[pct-l] One more sleeping bag question

[Steel-Eye]

Good morning, Sean,

I've not used an EQ covered bag but my bag works just fine with the standard
DWR treatment.  I sleep under the stars almost all of the time, and in the
morning the outer fabric will usually be damp - or sopping wet - from dew or
frost, but I shake off the worst of it then pack the bag damp.  At the first
opportunity I stop and spread the bag to dry in the sunlight.  I never stuff
or compress the bag tightly.  In a short period in the sun the fabric will
be dry.  A typical air-out break can be seen at:
http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=231359&back=1  Once or twice in
the process I squish the bag flat to force out any humid inside air, then
fluff it up again to draw dry air back in.

Many people worry needlessly about a down bag becoming damp and "useless",
but down does not have any great affinity for water - remember it was
designed to cover a goose's butt while it floats on a pond -- even though
much of the water-resistant oil is removed from the down during a cleaning
process.  If you've ever smelled an oily goose you might agree that's a good
thing.

Steel-Eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sean Carey" <seanpct75 at gmail.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 10:55 PM
Subject: [pct-l] One more sleeping bag question


>I am going to be getting the marmot helium 15 for sure. The thing is. I
>have
> just read it is not waterproof. The marmot helium eq on the other hand is
> waterproof, but will cost more money. I am already going to be spending
> more
> than I had planned on the sleeping bag in the first place. I am getting
> and
> will be using a serenity net tent and a gatewood cape for my tent. I am
> wondering how much do I need to worry about my sleepig bag getting wet? I
> know that when it rains there is condensation on many tent walls inside.
> For
> some reason I thought the helium had some water protection. I now have
> read
> that it doesn't. The eq does, but once again is more money.
>
> Short and simple. Do I need to worry about this? Is it very much worth
> spending the extra money to get the EQ vs the regular?
>
> Thank you very much again.
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