Wes Boyd wrote: > I recently decided that I needed to break down and get a new sleeping > bag for kayaking; [snip] > > I'm undecided over whether to get a high-end synthetic bag, or a down > bag. I know down goes away and hides when it gets wet, but it packs so > much tighter than synthetic that it should be able to live in a drybag > that will still go down the hatch of the boat. > > On the other hand, a high-end bag out of something like Quallofill will > stay warm to some degree if it gets wet, and will dry more easily than > down, but a Quallofill bag will take a huge drybag, and that drybag will > be a bear in a small hatch. If stuffed (in its own nylon bag) into the bottom (but to one side) of a conventional drybag, you can get pretty good "compression" by stuffing other clothing items (etc.) to the other side of the sleeping bag, and on top of it. The friction of the other goodies will hold the "compression" pretty well. That said, a Quallofill (or similar) bag good to 20 F will still be pretty bulky. Unless your trips include way-under-freezing conditions, I bet most adult males will be comfy in a "35 F" synthetic bag, which is not bulky at all. That has served me well here, with the occasional winter trip thrown in. Others will disagree, but I would never trust a down bag in a marine environment. Aside from the chance of a leak when it's in the yak, there are just too many other ways for it to get wet when camping in wet, temperate climates, sometimes barely above tidewater. I think everyone I know who has paddled multi-day trips for more than 2 - 3 years out here on the West Coast has had his/her gear get thoroughly soaked, one time or another. Then, you're screwed. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Jan 24 1999 - 18:58:14 PST
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