Down or synthetic

[Chrisp70]

We had a little thunder Storm come through. 20 miles from the house they had some hail. I grabbed a few sleeping bags and through them over the hoods of my jeeps. We recieved about 2" of rain. Hung the bags up the next morning after work they were dry enough little moisture in the footbox.

I would love to have a lower pack volume in the colder months. I'm thinking I will go with a HH SS for the increased mosquito protection (double layering) and winter time warmth. I can add a little more Insulation to the SS maybee even a 3/4 or 1/2 down Underquilt. I can't justify a full down top quilt with my moisture problem and dry time in the morning even in my lower moisture winter (still over 60% humidity). During the summer time I use a just a silk homemade bag liner. I just have to have a cover of some type to fall asleep.

[Chrisp70]

Animal Control I have read the DWR will slow down dry time on bags. Makes sense to me. I hear alot of people complain about goretex shoes not drying after you drown them.

Drown the shoes not the people :-)

[animalcontrol]

Animal Control I have read the DWR will slow down dry time on bags. Makes sense to me. I hear alot of people complain about goretex shoes not drying after you drown them.

Drown the shoes not the people :-)

I agree that DWR would slow drying if you have a sleeping bag zipped up. But a quilt opened up on a line I would guess it wouldn't make much difference. The interior shell should be uncoated and any necessary drying would happen through it.
With anything down, prevention of getting wet is the primary focus.

PS - I'm not a fan of gortex footwear...it simply doesn't breath well enough IMO

[tmont]

I battled the same question, now using JRB UQ. Just returned from 3 days on AT and had one morning in the low 30's with snow, kept me dry and warm. Appreciate the way down compresses into the pack to keep volume down.