RE: [Philmont]: Sock Dryer & Down bags

 
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:
http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/law_review/index.html
The Outdoor Recreation & Fitness Law Reviews are publications for members of

the Outdoor Recreation, Adventure Travel, Hospitality and Fitness Industry.
For more information email me at: lawreview@snewsnet.com

Outdoor Law Specific Email: outdoorlaw@earthlink.net
Fitness Law Specific Email: fitnesslaw@earthlink.net

Upcoming 2 day Outdoor Recreation, Risk Management, Insurance and Law
Seminar Information at the Wilderness Education Association annual
conference: http://www.weainfo.org/conferences.html

Professor: Ski Area Operations, Risk Management: An online Ski Area Risk
Management Course
Email: jmoss@coloradomtn.edu
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Golden, CO 80402
303-807-2275

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Received on Sat Nov 20 18:00:04 2004