Just a heads up for anyone who was not already aware -- I am having my old reliable Northface down bag restuffed by Northface for about $25. Beats having to buy a new Sea to Summit Talus TSI for 335. If you call up Northface they will direct you to take your bag to your local Northface outlet, fill out a 1-page return form and they take care of shipping costs to their CA-store and back to your home.

If you don't have a local Northface, you can mail it out to CA directly. Just thought I'd share as I didn't want to get rid of my old sleeping bag that I bought in 1988 and spend a lot to replace.

Did something similar with my MSR whisperlites which MSR has upgraded to the shaker jet technology, twice, for the cost of shipping (< $5). Nice folks. Have a third one I'll send them this winter.

Came back. Lots of down. Very warm. No cost at all! Great deal :)

thanks for the tip.

I have an old NF down bag - a friend did me a "favor" by washing it in a top loader machine, which of course pretty much ruined it - I might go to the NF store and see if it could get restuffed and fixed for reasonable amount.  don't really need it since I have 10 or so bags, but this one is a 20 deg bag, which I only have one other of, so might be worth it.

Mad_Mat wrote on Oct 9^th, 2015 at 7:09pm:

thanks for the tip. I have an old NF down bag - a friend did me a "favor" by washing it in a top loader machine, which of course pretty much ruined it - I might go to the NF store and see if it could get restuffed and fixed for reasonable amount.  don't really need it since I have 10 or so bags, but this one is a 20 deg bag, which I only have one other of, so might be worth it.

I did the same with mine which "was" a 15 deg. bag which had become a 50 deg. bag over time! My wife asked me to do the same with her down bag which I need to turn in to my local REI retailer in Uptown (Minneapolis). Even if REI would have charged me the quoted 20-30 dollars, it would still have been a more economical deal than the 180-250 dollar price of new NF down bag (Blue Kazoo). Let me know how your efforts go.

M_M
I routinley wash my goose down comforter in the top load washer on gentle cycle with a down soap.
I also dry it in the gas dryer on delicate.
I use 2 tennis balls with it to fluff it back up to original shape.
Kinda noisy, but it works so far.
Might give it a try if your so inclined.

HighnDry wrote on Oct 12^th, 2015 at 7:44pm:

Mad_Mat wrote on Oct 9th, 2015 at 7:09pm: thanks for the tip. I have an old NF down bag - a friend did me a "favor" by washing it in a top loader machine, which of course pretty much ruined it - I might go to the NF store and see if it could get restuffed and fixed for reasonable amount.  don't really need it since I have 10 or so bags, but this one is a 20 deg bag, which I only have one other of, so might be worth it. I did the same with mine which "was" a 15 deg. bag which had become a 50 deg. bag over time! My wife asked me to do the same with her down bag which I need to turn in to my local REI retailer in Uptown (Minneapolis). Even if REI would have charged me the quoted 20-30 dollars, it would still have been a more economical deal than the 180-250 dollar price of new NF down bag (Blue Kazoo). Let me know how your efforts go.

Correction to above post: Northface not REI.

I like the tennis balls idea. Hadn't thought of that when I last washed my down bag.

The bags you guys are getting redone. Did they lose feathers in just the torso area. I've got an old Eddie Bauer bag from 1972 that's been great, except for the torso area now. It's sentimental tripping gear now, but thinking some new bags are nice, waterproof footboxes, treated down, lighter, etc.
I fluff the feathers around and they still end up to the sides during the night. Plus it was cut bigger and slightly heavier than the NF bags when I bought it and I'm not getting any younger. I've got to relook at everything and cut some weight from my outfit.

"Did they lose feathers in just the torso area."

no, my NF bad is just all clumped up down.  I tried washing it a second time and using sneakers in the dryer - that didn't help at all

I have an EMS bag that is "thin" on down in the top side of the torso - been thinking I might be able to cut the stitching that keeps the down from going all the way around, and move some from the bottom to the top - might be/probably is easier to just get some down added to that one also

My bag had actually lost down all over. Most of the loss was in the torso area and I could really feel it on those nights where temps dipped below 50 or so. I would wear all my clothes and then lay awake more or less shivering or thinking "geez, am I cold!". I can't believe I didn't take care of this sooner but the thought of buying a brand new down bag (over 300 dollars or more) always prevented any action.

When I received my "restuffed" bag recently, I had a hard time compacting it so that I could get it back into it's original stuff sack! Therefore I'm pretty sure that I had lost a significant amount of down all over the bag.

I'm much toastier in the bag now :)

Down is still the gold standard as far as getting the most in warmth/weight, but they have issues that some of the latest synthetic "down" materials don't like what were discussing and losing insulation IF they get wet.

Since most of us will never be paddling in sub-zero temps where down really shines, IF I was contemplating spending decent down money on a new bag, I'd have to look long and hard at the newest synthetic down's.

All the best of down, waterproof and the insulation doesn't mat and still insulates if the bag's material does get wet. In many cases they weigh withing ounces of a down bag and generally speaking a lot cheaper.

Mad_Mat wrote on Oct 13^th, 2015 at 5:59pm:

"Did they lose feathers in just the torso area." no, my NF bad is just all clumped up down.  I tried washing it a second time and using sneakers in the dryer - that didn't help at all I have an EMS bag that is "thin" on down in the top side of the torso - been thinking I might be able to cut the stitching that keeps the down from going all the way around, and move some from the bottom to the top - might be/probably is easier to just get some down added to that one also

M_M, I just sent mine into Rainy Pass Repair in Seattle. I'll let you know how it turns out. But talking to them they thought that most bags can be fixed with just a wash and dry with their equipment. After that they'll evaluate the loft and estimate any repair costs.

Their website states they also repairs GoreTex and several other expensive camping gear items.

What types of repairs do they do to GoreTex and does that include gaitors from another manufacturer? Just curious.

HighnDry wrote on Oct 29^th, 2015 at 12:17am:

What types of repairs do they do to GoreTex and does that include gaitors from another manufacturer? Just curious.

I'd call them if you have a question about GoreTex, or any repairs.

I did get my bag cleaned/dried and it did need more down too. It should be here 11/12/15. I could have spent the money towards a new bag ($135 plus cleaning), but this thing was my High School graduation gift. So it's been going with me since 1973 and it wouldn't seem right to go without it.

I'll post my final review once I get it.

Well Rainy Pass did a nice job. For what it cost I could have been halfway to a new bag. But like I said, this one had some sentimental value, so I'm very pleased. I got my old bag back to good as new.