Down Bag in wet weather

[docdb]

Well, I seeking experience and advice on the use of a down bag on my upcoming sheep hunt in the Brooks Range. I love my WM Kodiak SDL, it is the most comfortable sleep ever. I do not enjoy being in my Slick bag anymore since experiencing the WM bag ( the slick bag seems to bunch up and bind, BUT I can get in that thing fully wet, and wake up the next morning dry and warm). The question is for you guys with lots of "expedition" experience, how to maintain a dry down bag? Do you strip down before getting into the bag? Did you carry some kind of bag cover? Liner? Thoughts?
Don

 

[Justin Crossley]

I use a down bag or quilt in western Washington and haven't had trouble drying my clothes while I sleep.

I've never hunted the Brooks Range though, so I can't tell you how well it works up there.

 

[colonel00]

I can't say that I have "lots of expedition experience" but I think I can ask a few questions to help get you a better answer. What kind of shelter are you going to use? Have you had issues in the past with moisture or what is making you think it will be an issue on this trip?

 

[docdb]

I believe that base camp will have some type of three man tent for the two hunters. I was asked to bring a bivy sack, and I have an Integral Designs micro and I was also going to bring my cuben fiber Mountain Laurel Duomid. Sleep on an Xtherm pad.
Just a little worried about getting into the bag with wet pants/socks and waking up with a damp bag. Truth be told, my main issue is I'm second guessing my choice since the guides recommended a Zero Degree Fiber sleeping bag, which is about the size of a microwave oven, and I've gotten used to and way prefer down. I use on all my trips, but I'm usually just a weekender here in the Southeast US.
Don

 

[luke moffat]

I have only hunted the Brooks twice on sheep hunts....both times had rain aplenty (and snow). Last years trip was 21 days from the time we left our house to the time we got back with 18 of those days actually in the field the other time was 1.5 days of travel days each way. Both times I only brought down and sleeping in floorless shelters. Both times it was fine. That said my puffy gear and sleeping bags are ALWAYS in a dry bag when not actually in use. I love the feeling of down compared to synthetic generally in addition to the space/weight savings in my pack.

This year my wife and I will be using the Accomplice Quilt from Enlightened Equipment with dry duck down as an extra measure against moisture even though we never had much of an issue with our traditional Western Mountaineering bags zipped together either. If I were you I wouldn't hesitate to bring down to the Brooks at all.

 

[JP100]

I haven't hunting brooks but have hunted here in NZ in places that get 300 inch rainfall with a down bag.
What I do is allways keep one pair of light dry socks and thermals/merinos for sleeping and camp.
and wear your wet gear during the day.
If it is real wet no point drying gear out just to get wet again the next day.
Its not nice putting wet boots and pants on in the morning and trying to do up frozen laces but you get used to it.
My experience with down in wet places is once it gets wet your pretty buggered, you cant dry bags out well if you hunting every day.

Old NZ trampers trick for wet cold boots is when you make breakfast heat some extra water and pour that(not boiling, just hot) into your boots, its not very high tech but it works haha.

Thats my advice. better to have some dry clothes and some wet ones than have a whole lot of damp gear that wont dry out.

 

[Beendare]

I've done a lot of backpack type trips/ hunts in wet weather- my take; go Primaloft.

Everyone knows down is no good wet. What many may not know is moisture can build up in your bag even in clear weather. You loose a lot of moisture when you sleep, moisture inside you bag can condense on the inside fabric of your bag in cold weather [just like the outside of a cold beer mug]. Not knocking down- it is what it is- good for dry climes- or Ok if you can air it out daily. Moisture will build up in any bag under those conditions- with down, it can make things a bit uncomfortable.

Problem is, many of those Ak hunts you might get 3,4,5 days straight of rain and 100% humidity. Same with hunts on the Ak islands, sometimes in the rockies, coastal hunts for sure, etc. An example; I did a solo early season deer hunt many years ago with my Montbell stretch down bag and after 3 days of afternoon showers with unseasonably cold nights, I swear my 1.5# bag weighed at least a pound more and was starting to lose a little insulation value. Same goes with the Goretex bags [bad idea] The new treated down might be a good option....too new, don't know

If you can aford a sheep hunt you can afford a decent Primaloft bag- I like the Montbell super stretch-especially good for big guys

 

[Huntr]

Don,
I used a down bag on my sheep hunt last year in the Alaska range, and slept in a bivy every night. No problems for me. I did change into dry socks before turning in, otherwise I had on my base layers that were often still damp.

I had no problems at all.

 

[Jdog]

Changed from a synthetic bag to a WM down bag 3 sheep hunts ago and have never looked back!

I love the feel and loft of a quality down fart sak.

I never get in my bag with wet clothes on...not sure why anyone would do that.

Take that down bag, cover her with a good bivy if necessary and keep her dry and sleep well my friend.

 

[Nick Muche]

JDog, what Bivy are you using?

Huntr, what bivy are you using?

 

[AK Troutbum]

I never get in my bag with wet clothes on...not sure why anyone would do that.

Really?? I'm getting down to the point of only taking one set of base clothing (and outer wear for that matter) into the mountains, and I'll wear that 24/7. The only exception to that is socks, I'll take a couple to three pair of socks. I'll go to sleep in totally wet clothes, socks included, and wake up completely dry. To each his own I guess, but this seems to work pretty well for me, and shaves a fair amount of weight off my pack.

 

[colonel00]

Really?? I'm getting down to the point of only taking one set of base clothing into the mountains and I'll wear that 24/7. The only exception to that is socks, I'll take a couple to three pair of socks. I'll go to sleep in totally wet clothes, socks included, and wake up completely dry. To each his own I guess.

Are you doing that in a down bag? What type of shelter? Just curious and it may be helpful to the OP.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Up until and through last season, I've only used a synthetic bag, and last season started using a floorless shelter. I switched to a EE treated down quilt and bivy this year, along with a floorless cuben fiber shelter, and so far it's worked very well for me. I haven't, however, used it in super wet weather, but I probably will during goat season this year.

 

[Nick Muche]

Are you using a Bivy too?

 

[docdb]

Thanks guys, I'm still trying to "digest" the man-scaping thread, I'm pretty sure I'm bringing down, it just sleeps so much better

 

[JustOneMoreShot]

I'm running a down bag in a DIY Tyvek bivy on my sheep hunt in Alaska this August. I'll keep it in a dry bag and am not too concerned.

 

[Stid2677]

Been hunting the Brooks using down bags for years and will do so again this fall, the down bags on the market today are quite different than the bags from years ago.
All my layers will be down this year as well, except base layers.

 

[Snyd]

I've been using a down bag now sheep hunting for about 5 years I think. Big Agnes Zirkel and IAC mummy pad. TNF Cat's meow before that. I love my down bag. I have a good tent and keep my bag in a dry bag in my pack. I do keep a med weight base layer dry if needed but I usually always wearing a lightweight base layer and might crawl in with it damp but I like to change if I want. When getting back to the tent soaking wet, it's nice to have a warm dry layer and slide under that layer of down onto 3 inches of air pad Pants and shirt usually dry out in the tent or get close enough to dry for the nest day.

The only "extra" clothes I pack on a sheep hunt are 2 or 3 pairs of socks, med weight base layer and one pair of skivvies. If need be I can put all my clothes on at once with the exception of the socks. In nine years of sheep hunting I've been soaking wet lots of times but have never HAD to crawl into my bag with all my wet clothes on. No need to.

 

[Jdog]

JDog, what Bivy are you using?

Huntr, what bivy are you using?

I am using an eVent bivy I bought from Barney's Sports Chalet in Anchorage a few yrs back.

 

[Jdog]

Really?? I'm getting down to the point of only taking one set of base clothing (and outer wear for that matter) into the mountains, and I'll wear that 24/7. The only exception to that is socks, I'll take a couple to three pair of socks. I'll go to sleep in totally wet clothes, socks included, and wake up completely dry. To each his own I guess, but this seems to work pretty well for me, and shaves a fair amount of weight off my pack.

Yep. I too only take one set of clothing on mtn hunts.

I just don't desire to get in my bag with wet clothes.