Topic

Looking for a DWR down winter bag

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PostedDec 3, 2014 at 11:56 am

My older Mountain Hardwear synthetic -20 F. bag is just too heavy and bulky for a gentleman of my "advanced age" so I want a good down winter bag, say around 0 F. to – 15 F. I can always add my duck down mummy shaped "topper" to the bag and/or wear insul;aged clothes inside if the temps will be way sub-zero.

My summer bag is an overfilled Western Mountaineering Megalite and I like it. Unfortunately WM and FF have not seen fit to go with DWR treated down so they are not in the running for my winter bag choices.

Winter camping really means more condensation, both inside the bag's shell and inside the tent. That's why I want down with a good
DWR treatment.

I like Dri Down and even better, Down Tek. But I'd also like to buy the bag from REI if possible for the 10% dividend or the 20% OFF sale.

It seems Marmot (sold by REI) has their own proprietary treatment "on the molecular level" as they advertise. Has anyone used Marmot DWR treated down bags? How do they preform??

Other suggestions?

PostedDec 3, 2014 at 12:34 pm

Just chatted with an EB person (a certified mountain guide) and he told me MOST of their down garments are filled with DUCK DOWN!! So why does EB still use a goose as their symbol??

Aaaaarrrggghhh!

The EB vest my wife bought me for Christmas goes back TODAY.

UPDATE:
I talked to a customer service person at EB and discovered the "chat guy" was wrong. She did some checking while I held and when she returned she said that ALL EB's jackets and vests of any style are goose down and the Karakoram sleeping bags are also goose down. I think they need to get their chat personal better informed. I looked again at the Karakoram line and it says "850 fill goose down". That's plenty good enough for me.

So I may get the Karakoram 0 with Down Tek. 'Spensive at over $400. (on sale) but seems a good buy with all the features including Pertex shell. The non-DWR treated down version is about $100. less.

Jesse Anderson BPL Member
PostedDec 3, 2014 at 2:21 pm

In my research I found that there was quite a bit of disagreement over the length of the of the Eddie Bauer bags. Some folks said it fit like a glove others said they were so long that they could fit their shoes in the bottom of a regular length bag.

My local store doesn't carry much in the way of the FA line so I haven't ever seen one in person to know which answer is true.

In my search I ended up doing with the Marmot Lithium 0. Regular price is $488 which is significantly less than most other DWR Down bags. Campsaver often has a 20% off coupon (they also offer a standing 20% off for veterans). That puts it a shade under $400.

Like I said i could never get my hands on the EB bag to compare but I do love my lithium.

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