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www.phdesigns.co.uk
  • Products
      • New Range of Synthetic-insulated Jackets & Vests
      • A New Generation of Ultralight Down Tops
      • Sleeping Bags
        • Main Sleeping Bags
        • Overbags & Filler Bags
        • Down Quilts
        • Design Your Own
        • Half bags
        • Bivouac Sleeping Bags
        • Sleeping Bag Extras
      • Insulated Clothing
        • Jackets and Pullovers
        • Vests
        • Trousers and Salopettes
        • Down Suits
        • Ventile Down Jackets
        • Film and Photography
      • Shells & Midlayers
        • Shells and Waterproofs
        • Midlayers
      • Custom
        • Custom sized clothing
        • Customized sleeping bags
        • Mountain Guides & Rescue Teams
      • Accessories
        • Insulated Mitts
        • Insulated Socks
        • Hats and Balaclavas
        • Stuff Sacs
      • Special offers
        • Summer Lightning 2025. For June only
        • Bargain Box
      • Ready madeships in 5 days
      • Repairs & alterations
      • Gift Vouchers
      New Range of
      Synthetic-insulated
      Jackets & Vests
      Comfort-focused bags.
      Ultralight & roomy
      Denali Down Jacket & Trousers
      Incredibly light for −38°C
      Our lightest-ever down sleeping bags & down vest.
      June only
  • Explore PHD
    • WHO WE ARE
      Experience
      Decades at the cutting edge: a 60 year heritage of British craftsmanship
      Innovation
      Revolutionary down suits, modular sleep systems, the very lightest gear: innovation lies at the heart of everything we do
      Customisation
      Handmade gear that’s as unique as you are: from custom sized clothing to Design Your Own sleeping bags
      The Lowdown
      Extraordinary stories and technical knowhow
      Jo Bradshaw: Her 17 year, 7 Summit Quest
      The Seven Summits: the highest peaks on each continent. Just a few hundred people have climbed all of them and, of those, just 9 British women had managed it. Until now. This month, with her success on Puncak Jaya / Carstensz Pyramid, Jo Bradshaw became the 10th.
      Seven Summits Sea-to-Sea
      Madalin 'Cris' Cristea is aiming to become the first person to climb the Seven Summits from sea level and back to sea level. Climbing every single meter, up and down.
      Jonny Huntington's Record-breaking Polar Expedition

      38-year-old stroke survivor Jonny Huntington has become the first disabled person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole.

      more posts
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      Stay up-to-date with our news—including on sales and special offers.
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  • Advice
    • Gear adviser
      Gear Advice for Kilimanjaro
      ALL DESTINATIONS
      Tell us where you're heading, we'll tell you what to take
      Race calendar
      Kit me out for the Fire and Ice Ultra
      All races
      From desert races to mountain marathons: our kit picks
      Sleep systems
      Sleep Systems for Everest
      ALL SLEEP SYSTEMS
      Optimised layering: maximum versatility; minimum weight.
      Technical briefings
      Briefing of the month: Down vs. Synthetic Insulation
      ALL BRIEFINGS
      Temperature ratings explained, caring for your gear…all the info you could possibly need!
      Other advice
      • Contact Us
      • Ordering & Payment
      • FAQs
      • A Guide to PHD's sizes
      • Customer Loyalty Scheme
      • Postage & Delivery
      • Guarantee and returns
  • My Account
  • Technical Briefings

Technical Briefings

Choosing the right gear requires more than a little knowledge about the raw materials and techniques used in their manufacture. In this section you can find out some of the trade secrets.
Down
What is Down? Down Quality Testing Down Quality: Fillpower Testing Down Quality: Down % PHD's Down Down Gear in use Cleaning Down Sleeping Bags & Clothing Down vs. Synthetic Insulation
Sleeping bags
Sleeping Bag Construction Getting the best from your Sleeping Bag Design Your Own Sleeping Bag The Truth about Sleeping Bags Vapour Barrier Liners Waterproofing Sleeping Bags Sleeping bag zips
PHD's Materials
Fabrics Zips Synthetic Insulation and Fleece Down Caring for waterproof fabrics
Temperature
Temperature Ratings Windchill
One Piece Suits
Toilet access Down Suits vs. Down Jacket and Salopettes
Ultralight Gear
Ultralight Gear
Contact
Peter Hutchinson Designs
PO Box 278, Dacre Banks
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG3 4WA
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1423 711212
Our office is open Mo, Tu, We (9:00 AM-3:00 PM)
office@phdesigns.co.uk
© 2025 Peter Hutchinson Designs
Products
  • Sleeping Bags
  • Insulated Clothing
  • Shells & Midlayers
  • Insulated Mitts
  • Insulated Socks
  • Hats and Balaclavas
  • Ready madeships in 5 days
  • Custom size your clothing
  • Customize your sleeping bag
  • Ventile Down Jackets
  • Film and Photography Clothing
  • Gift Vouchers
  • Mountain Guides & Rescue Teams
  • Bargain Box
  • Repairs & alterations
Explore PHD
  • Who we are
  • Company Ethics
  • The Lowdown

Extraordinary stories and technical knowhow

facebook twitter instagram youtube
Sign up for our newsletter
Stay up-to-date with our news—including on sales and special offers.
Advice
  • Gear Adviser Tell us where you're heading, we'll tell you what to take
  • Race Calendar From desert races to mountain marathons, our kit picks.
  • Sleep Systems Optimised layering: maximum versatility; minimum weight
  • Technical Briefings
  • Ordering & Payment
  • FAQs
  • A Guide to PHD's sizes
  • Customer Loyalty Scheme
  • Postage & Delivery
  • Guarantee and returns
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy