Down or synthetic?

[barchetta]

As far as shelf life goes, which is going to last longer assuming proper care, left uncompressed, and haven't encountered any moisture?

I'm not concerned with price or weight, just which will last me the longest.

[psyon27]

Without any idea on what it is being used for, sounds like not at all, hard to tell you.

Sounds like you are trying to keep the best insulation as a commodity to be traded or sold later. If that is the case I would say the new waterproof down would be best, since there will likely be better synthetic insulations in the future.

Now if it is going to be used there are a lot of other considerations than shelf life of insulation.

Ken

[barchetta]

For an under quilt or top quilt.

[Shug]

I have always found my down to hold up better over the years…with proper care.
My 4¢ worth……
Shug

[BillyBob58]

I have had down be just as puffy 5 or 10 years after I got it. I have had synthetics lose 1/3 or more of their loft after 1 or 2 trips, or in a year or two.

But, my most recent synthetics- Climashield- seem to be holding up much better. But does this mean CS is more durable than Polarguard Delta etc, or is it because it is not in a sleeping bag where I am sleeping on top of the bottom layers? But rather in an UQ which is only snugged up against the outside of my hammock? That part I don't know. But my CS Yeti from 5 or 6 years ago seems just as lofty as it was then.

[gunner76]

In the early 70's I got my self a NF Ibex Down Sleeping Bag (rated to around or below 0) and got my girlfriend ( now wife ) a Snow Lion Synthetic Bag. We still use those bags in our hammocks as TQs. Must admit the wife's bag is in better shape as mine has seen alot more use over the years than hers.

[Penfold]

I think it comes to what are you using for and the climate of where you live. I have down, dri-down and synthetic sleeping bags and it all depends on time of year for me.

[pgibson]

But does this mean CS is more durable than Polarguard Delta etc, o

Yes it does. The newest synthetics are making massive strides forward compared to insulation's of yesterday.

They are warmer, lighter, compress better and last much longer than those from even 5-10 years ago. The improvements I have seen even just since taking over the KAQ line in the insulation's that we first started working with and what we are working with now is impressive.

[BillyBob58]

Very good to know, Paul!

[ADKrella]

I would really like to see a packed size comparison.
The price difference is quite substantial enough that the few ounces wouldn't matter if pack size was negligible .