RE: [pct-l] RE: feathered friends sleeping bag

[Ronald Moak <ronm@fallingwater.com>]

Feather Friends has a new exterior shell material option for their bags.
Although it's not listed on the website or even mentioned in the store. 

I went up to Seattle last Saturday and reviewed several bags before ordering
one. When I got home, I decided to change the fabric for the shell to the
PTFE fabric to add a bit more rain protection under the tarp.

I called the factory on Monday to change the order and was informed of the
other option. The new material is nylon that has undergone another process
to add waterproofing. Unlike Gore-Tex that is applied as a film that can
eventually wear off. This process bonds the waterproofing directly with the
nylon fiber. The result is that the proofing is permanent and adds
additional strength to the nylon. Since the nylon fiber no longer absorbs
water it does not need to dry out when wet like most coatings.

Now I have not seen the material, but I was told that it was at least as
breathable as the new lighter versions of Gore-Tex. They explained that this
material would probably replace both their existing nylon and PTFE shells
and become their primary choice. 

It's been in testing for the last couple of years and when it'll go into
full production I don't know. The added cost is about half that of PTFE
shell or aprox. $50 per bag.

The name of the material is Epic by NexTec Applications of California. 

Ron "Fallingwater" Moak
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