sleeping bag loft

[carolyn]

A little bird told me there was a post recently about some tricks to regain sleeping bag loft. I cant seem to find anything when I do a search. Anyone remember it?

Thanks, carolyn

[Dru]

no, but

1) wash your bag2) dry it out with a tennis ball in the dryer to keep the down from clumping3) if all else fails take your bag to REI and warranty it for having lost its loft

[carolyn]

the tennis ball thing...thats what I was looking for. its not down, tho. I think I really should return it to REI anyway. I did get it there and its lost a tremenous amount of loft - even after taking care of it the way one's suppose to.

Thanks, dru

[Dru]

maybe it was this thread!

http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001201

if its NOT down, and it has lost loft, you're screwed. it never comes back. that is why down is better!

[haireball]

Carolyn,

you don't say how old your synthetic bag is, but my hunch is, its seen its useful life. most synthetics (I have little experience with the latest generation, but VAST experience with the classics like polarguard and hollofil and their variants). They seem to last for about three hard seasons (call it two annual cleanings), and they're shot. A good down bag will last forever (I had a twenty-year old down bag stolen at the Plaza de Mulas on Aconcagua once...). If you got it from a manufacturer like REI or North Face, with a bomb-proof warranty, return it. I had one buddy who returned his synthetic bag to North Face every other year - last I heard he was on his fourth bag for the price of one... Good luck!

[ 01-05-2002: Message edited by: haireball ]

[carolyn]

I feel like such a sucker.

Haireball, The bag is a TNF polargaurd 0degree (3d maybe?). And I only got it last March. Probly spent an average of 2-3nights/week in it until Sept, then the entire month of sept I was out using it. Whenever possible I would keep it laying out vs in the stuff sack.

When i camped in Nov at a whoppin 35 degrees, I was pretty chilly and bummed because I hoped to use it on some trips later this winter when it would obviously be colder (or so I thought...as we are hitting record highs here in MN of nearly FIFTY DEGREES!).

Why do I feel like such a sucker?First of all, this was the first time I was investing in a "real" bag. I researched and tried to decide what would be best for me. I THOUGHT I was making a good decision. The salesperson helped confirm the decision. They also suggested I store my bag in a compression sack while backpacking, which I have now learned is what probly helped ruined it.

As I gain more knowledge and experience, i can look back and say that was NOT a wise purchase. Live and learn, expensively, I guess.*sigh*

I will probly take it back and see if they will do anything for me. In the meantime, I guess I will be grateful I have the opportunity for prodeals right now and will start searching for another bag.

carolyn

[ 01-09-2002: Message edited by: carolyn ]

[Tom]

Go for a down bag - but if you do, go for some extra ounces and get one with a moisture resistant shell. It allows you to be a little careless and not worry about getting the loft wet. It'll woork better in bivy sacks also. I've got a Marmot 0 degree that's on it's 4th season in good shape - although I don't have the resistant shell. If it's not below 15 or 20, I have to leave it partially unzipped so I don't sweat like a pig - very warm.

Tom

[willstrickland]

Water resistant shells are great if you're snow cave sleeping, or have bad condensation in the tent, BUT they don't do much if you're bag might really get wet. Why? Because the shell doesn't stop water from entering through the inside of the bag. Your pack goes in the drink and that down bag isn't in a dry-bag stuffsack and you're screwed.

I think you can just count on a synthetic bag losing a substantial amount of loft after 100-200 nights in it, especially if you're carrying it compressed. That's just part of it. Synthetics are cheap anyway, look around and you can easily get a 3D bag in the zero degree range for under $150. The manufacturer is not even an issue, because hell, polarguard 3D and taffeta nylon are the same regardless of who's sewing it together. By now, most compaines use differential baffling, ground level side seams, draft tubes, and articulated hoods. There are nice features on some for sure (I really like the hoods on SD bags) but it'll be a preference thing more than anything.

That said my bags are these:

15 deg 3D Sierra Designs with about 300 nights 20 deg 775-down/dryloft Feathered Friends w/200 nights15 deg 3D Marmot - new-20 deg 550-down REI w/50 nights

Winter snow camping: -20REISpring/fall: synthetic 15degfast/light or mountain route bivy insuarance: FFwall climbs: synthetic 15deg

I think we climbers, as a group, tend to have so much money invested in gear that we expect it to last forever. Reality is, shit wears out. I've gotten at least 300-400 nights out of a bag I paid $100 for, and I abused the thing. Slept in the dirt, carried it compressed, and still use it. Sure, it's more like a 35deg instead of 15deg now, but I'm aware of that and act accordingly. It just went from being an all around bag to being a summer bag. It was easily worth the money.

[Dan_Larson]

Wife picked me up a 0 degree polar pod REI rental sale for 70 bucks worked fine in the summer . How long do they rent those things before they sell them? are they usually shot or do they take pretty good care of them?

[James]

rei brand sleeping bags are shot from day 1. in my opinion (not that you will care) don't go cheap on your sleeping bags. ie only buy bags with high quality down/construction and if you're buying a synthetic get primaloft or polar guard delta. go to promountainsports for the primaloft bags.

[allthumbs]

I never rent bags. I'm always too worried about getting one the Pope pooped in. Just can't take that chance. Rock On!

[dbb]

I'd say go with a 0 deg down bag. The lightest you can find too. As will said, those dryloft-like shells are really only good if you're in a snowcave or a single wall tent (where it snow's all night long!) and they usually add almost a pound of weight.

I have a REI 0 down bag that is only 3 pounds! (Nylon) It has replaced my "summer" bag because it's a half pound lighter, and I can carry less clothes that way. For an all around bag, I find that 0 isn't too warm, nor too heavy. Go with down, especially out there in cold, dry MN, and it'll work great.

[Rodchester]

-5 REI Downtime 700 fill with Dryloft. Best down bag on the market for the money. They now use REI elements (or some version of it) rather thatn the Dryloft. Light, compressible and 700 fill is good stuff.