Dwr Down, is it worth waiting for

Sierra Designs its their thing I think, im sure others might be utilizing it eventually. Personally I have very little interest in it, the DWR treated pertex quantum seems to shed condensation and I have never sumerged my down bag, and probably never will.

If it's durable, it'll make washing down bags much less of a chore.

I bet it will be a big advantage on the East coast of the US. We have 90% humidity here a lot in the spring and fall. Even synthetics feel damp and clammy. I once hung out a wrung out thin poly t-shirt to dry -all day on a clothes line, and it was still wet feeling (beyond damp).

I think its worth waiting for. I'm actually really surprised to see so much skepticism about it here considering the endless "down vs. synthetic" debates. If it works, than it'll be revolutionary. Being able to dry yourself out under a synthetic is invaluable in wet/cold conditions or high exertion adventures. I bet you primaloft had a serious board meeting the day that down tek was announced. And I'd be surprised if most of sleeping bag manufactures don't start using some version of hydrophobic down in the future.

Two competing technologies DriDown by Sierra Designs
http://www.sierradesigns.com/dridown.aspx
(Sierra Designs, Kelty and Slumberjack are part of the same group)
and Down Tek
http://down-tek.com/home/news/
marketed by Big Agnes, Brooks-Range, EMS, L.L.Bean, Mountain Hardwear, Nemo, Mountain Designs, Reecho, Sea to Summit and Salewa
Franco

I'm holding off, on paper this is just perfect for my needs. I have experienced a damp sleeping bag on several occasions, DWR treated shell notwithstanding. Not a problem when you can dry your bag the next day, but when it's raining non-stop for days… Same for a jacket, I'm hesitant to use a "normal" down jacket during lunch or taking photos when I'm still sweating from cycling so I pack a synthetic one.

Anyone know when DownTek will be available in quantities suitable for smaller manufacturers like EnlightenedEquipment, Zpacks, GooseFeet Gear etc?

I think Tim said maybe later this year. I doubt they'll be able to use enough to buy direct though. I expect them to buy through Thru-hiker.

1. get a screaming deal on a current down jacket

2. or weight about a year or more for the screaming deals on the new DWR down

gear often gets "better" or better marketed … but i would wait short of a screaming deal …

will it work as well as synth in the damp? … who knows …

one thing to consider is which manufacturers will make true UL goods with this down … consider that even montbell generally doesnt have a down/weight ratio greater than 30% or so … will there be jackets with this down that have a ratio of 40-50%+ …

Looks like one cottage guy is already using some sort of DWR down.
http://www.undergroundquilts.com/RESIST.htm

Beyond that, I am with Eric. If you find an awesome deal on a down jacket or bag, get it. If not, I would wait.

Ryan

Early thanks to all of you early adopters. Please post back here after soaking your bags (still haven't all of these years).

If your sleeping bag gets soaked from condensation thats a shelter problem not a sleeping bag problem. Easy fix too.

Indeed. If your bag is a bit wet from condensation, it will dry quickly. Knowledge is key here.

I am more interested in shell performance in the wind, cut, continuous baffles, and loft. Not whether my bag can take a soaking.

"If your sleeping bag gets soaked from condensation thats a shelter problem not a sleeping bag problem."

Disagree partly. I've never had a bagged get 'soaked', but very damp, yes. This happens when you sleep in basically heavy cloud/mist. The mist gets in no matter what, and opening up you tent to increase 'ventilation' just makes it worse, not opening it leads to a great amount of condensation. However, this doesn't happen that often, and the vast majority of the time, even in very damp little old NZ, I haven't had many issues with down.

I saw both types at the OR Show and came away quite impressed. Do I need it? No, but if it were available for not much of a price hit I would take it just for the added peace of mind.

I too think the biggest advantage is the speed of drying for gear that gets damp. On my first JMT hike I had a Mountainsmith bag that had the foot area wet out almost every night (and sometimes the top) as the DWR was not good. I had to dry it in afternoons as the down would get damp and bunch.

The down has a DWR treatment, but where does the moisture go? Into the shell? In theory, the fabric should not have any DWR so the moisture can pass through. Given that, you then would have a wet shell that requires drying negating the benefit of dridown.

Also, DWR wears off, does it not? With constant stuffing of your sleeping bag, will the DWR not wear off? Does the treatment affect the lofting characteristics of the down? Over time? Is this why we are not seeing 850 plus with the treatment?

I would be interested to try it or to hear reviews from those who have. It could be a significant revolution.

On the other hand, I only ever got down once, due to a shelter problem I won't be repeating and have personally never experienced significant loss of loft from high humidity alone.

Another reservation for me would be that I find down stays comfortable, regulating my body temperature across a much broader range of temperatures than anything synthetic I have tried and I wonder what impact the treatments may have on this broader comfort spectrum I experience.

I had a synthetic bag before I bought my 850 fill down bag and i TRIED to love it, the synthetic was cheaper (heavier and bulkier obv.) but the reason I hated it was that it either too hot or too cold. I felt like I was always dying to get out of it.

Then I got in my down bag it it regulated my tempature and comfort 10x better.

@David: I don't have an answer to the entirety of your post, but I hope this helps a little. The "DWR" process is applied on the microscopic level. It's not a chemical treatment the same way Nikwax (et al) is. The "DWR" bonds to the down; it's not a coating.

It does come in higher fill rates David,

BGT is going to be testing the Brooks Range Cloak. This is from the press kit.

"The Cloak offers a superior weight-to-warmth ratio with the use of 850 fill down that has been treated with DownTek water-resistant technology"