Down vs Synthetic

[Sooner Wing]

Which do you run and why? Having never hunted out west I’m trying to figure out how difficult it is to keep your bag dry. Plan on having a Teepee with stove in the event that plays into the decision. Is down more difficult to ventilate?

 

[Kevin Dill]

Many, many years of hauling a goose down bag to Alaska with excellent performance. Never one problem, and never wished for anything different. My hunts last up to 15 days. I use a tipi and wood stove. For my ways, I can find absolutely no advantage to a synthetic bag. I also give my sleeping bag (Western Mountaineering Sequoia GWS) no special care. I may air it out once or twice on sunny dry days during a long hunt. My bag has never gotten wet, despite the worst conditions imaginable.

 

[wind gypsy]

It is not hard to keep a down bag dry. It can be hard to keep yourself dry. If you plan to get into a sleeping bag wet, synthetics are nice. If you get out of any wet clothes before getting into a bag, down is nice.

If you only have one set of clothes and no good way to dry them, synthetic becomes more attractive in wet climates.

 

[hikenhunt]

If you're set on the stove, I'd definitely go with the down, even if its a long trip. I don't usually use a stove and I haven't touched my synthetic bag in years.

 

[LightFoot]

It is not hard to keep a down bag dry. It can be hard to keep yourself dry. If you plan to get into a sleeping bag wet, synthetics are nice. If you get out of any wet clothes before getting into a bag, down is nice.

If you only have one set of clothes and no good way to dry them, synthetic becomes more attractive in wet climates.

This ^^^^

>>>----JAKE----->

 

[Shraggs]

I've only done 2-5 day back pack hunts so nothing extended. i use a EE quilt either in my hammock or in a tent over a pad and in a bivy.

i got the 950 treated for a little insurance, and on the ground the bivy keeps my stuff tougher and adds some insurance.

no issues so far

 

[rayporter]

dont get either wet!

down is my go to bag but i find both should be aired out when ever you can.

 

[MattB]

I'd only go synthetic I'd getting into the bag with wet clothes was part of my strategy. I know more than 1 guide in AK who does that. Not sure I could bring myself to do it.

 

[Jimss]

I've done numerous trips in Alaska, Colo, and Wyo with down bag when backpacking and often a synthetic bag when truck camping. I've never had a problem with my down bag getting wet. I'm super careful when in a tent to prevent the bag from hitting the wet sides of the tent when it's raining or there is any moisture inside the tent...especially when sleeping. I also place my bag inside my dry bag when I leave camp each day. That way I'm pretty much guaranteed if something happens my bag will remain dry when I return. I also keep my bag inside the dry bag when backpacking.

 

[mtwarden]

I use both, summer through winter. Depends on the trip and weather forecast. If weight (and or volume) is at an absolute premium- then I'll choose down. If the weather forecast looks like wet, I'll always bring a synthetic quilt/bag. Longer trips in colder weather, I'll often bring a light synthetic quilt to layer over a down bag.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

 

[cmc9341616]

Down bag, never had a problem.


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[douglasfir]

I've been backpacking out west since I was a kid and have never ever regretted taking a down sleeping bag. Down also lasts a long time. My parents bought me a Marmot Pinnacle bag in 2004 when I was in high school - it is still my go-to three season bag.

 

[Rifleman86]

It is not hard to keep a down bag dry. It can be hard to keep yourself dry. If you plan to get into a sleeping bag wet, synthetics are nice. If you get out of any wet clothes before getting into a bag, down is nice.

If you only have one set of clothes and no good way to dry them, synthetic becomes more attractive in wet climates.

This.

Having always used synthetic bags I thought the same thing could be done with a down bag this year...

Turns out it doesn’t. That mistake costed me a day of hunting and possibly an elk.

If you are running a stove and a down bag I recommend some sort of way to hang clothes up high in the tent to dry them out.

 

[ljalberta]

I throw my wet clothes in the foot of my down bags. They dry up decently well overnight from the body heat. Never had a problem with down bags going flat yet. Although I have had an untreated down puffy go straight flat before, so it definitely could happen.

I’ll still take down for where I hunt. Love the weight and space savings

 

[Kevin Dill]

I love telling this:

My wife and I purchased 2 North Face Ibex (down) bags back in 1979.....that's 40 years ago. Those were the glory days of North Face, when they were basically a boutique manufacturer of high end gear made in California. We paid a premium for those bags and we used them plenty. They never failed us and we cared for them properly. We used them for many years until we stopped backpacking.

They sat in storage for over 20 years. Then I decided to sell them on Ebay. As soon as the listing got noticed I started getting questions and offers. I tried to let the auction go to the end but a husband & wife wanted them so badly I finally had to give in and sell them early. They were in extremely good shape and carried that 'Made in USA' by North Face tag. The couple who bought them were extremely pleased and sent me pictures of their first trip using them. As far as I know they're still going strong.

 

[5MilesBack]

The only time I like down, is when I have to carry it for miles. Otherwise a good heavy synthetic bag is more comfortable for me all the way around. I prefer a little weight on top of me when sleeping (I easily could have been the one to bring a weighted blanket to market), and have never found down bags to be very comfortable. And if the down gets near my nose at all, it closes down quickly and then I'm sucking air through my mouth all night. But for lightweight.......it's hard to beat down.

 

[Pigdog]

I own both down and synthetic bags. In most situations I prefer the down. It's lighter and takes up less room in my pack. That being said I'll use the synthetic If I know its going to rain most of the trip. I will frequently get into the synthetic bag with wet clothes and always dry out by morning. This is with me in a hammock under a tarp, no stove or other way to dry things out unless the sun comes out and I want to spend an afternoon sitting around. If I had a hot tent set up I would probably just go with down.

 

[chinook907]

It depends.

I've got both.

I have had my bag get absolutely soaking wet, twice that I can remember. Both times it was a synthetic bag and while it was kind of a rough night afterwards each time, it was ok.

First time was in the mid eighties on a solo sheep hunt. A big wind came in while I was hunting, strong enough that it about knocked me down, and blew my dome tent away ! Found it in a creek 1/4 mile away, all busted up. Wrung the bag out and basically slept under the stars in it after that. Bag was warmish but soggy, hung it in the willows the next day and the wind dried it out surprisingly quickly.

Other time was just 3 years ago on a float trip. Apparently the zipper on my fancy new "dry" bag wasn't splash proof. Shocked at the end of the day to find that everything inside was wet. Same thing, wrung out the sleeping bag as best I could, made camp and went to bed.

Point being you are doing the right thing by thinking about it. Stuff happens.

 

[positivepete!]

I run a kifaru 0° synthetic year round snow, rain, sleet or shine. With a woobie I can sleep on top in hot weather, inside with it unzipped in mid weather and buckled down in cold. I dont undress (other than removing my boots) and rarely have anything for a shelter other than a pine tree. The only issue I have come across is snow melting and re- freezing before I can get it packed in my bag.

 

[dutch_henry]

With a stove? Down all the way. Without a stove? Still down.

No sleeping bag is fun to use when wet, but today's hydrophobic down works quite well. Even in environments with high humidity and condensation. As a precaution I do pack mine in an extra plastic bag, after it's in the stuff sack. I still have my old sythetic bags, but now they only see use for car camping trips with the fam.