i took my down kit out for the first time this weekend and had a pretty bad experience. Although the kit was extremely warm and i went to great lengths to keep it dry, its somehow got damp (bag and jacket). I'm not sure if having my feet off the end of the roll mat, inside a bivy bag caused a condensation problem?
Anyway, both are damp now. I've got the jacket on a hanger airing, as that doesn't seem to bad, but the bag is a little worse. It smells a bit odd - probably the wet down? I've read on the web about how to clean them, but i doubt its time for that yet, since theyve both only been used once. Also heard about tumble drying with tennis balls. Is this necessary yet or can i just air them both?
I'm not knocking down, but i think i perhaps should have put more thought into when and where i use it!
frequently discussed (but always worth it!), down is generally great around the tent and IMHO not much use on the hill - it really doesn't take much sweat or condensation to render them form fabulous to pretty useless. Use them in the right places and they're indispensable. was a recent RAB thread where I posted their recommended cleaner, but you're right - just air them properly and you're probably OK for now. Old fashioned hollofill-type stuff is better for active use in my experience, but always have my down bag and jacket for after the fun!
Many thanks for the info - any idea how a down bag could get wet through a bivy bag though? I was using the alpkit hunka inside my tent because the groundsheet was leaking.
Although the kit was extremely warm and i went to great lengths to keep it dry, its somehow got damp (bag and jacket). I'm not sure if having my feet off the end of the roll mat, inside a bivy bag caused a condensation problem?
Maybe you were too hot - I've been there - takes a while to be aware of how much one is sweating , then once you notice it's too late...
You can get condensation in a bivvy bag fairly easily. "Breathable" is rarely breathable enough . While bivvy bags aren't so big a problem they need to be avpoided at all costs, t will generally be better if you can sleep outside of them. You can, or course, use them as simple groundsheets for a bit of extra protection compared to nothing.
You do need to be wary of the difference between damp, which is going to happen from time to time, and wet, which generally involves a pretty decent soaking. The former, while far from desirable, isn't actually a deal-breaker: it kept you warm, so it wasn't actually that wet, wet down having about as much insulation value as a, errr, not very insulative at all thing.
Tip #1, then, is get a new groundsheet and/or tent...
I've often had the outside shell of a bag get damp. Usually the foot, where it has come into contact with the tent walls. I've never had water actually pass through into the down, though. Airing the bag dries off the shell. If you had no mat or insulation under your feet, then that is a prime spot for condensation. Your feet have loads of sweat glands, and all that heat coming into contact with a cold tent groundsheet is asking for condensation.
The only time i have had down get soaked, was my own stupidity. I went for a stroll wearing a down jacket, on a cold winters morning. I thought it was too cold for rain, but it wasn't! It took days for the jacket to dry.
I suspect it's condensation from the bivibag, or dampness from clothes? Remember wool can absorb lots of water before feeling damp (30% of its weight??) so if you sleep in your socks, this could be where it comes from? I find that even in bothies, if you get too hot, you will get dampness on the outside of your sleeping bag - which I think probably looks worse that in it, as it's concentrated on the outer material. Ian - you say the kit was 'extremely warm' - so I suspect this might be the problem. You just need to be able to ventilate a bit more. Were you in a tent as well as a bivi bag?
My bags do not have side zips, so less easy to regulate heat. But if there's any doubt about dampness of socks, they come off - but may be put in fleece pockets to dry a little, from where there is more chance of the dampness making it to the top of the bag.
I always use down and rarely, very rarely, have a problem with it. And the weight and bulk saving is considerable. But I know that using it for prolonged periods in the wet could be difficult, if there's no chance of drying it.
Well I've spent the day with the radiator on max with jacket hanging up and bag stretched out on the floor and the jacket seems fine, and the bag, although not totally dry yet has lost its "wet dog" smell!
I think the down jacket got wet at the end of the weekend. After spening the whole weekend putting it away in a dry bag at the slightest hint of rain, i stuffed it in with waterproofs for on the way home. So my fault there!
I was using a wee airic and a hunka bivvy bag inside a terra nova hyperspace. Wasn't my tent, but had probably seen a lot of use as it was leant out to my group. Somehow water seeped through the wee airic and the bottom and top end of the bag got wet and the inside of the hunka felt damp. I'm guessing that i must have rolled off it in the night. Would this not have been a problem had i not used the hunka? I'm guessing the issue here wa show i used the kit.
I'm hoping to invest in a buffalo jacket soon, so i can wear that when its raining outside. As for the sleeping bag, i do a lot of kayaking, so perhaps synthetic would be worth looking into - do they make bags of similar weight as down for winter use?
i do a lot of kayaking, so perhaps synthetic would be worth looking into - do they make bags of similar weight as down for winter use?
We use down bags for our sea kayaking trips: if it travels in a good dry bag the fact you're on the water is a bit moot. You can get winter synthetic bags, but they're abit on the huge side.
keep down dry and it's fab weight/warmth/pack size- if you're in a position you absolutely can't keep it dry, then try something else.
BTW, I remember years ago sleeping in an orange plastic survival bag (just because!) and you get about a pint of water in perspiration over night in those things (if you breathe inside a lot more of course). Personally, I perspire heavily when exercising and find most 'breathability' claims definite overestimates for inside jackets and boots. If your groundsheet was leaking and your bivy was wet, it'll breather even less, if at all..... so don't go out and get a complete new set of gear just for the one bad night - hang on in there!
weights---- my down bag 1200 gms and reasonable size in stuff sack uncompressed----my synthetic bag about the same warmth 1250 gms and huge even in compression sack----both winter bags------persevere with your down bag especially as it kept you warm enough----damp is only a problem when you lose loft and start feeling cold
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. While bivvy bags aren't so big a problem they need to be avpoided at all costs, t will generally be better if you can sleep outside of them. You can, or course, use them as simple groundsheets for a bit of extra protection compared to nothing.
