adds Ralph Goodman, who chaired the committee that tests sleeping bags for all NATO countries. "This is the best sleeping bag in the world." Dwight Schuh, an editor for Sports Afield Magazine, agrees. "The Cocoon4 may be the ultimate ..."

For more information on Pneugear:
http://www.pneugear.com
http://www.bestsleepingbag.com
(607) 758-1181