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Post by hikerjer on Jun 23, 2020 13:42:16 GMT -8
I've come to the difficult decision to retire an old favorite. This past weekend I did an overnight car trip with an old REI "McKinley " sleeping bag that I purchased at the Seattle REI store in 1973 - right after I got m first real job. I've used it intermittently for the past several years even though I have far better bags now. It was my first quality sleeping bag. It's primarily a car camping bag now. However, this weekend, it just didn't cut it. The zipper is partially broken, the down doesn't loft very well any more, a few baffles are torn and basically, it just didn't keep me warm although it wasn't really cold. It's like abandoning an old friend but I fear, it's time. So my friends, what do you folks do with sleeping bags that are just not serviceable any longer? I mean it's a bit big to frame and hang on the wall although I feel it may deserve it.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 23, 2020 13:48:52 GMT -8
Lap warmer.  |
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Post by oldbill on Jun 23, 2020 14:01:25 GMT -8
With torn baffles restoring loft by washing may not help much. It'd be great if it could be recycled into new gear like a jacket, pants, booties or a sleeping pad. Certainly too much for my MYOG skills. Down may last longer than the fabrics and there's certainly newer high tech fabrics around.
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reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,136 
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Post by reuben on Jun 23, 2020 14:16:10 GMT -8
Patagonia does some sort of recycling of old gear, but after looking at their site for a few seconds and it looks like they only recycle their own gear, probably because they'll have better knowledge of the fabrics used in the original construction. This REI program might work. Not sure what they accept or who they donate the rehabbed gear to. www.rei.com/stewardship/give-back-box |
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jazzmom
Trail Wise!
a.k.a. TigerFan
Posts: 3,059 
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Post by jazzmom on Jun 23, 2020 15:43:31 GMT -8
I found out that the homeless shelter where I volunteer really appreciates donations of camping equipment, especially tents and sleeping bags. They don't have to be backcountry worthy. I think many of their clients feel the need to leave the shelter and roam often.
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Post by cheaptentguy on Jun 23, 2020 17:50:12 GMT -8
jazzmom probably has the best idea, but you could also cut a section out to frame. May look really nice, especially if you paired it with a patch or something from one of your first memorable trails.
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Post by hikerjer on Jun 23, 2020 18:50:47 GMT -8
Good idea jazzmom but I don’t think it’s up to snuff for that. I’m afraid I’d be insulting them.
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davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
Posts: 1,710
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Post by davesenesac on Jun 25, 2020 8:25:53 GMT -8
Have 4 sleeping bags left, 2 synthetic, 2 goose down. My down bags have never been washed as I during use keep them clean. Old sleeping bags make usable comforters for we frugal. One is always in my Forester, another behind the sofa in my living room, another in one bedroom. My old Marmot Pinnacle has several patches where the ultraviolet weakened nylon shell has torn so at some point will need to buy a new bag as don't want to deal with a large tear while out backpacking that could ruin a trip.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 25, 2020 8:35:02 GMT -8
The UV embrittlement is what forced that Trailwise Chevron into retirement: the dark blue of one of the bigger patches is viewable at the head end in the photo: and that area failed multiple times to the point I just couldn't trust it. Plenty of loft but just too brittle. But we had a good run: 1969 through the early nineties.
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Post by hikerjer on Jun 25, 2020 11:44:27 GMT -8
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 25, 2020 12:25:32 GMT -8
And still lofty.  |
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Post by georgeofthej on Jun 25, 2020 19:13:53 GMT -8
I'm still hanging on to an old bag from the early 80s. It's a Saratoga, by Wesco, California. It's been through hell---especially by people I've loaned it to back in the day. It's lost down, I've patched burn holes, it has cold spots, and my son-in-law borrowed it about 20 years ago and returned it smelling heavily of campfire smoke. I washed it, but that didn't get rid of the smoke smell, and it still smells like smoke a little. I don't really know why I keep it, nostalgia I guess. That, but also, if anyone irresponsible ever needs to borrow a bag from me, it will be that one.
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Post by bluefish on Jun 26, 2020 3:39:59 GMT -8
The oldest bags we have now are a mere three decades. EMS down bags that have lost a little loft, but are still in good shape. One double quilt now does the same job at one fourth the weight and volume. Still car camping with the EMS. We take care of our gear, so I expect we won't be buying more. Hard to part with memories, but I yard sold some synthetic winter bags that were early 80's. They take up too much room even in a pulk sled. Sometimes when lying under the old EMS bags in a campground, I'll dream about the places they've been, some alpine meadow or rocky desert. Something to be said for history in your gear.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Jun 26, 2020 6:12:18 GMT -8
No really ancient bags from my early days, as what I could afford back then was pretty lousy. I think we finally gave away the one my husband had before we married, which was a good bag, but heavy. We just had too many bags!
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rangewalker
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Agitate, organize and educate.
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Post by rangewalker on Jun 28, 2020 12:49:39 GMT -8
Given the age of Jer's bag, it is most likely filled with Eastern European down. I wonder if washed it the down fill would not be of some interest to some one sewing a new quilt?
How you get ahold of someone with those interests? I am no help.
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