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Post by flyinion on Jul 18, 2016 15:05:13 GMT -8
Hey guys, have a gear care question. I have a pretty new REI radiant 20 degree down bag with their water repellent down in it. I used it for the second time this weekend and last night woke up drenched in sweat inside it. I cleaned me and the bag up and then used it quilt style the rest of the night (and didn't really sweat again) but I don't know if I should see about washing it due to the heavy sweating that was going on. I hung it to air for a couple hours while I had breakfast and broke camp, just not sure if that's good enough. Maybe just a damp cloth to the inside fabric instead of a full wash?
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Post by dayhiker on Jul 18, 2016 16:09:08 GMT -8
No
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 18, 2016 16:10:47 GMT -8
Don't wash it. Wipe it down if you feel like it, with a damp cloth. Not a wet one.The shell should've kept the moisture out of the down since it was only one night. Build up occurs in cold weather over several weeks.
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Post by flyinion on Jul 18, 2016 18:58:40 GMT -8
Thanks guys I went ahead and just wiped it down well. It didn't smell sweaty funky or anything. I'll let it air for a couple days and put it back in its storage bag
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Jul 18, 2016 19:12:20 GMT -8
Don't wash until the smell dictates. Airing out well after each trip (or even before turning in during the trip) extends the interval quite a bit.
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on Jul 18, 2016 20:50:40 GMT -8
I use my down gear 1-10 nights per month year round. I don't wash unless the loft degrades noticeably. That amounts to once every couple of years. All down items are stored in those dust proof breathable suit bags, in a closet. Clean clothes to change into for sleeping in, to keep the liners of the quilt clean.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 18, 2016 21:21:48 GMT -8
The big breathable cotton storage bag?
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Post by flyinion on Jul 18, 2016 21:58:06 GMT -8
Don't wash until the smell dictates. Airing out well after each trip (or even before turning in during the trip) extends the interval quite a bit. Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. It doesn't smell that I can tell, I just wasn't sure about oils/etc. from the rivers of sweat I woke up to and if I needed to get that out of the down. Although, since it's the water repellent kind, maybe that helps it from being an issue as much?
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Post by johntpenca on Jul 18, 2016 22:45:40 GMT -8
Why were you sweating heavily while sleeping? Sounds like you were not venting enough or were using too warm of bag. What was the ambient temp versus your bag rating?
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 18, 2016 23:31:10 GMT -8
Yes. "Sweating"? Puzzling, before I get that warm I'll unzip, get partially out of etc.
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Post by flyinion on Jul 18, 2016 23:37:08 GMT -8
It's a 20 degree bag, the ambient temp was only mid-50's however. I think the issue was probably venting though and the tent got too warm inside. I'm not 100% sure though and what all may have contributed to it. I didn't have the bag zipped at all but the "top" was pulled over me. There were some other stuff that might have contributed and I'll probably re-test the bag in similar conditions, without the contributing stuff (rather not go into it here).
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Post by flyinion on Jul 18, 2016 23:39:34 GMT -8
Yes. "Sweating"? Puzzling, before I get that warm I'll unzip, get partially out of etc. It's sort of confusing because I was fine when I got in, and I didn't actually have it zipped up. I was car camping though with some friends and testing the gear out. So I had brought my cpap machine and a portable battery pack for it. I was in a pretty deep sleep with the cpap I guess and just woke up drenched in sweat.
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Post by johntpenca on Jul 19, 2016 2:01:08 GMT -8
Yeah, a 20F bag at 50F is overkill. Without meaning to be invasive, were you taking ambien? You don't need to answer that question but I find it surprising that one would sweat heavily without knowing it.
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daveb
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Post by daveb on Jul 19, 2016 6:43:01 GMT -8
I would think you're a prime candidate for one of the cooler sleeping bag liners. You'll feel like your in a sheet and still covered when you kick out of your down bag. Plus you can wash it anytime and keep your bag clean.
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Post by dayhiker on Jul 19, 2016 8:46:08 GMT -8
I just use sleeping clothes, very thin long underwear, though if it is really warm a liner might work better. I am a very cold sleeper so I take a very warm semi-rectangular bag (-10 to +10 ) though in the mountains it can get cold at night anyway.
I just unzip, last time I used it as a quilt, and got a bit cold (I did not have it tucked under like a bp quilt). It can be too warm on top, too cold off, sort of a pain, but that is rare except maybe early in the night and better than cold all night.
Sounds like you might be a warm sleeper. It does take awhile for your body to heat up the bag, so if you fell asleep right away that might have been a problem.
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