Sleeping Bags

Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004
From: "Jim Moss: BSA Law"
Subject: RE: [Philmont]: Sock Dryer & Down bags

(...on putting damp socks inside sleeping bag to 'dry'...)

This discussion became quite interesting. I would never put anything wet, moist, damp or that I had worn that day in a down sleeping bag. I even go to the point of stripping and sitting on my pad to dry off for as long as I can stand it so any moisture on my body evaporates.

Any moisture in down sleeping bag is going to decrease the insulating qualities of the bag. Moisture wicks from the heat source away from the heat source. Consequently, moisture is going to move from the clothing next to your body into the down in the bag. The bag is going to retain that moisture until several things happen: The bag gradually increases in weight as your accumulate water in the bag. (To test this theory, get a very good scale and weigh your sleeping bag before and after a multi-day trip. Or if you have not cleaned your down bag since you purchased it now. The weight increase will surprise you.)

I also do not use any liners in my down bags, except something that does not hold water such as nylon or silk. Silk works to keep dirt from building up when sleeping in the same bag for weeks.

As the moisture content in the down increases the insulating properties of the bag are going to decrease significantly. The moisture keeps the down from "fluffing" and thus insulating. After a few days of accumulating moisture, your bag becomes a freezer.

I have my down bag that I carried to Philmont when I was a kid 1967. I still use the bag. I wash it with a down wash and fluff dry in a dry with tennis balls in the dryer if necessary. After every trip I turn the bag inside out in the sun and let is air for several days until I know it is thoroughly dry. Eliminating the moisture and dirt, without removing the oils in the down that create loft, allows the down the bag to retain its insulating value. My down bags are then stored in large stuff, breathable stuff sacks. By large I mean 10 times the volume of the stuff sack I use when backpacking.

Many of you may have heard me comment on using a waterproof stuff sack for my sleeping bags. I am so paranoid about getting any moisture in my bag I carry it in a waterproof stuff sack. I keep my bags in a bivy sack in the tent to keep moisture (mainly chicken soup) off my bags. Fist thing every morning if feasible, I lay my bag on top of my tent inside out to get moisture out of it. I am fastidious about keeping my down bags dry on trips.

Moisture of any type and down is a bad combination.

If I am working a river trip, I use manmade insulation. Only works 7-8 years, but they do not have the problems of not insulating when wet.

As for drying clothes. I put "attics" in all of my tents. I like the Sierra Designs one and the one that comes with Moss tents the best. If you don't want to buy one, you can make one out of line and light mesh. Even line tired across the corners and in an X pattern across the top will allow you to lay out clothes. (Those lines across increase a tents stability significantly. Several high end mountaineering tents come with an internal guy line system to increase stability in wind.) I lay my clothes out on the attic in such a way that everything can dry over night. If the tent is properly ventilated most items will dry completely overnight. If I don't have enough room, I put socks and insulating layer up. (I also stick my watch and headlamp in the attic unless there is a side pocket for those. Easier to find in the middle of the night.)

- Jim

James H. Moss, JD, Editor
Outdoor Recreation & Fitness Law Review:
Email: jmoss@coloradomtn.edu
http://www.coloradomtn.edu/programs/sao/home.html
Personal Email: jhmoss@earthlink.net