Consumer report
Synthetic sleeping bags dominate market
By DAVE STEINMAN
Of the Emerald
Buying a quality sleeping bag is not
difficult, but there are a few things to
know before making a purchase
Insulative materials can be either
synthetic or natural Down is natural. It
gives best toft per pound, but water
soaked down, at best, retains only
17% of its original loft, something to
keep in mind for rainy Oregon Goose
down is the best quality, raising a
bag's price to $400. Duck down is
used in less expensive bags, having
about 40% less loft. The compromise
is called prime goose, found in what
most manufacturers consider their
very good bags. In dollars this
translates to $200 to $250.
Unfortunately, there have been
scandals in the outdoors outfitting in
dustry where cheap grades of down
have been substituted for better
grades. A buyer's best bet is to stick
with a respected industry name such
as North Face, Sierra Designs, Trail
wise. Holubar or Sundown
In Eugene, synthetic filled bags
outsell down by 50 to one. Synthetics,
when wet, retain at minimum 85% of
original loft Also, synthetics can
Chicago bullies
past Portland
CHICAGO (AP) - A key goal
tending call against Tom Owens with
less than two minutes to go helped the
Chicago Bulls to a 99-97 National
Basketball Association victory over
the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday
night.
With the Bulls leading 97-99, Mark
Landsberger rebounded Artis Gil
more's missed shot and put the ball
back up Owens was tagged with the
goaltending call and the Bulls had a
six-point lead
Portland came back with field goals
by Maurice Lucas and Ron Brewer to
cut the gap to 99-97 with 58 seconds
to play
John Brown then missed two free
throws for the Bulls, giving Portland a
chance to tie. But Brewer's jumps hot
with two seconds to go bounced off
the rim.
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Page 8 Section B
provide equivalent heat at same
weights as a down bag even though
twice as much material is needed
"This is because synthetic fill
doesn't need baffling like down
does," says Bob Taube of Sundown
Sleeping Bag Co. in Eugene "But a
down bag will outlast a synthetic
twice as long Also synthetics
compress as easily as down and have
about twice the volume. ”
The best synthetic material on the
market is Polarguard, though Dacron
2 can be found in cheaper bags, says
Taube Polarguard filled bags can run
anywhere from $80 to $150, depend
ing on temperature rating
Rip stop nylon and taffeta are com
monly used for a bag's outer shell.
Taffeta "is found on less expensive
equipment. Rip stop gives the highest
tear strength per weight and can be
'distinguished by its little checkered
I patterns formed by using heavier
tthreads. Only small manufacturers of
sleeping bags, such as Sundown, will
take the time to “hot cut’’ their rip stop
nylon Hot cutting fuses fiber edges
together to prevent fraying
Sometimes an expensive down bag
will have a Goretex outer shell. Tri-nyl
is a new product used for an inner
lining. It’s soft as cotton for a more
comfortable feeling on the inside. Ex
pect to see it in specialty stores for the
first time this summer. For the time
being, an outer shell of rip stop is
good enough.
The larger space of a rectangular
(also known as barrel) bag means less
warmth for the same amount of fill.
They also don’t have hoods, which
are important since ?0% of the body's
heat is lost through the head. Mummy
bags are the preferred choice for
anyone planning to be outdoors in all
kinds of weather.
A good mummy bag will have a
zipper that goes within a few inches of
the bag’s foot, as well as double
zipper tubes or a wind flap
People intending to share two bags
zipped together should buy two-way
separating zippers. Also, don't forget
to buy a right and left handed bag. A
right handed person should buy a
left-handed bag as it is easier to zip
across the body than down the same
side. Two-way separating zippers
can be distinguished by being able to
be zipped from the top or bottom.
The best way to tell a bag’s quality
is to check the way zippers are sewn
into a seam while the least expensive
bags will have zippers that show both
edges of the fabric away from the
teeth. As for temperature ratings,
manufacturers always overrate and
synthetics like Polarguard lose a little
loft after being used a few times.
To get a good bag go to a specialty
shop whose business livelihood is
dependent upon selling quality out
door gear
Seeking out experienced outdoors
people and asking their opinions of
different manufacturers bags, as well
as the different options available is
usually better than taking advice from
sales people, who, good intentioned
they may be, tend to favor the equip
ment their store handles. Shopping
around is a good >dea and waiting for
off-season sales can save a person
about 20% off the price they might be
paying during the middle of summer.
Generally, the best time to buy a bag
is around April or November.
Once a bag is bought be aware of
how to clean it. Down bags should be
cleaned professionally by a dry
cleaner who will not use Perk cleaning
fluid. Synthetic bags can be machine
washed in cold water; too much heat
will melt the bag. For druying, either
hang a bag outside or use air-fluff dry.
Use a front load machine when
washing so the hag won’t get
wrapped around the agitator of a top
loader which could destroy it.
Awareness preparation precludes accidents
By JACK CONDLIFFE
Of the Emerald
Editor's note: The information
contained in this article on winter
recreation safety was provided by
Eugene Mountain Flescue.
Awareness is the key to safety in
winter recreation, awareness of per
sona! abilities and limitations and of
the dangers presented by Mother Na
ture.
Through awareness of these fac
tors, 80 percent of the risk involved in
cross country ski trips, mountaineer
ing or other slowly will disappear.
A number of basic precautions will
help make any winter trip into the
woods and country more safe and
enjoyable.
Clothing — Clothing should be
adequate to protect against all types
of weather conditions. Raingear and
windproof clothing are as important as
clothing to protect against zero
degree temperatures. Insulated un
derwear is a must
Shelter — Winter tents should be
able to bear the weight of heavy
snowfall. If your group is large, a snow
shovel should be taken to dig a snow
cave or an igloo
In especially cold weather, a snow
cave is the best and warmest protec
tion. Contrary to popular thinking,
body warmth will not generate enough
heat to melt the walls of a snow cave
except for maybe a few droplets run
ning down the sides Small gas stoves
can be used, with caution, inside
these shelters.
Equipment — An essential item for
any trip into the wilderness is a first aid
kit, and the knowledge to use it. For
ski trips, proper wax and a ski repair
kit, including an emergency tip,
should also be taken along.
Enough food should be taken for
two or three more days than the trip is
actually planned for, along with extra
clothing. Also take and know how to
use a map and compass
Ten Cents — Some dimes should
be taken for emergency phone calls.
Avalanches — Avalanches can
occur under any conditions, though
recent snowfall or a sudden rise in
temperature are signs to look for.
Avalanches occur commonly on
slopes of less than 100 feet, not just
on larger hillsides.
Experience — Beginning outdoors
adventurers should venture out with
L
;y.H
Photo by Kurt Wojick
Cross country skiers should be adequately dressed and prepared for
emergencies before they go on extended trips, says Eugene Mountain
Rescue Up to 80 percent of the risk involved is due to the ignorance of
ill-prepared participants.
someone with experience,especially
for a longer trip. Experienced
members of a party should check the
equipment of inexperienced members
to insure that no essential items have
been forgotten
Beginning winter mountaineers
should have summer climbing
experience and travel with people
who have climbed before under winter
conditions.
Leave Word — Always tell
someone in town where you are going
and any alternative plans you may
have Be sure to mention when you
expect to be back.
In Case of Emergency — For an
injury, give first aid to the victim and
make them as comfortable as possi
ble Put up your tent or build a
makeshift shelter if at all possible
Send for help. When calling for help
call the county sheriff's office. Don't
hang up until told to by the person
taking down information on the other
end of the line.
If you become lost, stay put. The
easiest place for you to be found by
searchers is where you are Build a
fire and put up a tent, or again, some
kind of makeshift shelter.
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