Synthetic vs down quilt

[Hunter6]

I'm having a tough time deciding. I'm wanting to up date my Walmart sleeping bag to a high end quilt. I'm probably going to go with an EE quilt that will unzip all the way. I'm thinking a 20 degree bag. I'm wanting this mainly for backing in three season weather on the east side of OR.
What I can't decide is if I want to go down or synthetic.

I know where I mainly hunt down will do fine but I will camp and hunt some on the west side where there is way more rain. What do the masses recommend, use and why.

I know in a perfect world it would be nice to have both but that's not an option any time soon.

Thanks in advance


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[Yakstone]

Go with down, just keep it dry

 

[cocky84]

if you think you can keep it dry, go with down. Better have a good waterproof compression sack for it and a good tent or bivy. Down gets wet and your hunt could be ruined. Synthetic gets wet and you have a better chance of drying it out. I run BA down bag. They have come a long way with synthetic in last couple years though. I would try to find a synthetic i liked in the weight class and degree u want. If you cant, buy a down.

 

[Hunter6]

If I go down which light weight waterproof compression sack is recommended


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[Cantharellus]

I use a small Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack for my HG Burrow 20. I imagine that's pretty equivalent to the EE quilt.

 

[mrbillbrown]

I spend 355 days thinking about (obsessing) and planning a 10 day elk trip. No way am I gonna risk leaving early because my down bag gets wet. I vote for synthetic because the weight penalty isn't as bad as the thought of leaving early because my bag failed.


molon labe

 

[rino]

How far from the truck are you? All winter long I keep a synthetic mummy bag in the truck for emergencies. If you are within a moderate hike out/back in you can swap out the wet bag. Don't forget respiration and sweating...

 

[Hunter6]

I'll probably be within 3-7 miles so if I have to come out I can. When you say don't forget sweating and respiration what do you mean.


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[Kevo]

I've always lined my sleeping bag compression sack with a garbage bag since I was a Boy Scout. Never had a wet bag. Upgraded to one of those fancy force flex bags this year.

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[cocky84]

I use sea to summit dry compression. But i would use this sack for synthetic or down. Ive used mine for 10 years now. Never had any trouble. Seen plenty of rain too.

 

[jb79]

Sea to summit for me also, I want to say it's a 8 liter and there is spare room. I have a 10* EE downtek and haven't had any issues ( also from Oregon) but I haven't been stuck in a week long down poor either.

 

[Hunter6]

Thanks looks like you guys are just a split as I am. I think I'm over analyzing this but 2-300 is a lot of money and don't want to regret it. Any other opinions.


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[Yakstone]

If its your first good back get synthetic

 

[Hunter6]

If its your first good back get synthetic

Why


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[ianpadron]

EE offers their treated down for no extra cost, problem solved.

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[ohhiitznik]

I use synthetic because I've been soaked, hopped into my quilt at night and woke up dry. Then dried the quilt out and was good. You're not doing that with down. Its not much more weight, for a ton more peace of mind. Carry the extra pound and be able to hop into your bag wet.

 

[bcimport]

I was a synthetic guy for two decades. Bought a down quilt from EE last year and have slept better and warmer than any other system in the past. In 30 years of hiking, hunting and backpacking I've yet to soak a sleep system, but I've had a few moist. The dry down has alleviated my concerns for those situations. The climbing in my sleeping bag/quilt wet and waking up dry is tough for me to envision. If I'm soaked there is no way I'm getting into my bag with all that stuff on. Strip it off, wring it out and get in naked or in something drier. If it is a real safety concern in building a fire to dry the stuff out. If it is just a comfort thing I'll put the wrung out wet clothes in a garbage bag inside with me so they warm up.

 

[weaver]

I have crawled into my down bag and quilt wet a couple times and been dry by morning.

 

[chuckeglenn]

Yep, it's best to crawl in wet. That's what they taught us in the military. Your body heat will dry your clothes.

 

[Felix40]

I like my down quilt a lot. I've only had it a year. I haven't used it in wet conditions enough to really say much about the potential issue of losing loft. I have read responses from EE and Western Mountaineering on other forums where they basically said that quality down lasts longer than synthetics. This is in response to concerns about compressing down bags really tight. These companies both said that down is less likely to be damaged by compression than the fibers in synthetics and over time you could potentially lose more loft in a synthetic bag. I also read a story about a guy who sent a WM down bag back because it had gone flat like what we always hear about down. Turns out the bag was just oily and dirty. They washed it for him and sent it back like it was new.

Just some things to consider. I don't know anything for myself but that's what I have read. I think for my typical uses the treated down plus treating the outside of the quilt is good enough. Where I hunt in CO it freaking pours rain and I've even had standing water inside my tent. I have yet to really soak a bag though because it's up on my pad.