Rant: My sleeping bag was useless for years because of one dumb mistake

I spent three seasons shivering in my old down bag, convinced it was just a cheap model. Last month in the White Mountains, a guy at the next site saw me packing it and asked if I ever washed it with regular detergent. I always had, about twice a year. He told me that soap strips the natural oils from the down, killing its loft and warmth. I got home, washed it with a special down cleaner, and it puffed up like new. Has anyone else wrecked their gear by using the wrong soap?

4 comments

4 Comments

danielowens1mo agoTop Commenter

Yeah, I used to think that didn't matter either.

kelly_adams241mo ago

I saw a whole thread on a hiking forum last year where people were arguing about how often to wash down bags. The general takeaway was that unless you're actually getting it dirty, once a year is plenty, which makes sense to me. @lisas78 has a point, twice a year does seem like a lot of washing. That thread is also where I first learned you need that special soap, otherwise the down just clumps together forever. It's one of those things you don't know until you wreck a good piece of gear.

lisas781mo agoMost Upvoted

Wait, you washed a down bag twice a year?

drews5515d ago

That "clumps together forever" line from kelly_adams24 is so real. I did the exact same thing with my first good puffy jacket. Used regular laundry soap a few times and it turned into a flat, sad pancake. Took two washes with Nikwax to even get it back to half its loft.