Old goose down...

[dougout]

Hi
First post, a question....
Does anyone know if goose down deteriorates over time? Will the down in a 30+ year old bag still be good? I'm tempted by an old bag I saw on Craigslist. Wondering if I could cannibalize it for an underquilt.

Thanks
Doug

[Dutch]

Hi
First post, a question....
Does anyone know if goose down deteriorates over time? Will the down in a 30+ year old bag still be good? I'm tempted by an old bag I saw on Craigslist. Wondering if I could cannibalize it for an underquilt.

Thanks
Doug

I have salvaged old down with good and bad results. I think the fill of the down when it was new has more to do with the present quality. The next thing is how was it stored and cared for. Washing it will prbably help restore a lot of abuse it has seen. Lastly I don't think real high quality down wasn't as prevelent as it is today since the UL craze hit. So I just wouldn't expect more then 600 fill. If it is more then you can be pleasently surprized. Perfect trees has down so inexpensive these days I just go for the better quality, but I played around with salvaged down for quite a while and still have and use that gear.

[Beast 71]

Many, many years ago my sister brought my dad's very old surplus mummy bag up camping and the down was so old it was pulverized into powder. The more she used it the more it pulverized and acted as a large powder puff. She had an allergic reaction to it that made her eyes swell shut

[Ramblinrev]

Old down is a crap shoot. You pays your money and you takes your chances. If it is <$10 it might be worth looking at. Otherwise, I'm not sure I would bother unless you 1) have a feel for good down and 2) know the person getting rid of it.