Seems like staying dry while outdoors isn’t the easiest thing, unless maybe you live in the desert. During the summer or warmer parts of spring and fall, its not a huge issue. You might be a bit uncomfortable, but its most likely not a safety issue. During the winter, getting wet is very uncomfortable and can be extremely dangerous. So – do we stay inside all winter? Not likely… Cabin fever is a terrible malady that I try to avoid at all costs. I want to be outside, having fun, getting fresh air, exercise and clearing my head.
There are many different types of waterproofing available for footwear, clothing and gear. Hopefully we can cover that over time. What caught my attention is some of the newer methods of waterproofing insulation. I love down – I find it more comfortable for sleeping bags and jackets. The lightness and warmth are hard to beat. BUT… wet down stinks…lol. It also doesn’t keep you warm and takes forever to dry.
I recently read about something new and I’ll share it with you. DriDown™ features a molecular level polymer applied to individual down plumes during the down finishing process. DriDown™ is a proprietary application process that creates a hydrophobic coating on the down.
I’d love to read your comments – especially if you have any experience in this area. I received information from Sierra Designs, as they are the first to use this new technology in sleeping bags. I’ve also been doing a little research and am finding that there is a lot more to know about insulation, down and waterproofness than I will ever understand.
According to their information, and what I have read: DriDown™ stays dry 7 times longer in the presence of rain, melting snow, or spills, maintains 98% loft after a night in a high humidity environment, and dries 33% faster when it does get wet for a dryer, warmer, more comfortable night’s sleep.
Staying dry longer, lofting better, and drying faster, DriDown™ sleeping bags represent the evolution of down insulation technology, outperforming regular down sleeping bags in any given environment from arid deserts to humid coastal locals to icy polar environments.
The ability of a down sleeping bag to keep you warmer, even in damp to wet conditions would not only help in the area of comfort, but also safety. Imagine having to wait out a snow storm in your tent. How possible is it to keep totally dry? I can see this being a great thing even in the spring and summer. Warm days and cool nights on the east coast add up to a lot of humidity and condensation inside of my tent. If it gets too damp, water sometimes pools on the floor of the tent in spots, which leads to wet sleeping bags.
I’m going to continue to research insulation and waterproofness – please share your thoughts too. What do you use that works? What would you like to see?
