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rainman0915
Nov 5, 2010, 5:04 AM
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Does down become less warm with the years?
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mach2
Nov 5, 2010, 6:24 AM
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Presuming the jackets has lost a few feathers and some of it's loft, yes its quite possible to lose some of the overall warmth.
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mikebee
Nov 5, 2010, 7:31 AM
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The main cause of downies losing their warmth is by the down itself getting clogged with dirt and oils from your skin. When this gets too bad, get it washed, and the jacket should regain most of its original warmth.
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gunkiemike
Nov 5, 2010, 9:48 AM
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rainman0915 wrote: Does down become less warm with the years?
Time is not the enemy (my puffy coat is 37 years old), but use, wear, dirt etc. The down pommules can get broken down. Also, with the current crop of super light down "sweaters", I imagine the fabric will wear out too. 1.9 oz ripstop feels like cordura compared to what I see in the store these days.
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Express
Nov 5, 2010, 6:38 PM
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I would agree. All this Quantum Pertex and the like horse manure is a joke. I tore open a Mammut sweater on basically a twig. There is no strength or abrasion resistance whatsoever on most of these things.
Also, watch for what kind of down you are getting. 800-fill is really a big upgrade from the 650 that many of the mid- to low-end jackets get.
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sarcat
Nov 8, 2010, 7:52 PM
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I've had the North Face Nuptose (sp?) jacket for years. Seems to be just as warm now as when I got it. Hard to tell however as no two days are the same using it. It did keep me warm after a down pour and I had several hours to hike still. I'd keep a shell to go over the down.
I have a friend who uses his WW2 era down sleeping bag still. Says it's as good now as when he got it.
(This post was edited by sarcat on Nov 8, 2010, 7:53 PM)
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bearbreeder
Nov 8, 2010, 7:55 PM
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you do lose some feathres ... and if you improperly wash down all it can damage it ...
but if your careful a good down jacket will last you over a decade
as a previous posted said ... 800 fill is the way to go ... 650 fill and below are fairly pointless
with primaloft one having a clo/oz of 0.94 .... synthetics are the one to get unless you go 800 fill
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