Re: [Paddlewise] Down VS Synthetic

Hi Jim ,


I think you've introduced a good subject for discussion .

It seems that often the common wisdom these days  is to say that the synthetic
bag is far superior to the down filled bag . Yet there are those who do disagree
.  I attended a siminar given at the East Coast Canoe and Kayak festival this
past April and the guy ( sorry I don't recall his name ) giving the siminar
discussed both types of bags . His credentials , if I recall correctly , were
many years spent mountain climbing and sea kayaking . He said that his personal
choice was the down bag for the following two main reasons , a ) it packs smaller
than a synthetic bag , b ) it is more comfortable over a wider temperature range
than a synthetic  bag .

While he agreed that a down bag is useless if gotten wet he also believed that to
be a non issue .  Being of the firm belief that everyone he knows has always
managed to keep their toilet paper dry on such outings and it is just as easy to
keep your down sleeping bag dry .  He did discuss synthetic bags and thought the
newer synthetic bags are much better than older types because the newer types of
synthetic filler are getting closer to the quality of down  filler . Just not
that close yet . He did not advocate never getting a synthetic bag  saying it was
a personal choice . His main point was that with modern dry bags one should never
have a problem with your bag getting wet and managing that would allow you to use
a down bag if your choose .

For another point of view from the book "Beyond Backpacking " by Ray Jardine . He
states that both a synthetic bag or a down filled bag are equally useless if wet
. But a synthetic bag can be wrung out and have allot of its loft restored
whereas a wrung out down bag is still flat . And with reduced loft there is
reduced insulation . Which lead to some of his more interesting points . He
states that any bag , synthetic or down , loses 10% of it loft the first time it
is compressed . Loses an additional 2% of loft with each additional compression
and is most damaged by being sat on while compressed . The important thing to
remember is that no matter what type of bag we buy its performance may fall far
short of what is expected if compressed to often or to much . There was the
qualifier that these cautions applied to your normal backpacker type of bag and
not the weight and pack size is no issue designs . That I suppose applies to the
Wiggy bags , or other similar bags , from what I've heard about them .

I've never kayak camped . But I have camped many times off the back of a
motorcycle . Sleeping in a down filled bag .

Looking forward to hearing others input .

David


jfarrelly5_at_comcast.net wrote:

> I am going to replace my 17 year old synthetic sleeping bag.  ....A friend with
> a
> lot of experience told me  to stay away from a down filled bag because it can
> be a bear to dry out.

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************