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This question will probably never have an unanimous answer but I'm am interested as to what you all will have to say. I'm now gear shopping and have narrowed my wish list down on all items except the sleeping bag.

I'm however leaning towards the synthetic hollow fiber option with a good thermal liner.

My main reason for this is:

1. The initial cost of Down vs Synthetic
I know that the down will probably last longer than synthetic but this is not a issue for me as I like buying new gear every now and then.
2. The cleaning of Down vs Synthetic
3. Synthetic's insulating capabilities when wet/moist vs down.
Recent DGT hikers needed to be rescued because of wet down bags.

Please advise.

I would never buy anything but down for my bag, best weight to warmth ratio on the planet (so far). Those geese and ducks know how to stay warm. The big caveat here is to protect your down with your life, so my bag is always protected by industrial strength gortex (or similar) and a light overbag to reduce wear and tear. I also care for it well, packing it deep in my backpack (nothing compresses like down) and essentially treat it like gold. I have a Marmot goretex/down bag I bought in 1985 still in use, used it on Mont-aux-Sources 1 July and slept like a baby.

DGT hikers who get wet bags and need rescuing should not be hiking in the Berg.

NB: Some synthetics have superseded natural materials, such as polartec over wool and waterproof"breathable" fabrics over the old oils and sealants. But down so far has not been superseded in my opinion.

I agree with Thomas, I currently have a cheap K-Way hollow fibre bag (20 to -6) and a cotton bag liner, its adequate in 3 seasons, and I have used it in winter (once) and it was adequate, but I would be nervous on the escarpment.

The advantage of hollow fibre is the significantly higher range of comfort temperatures and the cost, but my bag weighs almost 2kg and I can assure you that once I am working a proper job again (after writing my first board exam in Jan next year) I have every intention of getting a proper down bag.

A bag liner is actually very uncomfortable and I really would not recommend it (having slept in one on 3 occasions). According to a guy who everyone tells me is a Berg expert (his name is Caesar) bag liners don't add more than 2 degrees to a bag dispite claims of up to 15 degrees.

This is an interesting question, from which I have learnt a few thigns from some hiking budies. There is no clear answer here, pro's and cons everywhere.

Friend had a down bag and I a synthetic, from about ten year ago. Friends was a First Ascent and mine a Bare Bag. Both rated to - 8 I think.

After a number of adventures, resulting in steep learning curves, my friends bag had got wet mutiple times, resulting in a rather uncomfortable night sharing one bag. One occasion being on a ledge half way up a climb and another while having our tent "float" around. His bag was chucked after about 4 years and mine is still going strong.

Now this last weekend I pulled my old bag out, I know have a new mountain hardware pinhole -7, because a certian lady in life decided she needed the new one, I ended up in the old bag. To my suprise the bag worked perfectly and despite there being ice on the inside of the innner tent I was still warm.

Now considering the FA -8 bag is around R2200 and the MH was R900, I think I will be staying with hollow.

The only down side is the weight and compressibility.

Hope this helps.

Stay away from inners.

Just a I thought. 3 Replies with 3 opinions.

The Moutain Hardwear Pinole is exactly the bag I'm leaning towards, although I haven't yet checked if it is merge-able with another one for the trips my wife will be joining me. I still have my doubts as to whether it would be sufficient on a mid-winter escarpment hike?

What is interesting is the anti-liner comments as I thought this to be standard practice to improve the rating and best of all to keep your bag clean and thus not having to wash it as often, although this is of less concern when going with the synthetic.

Please keep this one going guys and thanks for the replies.

I have a first accent down bag which i have used since about 98.

It has never gotten wet, despite hikes in poring rain for about 3 days straight, blizzards and other rain events. Treat it like a camera ito water avoidance and it will look after you for many years.

I also open it up and leave it on the top of the tent during hikes if possible, and then leave it open for about two days when i get back from a trip, I then pack it unstuffed, either laid out flat or folded once with nothing on top of it.