[pct-l] Sleeping Bags, Down vs Synthetic

[Steven.Setzer at Colorado.EDU (Steve Setzer)]

Its true that a wet synthetic bag will insulate better than a wet down
bag.  But it still won't instulate well.  In fact, almost not at all
(depending on how wet).  The big advantage is that synthetic dries much
faster than down.  If you do get your bag wet, regardless of whether or
not its synthetic or down, you will have a miserable nights sleep.
Unless you're hypothermic or about to die, I doubt if you would notice
that the synthetic bag is insulating a little better.

Down is much more comfortable, is lighter, compresses better, and retains
its loft much better.  So it stays warmer and in better shape for a lot
longer.  A synthetic bag probably wouldn't last one thru hike - at
least not in terms of its loft and heat retention.

Anyway its mostly dry along the PCT.  I think it would be better to use a
down bag and keep it dry.  That's what I'll be doing but its just my
opinion.  I don't like synthetic bags much.

steve


On Fri, 21 Nov 2003, Sean Crookham wrote:

> I have been thinking long and hard about the pros and cons and whether I
> will use a down or synthetic bag on my hike next year. Down is the obvious
> winner in the weight vs Heat retention category. I know I will have at least
> 1 pound excess weight due to synthetic. However, synthetic will retain heat,
> even when wet. This seems like a huge issue to me because I've heard and
> read so many horror stories about hikers with wet sleeping bags. It would
> seem to me that for the sake of morale and comfortable rest that synthetic
> is the winner.
>
> I think that the exhaustion, low morale, discomfort and even illness that
> could be attributed to a wet sleeping bag makes me choose synthetic over
> down. What are everyone else's thoughts on the subject? Also does anyone
> know of any low weight quality synthetic bags out there?
>
> Thanks,
> Sean
>
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