Since down is a popular topic on the WaterTribe forum... 
Interesting technology:
http://www.gizmag.com/warm-water-resistant-down-jackets/21124/
It seems logical that this could make its way into sleeping bags as well...
- Macatawa
Waterproof down?
(11 posts) (10 voices)-
Sierra Designs and Brook Range (and others) should be releasing sleeping bags later this year using the new “hydrophobic” down.
Some folks reckon it's a marketing gimmic, citing the Ion-Mask technology that Hi-Tec has been using. Another comment somewhere cited just another chemical to cause cancer.
One suggestion I read somewhere to turn your own down gear into “waterproof” is to use a wash-in treatment from Nikwax.
An interesting down-related titbit I read on BackpackingLight the other day is that anything with 900 fill power down is the most sensitive to humidity and thus loses its loft and effectiveness very quickly. Buy gear with a lower fill.
KB
Posted 1 year ago # -
GreyBeard
Memberspidennis wrote:
this seems like a pretty dumb observation but ........ ducks and geese sit in the water, swim, etc. Right? What do they use? They seem to have it figured out pretty nicely , and they can fly!
Ok, not an expert on this, but I think that waterfowl excrete oil from their skin that protects their down. This is why they cannot be released immediately after they are cleaned up when they get contaminated in an oil spill. If released before they have time to restore the natural oil, they freeze to death or maybe drown.
I presume that down is thoroughly cleaned before use in manufactured products, thus eliminating any natural waterproofing.
Greybeard
Posted 1 year ago # -
DolphinGal
MemberAbsolutely correct, Greybeard. Ducks have oil glads near their tails and preen the oil to their body feathers. To contrast, the diving anhinga (southern bird) is often seen sitting in the sun with its wings spread out to dry because they have no oil glades. They'd go hypothermic in no time if they didn't.
DolphinGal
Posted 1 year ago # -
BeastOarman
MemberActually there is an arctic waterbird, the Apseyd, which does not rely on its body oils to waterproof its down (due to the cold). It is used in some high-end sleeping bags, but not advertised much due to scarce availability of the Apseyd. Sometimes you can get lucky if you call the smaller chains (like Campmor), and ask if they have any Apseyd down sleeping bags.
Posted 1 year ago # -
whitecaps
MemberThe whole secret to down is to buy good stuff and keep it dry. I do not let my camp clothes get wet nor do I let my sleeping bag get wet.
I use a 0 or 20 degree WesternMountineering bags for Michigan trips (800 fill) and 30 dergree Montebell (800 fill)for my north Florida trips.
I have been in endless days of rain in Michigan and not been in a wetted out a down sleeping bag yet. I also have two Wiggys bags that are non down and they work great but are so bulky and heavy I quit using them. In Florida in the summer and even in the EC I use a poncho and a (it will kill) cotton sheet for something quick when I did not want a full setup. You just have to figure out the condensation problem and carry extra stuff.
Keep it dry inside and outside and down is far lighter and more compact. I have no idea if down bags will be allowed in watertribe events but know that if you soak your down bag it is over. Then again I refuse to spend the rest of the trip in a wet non down bag either!
Hey after all I am suppsed to know what I am doing out here right so let me be comfy with what I use. Cold and wet are good teachers!
toby
Posted 1 year ago # -
Married2Paddler
MemberArdie & I have used Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags on 2 thru hikes, many Canadian paddler trips and our thru paddle of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail last year. We love them. They dry out quickly in the sun-much quicker than our older synthetic bags.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've always used down bags (and jackets)--for kayaking, tramping, sailing and high altitude mountain climbing--and was pissed when I first started this EC business, with Chief's rule that we couldn't use down. And now, for the EC, I wouldn't ever use down--mainly because I care for my gear, and my current (Macpac) down bags I've used pretty consistently for 20 or so years. I think of every EC night I crawl into my pit and even after a cursory wipe down with a Wet One, I'm still pretty salty. With my current synthetic bag (REI), I can throw myself in or on my bag, not having to worry if I'm contaminating the bag; and when I get home, I just throw it in the washing machine/dryer, and it's as good as new.
Wiggy: I bought a Wiggy bag for my first EC. I spent some time on the phone with Mr. Wiggy himself--he was convinced that if I didn't have his bag, I'd die. As simple as that. I bought his bag, and no way could I even come close to fitting it in my 7" hatches. Begrudgingly, he accepted my return.
KB
Posted 1 year ago #
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