Down sleeping bag vs synthetic... I finally made the switch after a wet trip

Last fall I took my 20 degree down bag on a 4 day trip in the Adirondacks and got caught in a heavy rain on day two. Even with a tent fly, the humidity soaked through and my bag lost almost all its loft. I spent two cold nights pretending I was warm. After that I bought a synthetic bag rated for 15 degrees from REI for $180. It's heavier by about a pound and takes up more space in my pack, but it kept me warm even when it got damp on the next trip. I'm not saying down is bad for dry climates, but for the wet northeast I think synthetic is the smarter choice. Has anyone else made the switch and regretted losing the packability?

2 comments

2 Comments

faith273d ago

That Adirondack trip sounds brutal, I switched for the same reason after a wet Catskills hike.

iris_barnes873d ago

That wet hike changed my mind too @faith27, I used to love cotton socks.