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Why I'm Choosing SYNTHETIC Over DOWN
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- Опубликовано: 5 авг 2024
- 00:00 Hey Y'all
00:10 Recapping My Issues Backpacking
00:33 My New Synthetic Puffy Coat (Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex)
02:25 Weight and Price
03:18 Some Features I Like
04:17 My Thoughts After Thru-hiking the Foothills Trail
05:09 My New Synthetic Quilt (Enlightened Equipment Enigma Apex)
06:16 Insulation - Apex vs UP
08:01 Features
09:44 Weight and Price
10:29 My Thoughts After Thru-hiking The Foothills Trail
12:08 Did It Help With My Allergies?
13:37 Using The Synthetics In The Future
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Slightly off topic, but IMO a valuable tip ,particulary for down sleeping bags. When you first wake up, the warm air inside the down is very humid. When you get up,that air temp,and the dew point drops rapidly. The result is condensation in the down. Cold enough,it goes to frost.
Yes,we air our bags in the sun when possible!
But a good maintnance tip to sustain the dryness of your bag is to stuff it while its still warm.
Squeeze the warm,humid air out of it before the condensation.
Then you can immediately unstuff it to let it air while you have coffee. You have replaced warm humid air with cold dry air.
Some people may also choose to go synthetic for ethical reasons (I heard it reduces the number of naked geese running around). An added bonus is because synthetic is easier to wash, you might wash it more often, hiker funk and the scent of doggo wanting a late night cuddle can be taken care of more easily. I will probably go with down for a long distance hike, but the ease of washing and drying a synthetic quilt in town during a zero is pretty darn attractive. God bless.
I believe that down is a by-product of harvesting geese for vitally needed protein.
What does during a zero mean?
@@andrewoverhere8525 When you have a day off, a zero km/miles day on a thru-hike :)
Absolutely true. Maintaining synthetic bags is simple and requires little energy. I don’t buy my sons expensive down bags because they always come home wet and muddy. Toss their bags in the wash and they dry in 20 minutes. My down bags take 6 hrs. But anything below a 20* F bag is much too bulky to pack. I have 2 old down bags that I have refilled with synthetic. They work nice but are huge and too tough to pack for bike packing trips. I don’t care about the extra 6 ozs., I just can’t handle a 4 gal stuff size. UP synthetic says 30% more UP over 800 down. That seems about right.
I think your videos are the reason I’m going to go through with hiking the PCT. I’ve wanted to since I was 13 but wasn’t sure if I could. I’m now determined to do it the year after I graduate, so thank you.
Good for you! Be safe and enjoy.
PCT in '22!
My first backpacking quilt was a kit from Ripstop by the Roll. Got mom to sew it for me. It was nice having something she made me on trail.
I've got awful allergies to just about everything that sheds any dust, dander, or pollen...takes a couple allergy pills and singulair for my asthma/allergies, but no more raccoon eyes! I hope that your trip through allergy hell doesn't take very long, and that you get it figured out quicklike ❤ Glad that the synthetic bag and coat are working more or less well for ya!
I appreciate your thoroughness. I’m happy to hear you are looking at your allergies from many different angles. I guess that is the engineer side of you. I’m hoping for a good outcome. I liked the backdrop you chose for this video. Loved seeing Fancy.
I plan on through-hiking the AT next year and I am so incredibly excited! Your videos have been so helpful thank you so much!!
Well done. I have long been a fan of synthetic insulated puffs and vests for three season Rockies ((US) hiking. Biggest reason is having more than occasionally in the rain/freezing rain under my rain jacket. The reason the UP insulation is heavier in finished products is it need baffles just like down where like you mentioned the insulation in the EE products is in continuous fiber sheets. I LOVE my down bags and jackets when the environment is appropriate. BTW allergies and sensitives can often be mitigated through good med care like you are doing. And have a lifetime of hiking yet to come.
You're so resilient Dixie! I admire your spirit, staying positive and getting out there, even though it's tough ☺️
I’m just astounded. How can someone who is so fond of the outdoors be allergic to it? You have been such a strong, articulate leader to the outdoors. I hope you will keep experimenting with good things to help you enjoy the outdoors. Here again, you are providing smart, strong leadership, helping others, with allergies, to get out there. You’re making it good, Dixie. Way to go!!! Texas
Just a quick note about sleeping bags. For winter camping I use a WIGGY"S bag with a mil spec waterproof bivy. A zero degree bag weighs about 4lbs. It might be a little heavy for your type of use. But WIGGY'S is 100% quality. I can sleep in boxer shorts and a tee shirt in 10 degree temps and be perfectly warm. I have 2 of them both are SUPER LIGHT BOAT FOOT MUMMY STYLE . I always bring an extra bag on camping trips , you know in case one gets wet. Thes aren't hiking trips. With the over bag system I could get down to 40 below . This company also make a minus 60 degree bag .
I see you are wearing a black coat , wise choice as it absorbs the sun lights heat. The bag you showed seems like a nice bag and I consider it a wise choice too. Synthetics also dry quicker when wet. About 50 years ago I learned the hard way about goose down.
Well young lady, I hope you get your allergies under control. Did you doctor give you an EPIPEN? I'm an ex medic . Swelling / edema can be serious, serious enough to close your airway. Please take all precautions and carry some Benadryl tabs. I would hate to see you stuck out in the middle of nowhere with no help.
The sun has set on my hiking days but I'm still outdoors as much as possible. My doctor said I might be nuts to try a long term hike. I don't believe her lol . I'm thinking the Appalachain in sections before he sun sets. HAPPY TRAILS . Hand salute from a vet
As a fellow vet, let me encourage you to be a little nuts! Doctors don't know everything. That's why they call it "PRACTICING" medicine. 😁
Nimblewill Nomad just went into the AT record book at age 83, so it *CAN* be done!
@@project1003 I AGREE ,,, THE MED WORLD IS EVOLVING , BUT I HAVE DISABILIIES THAT MAY HINDER MY HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE. I'M AN EX FIREFIGHTER EMTP WITH FIRE RESCUE . UNDERSTAND NOW. I'M ALSO A MIL VET OF 10 YEARS,
@Proct100. What are you screaming? Be polite.
@@randyholloway920 Dude, check the names before you post. I'm not the one screaming.
@@randyholloway920 SCREAMING ? NO ONE IS SCREAMING. DO YOU SEE ----> !!!!!!!!!! ? i ALWAYS TYPE IN CAPS. HERE'S WHY, IT HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF MY LIFE AND IT'S EASIER TO READ FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, LIKE ME. MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS, MILITARY REPORTS LOGS, PLACING ORDERS AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS, WRITING PROTOCOLS, PROCEDURE AND INSTRUCTION MANUALS, POLICE REPORTS AND LOGS, FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS AND LOGS., EMERGENCY MEDICAL REPORTS AND LOGS, SECURITY REPORTS AND LOGS, DRAFTING AND DRAWING BLUEPRINTS, SIGN PAINTING AND LETTERING, TAKING NOTES, WRITTING LEGAL STATEMENTS, WRITTING WITNESS STATEMENTS WHICH OFTEN AVOIDS AMBIGUITY. I AM IMMUNE TO NETETIQUETTE AND THE FEELINGS OF THE SNOWFLAKE SOY BABY GENERATIONS. . . . . I INTERPET BASED ON PUNCTUATION MARKS. . . . LOWER CASE LETTERING IS BLURRY AND HARD TO READ DUE TO MY VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHY ARE YOU HARASSING THE VISULY IMPAIRED? DID YOU EVEN STOP TO THINK WHY OR ARE YOU A SURFACE DWELLER. IF THIS IS YELLING YOU NEED TO KNOW YOU CANNOT HEAR WITH YOUR EYES UNLESS YOU'RE SOME KIND OF MEDICAL MIRACLE. TRY SQUINTING AND READING AND YOU'LL SEE GLASSES DO NOT HELP.
Best choice and very comfortable in and outdoors activity. Light weight on camping and backpacking. Awesome
Being allergic to everything you love is heartbreaking 💔. Sorry to hear that and hopefully synthetics/meds will allow you to continue what you love. I'm an avid follower and continue to be.
This 50-year old vet would have never gotten out there w/out the inspiration I've gotten from you and others (mostly you)... Thx Dixie and best wishes.
Another great insightful film. I have a number of allergies too including dust mite. It really affects my breathing and can be quite debilitating. Also I have had problems with down in damp conditions (I live in the UK!) and use synthetic unless weight is an absolute premium. I consistently enjoy your channel and advice. Atb, Andy
Thanks for the review. I've been eyeballing the men's Torrid Jacket for a trip (bikepacking) including Iceland, Farrio Islands, and Scotland, all of which could be very damp so want the warmth of synthetic when wet. I went with the UGQ Bandit Quilt. Their Dynamic Tensioning feature that helps tuck your quilt under you when tightened is amazing at cutting out drafts.
Thank you . Wishing you and your Family a Merry Christmas God Bless.
Hope you get it sorted! Feel better, Dixie!
I’m glad you found some good down alternative gear. I have a Patagonia vest that I love that is the faux down vest. It’s very warm and is my go to for most of my hikes snd other chilly weather activities. I have a north face poly fill hooded jacket that is nice but doesn’t pack down as small as my Patagonia vest does but I don’t need it very often so I’m good for now. Usually a smart wool shirt and vest are all I need. Unless it’s raining. Then I just put my Columbia windbreaker or a rain poncho over me snd I’m fine. I have a zero degree poly fill mummy bag and it’s way warmer than my 20 degree down quilt. It def gets the job done in icy cold weather. But it’s not something I was using most of the time cuz I was getting too hot in it. If I got another poly fill, I’d totally go with a quilt. Thanks for your recommendation. I will check it out. Hope you figure out what’s going on. When I was your age I was dealing with bad allergies like you are. I still have it somewhat but it’s a lot better now. I use infrared heat that seems to keep my lymphatic system working to eliminate junk properly so that’s helped a lot. I have a membership to a local sauna and I have a jade stone infrared heating pad. Between the two snd avoiding foods and skin care products I’m allergic to and getting regular massage it has helped me a lot. Hope you figure out yours too. Try out an infrared sauna snd see if you notice a difference or not. And drink lots of water. If it does or doesn’t help, you’ll know in a couple weeks if it has helped. I saw a difference in a couple of days for me. But that’s cuz my lymphatic are sluggish due to a childhood illness. I got mumps a couple weeks before my appointment to get the vaccine. Back then they gave it to you in elementary school. Wishing you all the best. Really enjoy your channel
Love your videos
Good stuff! Stay safe and Merry Christmas from Tennessee..R.
Hey, nice braid colors. Looks great.
Beautiful waterfall at the end of this video. - - - I am sorry to hear about your allergies. Talk about a bummer ...... I hope they can get your allergies straightened out. Best wishes and happy holidays. Stay safe.
I use a sleeping bag liner, blanket, and (on really cold trips) a SOL escape bivy. All are pretty light. I hate to hear that you’ve developed allergies but I’m glad that you were able to work your way around it! Wander on!!!
Love your channel
I live in Oregon and use a synthetic puffy because when it gets wet it’s still warm and it’s super easy to wash but this opened by eyes to synthetic quilts! During the super wet months I like the added protection of synthetic. Great insight into this!
Girl.....you are the inspiration for many who are frightened of staying outdoors.
Hi Dixie, thanks for posting. I have many allergies & undiagnosed auto issues - it's a process for sure! I'll be looking into your synthetic recommendation. Diet wise, I discovered the Autoimmune protocol diet (AIP) a few years ago and while I only do it intermittently, it truly works wonders. I hope you can take a look into it because it is very helpful diet-wise and can possibly cut down on some of the symptoms you have.
Nice shot of WhiteWater Falls at the end.
Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and any of the other NSAIDs cause me to wake up with puffy eyes and a swollen face. I didn't develop this allergy until I was well into my adult years. Just putting that out there in case it turns out to be one of the culprits in your case. Thanks for all the informative, entertaining, and classy videos you have posted over the years. -20
Good thing you’re an engineer. You’ll figure out the puffiness eventually. I have the Torrid coat and looking forward to using it next summer on the JMT
Hope you’re able to figure it all out. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you are starting to get some answers and that you are being proactive about your health! Your reviews were excellent! I really appreciate the details. I EE's Winona shop last year, trying on both the Visp and Torrid. If it had been possible, I likely would have walked out purchasing both. However, they do an awesome thing to meet more customer needs... They keep sizes in stock simply to allow people to try them on. Otherwise, of course, they be out of stock and we couldn't try them on. Trying on the Torrid indoors in summer was not optimal. However, it seemed to be a very, very warm jacket. Unlike you, I get warm easily and am hesitant to buy the Torrid because of concerns that I would get way too warm when hiking. Do you have any personal thoughts of temperature range this jacket would be good in?
As an aside, I decided - despite NOT currently having custom colors 😢 available - to buy the Visp. I am looking forward to picking it up tonight at a friend's house.
I wear only synthetics too when I hike because I'm an ethical vegan, I sweat like a waterfall and I live in Scandinavia. I too have tried various blends of bamboo, cotton and synthetics but never liked the options and went syntetics only instead.
Keep on keeping on! Trail never ends.
I like her content and her explanations. She is a very articulate young lady. Dixie, you noted that you were a three-season hiker. I truly would like to see your picks and tests of gear for a hike of the Long Trail in Vermont in the winter. You tend to think things through very thoroughly and carefully. What a blessing you are to the community.
@Eastern fence Lizard I grew up in New Hampshire in the 50s - 60s and camped with Coleman products and a back pack the weighed 10 pounds empty!
@Eastern fence Lizard 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 Only in elementary school!
The plus side for a cottage company like Enlightened equipment is keeping the work here. The ghost whisperer and Mont Bell are both made over seas in factory cities
You saved a few duck bums from being plucked! Lol I am glad you found the source of your allergy before you had a worse reaction. I seen my cousin go in full anaphylaxis to a unknown allergy at the time. Thankfully a women walked by who happened to have an epi pen. She had some of your symptoms until one day it closed off her airway. It was the jasmine in a perfume that slowly built up worse reaction with more exposure.
I find I like the low maintenance of synthetic and most the time the price is a bit kinder to us hiker trash! Lol I am definitely not an gram counter so the weight difference isn’t a big deal for me. I love your honest approach to the gear you use and the reasons behind it. Great information!
Glad to see you are tackling your allergy issues. It might take some time and multiple iterations to find the best solution, but stick with it. I’m sure you will inspire other people to get tested, make a switch, and find relief.
Highly recommend allergy injections (immune therapy). I did it over 6-12 months (once a week at first, then once a month) and it cleared up my reactions (Hurrah!) and I did not need to take allergy meds anymore either. However, it is species-specific, so travel to Germany, for example, their grass is different from US grass and my reaction came back, but I only had to take a prescription non-drowsy allergy med every day here in Germany and it eliminated my allergy reactions once again. I am allergic to dust (mite shite), grass, weeds. The bottom line is that you can't always eliminate exposure to most things and this offers a real solution.
Really sorry to hear that you suffer from allergies so badly. I had allergies long ago that just went away after I turned 40. Wishing you success and wellness.
Good video. ✌️👊
I use a hooded synthetic puffy as a sweatshirt most winter days. finding that out was a game changer. - Lake Valley, California 6237'
Feel better!!!
Breath of fresh air Dixie. Love ya darlin.
Dixie..You are the Best!..I love your video’s and have taken your recommendations on Altra and Topo shoes..I want to buy a light weight fleece jacket (mens) for a mid layer application..What do you think?..Thanks and keep up the great videos
You might want to take a look at the new Outdoor Research synthetic insulation they call Superstrand. Seems to be very interesting.
I’d love to hear more about the diet that you choose to help
I’ve been using the men’s Torrid for a year now and absolutely love it. It feels fragile but it’s absolutely not, it’s warm and very well made. At first that tiny zipper worried me but it’s proven to be as reliable as thicker, beefier zippers. And the jacket squishes down to a tiny size then lofts right back up, so it’s perfect for backpacking. The Torrid is an excellent piece of kit. Thank you for sharing Dixie 👣
What are temps would you use the Torrid while hiking (not when less active at camp). I am actually concerned about this awesome jacket being too warm for me. Thanks!
Alternative is Outdoor Vitals. Look at their options for synthetic insulation jackets. You can’t do custom, but their jackets are great. Also look at Senchi micro grid and other fleece options.
Cheers!
Will you need a larger volume pack to handle that lack of compression if synthetics?
No more puffy eyes from puffy down! I'm glad for you that you found something to work for you. My Enigma jacket is on the way!
Btw, I think that Up is word, a play on the fact that it's not "down". 🙂
Thank you
My Mont Bell vapor wrap is great. Had it for tens years, goes on every trip.
You are so thoughtful! I know you can take the girl out of Alabama but you can’t take the Alabama out of the girl…You crack me up! Having to put an * for “side-note” so that people didn’t think you said “sad note”! 😂 that and I haven’t heard “fellas“ in a long time! Love your videos!
Good luck continuing to address your allergy issues. I hope that you can get to a point where you can do what you love so much, without suffering from allergies.
Fancy she might have allergies ! So cute love you. Beginning my journey's has taken years to collect my gear. Tuned it in going with the Hammock instead of tent. Just find the Hammock much lighter and the comfort is amazing. I saw all that condensation in your video. Just not worth the weight and time spent drying off. Yes, doing my homework.
Take care hope we meet one day. 💓 happy trails. My dogs say hello. Bonnie and Daisy.
Your not alone, sister. When out in the backcountry I err on the side of caution when it comes to things that may trigger my allergies. Potential swelling and breathing issues with true down allergies are real.
Idea for a Video: Your Trail Cookery. Stove, Fuel, Pot, Cup, Spoon, Doin’ the Dishes, Pantry Items, Lux Items, etc. TIA.
I been wearing a Columbia Omni heat puffy coat it's not too packable but I tell you what it is warm very warm
To reduce the packed volume of the quilt use a compression dry sac like Granite Gear
I have allergies mostly considered the indoor type but dust mites are everywhere we have soft surfaces. I take zyrtec every single day and allergen reducing sprays like febreze have helped some when I travel. I use a down sleeping bag and I wash it and dry it in the dryer more often than recommended but it has held up like a champ for me.
Hey Dixie could you have saved space by using a compression sack for the quilt or would that be recommend as a way to store that quilt. My daughter and I are through hiking the foothills train 17 thru 23 December this year and I am try to make her pack as light as possible.
Thank you
Where did you find that cute dog quilt for Fancy May? I'm looking for something just like that for my 2 🐶 🐶
Haven’t used a quilt yet - do you get drafty? thanks for the review !!
Fancy mae looks happy with either quilt!
I've made two quilts, both very economically. The first one was a synthetic made with Apex Climashield 5oz. Weighs 26.6 oz. Looks like it would be equivalent to a EE 30 degree. The second one was down with 16 oz of 800 fp (would get 850 if I did it over). Weighs 21.7 oz. Approx. equivalent to 20 degree.
Snugpak sortie jacket. -5C comfort and -10 'survivable'. Water resistant and warm as heck! Although you may struggle to find them in the US as they are a British company that supplies a lot of stuff to the British military.
Did you have to leave out any gear considering that the quilt takes up so much more room in your pack?
Yeah that quilt is huge! Are you going to carry a larger pack?
The warmest, lightest "coat" i own is a thin, synthetic puffy from Kryptek. The modern synthetic down material is amazing.
After I read the title, before watching video, I got all contrary and argumentative inside, listing reasons down is better. Then seconds into the video… “oh, well, I guess if you’re allergic, synthetic is great.” Also, I rock an EE Torrid. But my down quilts: probably worth more than their weight in gold.
Whats the story on the dogs quilt? That looks great I Backpack with my pups and am looking for something like that!!!
If you ever do a comparison video I'd love to see a sleeping bag showdown of different down alternative bags.
Allergy shots are magical! As a fellow "allergic to everything in the air" person, they've helped me tremendously.
Agreed, I used to get shots for like 5 years, sucks getting to the drs each week/biweekly but work like a charm. Weirdly, my allergies stopped eventually.
@@megr.2913 I'm at once a month shots now! It'd make doing a thru-hike difficult, but it's worth it imo.
Hi Dixie, thanks for the review! Been wanting an Apex quilt for ethical reasons and because my down sleeping bag I've had 12 years is like 1.5kg. Also live in nz with lots of humidity and thought synthetic would be nice and easy to wash too. I'm a cold sleeper like you and similar size so giving those details was really helpful. Are you still happy with having a slim one? Originally i was thinking wide, then regular, now you got me thinking! I never had a quilt but love my spacious sleepingbag being a side sleeper. Also concerned about how much space the apex takes up. Have you tried putting it in a compression bag? Also good to see the jacket review as am interested in that jacket too and wasn't sure about warmth. 20% off at the moment, but only for what's in stock, not the cool custom green color :( Hope you could sort your allergy issue! Will check out more of your videos as this was my first one. Oh and you have a dog, so hoping to find some dog gear videos and see more of your gorgeous woofer as I foster dogs sometimes and want to take them hiking 😍 Thanks again 🙏
Lets hear an update on the TerraFlex's!! Want to hear your thoughts on it, considering buying it right now
Quilts are just a fad for tent camping. I have EE down quilt and under quilt which I use for hammock camping. There they make sense. But on a sleeping mat, every time you move you "expel" warm air and suck in cold air; regardless of how well its strapped to the mat. To overcome this you need a higher rated fill. That more than negates the supposed weight saving of a quilt. A sleeping bag with the zipper open does everything a quilt does and gives you a much greater range of temperatures.
I get condensation on my quilt’s foot box about every cold morning. In my case it’s from my feet themselves. They let off a lot of water vapor.
Did you consider any of the hypoallergenic downs? I think ZPacks uses that as an option.
You may get to still use down without getting an allergic reaction to it.
Late to this video, but I wanted to offer a suggestion/idea and I’m not in anyway a medical professional. After suffering severe allergies for decades, by my fifties, things had gotten much worse. Regular allergy meds hardly made a dent. Benadryl was the only thing that gave some relief. I went on a gluten-free diet for other reasons one winter and come spring - no severe seasonal allergies. Found out after noticing this dramatic change that I was gluten sensitive. Now, a decade later, I am still benefiting. The more I avoid gluten, the better all my many allergies. Seems that gluten was a foundational allergy for me. Always recommend a try for fellow sufferers. May not be your solution, but might be worth a try.
Just a suggestion to consider. If you evaluate/analyze nutrition as a potential factor for your (likely?) auto immune isuue, you are or will presumably be trying elimination diets, (i.e. eliminating food categories for 3 wks or so at a time to see if problems disapear - (meats, carbs, nuts, dairy, gluten, fats, etc.). This may still miss a food issue, since foods interact in some cases - the one I discovered being Omega 3 fats/omega 6 fats. For my auto immune issue of extreme psoriasis (skin rash), that particular food combo issue was key, and my first pass at eliminating everything individually missed it. I had to not only eliminate Omega 6 for several weeks, I also had to increase Omega 3, because Omega 6 inactivates Omega 3. In my case as a hiker, a consistent daily intake of nuts (high omega 6) probably blocked any omega 3 intake (low for most of us Americans anyway). My results were pretty dramatic and clear for me, but it also seems clear that nutrition problems/solutions are extremely different between individuals. This is just one easy to miss possibility to consider/test/be aware of. You should be able to get good info googling. Good Luck! I enjoy your videos!
The sleeves on the Torrid look very tight. I prefer something with a wider cuff so you can pull it up and get some more cooling. Makes it a more flexible piece.
Dixie, also try cutting down on sodium in the evening.
Love seeing Fancy Mae.
Climashield is a great material for insulation. It’s a budget version of Lamilite. It should be a synthetic fiber that’s coated in silicon. Meaning it will not be affected by moisture. Wiggys makes garments and sleeping bags using Lamilite. Same concept. You do not need a tent with their sleeping bags, the insulation is completely impervious to moisture.
I’ve also worn the clothing down to -20. It’s amazing to be sweating like a pig and still be warm at -20 because the insulation isn’t affected by the moisture.
What kind of quilt do you use for Fancy?
I wanted to ask this too! Don’t remember seeing it specifically mentioned in former vids either, but I could have missed it. Could you share a link or info on please, Dixie? I was pondering something similar from AliExpress last year for my dog, but it was just a small down throw. FM’s looks better fitted with snaps to stay on. Is it made for dogs? Custom? Thanks!
I've kinda chosen synthetic for two reasons: price and because i live in a place with average >70% humidity. Weight is not my main concern with them, space is, that's the problem for bike travelling, they take up quite a lot of space, but well, i can live with that
My Gore tex tent years ago had an inch of water in it but I had a inch and a half pad so I was ok and a synthetic fill bag
Puffiness could be due to water retention. Also, some of us just start to get puffy as we age. Dealing with the allergies is important, but some of it could just be changes we experience as we get older. (Also, check to see if your thyroid is functioning properly.)
It took me not much time on the sphere to realize I was allergic to feathers also but it took me twenty two years to figure out that I was allergic to wool. I wish it wasn't so but it is and other things too. Are humans really from this planet? I have my doubts. Thanks for the pointers Dixie.
Hi, thanks for the review! I have had some allergy problems myself also. Have you considered chemical sensitivity or mast cell activation syndrome? They are allergy type conditions that are still not very well known even by doctors. Specifically related to backpacking, many products use PFAS chemicals (even so called PFC free DWR can contain some of them) wich some studies have shown can cause immune system problems. Mast cell activation syndrome on the other hand, if I have understood it correctly, is a condition that may lead to having recurring severe allergic reactions and other immunological problems, sometimes without any obvious cause. I myself have also got allergic reactions from wool, water purifying chemicals and even grass if I sit on it while outdoors. Might be a good idea to try avoiding them and maybe other animal based materials and chemicals in general. Its unfortunate to have to get heavier gear because of these things but I agree its better than being sick. I got an synthetic sleeping bag also and some water filters even though they weigh much more than water purigying tabs. Hope you will find something that works for you!
"Cinchy doodad" = southerners technical term for waist adjustment😂 I'm from Arkansas, knew exactly what you meant. Lol keep up the great content Dixie
Can you put the link for that quilt?
I just got an EE Revelation APEX (30deg, my first quilt). I'm really curious how you arrange the straps to best prevent drafts? I know there's going to be some learning on my end because I'm so used to a "regular" sleeping bag. The biggest thing I'm trying to figure out is a good way to keep the drafts out. I'd love to hear how you have yours set up! I'm a super cold sleeper as well and not too sure how I feel about this whole quilt thing yet...
I have a Revelation Down 20. I typically sleep on my back. I just cinch those straps down tight and make sure the buckles meet inside the quilt but not directly under my body. This draws the edges in nice and close, and I do have a bit of over lap where the fringes of the quilt are underneath me.
@@johnnelson4880 any advice for a side sleeper? I toss and turn a lot. I've been testing out some strap arrangements in my living room and I'm having a hard time getting it situated where the sides (near my shoulders) don't come up when I roll over.
@@Drew_Pearson I'm not an expert on this but it sounds like you need a wider quilt.... Which is a huge bummer if you just bought a custom #havetowaitforever quilt. I too am a side sleeper and I "practiced" using one of my regular sleeping bags as a quilt (zipper open) before ordering my EE quilt and decided for my sleeping style wider, even though I'm small and yes you have to heat more space, was what was going to keep me covered while flip flopping around. I just cinch it as tight as possible to decrease the have to heat space but it still has the overlap to "expand" when I turn over and keep me shoulders and hip covered without gaps. Hope that helps with if not the wallet at least the comfort. ;)
@@ArmyLPNurse1 that's super helpful and I think you are correct - I got the Long/Wide from EE but I think I should have gone with the Extra Wide. For now - I've rigged up the "straight" strap that comes with the quilt (the one that does not loop around the pad) to be more like the loop strap..so it now goes around the pad and then clips to the quilt like the other loop strap. I basically just tied the ends together and it works the same as the loop strap now (am I making ANY sense? hahaha). This seems to have helped because now the edges of the quilt are held down pretty well...but I worry the quilt may still not be wide enough. Going to test it out tonight and find out!
I hope you find out on the allergy thing whats going on. Thats got to be kinda frustrating. I had a similar reaction the last time I slept in my down puffy. Maybe we have the same issue
Those the synthetic quilt fits small too ?
I made the same choice - dries quicker and modern is just as warm.
Did you check your food allergies? Are you eating nutrient dense foods?
For anyone else considering a synthetic puffy, try gossamer gear. I love mine
"DWR" always sounded like ScotchGuard to me. Coupla good coatings of that over a freshly cleaned fabric does wonders.
Your switch from down certainly seems reasonable, but I'd still wonder if you switched to high quality 100% down, no feathers, and kept it regularly washed, would accomplish the same thing. Faster & cheaper to go synthetic though, synthetics have gotten way better, and water is so much less a problem.
You do a Great job with your videos, thank you! I hope the doctors and your own smarts can solve your allergy problems…
You should do something on your dogs gear and other situations you come across bringing your dog!