Had to choose between a down bag and synthetic for a wet trip... glad I picked wrong

Last fall I was getting ready for a 4 day hike in the Smokies and couldn't decide on a sleeping bag. Down is lighter and packs smaller, but synthetic handles moisture way better. I went with the synthetic one because the forecast showed rain... and sure enough, I woke up day two with the tent all fogged up inside. My buddy's down bag was soaked and useless, while mine dried out in like 20 minutes. Has anyone else had a close call with moisture ruining their sleep setup?

2 comments

2 Comments

margareth481mo ago

Did you try drying the bag with a campfire, or was that not an option?

elizabeth9001mo ago

Going to play devil's advocate here @margareth48 - down is a gamble, but when it works it's magic, and you can always sleep with the bag inside your jacket if it's damp. Drying a synthetic bag near a fire is risky, one spark and you might as well pack up early.