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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxb!mhuxn!mhuxm!mhuxj!aluxe!2141smh
From: 2141smh@aluxe.UUCP (S. M. Henning,)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Thinsulate coats
Message-ID: <679@aluxe.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Feb-85 15:34:47 EST
Article-I.D.: aluxe.679
Posted: Fri Feb  1 15:34:47 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Feb-85 14:08:34 EST
References: <4449@ucbvax.ARPA> <561@mako.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Allentown, PA
Lines: 19

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From the keys of Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA aluxe!2141smh

> The advantage of down is (a) it's very lightweight, and (b) you can
> squash it into a little ball, stick it in your pocket, and then
> pull it out and fluff it back up again.  These are very nice
> properties if you are going backpacking.  
> The problems with down are (a) expense, and (b) special cleaning
> requirements. (it's very delicate)  

The main problem with down is that if the down gets damp or wet it looses
ALL of its insulating qualities.  Wool, thinsulate, and other polyester
fiber insulations will still keep you warm if they get wet.  You of
coarse have to wring the liquid water out to get most of the insulation
back, but it will keep you alive where down won't.  Something to think
about.  On Mt. Hood, in Oregon, two guy had to hole-up in a snow cave
to escape white-out conditions.  One had a down bag which got damp
due to condensation and he died.  His poor buddy with a cheap polyester
bag survived.