Hydrodown jacket tested in the wet

[wayno]

It is a typical wet November morning in the Peak District and I am going for a walk wearing a down jacket. This is stupid of course. Down, as most outdoors people know full well, is near to useless in the wet. Get it soaked and the filling collapses into a soggy, porridge- like mess.

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/gear-blog/ ... 11778.html

[buggeriamold]

I wonder how long the treatments on tke down last for?

Mark

[GPSGuided]

Water repellency is one thing, the other considerations are, how much water does it hold? And how quickly can the water be wringed out? I read that there's a 30% loss in warmth when not properly (tumble) dried. How does that compare with synthetic alternatives?

[wayno]

well synthetics wouldnt be as bad, they absorb minimal water and dont loose their loft, problem with synthtetics is the fibres degrade with time through wear ruining what loft tehy have and how tehy trap the warmth

[GPSGuided]

Agree and understand the limitations on synthetics. Sounds like, if it's truly wet, stay with synthetic. No need to push the boundaries and just use down for what it's best at.

[wayno]

i dont know i'd trust down when its wet if its being crushed under a pack weight, that might damage it.

[GPSGuided]

That's a real consideration too. Yet again, I always thought that the shoulder belts are there to provide balance, not to carry weight. Weights are for the hip belts.

[Joomy]

I wonder how long the treatments on tke down last for?

Mark

Exactly. If it's like normal DWR and you can't retreat it then... not so good. I've got a hydrophobic down jacket, I'm tempted to soak it and try this hydro stuff out for myself. Except I'm trying to sell it.

Water repellency is one thing, the other considerations are, how much water does it hold? And how quickly can the water be wringed out? I read that there's a 30% loss in warmth when not properly (tumble) dried. How does that compare with synthetic alternatives?

Well my experience suggests my synthetics lose about 30% of their warmth when wet but I think I'm somehow in the minority.

[wayno]

i wouldnt try the wet down test on any down article that had baffles... need to be careful about putting force on wet down when theres baffles. you can damage the down and baffles...