Need Some Recommendations Please

[jwolfuo]

There are many bonuses to hydrophobic down. For starters, most of the current methods actually boost the fill power of the down. Some down fills, once treated, can go from 800 to 850, 850 to 900, etc. So, it actually improves the down itself. Secondly, it opens up the ability to use duck down, which previously has been a lesser quality fill because...it stinks...literally. The new hydrophobic downs mitigate the oils that make duck down not so great. Down products of any kind, also need to be washed regularly. Dirt and body oil is the number one killer of down over the long haul and washing down has always come with some risk of damaging the loft. When Sea to Summit's engineers first started testing their Ultra Dry Down, they started washing it repeatedly to see how much degradation of loft they would observe. They eventually washed a bag so many times, they gave up. The nylon was pooping out long before the hydrophobic down. So, washing hydrophobic down is easier, less likely to ruin the fill, and thus makes for a bag which will ideally, last indefinitely.

The other advantages are important to note. Most hydrophobic downs will take 30% more water and exposure to water to fully wet. They will also dry 30% faster than non-treated down. But here's the real kicker. If you get your non-treated bag wet in the field, chances are high that it will never recover. Hydrophobic down can be dried in the field (without the dryer needed for non-treated down) with 100% recovery to the down loft.

As for the additional cost, according to most down purveyors, the additional cost to consumer has an industry average of less than 5%. Some noticed a bump in prices when hydrophobic down hit the market, but much of that had to do with world-wide increases in the base price of down. After 2008 and the global financial crash, simply producing the birds to make the feathers got rather expensive.

The StS Trek TK II sleeping bag includes a "mesh storage cell". I've read that it is always better to store the bag unrolled, compressed, stuffed, etc.. Would you recommend this? I have room to hang the bag, folded over once, on a clothes hanger in my closet if that will prolong its life and quality.

 

[PlacidWaters]

I have room to hang the bag, folded over once, on a clothes hanger in my closet if that will prolong its life and quality.

Mice are a concern with down sleeping bags, possibly also insects. I store my down bags in their cotton sacks, hanging from a shelf in a closet. I once found a lot of tiny holes that mice had eaten in the cotton sack. Thankfully they didn't damage the bag itself but I've heard in backpacking forums about that happening, so be careful. Probably plastic containers are safer.

 

[jwolfuo]

Mice are a concern with down sleeping bags, possibly also insects. I store my down bags in their cotton sacks, hanging from a shelf in a closet. I once found a lot of tiny holes that mice had eaten in the cotton sack. Thankfully they didn't damage the bag itself but I've heard in backpacking forums about that happening, so be careful. Probably plastic containers are safer.

Perfect, thank you for the advice.

Last little update:
Brown Santa/UPS delivered my Sea To Summit Trek TK II and MSR Elixir 3. I am thoroughly impressed by Sea To Summit. The Trek TK II bag is incredible - it's my first down bag so I might be drooling a bit more than what's actually warranted. StS includes a content analysis sheet for each of their bags too. It was very cool to see exactly what % of each material, down to the .1, was in my specific bag.

I ended up purchasing the NEMO Tensor Insulated (25L) Air Pad. I'm looking forward to seeing how well it performs!

 

[TwinStick]

I would think a stove that requires no bought fuel would be ideal. This is just one kind: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Embe...gclid=CIiC0Kq56c4CFZRbhgodZnUO7A&gclsrc=aw.ds

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/8178...80&gclid=COG3i7256c4CFYSlNwod7ogB3Q&gclsrc=ds

You can gather fuel while hiking if need be. Folds flat.

 

[jwolfuo]

As far as lightweight factory made stoves, I am a Trangia fan. (Biased of course, I grew up literally down the street from their factory. )
Their stuff is well known throughout scandinavaia. Fuel available every outdoors or hardware & paint store.

They do lack neat-o gadget factor what 'Expotards get all bonered over, but dead simple & silent operation is their hallmark.
However & depending what model cooker you use can be fussy to use in really foul & cold weather.

Anyway, suitable for you depends on your style & ideas of backpack cooking. I view as basically boiling water & heating up ready made food.

You can also easily make ultralight similiar to Trangia stoves. Under dozens of variants. Mr. Google can show you more.
Going this route, you should experiment somewhat before you settle on a home-brew stove in the woods where your companion may get really cheesed if you have troubles.

Those Trangia stoves are incredible. I've only seen positive reviews on their products. I am certainly considering one.

 

[jwolfuo]

I would think a stove that requires no bought fuel would be ideal. This is just one kind: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Embe...gclid=CIiC0Kq56c4CFZRbhgodZnUO7A&gclsrc=aw.ds

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/8178...80&gclid=COG3i7256c4CFYSlNwod7ogB3Q&gclsrc=ds

You can gather fuel while hiking if need be. Folds flat.

I've been looking at the one from Vargo Outdoors. These two products together seem to be able to use wood, alcohol, and tablets as fuel options: Vargo Outdoors Converter Stove & Vargo Outdoors Hexagon Wood Stove.

 

[TwinStick]

Any of these kind of stoves should be able to use the 3 fuels you mentioned. You might just have to put the alcohol in a small container & slide it in there.

I also have 3 Primus- classic trail/camp stoves. They work awesome below 10,000 ft. They do take fuel canisters though, which are cheap & easy to find. They are so small, they fit anywhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEpx9Xu70ak