View Full Version : Down Vs. Synthetic
What do you prefer for hiking?
Strategic
03-25-2008, 00:07
I've always preferred synthetics, both for bags/quilts and clothing. Getting wet is just too easy and common on the trail and I'd rather not run the risk of non-insulating gear when it counts.
What do you prefer for hiking?
For what?!!
Sleeping bags, jackets, pants, quilts time of year(seasons)?
Whut da....
envirodiver
03-25-2008, 00:15
Down for sleeping bags.
Synthetics for base layer and much of my clothing. Down for outer jackets for cold weather.
fairweather8588
03-25-2008, 00:49
Nothing is better then down for sleeping bags here in AZ where wetness usually isn't an issue. Can't say that I have many insulated garments though... (It is AZ after all). I suppose that synthetics would get my vote for that, I like a good fleece pullover
Jim Adams
03-25-2008, 00:58
the only thing that i've ever wrapped around me that felt better than down was this woman that i met in Maine!:)
geek
double d
03-25-2008, 01:02
Down is the major leagues, that synthetic ##%%&&& is the minors, especially for sleeping bags. Down is much better.
High Altitude
03-25-2008, 01:22
Down for my sleeping bag.
Synthetic insulation for clothes.
envirodiver
03-25-2008, 11:21
the only thing that i've ever wrapped around me that felt better than down was this woman that i met in Maine!:)
geek
Must have been a really big woman to wrap around you.
Not judging...I'm just saying :-?
Blissful
03-25-2008, 11:42
Liked my synthetic sleeping bag but the 15 degree is too bulky for my pack now.
Liked my down jacket.
bloodmountainman
03-25-2008, 11:44
Down for sleeping bag....... hands down:D
Synthetic bags can be fine IF, and I repeat IF, you use the right material for both the insulation and the outer shell. Not all synthetic insulation material is the same. My 3 season quilt is synthetic but my winter quilt is down.
I say down for sleeping bags if you can afford it, but neither for clothing.
Get down. Get funky.
Synthetic is cheaper. Also I make most of my gear, and synthetic is easier. I may get bold, soon and try to make a down quilt.
Down!
I prefer the cost of synthetic and it's performance if wet. However the weight and compactness of down is like gold. I'm willing to take the extra care and effort to keep it dry.
I pass out cowboy style alot and I don't trust myself with down. It is clearly lighter and warmer but synthetic is typicaly bomb proof.
Appalachian Tater
03-25-2008, 17:37
Is sleeping in a wet synthetic bag really so comfy?
is down really worth its cost and maintenance in the summer?
Appalachian Tater
03-25-2008, 18:30
What maintenance?
that one can just throw a synthetic in the washing mashine an whuala! clean bag
Appalachian Tater
03-26-2008, 00:31
Voilą. You can wash a down bag, too. I was worried I was supposed to be doing some kind of maintenance that I'm not doing.
you're probably way more experienced w/ down than i am so i'll just be on my way concerning this topic :D
What is the smallest size into which I can expect to be able to compress a good 10F-20F range down bag? The smallest advertised stuff sack specs seem to be around 14"x7". My old Marmot Trestles is too bulky for my pack, and a real headache to get into its fairly large stuff sack in the morning. It's fine for car camping, but I need to be more compact in the wilderness. Are there any new synthetics that will compress nearly as well as down? Compressed volume is a bit more important to me than weight. TIA!
Strategic
03-26-2008, 09:43
What is the smallest size into which I can expect to be able to compress a good 10F-20F range down bag? The smallest advertised stuff sack specs seem to be around 14"x7". My old Marmot Trestles is too bulky for my pack, and a real headache to get into its fairly large stuff sack in the morning. It's fine for car camping, but I need to be more compact in the wilderness. Are there any new synthetics that will compress nearly as well as down? Compressed volume is a bit more important to me than weight. TIA!
For the best of modern synthetics, you'll really need to DIY for a bag or quilt. ClimashieldXP compresses very well and is nicely stable in large sheets. It also has a good temp rating so you can get a 20* bag with about 1.2" of actual loft (that's 5oz basis weight ClimashieldXP) which would compress down pretty small. A quilt would be even better in that regard (and weigh less.)
If you really want light, PrimaloftOne is the thing, but it's trickier to work with than ClimashieldXP (which is pretty bomb-proof for DIY applications) and needs quilting beyond the old Ray-Way loops to keep it in place. But it's possible to get it pre-quilted (usually only at the light basis weights like 1.8oz that are used for clothing) and then use one or more layers of this version to build up an impressively thin and warm bag/quilt. Three layers of the 1.8oz (5.4oz total basis weight) would get you down to 10* pretty well.
All this naturally assumes decent shell materials, of course, but these are more readily available and the same as for down. Combine these synthetics with lightweight shell materials like Momentum90 and you're good to go for very light weights and warmth the equal of down.