Drishell or not? (phd sleeping bag)

[just keep walking]

I'm thinking of taking advantage of PHD sale (http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/special-offers.php?cat=79) to buy a new sleeping bag (the Minim 500). Only thing is I can't decide whether to get the M1 or drishell version. The M1 is £208.00, weighs 810g and comes in red. The Drishell is £227.00, weighs 835 and comes in a horrible gold. So - is is the Drishell worth the extra cost, weight and the lurid colour?

[Moondog55]

Well funnily I like the gold so I would have bought on colour not performance

[corvus]

I'm thinking of taking advantage of PHD sale (http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/special-offers.php?cat=79) to buy a new sleeping bag (the Minim 500). Only thing is I can't decide whether to get the M1 or drishell version. The M1 is £208.00, weighs 810g and comes in red. The Drishell is £227.00, weighs 835 and comes in a horrible gold. So - is is the Drishell worth the extra cost, weight and the lurid colour?

Bugger the colour where do you intend using this bag ??
corvus

[Maelgwn]

I have the drishell (in green) and find it kinda useful when cooking in the vesibule or whatever and you spill the odd drop of water on the bag.

Saying that, its not waterproof - only a bit water resistant, so its not like you could use the bag in any sort of gentle shower nor is it sufficient to stop moisture if the end of your bag rubs on a wet tent.

Drishell might be slightly more durable than M1.

I suspect my bag gets more moisture from condensation than from water on the outside.

Can't go wrong either way IMO, I probably wouldn't bother with Drishell if buying again.

[corvus]

Given a choice I would always go for the Drishell regardless because if it helps to keep the down dry it is well worth it IMHO
corvus

[photohiker]

Given a choice I would always go for the Drishell regardless because if it helps to keep the down dry it is well worth it IMHO
corvus

+1

My PHD jacket is drishell, seems to work well but I've only subjected it to light rain...

[cams]

Given a choice I would always go for the Drishell regardless because if it helps to keep the down dry it is well worth it IMHO
corvus

Isn't this going to depend on the conditions it's used in as well? If you sweat alot and the drishell doesn't vent as well as the standard shell you could create more moisture issues from condensation.

Personally for my uses I wouldn't get any extra water resistant shell. Most bags have a DWR treatment no matter what the material is which should be enough for using it inside a well ventilated tent. If I was planning on using it in a single walled shelter or under a tarp with the possibility of some rain spray I might consider the drishell.

[Moondog55]

But if the drishell was more wind resistant that would make it warmer, i know the shell in my sleeping bag is anything but wind resistant even if it is down proof and a cold wind blows right through it so I usually need the extra protection of a shell cover or bivvy sac

[corvus]

Given a choice I would always go for the Drishell regardless because if it helps to keep the down dry it is well worth it IMHO
corvus

Isn't this going to depend on the conditions it's used in as well? If you sweat alot and the drishell doesn't vent as well as the standard shell you could create more moisture issues from condensation.

Personally for my uses I wouldn't get any extra water resistant shell. Most bags have a DWR treatment no matter what the material is which should be enough for using it inside a well ventilated tent. If I was planning on using it in a single walled shelter or under a tarp with the possibility of some rain spray I might consider the drishell.

Good point cams however down here in Tasmania external moisture on S/bag is more prevalent than internal from sweat (but I only use a -5 degree water resistant bag summer and winter now) and each of us have a different metabolism so to each their own eh!!
corvus

[just keep walking]

I'm thinking of taking advantage of PHD sale (http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/special-offers.php?cat=79) to buy a new sleeping bag (the Minim 500). Only thing is I can't decide whether to get the M1 or drishell version. The M1 is £208.00, weighs 810g and comes in red. The Drishell is £227.00, weighs 835 and comes in a horrible gold. So - is is the Drishell worth the extra cost, weight and the lurid colour?

Bugger the colour where do you intend using this bag ??
corvus

Well I live in South Australia (so I could probably do with out the drishell here), but I intend on doing some more hiking Tasmania (where it would be usefull (although I don't intend on using a tarp tent/bivy).

[nq111]

IMO - No dryshell. DWR treatment of regular shell will give most the benefits and fewer the drawbacks.

[corvus]

With respect what are the drawbacks with Drishell and how do you replenish DWR on a Down Sleeping Bag
corvus

[Moondog55]

Nikwax

The old TX-10 works extremely well, I do my down gear every couple of years and a parka that used to take 2 weeks to dry completely now only takes 2 days, just don't try and do it in the winter before a trip

[Maelgwn]

With respect what are the drawbacks with Drishell and how do you replenish DWR on a Down Sleeping Bag
corvus

Not much really - a few grams, a few dollars for something that doesn't work very well, and slightly less durability.

[Nuts]

I would definitely choose the lighter shell if using a bivy... (which the OP doesn't intend to do).
M1, is that the momentum fabric? If so, its nice stuff, light and airy, 'breaths' quite well.

Last edited by Nuts on Fri 07 Oct, 2011 8:56 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Maelgwn]

I would definitely choose the lighter dwr shell if using a bivy... (which the OP doesn't intend to do).
M1, is that the momentum fabric? If so, its nice stuff, light and airy, 'breaths' quite well.

PHD are all into 'proprietary' fabrics.

M1 Microfibre - Superfine silky microfibre. The close weave produces a tight solid fabric, but so light that it reduces weight and allows maximum loft.

[Nuts]

Sounds like nice fabric I have noticed in bivys with various marmot bags that the lighter shells work best. Other than that though, cant see why the better water resistance wouldn't be a good choice.

[nq111]

With respect what are the drawbacks with Drishell and how do you replenish DWR on a Down Sleeping Bag
corvus

The main issue when it gets cold is condensation in the sleeping bag rather than the water dripping on. A Drishell is going to be less breathable than a thin fabric with just DWR (though some are better than others) and is an additional barrier to that water vapour escaping so more ends up in the down. This makes the bag heavier, the loft deteriorate quicker on a multi-night trip, and in extreme cases the down freeze up over time.

This is why you don't see Gore dryloft on bags anymore - it was nowhere near breathable enough and people had major issues with their down in cold weather. Some newer dry fabrics are better, but thinner more breathable is better again.

It is not too hard to keep a bag dry from external moisture, but unless you are sleeping in vapour barriers there will always be condensation in the bag when it is cold.

[corvus]

Thanks for the comments on Drishell,brings a smile to my face when it reminds me of the of the Gore Dryloft versus to whatever Macpac was using at the time argument a few years ago.
Never experienced any real condensation in my MD Cornice Reg Dryloft -12 Bag on many multi day walks but the outer fabric by todays standards feels really heavy ( as is the bag 1700g) and it was replaced by a much lighter910g Warmth Unlimited -5 Pure and Dry Ethical Down Bag,times and trends change, a bit like the A frame tent coming back as a "Tarp"
corvus