[pct-l] Washing Down Bag

[Gail Van Velzer]

I still have a down bag I bought in 1978.  It still has all the loft it once 
had.  I gave it to my son because it's narrower than I can use now, but what 
I'm saying is that if you take care of it, it will last for decades.  I paid 
$450. for it then and that was wholesale.  I had a teacher who owned a 
sporting goods store and he was sent 2 lefts instead of a left and a right, 
so he sold it to me at his cost.  I scored!
Golly

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen Adams" <reddirt23 at att.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2015 7:50 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Washing Down Bag


> The big problem I found after a summer of hiking was that the down in the 
> hoods of my bags got clumped from hair oils.  I actually used some mild 
> shampoo and soaked and worked it into the hood using a bucket.  RInsed as 
> well as I could and then washed the entire bag with some REI down wash in 
> a larger tub, by hand.  It is a time consuming PITA.  Then into the dryer 
> with the tennis balls, and that takes a while and consumes a lot of energy 
> and or quarters as already mentioned.  Results, not bad, not as good as 
> new, but can get 'em better than mucky muck.  On the other hand, probably 
> could have got a new bag on sale somewhere and broke even on time and 
> expense.  But then again I get attached to my gear.  My old REI Sub Kilo 
> bag is still hangin in there down to about 30 degrees.
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