Can I restore the insulating quality of a down sleeping bag?
I have a 25-year-old EMS mummy-style down bag that was originally rated to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. On a recent camping trip in New Mexico at an elevation of about 9,500 feet, the temperature got down to about 25 degrees at night and I was very uncomfortably cold (and I one who enjoys cold weather). Is there any hope of restoring any of the insulating quality of this bag or is its life over? Phil Houston, Texas
I have a 25-year-old EMS mummy-style down bag that was originally rated to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. On a recent camping trip in New Mexico at an elevation of about 9,500 feet, the temperature got down to about 25 degrees at night and I was very uncomfortably cold (and I one who enjoys cold weather). Is there any hope of restoring any of the insulating quality of this bag or is its life over? Phil Houston, Texas
A: A good down sleeping bag can be one of the longer-lasting pieces in ones gear quiver. Theyre not (usually) exposed to wind, abrasion, and rain, the nylon or polyester shells are really quite durable, and the down filling typically holds up much longer than its synthetic cousin. My brother uses a Feathered Friends down sleeping bag that I purchased some 18 years ago, and its still going strong (albeit it never saw extended heavy use). Another issue is that one can become cold in all sorts of odd situations, due to fatigue, lack of food, damp underwear, whatever. So because you were cold that one night doesnt necessarily mean the sleeping bag has croaked.
Nikwax Down Wash
That said, the bag may be near the end of its natural life, or in need of some TLC. If you really like the bag, its certainly worth trying to save it by taking it to a laundromat and washing it with a down-specific cleaner such as Nikwax Down Wash ($9; www.rei.com). Dry it thoroughly in a dryer, tossing in a few tennis balls to knock the down clumps around and break them up. Then give the bag a good shake and lay it out. If it was rated to minus 20 when new, it should have at least six inches of loft. You also should be able to hold it up to a bright window or light without seeing voids in the down.
If the bag is flattish and voids appear, then the bag is kaput. Thats the way it goes25 years is a good, long life for any piece of outdoor gear. New bags rated to minus 20 arent cheap, but if you think of it as a long-term investment, theyre not so bad. Western Mountaineerings Puma Super Microfiber is a minus-15 bag that has lots of durable 850-fill down and a high-performance polyester shell. Its $510 for a regular-size bag (www.westernmountaineering.com). EMS also still makes bags, of course, including the Mountain Light -20, which uses 725-fill down and costs a bargain $299 (www.ems.com). It weighs four pounds, versus the three pounds, four ounces for the Puma, but thats not too bad.
