| |
Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board
Re: Sleeping bags for camping
Posted By: Larry C. In Response To: Sleeping bags for camping (Wes Boyd)
Date: Tuesday, 26 January 1999, at 6:16 p.m.
> OK, gearheads, here's something to jabber about:
> I recently decided that I needed to break down and get a new sleeping bag
> for kayaking; the old one I backpacked and car camped with for years has
> seen too many better days.> 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.> The issue is nicely balanced in my own mind, but does anyone else have any
> ideas?> -- Wes Boyd
Ok, I guess I have to add my $.02. I have owned more sleeping bags in the last 30 years than I can count. I have made some observations over the years. Down bags are very difficult to get wet. down does not absorb water readily, try to submerge a down bag in a bathtub. It takes a long time to saturate the down. Try this with a synthetic bag. it is like a spounge, but some of the water does drain from its fibers quickly. Try sleeping in a wet synthetic bag and in a wet down bag, the synthetic bag drains all the water it has retained on to you. The down clumps and hold the water without draining, your body heat slowly dries both bags, but the down bag will be drier during this process.
I just sold two 25 year old down bags for much more than I paid for them. My synthetic bags lasted about 3 years before they lost most of there loft.(gave them away) Down lasts longer!!. A down bag also folds around your body shape to keep you warmer,a synthetic bag lays on top of you and lets air move around you.
I 've made these observations while using both down and synthetic bags while winter mountaineering in temps as low as -40F. I favor down for all seasons and I have never gotten ANY sleeping bag wet! Protecting your gear from hazards is a must while mountaineering and kayaking. All bags can be protected from moisture buildup with an overbag and a VBL or if money is no object, a Gortex bag.
My favorite 3 season bag is the Northface Blue Kazoo It weighs 2# and stuffs to a football shape. The down can be shifted from to to bottom as needed. (no side baffle). I have used this bag down to +18F with comfort. It is rated +20. It is about 15 years old and looks new.
Just my $.02,
Larry C.
| |
Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board is maintained by Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks with WebBBS 5.12.
|
Kayak Trips |
|
|
|