Thread: sleeping bags

Originally Posted by bjp

They still benefit from regular washing to clean body oils from the down, if you spent more than a night or two at a time in them. Normal driers and washing machines are too small, buy some down wash, take it to a self service laundromat and wash then dry using their big machines. Chuck a few tennis balls in with the drying to help break up the clumps. If you can resurrect it, they are still a good bag.

I've still got my old Macpac Solstice, bought in the early 90s, but almost never use it these days. I screwed up trying to wash and dry it at home when I was a poor student, but back then could send it away to Macpac who charged $80 to refill it. Now I have 2 lightweight sleeping bags, cheap 200g fill down Fairydown one I bought years ago plus a newer 300g down better one, either is small enough to wash/dry at home (just) and I double them up for when its cold (autumn/early spring camping, winter in huts). For winter camping the old still Solstice comes out, I know its good down to -15°C.

Next time we need a new bag (kids are now at an age bigger adventures are possible), I'll be looking at a quilt for me I think, got my eye on one of the NZ made ultralight jobbies... that doubled up with lightest of my current bags will probably replace the Soltice, I think the Reflex outer fabric is starting to delaminate...

Yep I got a Solstice in early 90s too, never ever ever had a cold sleep, even on a 10mm closed cell foam pad , under a fly, whenst snowing.