I've been looking at down filled sleeping bags. I currently have a 3 season synthetic bag that I've never been cold in (I don't do winter wild camping) that I paid £70 for. If it gets damp I air it out for a while and it's fine. When I want to wash it I chuck it in the machine then peg it on the line for an hour or 2 and again, fine. Given the very time consuming instructions for washing and/or drying a down filled bag the only pro I can see for down over synthetic is pack size/weight. Granted that's quite a big pro but worth paying more than double what I paid for my synthetic bag? Am I missing something? Has anyone "upgraded" to a down bag and regretted it?

Its mainly a weight/pack size issue for down vs synthetic.

Dont think i'd ever wash my down bag unless it was really dirty. Usually give mine a good airing after use and before storage, try and keep it clean and maybe a wipe down with a damp cloth now and again.

I washed my 10 year old down bag as I thought the cupboard it was stored in (which backed onto a shower room) had let it get damp over a long period. I wasn't going to sleep in it as it was so figured it was kill or cure. I used the Nikwax down wash/proof and was well until the drying process, it took hours in the tumble dryer....

I've since bought a Thermarest Haven. For weight Vs warmth with a decent mat I don't think there is much that can touch it.

Thanks for the replies, think I'll stay with what I've got until size/weight becomes an issue. On a related note, at what point does a quilt become a valid alternative to a bag?

Davesmate wrote:Thanks for the replies, think I'll stay with what I've got until size/weight becomes an issue. On a related note, at what point does a quilt become a valid alternative to a bag?

If it works for you, rock it 8-)

I don't get the second question :?

Johnny - did you chuck a couple of tennis balls into the dryer with the bag?

When researching down bags I came across down quilts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdoRoJDXTuw just looks like a sleeping bag without a zip to me. Common sense tells me it suits warmer climes but can't help wondering if I've missed the point.

Davesmate wrote:..... but can't help wondering if I've missed the point.

A bit, ask Stu especially when paired with a good mat.

They work on the principle that insulation from a bag, crushed when you lie on it, is just surplus to requirements. Usually no hood and a bit lighter than an equivalent rated trad' bag.

Ah I see, so purely a weight/size saving exercise then.

Yeah, I had those spiky dryer balls in there and I stopped it every so often to break up the clumps, etc. it was a pretty heavy duty bag for alpine use.

Regarding quilts, my Haven has no insulation on the bottom either. I was initially skeptical of the concept but paired with my Neoair Xtherm I have a bag/mat combo of about a kilo that keeps me nice and toasty. I'm tempted by a synthetic quilt for use in the summer as I'd like to do an extended trip bivvying and not worry about damp down.

Davesmate wrote:Ah I see, so purely a weight/size saving exercise then.

That and more comfort if you don't like being "trapped" in a bag or move about in your sleep I guess.

Quilt ... not for everyone, but for many once they've used one they don't go back to a sleeping bag.

Quilt Pros:
• Less weight for a given comfort rating. My Golite Ultra20 is rated to -7 and weighs 570g, my Enlightened is rated to -20 and weighs a fraction under 1kg.
• Less bulk for a given comfort rating.
• No feelings of being confined.
• Easy to ventilate, so suitable for a wide temp range.
• Can be worn around camp ... if you don't mind looking like you're selling pegs.
• Custom options easily available for much less than a custom sleeping bag.

Quilt Cons:
• Usually no hood so you might need a hat.
• May feel the odd draft (until you get used to using it).
• Must be used in conjunction with a good mat - 3/4 length mats will usually still be fine.

Because of the way I sleep i'm interested in one, can you recomend some dealers/sites to check out?

Because of the way I sleep i'm interested in one, can you recomend some dealers/sites to check out?

Not much available in the UK Ray. UKhammocks are about the only quilt makers I can think of or you might turn up an old stock Golite somewhere.

I'd certainly take a look at http://www.enlightenedequipment.com/ in the US. You can pretty much have whatever you like, prices are VERY good as is the quality. It looks like they've made a few changes for this year which should make them even better.

Arklight in France do a couple of quilts/top bag hybrids (good if you don't like draughts) and also have stocks of down and synthetic Golite quilts: http://www.arklight-design.com/PBSCCata ... ID=1047032

I was fairly skeptical but I am finding my golite sythetic quilt very comfortable to sleep under on a decent mat. More like being in bed and less like camping.

Probably going to pick up a thermal sleeping bag liner to sleep in under it if it's really cold but not got round to researching good non silk/wool content ones yet

I don't think Mat (Ukhammocks) site does him justice. I spent ages writing out a wish list thinking I was inventing something a bit new so I could have a potential combo TQ / UQ / extra TQ to uprate a summer one. Emailed over this long list and got a reply in 5 minutes "yep, £1% (IIRC), it's a standard thing we do", except it wasn't on the site

All I'm saying is if you can't see what you're after on the site, drop him a line. I've got a couple of his quilts and they are very warm (TQ and UQ), use really good down and seem well made.

I've also got a Revelation which I haven't used enough (at all) to come to a decent impression yet.

Davesmate wrote:Thanks for the replies, think I'll stay with what I've got until size/weight becomes an issue. On a related note, at what point does a quilt become a valid alternative to a bag?

I've found that a quilt is only a valid alternative to a bag if you sleep warm anyway. When I did sleep warm I used a quilt but now I don't sleep warm I can't sleep well without a bag. My other problem with a quilt (I have used RayWay and Jacks R better Hudson River quilts) is that as you turn you spill warm air out under the quilt edges. Draft strips and tucking it in don't prevent that happening but it can't happen with a closed bag.