Re: [pct-l] Sleeping Bags

[Bighummel@aol.com]

I found the same thing as Owen.  I had a light weight 5 or 10 degree, high 
quality down bag made in the early 70's and it lasted only about six or seven 
years before it had lost most of its effective warming potential.  Now, I'll 
admit that the baffle design was simplistic compared to today's bags and that 
the down might not have been of the quality that FF uses.  

However, I used a NF Bigfoot in '77 made of the first generation of 
Polarguard.  It was designed to be a 5 or 10 degree bag they said.  In 
temperatures around that I found it to be barely adequate.  Twenty three 
years later I can't justify buying a new bag because after three washings the 
bag still keeps me plenty warm down into the twenties.  I haven't used it in 
any colder weather than that in many years (yes, I have become a cold weather 
wimp) so I can't really say how low it would still keep me warm.  There is 
more of me to keep warm now, too, 25% more body mass!

This bag kept me warm thru 9 straight days and nights of cold rain in the Nth 
Cascades where everything got wet in my pack, tent, clothes, sleeping bag, 
etc.  It was impossible to keep everything dry even carefully using a two 
man, double wall tent.  

So if you're buying a bag with longevity anywhere in the equation, think 
synthetic.  I understand that the new Polarguard is lighter, warmer and just 
as durable.

IMHO,

Greg "Strider" Hummel
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