Can I waterproof my down sleeping bag?
I own a Feathered Friends Swallow down sleeping bag with the regular nylon shell. I was wandering through the gear store the other day when I saw a product by Nikwax that was used to waterproof down garments, including sleeping bags. I would love to give my bag a waterproof treatment to keep the down perfectly dry, but I'm reluctant to do anything to my beloved bag in fear of daging it. What's your opinion of these products? Thanks Mike McLaughlin Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Of course, any good quality down bag already has a water-repellent coating on the shell, so this may be a case of gilding the lily. And keep in mind this process will not make the bag "waterproof." There are just too many needle holes in a down bag, and these always will offer a route for water to get in. Note as well that adding an extra layer of water-repellent coating may adversely affect the breathability of the bag. And that's important -- if a bag can't breathe, then condensation will form inside the insulation, wetting the down.
So I guess my advice is this: Unless you're having some wetness problems, skip the spray-on stuff. Get a slight sleeping bag cover instead, and use it when conditions warrant. Mountain Hardwear makes a nice one called the Conduit SL Bivy. Only $99, and weighs just over a pound.
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