• STAYSDRIER

  Stays drier 10-times longer
  than untreated down.

• KEEPSWARMER

  Retains 170% (2.7-times) more loft than untreated down when
  exposed to moisture
  and humidity.

• DRIESFASTER

  Dries 33% faster than
  untreated down.

Technology Explanation

It’s widely accepted that down is the best insulation available… lighter, warmer, more compressible, and more durable than any other natural or synthetic insulation ever created. But down has one major flaw. As it gets wet from rain, condensation, humidity, or sweat, it begins losing its loft and its ability to keep you warm.

DriDown’s™ hydrophobic finish is key to its outstanding performance of DriDown™, enabling sleeping bags insulated with DriDown™ to stay drier, loft better, and dry faster than bags insulated with untreated down. This means any bag insulated with DriDown™ will keep you warmer, longer in any situation.

Environmental Example

In an 80% relative humidity environment, an untreated 15-degree down sleeping bag loses up to 30% of its loft over a period of eight hours. A 30% loss of loft essentially turns a 15-degree sleeping bag into a 30-degree sleeping bag. DriDown™ sleeping bags avoid this loss of thermal efficiency by retaining 98% of their loft, keeping you warmer all night long on both short and extended trips into the backcountry.

DriDown™ Product Details

• 600-fill power down Ignite DriDown 0 and Ignite DriDown 20 sleeping bags
• EN tested to men’s and women’s comfort ratings
• DriDown™ Sleeping Bags Available January 2013

DriDown™ Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is DriDown™ and how does it work?

   DriDown™ is natural down insulation treated with a molecular level polymer, creating a hydrophobic finish on individual down plumes. The result: DriDown™ stays dry longer, lofts better, and dries faster than untreated down.

   Untreated down plumes collapse when wet, reducing loft and insulating efficiency. DriDown’s™ water resistance far exceeds that of untreated down, staying dry 10-times longer in the presence of natural body moisture, humidity, rain, and snow to offer superior loft and thermal efficiency in any environmental situation.

2. Is DriDown™ waterproof? Does it use a waterproof/breathable membrane?

   DriDown™ is highly water resistant, not waterproof. It will eventually get wet, but outperforms untreated down by staying dry 10-times longer in the presence of moisture.

   DriDown™ does not require a waterproof/breathable membrane. While membranes are great for keeping moisture out, they also keep a lot of body moisture in. Sleeping bags using DriDown™ allow internal moisture to escape far more effectively than bags with a membrane, enhancing loft and warmth retention for significantly improved performance.

3. What are the advantages of DriDown™?

   As untreated down gets wet, it loses loft and therefore loses its ability to insulate. DriDown™ helps eliminate this problem.

   • DriDown™ stays dry 10-times longer than untreated down.
   • DriDown™ retains 170% more loft than untreated down when exposed to moisture and humidity.
   • DriDown™ dries 33% faster than untreated down.
     *Third-party testing conducted by California Down and Feather Testing Laboratory

4. Where did the inspiration come from?

   DriDown™ was inspired by the need for higher performance down. For its weight, down is indisputably the best performing insulation available… lighter, warmer, more compressible, and more durable than any synthetic insulations. Its only downside is a loss of thermal efficiency as it becomes wet. DriDown™ advances the benefits of untreated down in any environmental situation, enhancing performance to allow you to stay warmer, dryer, and more comfortable.

5. What is the down treated with?

   DriDown™ uses a molecular level polymer applied during the down finishing process to create a hydrophobic finish on individual down plumes. This polymer finish maintains down integrity and increases durability without adding additional discernable weight.

6. How do the shell and liner fabrics affect performance?

   The shell and liner fabrics are the same used in standard down sleeping bags of similar price and market position. They are not integral to the performance of DriDown™, but will help to speed drying when compared to bags that use a waterproof/breathable membrane.

7. Does DriDown™ affect thermal efficiency?

   Yes. While down of a specific fill power is the same across the board, DriDown™ resists moisture far better than untreated down with the same fill rating so even low levels of environmental humidity will not diminish loft. DriDown’s™ enhanced thermal efficiency is even more obvious in damp or humid environments. DriDown’s™ benefits are also obvious in the coldest and driest climates. Your body naturally gives off moisture even if you’re not actively sweating, and this moisture can drastically affect the loft and performance of untreated down. Start to sweat and performance is further diminished. DriDown’s™ hydrophobic finish prevents sweat and body moisture from negatively impacting loft and thermal efficiency, keeping you warmer throughout the day or night.

8. Will you notice an advantage right away? Is performance enhanced in ‘regular’ environmental conditions?

   Yes. Apparel and sleeping bags insulated with DriDown™ will perform better right away. Even small amounts of sweat or humidity will begin to diminish the performance of untreated down. DriDown™ will keep even the smallest amount of moisture from negatively impacting down performance.

9. Can you use this technology on synthetic insulations?

   There is no need. Synthetic insulations are made with petroleum products and are naturally hydrophobic.

10. What is the weight difference over untreated down?

    The difference is so minimal that we can’t measure it with standard equipment, meaning you will never notice the extra weight.

11. Is DriDown™ sustainable?

    Yes. DriDown™ is made with natural down and, unlike synthetic insulations, is not made from petroleum products. Down is a renewable natural resource and we’ve found that DriDown’s™ hydrophobic finish actually increases its durability over untreated down, enhancing the longevity of your apparel and sleeping bags.

12. Is DriDown™ safe for people and the environment?

    Yes. All components of the polymer used in DriDown™ (including chemical manufacturing, finished chemical, and down processing) have been evaluated and rated as non-hazardous to human health, safety, and the environment by a third-party, internationally recognized agency. This rating tells the world that DriDown™ meets or exceeds rigorous standards for health, safety, and environmental sustainability.

13. Can I have an allergic reaction to DriDown™?

    The polymer used to create DriDown™ is hypoallergenic, so unless you have a pre-existing allergy to down, you will not be allergic to DriDown™.

14. What is the trade-off when choosing DriDown™ over untreated down? Are there any disadvantages?

    DriDown™ does not add any discernable weight nor does it negatively impact down loft. Additional costs associated with DriDown™ products are negligible. All you will notice is the enhanced performance DriDown™ provides.

15. Is there any impact on the treatment of waterfowl?

    No. Since the polymer used in DriDown™ is applied during the down finishing process, waterfowl are not treated any differently than waterfowl used for untreated down.

16. Does the DriDown™ treatment process damage the down, make it less durable, or shorten its lifespan?

    Down is a very resilient material and the hydrophobic polymer used in DriDown™ seems to actually increase overall durability. We’re working to determine how much longer DriDown™ will resist breakdown than untreated down.

17. How long does DriDown™ last? Does it wash out?

    After dozens of cycles in a commercial washer with warm water and detergent, we have not seen any decline in DriDown’s™ performance. Theoretically the treatment could wash out, but it would take more washings than any sleeping bag or jacket would likely receive during its lifespan.

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