Down Sleeping Bags vs Synthetic Sleeping Bags
78What Matters Most in Sleeping Bags?
When it comes to sleeping bags, the fill is what matters most. The filling must be able to hold or trap as much air as possible. Air is a poor conductor and hence a good insulator of heat.
The air acts as an insulant between the warmed inner and cold outer air. For backpacking and hiking purposes, the best material is that which does this job most efficiently for the least weight.Of course there are other considerations as well like compactibility, fluff-ability, efficiency when wet and possible allergic reactions.What I mean by compactibility is the ability of the sleeping bag to be compacted or made less bulky when packed. Fluff-ability means that the sleeping bag must be able to quickly expand to its normal air-trapping shape when unpacked.In general, down sleeping bags are still considered superior to synthetic sleeping bags. But synthetic-filled sleeping bags continue to make technical advances and will soon catch up.Though some high quality sleeping bag manufactures still stick exclusively with down even when most big producers have either added synthetic-filled sleeping bags to their line or even gone all-synthetic.
Down Sleeping Bags
There is no doubt that down is still the most efficient fill with a higher warmth to weight than any known synthetic fill.
Down sleeping bags also fluffs to its open (air-trapping) state more quickly and totally. When not compressed the down flows freely, almost like liquid, and fill up the compartments in a sleeping bag more evenly and continuously than any synthetic could.
With good care, high quality down sleeping bags last longer than synthetics. A typical down-filled bag can last for 10-15 years. Synthetic filled bags typically last for 3-6 years.
Synthetic Sleeping Bags
The main disadvantage of down sleeping bags is that they’re rendered useless when wet and almost impossible to dry in the field. Though this is easily fixed (at an extra cost) by waterproof shells like Gore-Tex.
Synthetic filled bags on the other hand can still keep you warm even when they’re wet and they dry very quickly.
Synthetics are also more resilient to repeated exposure to dirt and moisture over a long period of time. They don’t lose their efficiency as much as down sleeping bags.
For rare individuals with allergy problems, synthetic sleeping bags are a better option because they don’t generate allergies unlike down bags.
If you are short on budget, going for a synthetic-filled bag is a wise as down is a very expensive material. A 800-fill down can cost around $35 per pound in Asia versus $6 per pound for the best synthetics.
Down Bags
 | Amazon Price: $399.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $160.26 List Price: $229.00 |
Synthetic Bags
 | Amazon Price: $169.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $164.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $124.00 |
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Definitely go for down. He needs to minimize his backpack weight. Sounds like a fun guy :)
He's OK, but I don't join him camping in minus temperatures!
Really for me it depends on where I am at. When I am in the mountains I will not settle for anything but down. But in the Midwest in the summer synthetic is the better way to go.
I absolutely agree with you on that Camping Dan.
Up here in the mountains, down is the warmest and most comfortable method. I really love my down sleeping bag, and it lets me stay warm and cozy, yet sleep under the stars at the same time. Great information here.
Although down is the warmest, synthetic has advantages. It can be more lightweight, easier to put away, etc. Just depends on environment.
But down is lighter. They have a a higher warmth to weight ratio than any known synthetic fill.
I agree about the environment though. I wouldn't want to use a down sleeping bag in summer. That'll be too hot for me.
Camping season right around the corner and we were going to need new sleeping bags! Thanks for the education on what's out there now and the differences! :-)
Sometimes it's tough having many choices. Synthetic sleeping bags are typically less expensive than down sleeping bags. But it is heavier . In my case , I have to choose down sleeping bags.
@karinmindell thank you. Camping season is already here for me. I just came back from a camping trip.
@villenoire09 If you expect the weather to be really cold then go for down sleeping bags.
I have used both down and synthetic filled sleeping bags. Here's my personal observation: Synthetic fibers certainly keep you warm in cold temperatures, but for REALLY COLD temperatures, nothing beats mother nature.
From a comfort factor, down feels softer than synthetic. That's why I also prefer down pillows also.
Synthetic or down, well I know at home I prefer down pillows and it's good to know for a fact that down is warmer, also your advice on Gore-tex treatment for down sleeping bag to make fully waterproof was well recieved, Ok Down sleeping bags cost more but seems they last longer and keep you warmer, what more can you want (well maybe no rain when you are on holidays), thanks for sharing Jon.
My pleasure. Down is a really expensive raw material. Once synthetic can match the performance of down it will probably kill the market and down will probably cease to exist.
Down sleeping bags are great. I love them
it is a good question indeed, however I couldn't actually clear out which ones are more expensive, although from what I hear down sleeping bags are great.
Down sleeping bags in general are more expensive but there some cheap ones, even as cheap as the synthetic version.
Hi..I deal alot with children that do have allergies so I'm guessing that synthetic is the best choice for them. How much longer do you think it will take for synthetic to catch up with down? I agree with the above comments and personally use down but need to consider all options. Thanks for the great info!
That's a good question. Probably 3-5 years more I think. It's a good idea to switch to synthetics when you're in a wet and humid conditions. You can also use down with a waterproof shell but you're likely to have problems with condensation.
my two cents: go with down unless you live in a climate that has wet winters. I've ruined a down bag by mis-predicting the weather before - that was a cold night by the fire too.
I'm a retired National Park Ranger, and use only down. I have 6 high quality bags of various weights, and the oldest was purchased in 1971. Its a winter bag, and still has the original thickness (ie: it is just as warm now as when it was new). I hand wash in down cleaner when they get really dirty. The newest bags are dry loft, and I can't imagine how I could get the down really soaking wet. I have carried down bags from northern China, through southeast Asia (read WET) and all over North and South America including rainforest areas. I don't buy synthetics because they are still too heavy, don't compress well, and have much more limited lifespans.
If you take care of a good down bag it can last your lifetime unless you destroy the outer shell.
Mark
Certanly down are the best, but for a quick weekend break somewhere a man made synthetic one is just as good.
LondonGirl 3 years ago
My other half's idea of fun is climbing mountains and camping in the ice at the top. He swears by a down sleeping bad for these mad adventures.