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does your down sleeping bag have continuous baffles?


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  • #1287886
    Richard Fischel
    BPL Member

    @ricko

    If yes, do you ever move the down from top to bottom or bottom to top to adjust the bag for anticipated temperatures? How important is/was this feature when using/buying the bag?

    #1859883
    Ben Wortman
    BPL Member

    @bwortman

    Locale: Nebraska

    I have a Western Mountaineering Megalite that has continuous baffles. I have on occasion moved more down to the top in anticipation of a cold night. For me personally, I would just rather have a bag without continuous baffles so I didn't need to worry about where the down was. If you only wanted 1 bag to take you over a large range of temps, I can see the benefit.

    Ben

    #1859884
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    Mine does. Though in practice the issue has really not arisen. It does work as I can see a noticeable difference when I work to arrange the down in the baffles. But in reality I adjust with a leg out if I am using it like a quilt. Or unzip more of it when using as a regular bag. WM Mitylite currently.

    #1859890
    Mark Ries
    Spectator

    @mtmnmark

    Locale: IOWAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

    I have a megalite also it does have continuous baffles. As a back/side sleeper I would be happier to NOT have the down able to shift. I want it as even as possible

    #1859946
    Ed Hayes
    Member

    @ejhayes

    Locale: Northwest

    I'm a side and back sleeper and would rather not have continuous baffles. I have a WM Ultralite bag. Rolling from my back to side to other side at night, I noticed I can unintentionally shift the down and cause cold spots. I've had my bag overfilled, which helps because there is less extra room for the down to shift – which I like.

    I also rarely camp in warm climates. If you did, I can understand the appeal to moving down from top to bottom.

    #1860155
    M B
    BPL Member

    @livingontheroad

    Yep, my megalite has continuous baffles. During cold weather a lot of down is on top, the loft of just the top layer is substantially more than with it evenly distributed. 3+ " Id say.

    #1860191
    Mary D
    BPL Member

    @hikinggranny

    Locale: Gateway to Columbia River Gorge

    Yep here too–WM Ultralite. I also have the problem of being a side sleeper who does a lot of tossing and turning during the night. I'd love to have non-continuous baffles with an equal amount of down on all sides, but nobody seems to make a bag that way.

    The overfill sounds like a good solution, though! Thanks to those who mentioned it!

    #1860202
    Samuel Kau
    Spectator

    @skau

    Locale: Southern California

    I have a enlightened quilt with karo baffles and I actually kind of share the similar sentiment that I don't want to deal with down moving BUT it is kind of cool that in theory that I could use the bag for a wider range of conditions but in BPL reality, who wants to carry a heavier bag for warm/summer conditions?

    #1860223
    jscott
    BPL Member

    @book

    Locale: Northern California

    I just bought a Marmot Helium with "stretch tricot baffles". I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I'm not sure what that means. I hope that someone here can inform me. However I really like this bag out of the box. And I've owned the Hydrogen for years and like it a lot.

    On a related note: some of us are stomach sleepers, some back sleepers. As a stomach sleeper, I'm curious: is there a good reason for sleeping with your bag hood pulled over your head versus cradling your head from underneath? Especially with this Marmot bag? Always remembering that your whole bag will be "upside down" depending on your decision. And this last bit is how my question ties in to continuous baffles.

    I know that I'm really splitting hairs here.

    #1860537
    Barry P
    BPL Member

    @barryp

    Locale: Eastern Idaho (moved from Midwest)

    I have not learned to appreciate continuous baffles. I so love our WM Caribou and POD30 (but recently sold). They are box stitched and thus I never had to worry about the down shifting during the night. I felt no cold spots where it was sewed.

    -Barry
    -The mountains were made for Teva’s

    #1860544
    zorobabel frankenstein
    BPL Member

    @zorobabel

    Locale: SoCal

    Between me and my wife 2 bags have continuos baffles and 3 have split top/bottom baffles. I never think about the baffles on a trip, but only at home when airing out the bags.
    Surprisingly the only issues with the down shifting were for the split baffle bags where the top down would shift to the sides (Rei Subkilo 40, MH Phantom 32, REI Downtime 20). At least in my case, the bags with countinous baffles (WM Ultralite, Rab Quantum 800) are higher quality and warmer, which might explain it. One might think lower quality bags use split baffles so they can get away with using less down.

    #1860613
    Franco Darioli
    Spectator

    @franco

    Locale: Gauche, CU.

    Same as Zorobabel
    I have a couple of WM with continuous baffles, the down seems to fill them so it does not shift much at all unless I shake them.
    Shifting to the top does not work for me either because I do toss and turn however in emergency I know that is there…
    Franco

    #1860618
    M B
    BPL Member

    @livingontheroad

    i have never had a problem with down "shifting" that so many are either experiencing or afraid of.

    My down has no ability to turn a tight < 45 degree corner and flow under me all by itself with me lying in a bag.

    When you shift it to the top, it stays there.

    #1861251
    Robert Kelly
    BPL Member

    @qiwiz

    Locale: UL gear @ QiWiz.net

    Yes, use both WM bag and JRB quilts with continuus baffles. In both I find it a useful feature to be able to shake the down to be more above me when its cold and more on the side of me when its not so cold.

    #1861790
    Curry
    BPL Member

    @veganaloha

    Locale: USA

    I must admit that I am continuosly baffled by the idea of continuous baffles.

    My Katabatic Gear 30F Palisade quilt has them, but I've never used them.

    #1861820
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    Count me as one who does not want continuous baffles. I see them as a negative and would pay extra to avoid them.

    My sleeping movements or my size somehow move the down downward and I end up cold in the middle of the night.

    My wife now uses my continuously baffled sleeping bag and has no problems. She is smaller than me.

    The bag I currently use does not have continuous baffles and it works much better for me.

    If I'm too warm in a bag I'll just stick out a leg or use the bag as a quilt. I would never even consider moving down downward on purpose.

    #1861857
    James Berwick
    Member

    @jhb0510

    The cynic in me says that the whole sales spiel about moving down around is a con. It means that they can market a bag as a 30 degree bag when it is really a 40 degree bag. I am not saying they are over charging for their bags, down is expensive and I know it needs paying for! I just want to know that when I get into my bag at the end of a hard day is that I will be warm enough without having to think about whether I need to somehow try and shake the down around whilst inside the tight confines of my ultralight Shelter!

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