Re: [Paddlewise] Down VS Synthetic

alex said (snip):
>I'm not sure if anybody mentioned the need to keep *synthetic* bag in a
drybag as well.  And here lies a problem - even with a $130+ Polarguard
Delta the drybag has to be L size (unless you want to compress it to death),
and it has to be dedicated "sleeping bag drybag".  I, for one, have found
this difficulty insurmountable in a Feathercraft folding kayak.<

I feel your pain. Yeah, some situations are difficult to find a workable
solution. In my watertight but volume-challenged Nordkapp, I've resigned
myself to middle-of-the-road priced synthetic bags which I replace every few
years due to cumulative-compression fibre-collapse (err, something like
that). Not that I don't store my bags correctly between uses, it's just that
I need to compress these suckers to get enough other space available in the
compartments. I use a non-waterproof compression bag in conjunction with a
good old garbage bag. I roll the top of the garbage bag tightly, then pull
hard on the three compression straps. I've holed the boat a few times with
consequent leakage, but the sleeping bag in the one incident I'm referring
to, didn't suffer any wet-water infusion into the fibres or outer fabric (is
water ever not wet?).

I'm a hot-sleeper, wet camper, inclement-weather seeker, so a synthetic bag
is a must for me - a prime requisite. I used to be a hunter, and spent many
nights in cold, northern BC in the off-season, but found a Down bag to be
excellent, if a little chilly on the bottom layer. If I had kept up that
lifestyle, I would have probably invested in a bag with down on top and
synthetic underneath, which compresses less from body weight.

I did suffer once with a synthetic bag, namely on an ill-fated off season
trip. My first night off the ferry in Bella Bella was in an unused First
Nation's longhouse (with permission). Minus 5 Celsius with cold glacier-fed
winds throughout the night, in a not very air-tight cedar-clad structure.
I'd had brought my summer bag and thought I was going to darn well freeze.
The bag was lofting well, as it was fairly new, but even with all my extra
fleece on, it was a very unrestfull night. The extra-clothing trick didn't
work very well either, at least from a comfort level, as everything
compresses tight around you from too many clothing layers...circulation
impairment under the arms, etc. I gained a new respect for the centuries old
inhabitant generation succession of native peoples who thrived here.

During the day it was cold and wet; each subsequent following night was wet,
with snow, frost, and streams forming under the tents at night.  I would
have given anything for my thicker synthetic bag, or the adjunctive liner I
had eyed in the store, just before the trip. At least I faired better than
one of the other paddlers who had brought along a vintage, tattered
department-store variety, rectangular-cut summer bag. I think my summer
synthetic bag, though cool, was at least a mummy style bag which gave the
ability to cover head and shoulders. The resultant effect of too many cold
nights on the other paddler in question contributed to a bizarre unfolding
of events that finally added up to some very poor decision making and a
rescue.

The choice, use, and technical aspects of one's bag IS important.


Doug Lloyd
Victoria BC (where summer just will not end)



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