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Daniel Fish
(daniel@fishfamilypdx.com) - M

Locale: Pacific Northwest
Waterproof down lab results from zpacks website on 03/07/2013 21:24:28 MST Print View

Here's a report provided on the zpacks website describing the affects of moisture on "water resistant down" vs. non-treated down. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not seeing enough improvement to justify replacing a non-treated down sleeping bag to one with the hydrophobic treatment.

Thoughts?

http://www.zpacks.com/quilts/water_resistant_down_report.pdf
Eric Blumensaadt
(Danepacker) - MLife

Locale: Mojave Desert
Oct. 10, 2013 "Backpacker shrinks in WP down sleeping bag" on 03/07/2013 21:31:50 MST Print View

Wee may find the chemicals used to treat down with a DWR are not too healthy.

Might cause "shrinkage"! ;o)
Franco Darioli
(Franco) - M

Locale: Melbourne
Testing Waterproof Down on 03/07/2013 21:45:51 MST Print View

Daniel :
"but I'm not seeing enough improvement to justify replacing a non-treated down sleeping bag to one with the hydrophobic treatment. "
Maybe the type that you are comparing is not good enough for you but what about the other versions ?
Justin D Whitson
(ArcturusBear) - F - M
Re: Testing Waterproof Down on 03/07/2013 23:44:06 MST Print View

Yeah, isn't the Zpacks treated down, basically sort of a nikwax type treatment?
Daniel Fish
(daniel@fishfamilypdx.com) - M

Locale: Pacific Northwest
Water Vapor Testing on 03/09/2013 14:41:47 MST Print View

I think it would be helpful to see the waterproof down tested in the presence of water vapor for extended periods. Like an 8 hour study as if you're actually bedding down for the night. Maybe the test would mimic a worst case where you're breathing vapor directly into the bag. I could imagine how the waterproof down could be impervious to water vapor as long as it doesn't condense inside the bag.

Just a thought.

regarding the testing results not justifying a change in sleeping bag...

they way I'm reading it, you get approx. 2 hours of sustained water exposure for the treated down. That's compared to 30 minutes of the non-treated down. Maybe I'm missing something.

-daniel-