by Adam David Seeley

Created on: April 26, 2008   Last Updated: May 04, 2008

The Dilemma
There are many different choices in the domain of sleeping bags. In the beginning there was only down. During the winter you can sometimes see ducks and geese swimming in a frigid pond or lake. Mother Nature bestowed upon our feathered friends, down feathers. The fluffy undercoating on ducks, geese and other waterfowl is a cluster of a little over 2 million interlocking, overlapping filaments, which keeps precious warmth in and the frosty cold out.

That was then, this is now. With man's ingenuity and drive to make life more comfortable, he came up with a way to mimic the insulation properties of down and other animal furs with synthetic products. A number of these synthetics resemble the physical properties of down, while others, hollow and thick resemble that of a Polar Bear.
All things have both pros and cons, sleeping bags included.

Down Pros
Down is up to 3x warmer than synthetic insulation.
Down retains shape over a long period of time, it could last a lifetime if you take proper care of it.
It is thermostatic, meaning it keeps you warm in the cold and cool in the warmth.
It has a high weight to warmth ratio.

Down's downside (Cons)
It's not 100% waterproof. When wet, it loses its insulation properties.
It takes a little bit more care when cleaning. Only soft detergents are recommended when washing these sleeping bags. Harsh chemicals break down the natural capabilities of down.

Down Summary
Down has quite a bit to offer in long-term durability and warmth, but also is high maintenance. It could last a lifetime if you have the tolerance levels and materials necessary to care for these sleeping bags. Some people complain about feathers poking out of the outer shell, with nylon shells this doesn't happen. These bags are light and compact, but that light load comes a larger price tag. Remember, down comes from a natural source and it is hard to duplicate the same quality in every reproduction. This type of sleeping bag is more for the seasoned pros of backpacking.

Synthetic Pros
It is more water-resistant and dries quickly when wet. Some synthetics are coated with a permanent water-repellant.
Taking care of this type of sleeping bag usually just involves detergent and a washing machine. So in turn, it is more manageable for the average person or an avid outdoors individual.
It is hypoallergenic. You shouldn't have a reaction unless you are allergic to nylon and polyesters.
It is usually less expensive than down. Lower investment means less worry.

Synthetic

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