La Fayette

The "La Fayette", introduced in the Valandré range in 2000, was the pioneer of the Tubular Bell second generation technology. The idea behind the design was to design an ultra-light bag with maximum performance in extreme conditions. The active involvement of Valandré in high-altitude expeditions naturally meant that the interior volume had to be suitable for use with the Combi.

To increase comfort, the zipper has been placed in the centre, which is in line with the most effective position when "it's really freezing" and you want to keep your lungs and heart off the cold ground by positioning yourself sideways. To improve the thermal insulation of this zip 2 strips of perfectly compressed Velcro create a barrier to reduce cold spots to a minimum.

The La Fayette was also the first Valandré bag to introduce a draft collar that doesn't alter its shape even when tightened. Named "Marie-Antoinette" after the historical tool, we promise you that your neck is perfectly held in place without letting heat escape from the inside.

The issue of maximum reduction of airflow inside the bag, which amounts to heat loss from the top, has been improved by the incorporation of a semi-elastic drawstring at the waist. With the cord tight, the accumulated heat on the vital part of the chest is held in place even with body movements, especially useful for using the "30 minutes on the left, 30 minutes on the right" sleeping technique. This survival technique requires fetal positioning, which puts pressure on the knee points with the risk of the down flushing out during the night. To solve this problem, we have developed a system of "kneepads" which simply consists in fixing the down in 3 baffles of reduced size closed laterally and with an increase in the density of the down.

The La Fayette from Valandré is an uncompromisingly light expedition bag, allowing you to tackle the North Face of Everest in alpine style without oxygen; if you are, of course, the German Ralf Dujomovits (XIV 8000) and the Austrian Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner (XIII 8000)!