Hi is this sleeping bag water resistant? Also what's the recommended method of cleaning/washing a down bag? I've only own synthetic sleeping bags and am used to just throwing them into the washer.

Sincerely,

matt

About washing, and I am serious here, I have a extreme cold weather army suplus bag that I got for christmas 1979, its good to 5*-10*F, I wear fleece pants, socks and a shirt when I sleep, therefore avoiding dirtying the bag(body oil deposits) , I havent washed it since 1982, and it does not smell, I dont know if its the fabric (silky nylon) or what, doesnt leak feathers either, it is heavy at 5 pounds tho'. So, I dont wash my sleeping bags, if they get dirty, I wipe them down with a soapy rag.

Washing, just as with a synthetic, do it infrequently, but when necessary (washing will remove built up oil from the feathers & increase your loft when it's needed.) If it just "smells bad"- air it out; over-washing will shorten your bag's lifespan. The best cleaning products are specifically for down & you should be able to find them at your local outdoor shop. Whatever you do, don't use any detergent with petroleum in it (think of what those oil spill covered birds look like...) You'll need to use a big front-loading washer on gentle cycle & I usually double-rinse, if it's an option. Drying is tough too-- I always air-dry most of the way (line dry out of the sun) & then tumble dry on low with a few tennis balls to "fluff" the down back into place & bust up the clumps. There are also services that will do it for you, but I just kinda prefer to do it myself.

MontBell uses a very thin (40D) nylon treated with DWR (Durable Water Resistance) for the outer shell of these bags. Small amounts of water will bead up and roll off of the fabric, but it will wet through eventually (such as being pressed against a wet tent wall). Down bags can be tricky to wash, and there are several methods for doing so at home, or you can find cleaners who will be able to wash it for you.