View Full Version : Old Down Bag, Still Good ?
I have and OLD down bag that I used at Philmont when I was a scout 30 years ago. It was brand new then. I Used for a few years after that and it has sat mostly in its stuff sack since. Every few years I would take it out and let it sit for a while.
Is this down back any good still ? When it was purchased new 30 years ago it was a top of the line bag.
Thanks,
J
papa john
01-03-2009, 10:20
Throw it in the dryer with a tennis shoe for a bit. Low heat or air only. See if it fluffs up.
Don't ever, ever, ever store down bags in their stuff sacks. Either hang them in a closet, garage, attic, etc. while fully lofted. Personally, my down quilt and underquilt are in cotton bags hanging from hooks in my storage room.
I have and OLD down bag that I used at Philmont when I was a scout 30 years ago. It was brand new then. I Used for a few years after that and it has sat mostly in its stuff sack since. Every few years I would take it out and let it sit for a while.
Is this down back any good still ? When it was purchased new 30 years ago it was a top of the line bag.
Thanks,
J
Does it still fit?
Fluff it up in the dryer, then lay it out. Get a ruler and see about how high it lofts. If it lofts up to 4 or 5 inches, it's probably OK to 20 degrees or so (I think - when I was doing my homemade quilt, the research I read then said 2.5 in loft per side was equivalent to about 20 deg.....). To make sure, take it outside on a cold night and see how it does!
Oh, I agree about never storing bags in a stuff sack. Down is probably more capable of surviving this treatment, but I never store mine in stuff sacks (and if I find one of the boys has - which they know not to - we have a "discussion" about the proper way to treat gear!).
atraildreamer
01-03-2009, 12:27
Fluff it up in the dryer, then lay it out. Get a ruler and see about how high it lofts. If it lofts up to 4 or 5 inches, it's probably OK to 20 degrees or so (I think - when I was doing my homemade quilt, the research I read then said 2.5 in loft per side was equivalent to about 20 deg.....). To make sure, take it outside on a cold night and see how it does!
Oh, I agree about never storing bags in a stuff sack. Down is probably more capable of surviving this treatment, but I never store mine in stuff sacks (and if I find one of the boys has - which they know not to - we have a "discussion" about the proper way to treat gear!).
Ray Jardine uses the formula:
100 - (Loft in inches x 40) = temperature rating
so, for example, for 2" of loft:
100 - (2" x40 ) = 100 - 80 = 20 degree rating
Well after takin it out of the dryer it lofts to about 5 inches just laying on the floor, BUT the sleeping bag does not have a hood, it was made without one ??? I assume they didn't have hoods on them 30 years ago ? Plus it still has my 30 year old Philmont dirt and sweat on it LOL
Well after takin it out of the dryer it lofts to about 5 inches just laying on the floor, BUT the sleeping bag does not have a hood, it was made without one ??? I assume they didn't have hoods on them 30 years ago ? Plus it still has my 30 year old Philmont dirt and sweat on it LOL
Some down bags have hoods, others don't. Most semi-rectangular bags don't have hoods. If your zipper goes all the way around the foot, it's probably a semi rectangular or rectangular bag. With 5" of loft, it's probably pretty warm. Take it out in the yard on a cold night. Wear a warm hat, or take the hood off of a jacket that you have (if it's removeable :D). I'd guess you probably will be ok down to 20 degrees with the right hat.
Wise Old Owl
01-03-2009, 13:45
Hey if after a wash and a long tumble dry if it doesn't smell and still lofts up and you can still fit inside it, what the hay right?
5" is pretty darn good. It must still have some life in it to loft up like that after all those years in a stuffsack.
Well after takin it out of the dryer it lofts to about 5 inches just laying on the floor, BUT the sleeping bag does not have a hood, it was made without one ??? I assume they didn't have hoods on them 30 years ago ? Plus it still has my 30 year old Philmont dirt and sweat on it LOL
I have two army down bags from the Korean war, and while they are no longer warm enough for a winter situation, they still serve a purpose. Even if your down bag can't get you through a freezing night, you can probably use it in some situation. I wash my down bags when they are funky. I have a front loading machine. I wouldn't wash a bag in a machine with an agitator. Dry it on low with some tennis balls or a couple of old clean sneakers (I keep a pair just for this purpose), and then try it in the backyard on a cold night. I also like to wear some sort of hoodie when I sleep in cold weather. The hood helps keep drafts off my neck. Hats come off me when I sleep, because I tend to thrash around. A neck gaiter and hat may work for you to compensate for the lack of hood on the bag.
skinewmexico
01-03-2009, 20:24
Send it to Rainy Pass and have it laundered. Sounds like it would make a great quilt. I have a Herter's down bag I bought in 1975, and I still can't use it if it's warmer than 20 degrees. Really really bad on them to be stored in a stuff sack though.
Feral Bill
01-03-2009, 20:40
I recently washed and dried (front loader, special down detergent) a 40 year old own bag. It came out nearly like new. It never stayed stuffed for long , though.
You could have a perfectly good 20 degree bag.