Down or not?

[Starchild]

What is your thoughts and experience on down (feathers) for cloths and sleeping bag for the thru hike? I am concerned about if they get wet.

I think I could make a much better case for a sleeping bag then a coat, but I see both as a risk and right now leaning to synthetics for both.

[Slo-go'en]

Either way, you don't want to get your bag wet, but down does take some extra care. You need to remember to air it out in the sun as often as possible and putting it in the dryer (low heat) once in a while helps too. Of course, this helps out a synthetic bag too.

I typically use a synthetic bag in the spring during the rainy season, then change to light down bag in the summer.

[Drybones]

If you're going out for a few days the synthetic is okay, if you're going on a long walk you want the down to save weight and space, as well as keep you warm, use a good waterproof compression sack to keep it dry, air it out whenever possible. Same for the jacket.

[10-K]

If you can only get one get down.

You'll likely regret it if you don't.. Maybe not, but probably. Synthetics weigh more and take up more room in your pack.

If you've ever tried to wash a down sleeping bag you would know that soaking one is not as easy as it looks. They are not fragile - just use common sense.

[coach lou]

If you can only get one get down.

You'll likely regret it if you don't.. Maybe not, but probably. Synthetics weigh more and take up more room in your pack.

If you've ever tried to wash a down sleeping bag you would know that soaking one is not as easy as it looks. They are not fragile - just use common sense.

in a neighboring town, we have dry cleaners that cleans Down articles. Every few years I take my bag in. Well worth the price, not to mess it up.

[Thirsty DPD]

I use down bag, but do not use down clothing. My bag is not subjected directly to rain & moisture, all my clothing will be.

[Sugarfoot]

I have always used down sleeping bags, kept in a roll-top bag when not in use. I've never had a problem that a day of sunshine hasn't solved. The lightest roll-top bags I've found are from zpacks.com, made of Cuben Cloth. In cold weather, I bring a down jacket. It has never been cold enough to hike in, but it feels great in camp and makes a great pillow at night, in a stuff sack. I also keep it in a roll-top bag. I assume that everything in my pack will get wet, so everything is in a water-resistant stuff sack. On the other hand, if your tent allows wind-blown rain to come in or has major condensate problems, stay with a synthetic. Or change tents.

[yellowsirocco]

down bag, synthetic jacket. one of each. if everything gets wet you are not completely screwed.

[garlic08]

down bag, synthetic jacket. one of each. if everything gets wet you are not completely screwed.

Now that's smart, and also happens to be the way I do it though I never quite thought of it that way.

Since I started using down bags, and I kicked myself for waiting so long, I learned that it takes four full days and nights of heavy rain to affect the down bag. As said above, one good day of sunshine brings it back to new, or a few quarters in a dryer. I've always been able to get to one or the other within four days, even in record rain on the PCT in Washington State.

The only down garment I've ever carried is a down vest, only used in cold dry conditions for camping, never while hiking or skiing.

[Charlied]

I can be of service in Giles County

[Wise Old Owl]

Yellowsirocco has a great answer! how about yanking the sleeping bag compressor sack and use a
Exped Waterproof Compression Bag

[kayak karl]

my quilts are all down and i got a down beanie. i'm getting down sleeves for my wearable quilt and will us like socks at night.

[Slo-go'en]

If you've ever tried to wash a down sleeping bag you would know that soaking one is not as easy as it looks. They are not fragile - just use common sense.

But if you do get it wet, (down) it takes forever to dry and getting the feathers to unclump can be a problem. When I tent, the foot of my bag often touches the side of tent and if it's raining, the foot of my bag gets wet. And no matter how hard I try to seam seal the tent, there is always a leak someplace in a heavy or prolong rain.

Since I often go to GA/NC to hike in the spring when it rains a lot and have to tent pretty much every night until the Smokies, this can be a problem. Hence I use the synthetic bag in the spring, which I can dry out with body heat if I have to.

So, the choice between down and synthetic isn't an easy one. Both have significant advantages and disadvantages.

[10-K]

Slo. It's an easy choice if you know which one you want to take. .

I haven't used a synthetic bag since 2007 and have hiked in every kind of weather the southern Appalachians has and haven't got my down bag even close to being too wet to use.

As always around here there's not a ride or wrong answer. This is another one of those decisions involving a degree of risk Some people are more risk-averse than others, nothing wrong with that.

[OzJacko]

I've been cold in a bag - don't like it.
For me bag is down. (that's a period after it).
Everything else synthetics.
I just take great care that bag stays dry. I consider it a must have to hike, so if it got wet, I would head for town if I couldn't dry it.

[T-Rx]

I have never used anything but a down sleeping bag or quilt and I carry a down jacket for camp. I like the warmth to weight ratio of the down bag/quilt and I keep it in a separate garbage bag inside my pack to ensure it stays dry. Never had a problem. I don't hike in my down jacket but staying warm while hiking has not been an issue for me. But that down jacket is sure nice in camp on a cold night.

[Rain Man]

I have never carried a synthetic bag. They are heavy and bulky. My down bag has never, not once, gotten wet, unless you count heavy dew while cowboy camping, and that dried out quickly.

I have both down and synthetic vests and jackets and use both.

That's what I do, since you asked, but the rule is "Hike Your Own Hike," so you have to decide for yourself what works for you. There is no "right answer."

RainMan

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[Flounder940]

Waterproof Down, for those just in case my sleeping bag gets wet scenarios: http://www.rei.com/search?query=Sier...ns+driDown+bag

[Wise Old Owl]

in a neighboring town, we have dry cleaners that cleans Down articles. Every few years I take my bag in. Well worth the price, not to mess it up.

Yea but you do not dry clean down bags - ( I hope they are doing something different)

[RED-DOG]

No down if it gets wet its useless and it will get wet.