Choosing a Sleeping Bag - Synthetic or Down
One of the questions a lot of sleeping bag buyers pose is whether they should go for a synthetic or down sleeping bag.
Advantages of a down sleeping bag
- High warmth to weight ratio
- Lightweight
- Pack small
Disadvantages of a down sleeping bag
- Expensive
- Loses insulation quality when it gets wet - the feathers all clump together and need a whirl in a tumble dryer to revitalise them
- Need to ensure you get a high goose down percentage for warmth, but goose down is more expensive than other feathers.
- Feathers do have a habit of finding a way out
Synthetic Sleeping Bags
Advantages of Synthetic Sleeping Bags
- Warm
- Easy-care
- Doesn't loose insulation when wet
- Much cheaper than down
Disadvantages of Synthetic Sleeping Bags
- Doesn't compress as much as down
- Heavier than down for equivalent warmth
- Over time synthetic insulation loses loft (especially if you stuff and compress the bag a lot)
In the end it comes down to choice. A synthetic bag is great if you are doing a lot of car camping, or if your bag is likely to get wet when you're sleeping in it. A down sleeping bag is great if you are backpacking and want smaller size but same warmth.
These are our current down sleeping bags and synthetic sleeping bags.
