restoring loft?

**outdooraddict** · 03-07-2014, 22:15

I just got my 0 degree Incubator with 4oz overfill from another member on here. It's a few years old. Said it was freshly washed.

When I took it out of the box there was literally no down, all the way down the center of the uq. Is all I really have to do is let it sit out? I dont see how these voids will fill in? I'm new to down too, just wondering if there is anything I should try

**ShellHammock** · 03-07-2014, 22:21

yes, give it some time to loft. Shaking the quilt will help speed the lofting up, as well as evenly distribute the down. It may have been stored in a compressed state for a long time. Be sure to store it laying flat preferably, or in a large breathable bag, like a laundry bag.

**Mountnman** · 03-08-2014, 03:33

No heat setting in dryer with some tennis balls will help loft it up

**hutzelbein** · 03-08-2014, 03:34

If you have a drier with a low setting you could put the underquilt in there, together with a couple of tennis balls. This should help fluffing up the down. Maybe Google "washing down sleeping bag" for more detailed instructions and warnings.

If everything fails, you could always contact HG and ask if they would refill the underquilt. They are pretty helpful.

**Bobbinheadlodge** · 03-08-2014, 07:51

Originally Posted by outdooraddict

I just got my 0 degree Incubator with 4oz overfill from another member on here. It's a few years old. Said it was freshly washed.

When I took it out of the box there was literally no down, all the way down the center of the uq. Is all I really have to do is let it sit out? I dont see how these voids will fill in? I'm new to down too, just wondering if there is anything I should try

You need to move down. If it is as bad as mine, there IS no down to loft, so It won't loft. At the end of each baffle is a small opening. You need to hand feed, or vacuum feed the down from one cavity down or up to the empty ones. Then shake , loft. Compare. Rinse, lather, repeat.

Same exact sale, same exact problem. I spent two hours moving down, and still ...no way is it going to get me to 20degrees. Not happy right now.

**outdooraddict** · 03-08-2014, 07:53

Originally Posted by Bobbinheadlodge

Same exact sale, same exact problem. I spent two hours moving down, and it still no way is it going to get me to 20degrees.

That is irritating. Mine wouldn't even get me to 50 the way out is right now...

**12trysomething** · 03-08-2014, 08:00

I suggest reaching back to whom you bought it from, via PM.

**hutzelbein** · 03-08-2014, 08:11

I had a look at the For Sale thread; on the pictures the Incubator looks OK to me.

Before you complain to the seller, try shaking the quilt up vigorously - from the sides and from the ends. Then let it sit or hang for a day and see if it fluffs up. My down sleeping bags and underquilts always look kind of deflated when I had them compressed. Shaking and waiting usually fixes it.

Did you receive your quilt packed in the HG stuff sack? Or was it packed even smaller? There is a danger of breaking down when compressing it too much, but it should not be damaged if packed in the original size stuff sack.

**outdooraddict** · 03-08-2014, 08:21

Originally Posted by hutzelbein

I had a look at the For Sale thread; on the pictures the Incubator looks OK to me.

Before you complain to the seller, try shaking the quilt up vigorously - from the sides and from the ends. Then let it sit or hang for a day and see if it fluffs up. My down sleeping bags and underquilts always look kind of deflated when I had them compressed. Shaking and waiting usually fixes it.

Did you receive your quilt packed in the HG stuff sack? Or was it packed even smaller? There is a danger of breaking down when compressing it too much, but it should not be damaged if packed in the original size stuff sack.

I'm trying to have faith. Pictures I've seen look fine too. I did the dryer with no heat and tennis balls, shook the hell out of it and it's lying on the bed now. It wasn't over compressed, it was in a pretty good sized box.

**Bobbinheadlodge** · 03-08-2014, 08:25

I edited my reply. Look up top, read. You need to work the down. I was working mine when my new hg incubator 20 showed up in the mail. Holy crap what a difference.