Who's gone from a down bag back to synthetic?

[ezmorningrebel]

after listening to a podcast with john barcklow and his ideas on synthetic bags and "cooking" your clothing dry i'm second guessing the down bag. the weight and packability are great but it's hard to argue with a guy that has the experience he does and he makes a lot of sense.

 

[Farmerlentz]

I made the switch after the season this year. That podcast was one reason but I feel like when I am solo it's some extra insurance in case I fall in a creek ect

 

[beachbunny]

how would one find the podcaast?

 

[Farmerlentz]

It was a kifaru cast

 

[fatlander]

I thought it was an elk talk podcast


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[LaHunter]

Yep, I’m pretty sure Randy Newberg had him on an ElkTalk podcast

 

[Nickofthewoods]

A few years ago I picked up one of the Sea to Summit dry compression sacks for my down bag, this at least keeps it dry while being transported, like the example you gave of falling in a creek. Of course, there is still the risk of the bag somehow getting wet once unpacked. I didn't want to give up the advantages of down either though.

 

[tlkaetz]

Here is the podcast where John Barlow discusses synthetic sleeping bags:

https://kifarucast.podbean.com/e/cold-weather-gear-with-john-barklow/

 

[fatbacks]

I did this year and it worked great. I think I have a 15 degree REI synthetic bag.

I put it to the test and it worked. We got stuck on a high ridge in a wicked rain storm in the Alaska Range waiting for a ram to move so we could shoot him. Needless to say everything was soaked and by the time we got the tent and everything setup I just crawled into my sleeping bag with everything except rain gear. Took about an hour or so, but finally warmed up and by the next morning most of the moisture had migrated to the outside of the sleeping bag... and oh by the way, they ram disappeared.

 

[steelheadmike]

I'm thinking about it. If I hunted some really wet places, it would be a no brainer. Even in moderately dry areas, its tempting. The packability of down is what keeps me coming back. But, his (Barklow) logic for synthetic is hard to argue with. If I could find a decent, somewhat lightweight bag with at least a little packability, I'd go for it.

Edit:
May have found IT
https://www.rei.com/product/148278/rei-co-op-zephyr-20-sleeping-bag-mens

 

[kipper09]

I'm thinking about it. If I hunted some really wet places, it would be a no brainer. Even in moderately dry areas, its tempting. The packability of down is what keeps me coming back. But, his (Barklow) logic for synthetic is hard to argue with. If I could find a decent, somewhat lightweight bag with at least a little packability, I'd go for it.

Edit:
May have found IT
https://www.rei.com/product/148278/rei-co-op-zephyr-20-sleeping-bag-mens

In my experience I think the Kifaru slick bag and Mountain Hardwear Lamina series are about as light as you’re gonna get In synthetic. I think either deserves a look for you


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[cmahoney]

Big Agnes has some decent weight, reasonably priced synthetic bags. If your a member of expert voice the prices are awesome. I have been using their stuff for about 15 years and have been really happy with it.


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[beachbunny]

thanks tlk!

 

[Ryan Avery]

I get the logic and almost went the synthetic route last year. But with hundreds of nights sleeping in a very wet environment, I have yet to have my down bag fail me. I have gone to bed with wet clothing on too. maybe if it was an isolated ten-day sheep hunt I might go synthetic but until I see an issue I'm staying with down.

 

[*zap*]

Seems to me that the lightweight craze kinda rules quite a few peoples decisions on gear. Interesting discussion.

 

[steelheadmike]

I get the logic and almost went the synthetic route last year. But with hundreds of nights sleeping in a very wet environment, I have yet to have my down bag fail me. I have gone to bed with wet clothing on too. maybe if it was an isolated ten-day sheep hunt I might go synthetic but until I see an issue I'm staying with down.

But, take that new rei bag I linked to, for example. It is almost identical in specs to a good down bag (weight, size, compressability) but it comes in synthetic. I can get a long/wide size 20° synth bag for 2lb 9oz? The 15°-20° down bags (in a sub $400 price range) in long/wide are right there at 2.5-3lb. Granted, I'm limiting myself to bags of a certain dimension.

 

[Ryan Avery]

But, take that new rei bag I linked to, for example. It is almost identical in specs to a good down bag (weight, size, compressability) but it comes in synthetic. I can get a long/wide size 20° synth bag for 2lb 9oz? The 15°-20° down bags (in a sub $400 price range) in long/wide are right there at 2.5-3lb. Granted, I'm limiting myself to bags of a certain dimension.

Not only can I drop a pound and stay in the same temp range. I will also save pack space.

I am not saying I'm right or wrong, everyone's situation is a little different. All I am saying is with a little forethought down is not the enemy its made out to be on the sleep system side.

But to add even more fuel to the down fire I have had down jackets totally wet out on me. So I get the fear.

 

[Trial153]

I own both, well a few each of both...well to many. I take what think will work best on what and where I am going. sometimes it down sometimes it isnt.

 

[*zap*]

I own both, well a few each of both...well to many. I take what think will work best on what and where I am going. sometimes it down sometimes it isnt.

I am no expert on anything but I have come to the conclusion that a person really has to actually purchase things and then use that thing in the field to be able to figure out what is going to work best for them. It also seems to me that many people want to be told what is going to be best for them and want to avoid the process of field testing things.

But in the end if you want what will work best for you/fit your system best I really think field testing is the way to go.....I try to buy stuff used at a price point that will enable me to re-sale for no/very little loss and try those items out. There are so many options.....so many differing opinions and many different systems that those options can be used within.

 

[Yellowknife]

I own both, well a few each of both...well to many. I take what think will work best on what and where I am going. sometimes it down sometimes it isnt.

Basically this. I have both. The down bag gets used for backpacking and sheep hunts. The synthetic comes with me to the coast. The functional differences aren't as great as sometimes advertised.... i.e the down is only slightly smaller and lighter, and the synthetic benefit is only very rarely used. Which one you pick is unlikely to have any real effect on how the trip goes unless the conditions are really at the far ends of the bell curve.