polarguard Delta vs. down
Hello all. just want some advice because i am about to buy my sleeping bag for my Long Trail through hike this summer…
I am torn between insulation, which is better, synthetic polarguard delta or 600 fill down?
Here are the links to the bags i am interested in…
or
http://www.rei.com/product/47855366.htm?vcat=REI_HP_LD
Conch Shell
Unfortunately there is no one answer to that question. Both down and synthetic fill each have their positives and negatives.
Pound for pound, down is the superior insulator (ie 14oz of 600 fill down will insulate and loft more then 14oz of polarguard delta). However, down will lose most or all of its insulating value when wet and/or dirty. Synthetic fills tend to retain most of their insulating ability when wet. Down bags require a little more maintenance then synthetc bags and can be difficult to wash. Down bags tend to be signifigantly lighter then same temp. rated synthetic bags. I have also heard that down will last longer if properly cared for.
The Sierra Designs bag you chose would definitely be my choice between the two, mainly because it has a waterproof/breathable shell so getting the down wet would not be an issue.
I would personally think of a good down bag as an investment piece that you will keep for a long long time. So if it is a posibility to spend a little more money and get a lighter bag (3lbs 3oz’s is pretty heavy) I would definitely do so. Maybe look for the same temp rating (15 degrees) but in an 800 fill down bag like the Marmot Helium or Western Mountaineering Ultralight.
Should you stay with your original choices I am sure you will be very happy as well. Good luck, hope this helps.
pct05
Down bags are great, but I like to know my insulation isn’t lost if my sleeping bag gets wet. I opted for a synthetic and just dealt with the extra weight, but this is coming from a weekender and not a thru-hiker. The security of knowing you will be warm is advantageous. Maybe, though, doing a long-distance, month-long venture makes a difference.
Suvid
Like any equipment, the right choice depends on the task at hand. For 3 season backpacking I think Down is by far the best choice. You just need to be careful to keep your bag dry. It’s hard to get the bag very wet if you are reasonably careful.
I took a tumble on a stream crossing and my pack went in the water with the sleeping bag strapped to the back… I had it in it’s water resistant stuff sack and the water did not penetrate the sack despite the dunking. I also had a down for 5 days of non-stop rain and it did not get wet, and I’m pretty klutzy and un-systematic.
If you get it wet, in warm weather, its not life or death and it would be very hard to get it so wet that it would lose all its insulation. If you are really worried about that, get a water resistant or water proof lining.
I used the Western Mountaineering Caribou to do the N.H. AT and loved it. In August, I never even zipped it up for a 2 week hike even when camping above 4,000 ft. Getting a full length zip allows you to use it as a blanket, or - on warm nights - have it aside to be used as a blanket if it gets really cool.
For long winter trips, you need to worry about build up of condensation and that can be a real problem for down insulation - there synthetic makes more sense to me. Also, the consequences of compromised insulation are more severe.
pedxing
I’ve done AT-thru with 0 deg. syn. and 0 deg. down. If you are doing the LT in the summer then go with a down bag. It will be a wiser investment and you might as well jump into it feet first if it’s summer time. Also, I’m a REI co-op memeber but I would suggest going to campmor.com or sierratradingpost.com and buying your bag. I bet you could find a 35-40 deg. 800 fill down bag that would normally cost 200-300 dollers for about a 100 dollers and you would get your bag weight down to just over a pound.
frozenstiff
Winter, I use synthetic, just because down bags suck if you get them wet. Sure, it can be difficult to get a down bag wet if you are careful, but it can still happen (leaky shelter, tent, extreme condensation, hiking in rainy seasons like 2003 or 2004). Synthetic bags are awesome “dryers,” too, if you have damp clothes. Just zip yourself up, and let your body heat and it’s insulation do the work. It doesn’t work as well w/ down, because of the insulation breakdown when moisture is introduced.
For summer, I’ll carry a down bag, sometimes just a liner. It’s lighter, and you don’t have to worry so much about hypothermia.
bearbait
I have used both down and synthetic bags during extended 3-season camping here in the mts of CO. I prefer my down bag over synthetic because of it’s lighter weight and more compact stuffed size. In summer my WM caribou (+35) is fine for most trips, except for an occasional cold night at high altitudes, but then I just bundle up in a few clothes and have been fine. In fall I switch to my Marmot Pinnacle (+15)and have been very glad for the extra warmth during some extended snow and cold periods.
Regardless of which bag I take, I always put a trash compactor bag inside the stuff sack and I have never had a problem with my bag getting wet enough to compromise heat retention (actually, I can’t remember it ever having gotten wet at all).
Any more, it seems that my synthetic bag usually stays at home.
The Band-aid Kid