Down Addiction?

The best way to cure down addiction is to use a synthetic comforter for a week. Then, your down duvet will feel positively heavenly — and you can re-dedicate your MYOG quilt to camping use — and not wear it out prematurely. :)

Allison,

Uh, how can I break this to you?

There is this Down & Fuzzy Sheep recovery group that I know….I would be totally willing to sponsor you if you want.

But I have to tell you that I can only join you on half the meetings, as I split my time between this group and the Latex & eVent Fetish Recover Group that I go to on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Yeah, you are a little odd, but I find that in my "off" time I am wearing clothing and gear that I use for backpacking because it is light and so functional that I can not help myself from using it all of the time.

-Tony

>Does anyone else have a problem with down, or am I just wierd?

Not weird, at least not weirder than I am. I think I react to high quality down gear in the same way my cat does to catnip – I just want to rub my face in it and purr. I know that several of the down bag manufactures make comforters out of their down and fabrics because of people just like you. Unfortunately, they're not cheap either – WM's Cloud 9 comforter runs $340 US for a queen.

>I just want to rub my face in it and purr

Yeah. that's it EXACTLY. My cat actually reacts the same way to my quilt as I do!

The Cloud 9 comforter is an in inferior option as it has no extra puffy baffles. I think I'm addicted to baffles as well!

Tony, although I have finally admitted I have a problem, I am not yet ready to be cured. As a mitigating factor, I have an ankle with osteoarthritis that hurts a lot when flexed down. Most heavier bed covers cause this to happen (I'm a back sleeper) unless I put a pile of pillows or something by my foot to make a canopy…so maybe I can have a medical excuse for my 'problem'?

Seriously, given that you are avoiding pain….yeah, can not fault you on using your gear in that way.

On the silly side of things…..what is everyone else's excuse since you have a medical one?

BPLers Backpacking Fetish Support Group Starting Now!

>what is everyone else's excuse since you have a medical one?

Well, I also have non-medical addictions (more like weaknesses). Titanium is pretty sexy, and cuben is titillating, but I don't use either at home (yet).

I also seem to have an excess of alcohol stoves. I do play with them a lot in the kitchen…

Allison,

STOP THAT SORT OF CRAZY TALK!

You are getting me all hot and bothered…LOL!

Nothing sexier than a woman wearing a tight fitting cuben dress and holding a titanium mug with an alcoholic drink. :)

God, I really need to attend my group meeting…..

-Tony

OK, Tony I'll change the subject so you can cool down.

I have some pretty strong aversions which I may also need help with. I loathe velcro. I mean really really hate the stuff. Synthetics in general bug me, especially stuff like Taslan, fleece, and polyester knit wear. I find they make my skin dry and itchy, and create static electricity that also collects fluff. On the other hand, I am allergic to most wool too!

I hate wearing hats. I think people look silly in hats, and they make my head hot and sweaty.

Deet YUCK! Lycra double yuck.

Boy, this is getting the point where this should be under chaff. :)

Now that I have had time to cool down and breath into a paperbag for a few minutes, I have to say that I love my dorky Sunday Afternoon Hat.

I even wore it while walking to work for a few weeks…not now, as I bike to work now.

People would drive by and yell out to mock my beloved hat.

Embrace your inner gear geek!

Base on the fact that you are allergic to wool and synthetics make you itchy….what in the heck are you wearing on the trail????

Or do I want to know…..

There are some silk/merino blends that aren't too bad next to skin, and BPL merino seems to be fine enough it doesn't cause problems. It's the first wool product I can stand next to skin. But most of the time I just wear a nylon shirt (woven, not knit) and a cotton or silk tee in summer.

I really do have to say that the BPL merino wool thermals, shorts, and hoody are pretty amazing.

Hard to believe that they are wool.

On the trail, I just wear a synth long sleeve shirt and some REI synth pants with zip off legs to convert them to shorts and my dorky hat.

I like alot Patagonias Body and Base Layer items on my wife (no I do not wear these items myself). She is likely tired of getting these type items from me for every birthday and Christmas. I've even given these items to her on my birthday, a gift for me from me.

Now where did I put the Patagonia catalog?

>I really do have to say that the BPL merino wool thermals, shorts, and hoody are pretty amazing.

>Hard to believe that they are wool.

As long as we're staying off-topic, I agree. I originally got a LS merino shirt for my son, but when I felt the fabric I just had to "give it a try". It really feels more like silk to me. Amazing, all these years in NZ, and the only pure wool shirt I can stand to wear is made in Fiji from NZ wool that is imported into USA, and back here again!

When I said I didn't like, synth, I meant most of the older synth fabrics that were notoriuos for static issues. There are many new nylons on the market that don't suffer from this at all, and feel more like cotton than nylon.

Easy!

Buy a lighter down comforter.

We have two. One is for deep cold and weighs a ton. The other is a summer weight one from Lands End. It is light and airy.

The other thing is we don't use a cover on ours. Doesn't breathe as well.

Yes, it does get dirty faster (especially with our cats all over it), I just get it cleaned when it gets bad.

I only sleep with down. ;-)

Well Allison, your quilt is beautiful, and will probably last forever, so why not use it as much as you can? And best of all, if it starts to wear out, you know how to fix it, since you made it!! I'm always terrified of "using things up," probably the result of terrible childhood poverty–I don't think my family, who lived in Hawaii, owned a single down-filled item.

I'm not sure what kind of down you used in your quilt, 650, 750, 850, but I think the standard used in most commercial duvets is 12. Well, maybe it's not that bad, but no wonder your quilt feels so much better.

This thread had me searching the archives for one of my favorite posts from bpl. Yarn weaver Larry Savage wrote it and I hope he doesn't mind me pulling off the covers.

Skaha Plus Va Va Voom

My work took me up to the Methow River, a mere 30 miles from the Twisp area where I inadvertly found myself wandering around looking for Nunatek,[they are not listed in the local phonebook]. A quick trip to the local library and a moment with their computer yielded phone number and address, which caused a driveby forcing my cellphone to dial which led to a physical googling of products whilst chatting up Tom which forced my checkbook to be released from lockdown. A flurry of measurements occured and the wheels of industry were set in motion for a Skaha Plus. There is nothing like a handcrafted product from beautiful intelligent people. When a cold snap hit soon after Tom called telling me he would personally deliver it to me via succesion of bakeries south. I assured him I would never ever wear this for work and didn't have a trip planned so he mailed it to me instead. Of course I haven't taking it off since well except to convince my spouse it was lingerie, big puffy beautiful lingerie… but that is another story I shan't tell here.

"Ever since I made this quilt, I have been using it as my main bed spread."

I feel so much better now. I have been feeling guilty about sleeping with my GoLite Ultra 20 every night for the last…. I can't say how many night…

This thread is such great hilarity! I think I must join the rehab group. I always use my titanium pots and spoons when I decide to eat ramen.

One time, my girlfriend and I decided to pitch the tent (2-person MSR Fling) inside our bedroom and sleep in it for a night. She looked at me funny at first but she eventually gave in. Is there something wrong with me/us?

Mmmmm… Problem? No problems. Gear takes over most of my home; how is that a problem? I once had an ultralite kevlar canoe hanging from my living room ceiling that made a quite nice amber-colored lamp shade. I also have problems with down, and with stoves. And packs. And shelters. I'm working on a sleeping bag/quilt sorta like Allison's; can be used as a two-person quilt or one-person bag. It will be plush and silk-shelled. I somehow fail to see how it won't spend a bunch of time on my bed…

I am stuck living in a city right now. My gal is good enough to understand my occasionally overwhelming urges to "get out" and camp, and we've had to set up a tent in the living room a few times. I might have to spend a few nights on the porch, particularly on cold nights…

Go gear nuts!

I can't afford a down addiction. I have a thing for titanium. I keep buying stuff made out of titanium. How many Ti utensils, cups and pots does a person need? I drink coffee out of a titanium cup every morning and I eat lunch with titanium utensils every day. I got a Ti fork, spoon and knife for x-mas. I’ll never use them for backpacking but they go in my lunchbox every day. I thought about getting some of those Ti chopsticks or that cool looking Ti SP French coffee press. I don’t know why, I won’t likely put those things in my pack, they are just to cool. I’m sure if I got my down sleeping bag out and started using it around the house I would develop the same problem. Especially in this below zero weather.

>Well Allison, your quilt is beautiful, and will probably last forever, so why not use it as much as you can? And best of all, if it starts to wear out, you know how to fix it, since you made it!! I'm always terrified of "using things up," probably the result of terrible childhood poverty–I don't think my family, who lived in Hawaii, owned a single down-filled item.

>I'm not sure what kind of down you used in your quilt, 650, 750, 850, but I think the standard used in most commercial duvets is 12. Well, maybe it's not that bad, but no wonder your quilt feels so much better.

Well, James, the down in MYOG quilt was 800+fp from Thru-Hiker, and the shell is 0.8oz/yd-the lightest I could find. BUT, my 'bought' duvet has a light cotton shell, and highest quality down from Poland. It is made with sqaures instead of channels, so the down is perfectly distributed to 4" loft all over. Sooooo, I think Sarah and you both have good points. I will enjoy both of my quilts, but without a cover, and just wash as needed. I really think it was the duvet cover that was causing the problem. Maybe some day I'll get some UL silk and make light covers. I'll enjoy the Polish quilt in winter and the MYOG in summer. I'm soooo glad I brought the subject up. I feel so much better now.

Titanium: I just realised I have a serious addiction here too, but again it's a medical addiction, so I guess it's OK. I have lots of titanium screws, pins and plates in my ankle, the same one that necessitates a light quilt to be comfortable. I now believe in embracing one's addictions!

"I have lots of titanium screws, pins and plates in my ankle"

yeah, buddy! if you dont have plates and screws somewhere in your body, you havent been living!

(hopefully, nonesuch in your head)

i luv me some down too… I make stupid things on my machine just to see if I can use down in there… Down cell phone case? Down pot cozie? you bet!

> Down cell phone case? Down pot cozie? you bet!

NOW you've really got me thinking! Why not? It might be lighter and warmer than what we currently use, but would be a pain to wash (our cozies need washing after just about every trip due to Esbit or wood burning). Still…it could work.

>yeah, buddy! if you dont have plates and screws somewhere in your body, you havent been living!

Yeah, and if you're old enough they may be Stainless steel instead of titanium. I'm 'lucky' in that I've tried both! Stainless is not so good for MRIs, but titanium conducts the cold from river crossings in a bad way. Ouch!

At the risk of offendig a few people, I am oficially diagnosing Allison with Down Syndrome.