Down Water Repellants

[COlineman78]

I am looking at the EE quilts and the fact that DownTek is optional. Other than the added cost is there a downside to treated down? Does it effect performance? I thought I had read somewhere that down slightly loses loft when treated, which would make sense as you are likely adding a very small amount of weight with the coating. If so, I am also assuming that the fill ratings are prior to adding the treatment and not the final product. Here in CO humidity isn't a huge concern and I will always keep in a waterproof compression sack, so if it does indeed impact performance I would be okay without, but if it's simply a matter of cost than what's an extra $20.

 

[Shrek]

As I uunderstand the treatment adds loft to the down for as long as it lasts. It will take 800 fill power to 900. When the treatment fades I don't know what the effects are. I do know that two of the very best bag makers in the world , Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends , don't use treated down.

 

[Kevin Dill]

All I can render is an opinion, and it's worth exactly what you paid for it...

There simply hasn't been enough real-world use of treated down in severely wet conditions to know if it's a real advantage...vs a perceived one. Yes I've seen all the ads and demos on how it works. What I haven't seen is some guy weathering out a nasty gale at altitude under a flapping tarp while rain and sleet hammers his bag. I just need to see the obvious superiority of treated down displayed in ways beyond the laboratory. That said, I do own a fine treated-down jacket from LL Bean which hasn't gotten wet yet. In truth it may never get wet because I don't have much use for down jackets until the temps are in the 'snow' digits. While not disagreeing with Shrek, I've also understood that treated down results in slightly less loft initially. Somebody should clear that up for us...maybe KUIU.

Even IF treated down was proved to be superior to normal down in its ability to handle water, I likely wouldn't change bags to get it. After 40 years of outdoor living and using goose-down, the only time mine has ever gotten wet was when it got exposed to a Maytag. I tend to think the treated down thing is one of those marketing upgrades which adds cost but probably yields very little benefit for the vast majority of down users. But then again...check...this is only one man's opinion.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I have a couple treated down jackets and a EE quilt also with treated down. I purchased the treated down, for the slim possibility that these items may be exposed to significant amounts of moisture, kind of like insurance . I am super diligent about not getting my quilt wet and I don't purposely wear my down jackets in the rain but, shit sometimes happens. So far I haven't cashed in on this insuance policy, so I don't have any personal experience as to whether or not it works well. There is a gentleman on the Alaska Outdoor Forum that used his Kuiu SD jacket in a rain/snow mixture while on a hunt and said that it worked flawlessly. He even took some selfies to show how wet the conditions were and, the pictures along with his recommendation seemed pretty convincing.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Some people claim the treated down breaks down faster than regular down and/or becomes clumpy over time. I haven't invested in it because it is too new to judge.

 

[COlineman78]

I have a couple treated down jackets and a EE quilt also with treated down. I purchased the treated down, for the slim possibility that these items may be exposed to significant amounts of moisture, kind of like insurance . I am super diligent about not getting my quilt wet and I don't purposely wear my down jackets in the rain but, shit sometimes happens. So far I haven't cashed in on this insuance policy, so I don't have any personal experience as to whether or not it works well. There is a gentleman on the Alaska Outdoor Forum that used his Kuiu SD jacket in a rain/snow mixture while on a hunt and said that it worked flawlessly. He even took some selfies to show how wet the conditions were and, the pictures along with his recommendation seemed pretty convincing.

Yeah, I understand the benefits of waterproof down and Jason Hairston of Kuiu has a compelling demonstration of SuperDown on YouTube, however my needs would be more similar to Kevin in that it would be more of a safety blanket and I don't ever plan on getting it wet. For a coat I would definitely want treated down as it is likely to get wet, but for a sleeping bag I don't think it's as necessary. I am more concerned with what Where's Bruce said as I have seen/heard similar things.

 

[BroodBuster]

In my experience id say the best water repellant for down is a 5 mil contractor bag, waterproof stuff sack and a good bivy sack or tent. And I camp in the rain a lot.