Polarguard 3D

“How does Polarguard 3D compare to other synthetic materials? I bought a bag for my daughter (not many bags for ladies out there) and went with the synthetic, because of cost, weight wasn't critical and the fact that it may never be used.

I did not do my research on sythetic materials before hand. When I got the bag it felt kind of chinzy. Like it was a cheap insulation. It doesn't compress well and I thought I made a poor choice. How does Polarguard 3D perform? How may ladies have this type of bag?”

“I have a NF Big Fella 20 deg. which is Polarguard 3D and I love it. Tere is a newer insulation called Polarguard Delta. Maybe someone on here has tried it.”

“3D is the #&%!$ when it comes to synthetics. I have a 3D jacket and find it very good.

'Course, nothing compares to down though.”

“Does the #&%!$ mean good or bad? Your message lost something in the translation.”

“It's good dude.”

“I have a Moonstone 3d bag I use on raft/canoe trips, due to risk of getting it wet (supposedly insulates when wet and dries fast, unlike down). It compresses pretty well; no complaints.”

“3D is the best you're going to find until the rights which TNF has for exclusive use of Polarguard Delta expires. Primaloft PL1 is supposed to be even more like down in loft and weight but very few companies put this in their sleeping bags.

Hollofil, and Polarguard HV are too heavy and Dupont Thermolite doen't breath very well.”

“Bacpac:

As I've stated before on other threads, in general, I think synthetics suck. I had a bad experience with PG 3D wherew my bag lamed out on me and went flat in about a year of moderate use. I never found it particularly warm either when compared with down. I've read other complaints elsewhere and some people attribute that to bad "batches" of the fill.

As GS mentioned, I think Primaloft is supposed to mimic down the most (short, feathered strands of synth rather than longer, bundled fibers) but have not tried it. If you're disatisfied, send that mutha back and get something else.”

“Somebody answer me this: what the hell makes a bag a "ladies" bag vs. a "mens" bag? Are they really different or just another way for a manufacturer to sell another (prolly more expensive) product?”

“Kleetn: Apparently, at least accord to SD and other bag makers who specialize in women's bag, as a rule, women tend to sleep colder than men. Don't know if it's a body size thing or what. So usually, women's bags are a little overstuffed. I think the cut also is different to account for those curves we all know and love.”

“My winter bag is Polarguard 3D. It's 6 years old and still going strong.
As you said, it's not very compressable, which dosen't matter as I usually pull a sled in the winter.
I'm satisfied.”

“The most obvious (to me) difference that holds true for "ladies" bags is that they are shorter than the mens.”

“but also, most women's seem to have wider hips and narrower shoulders”

“Kleety, It is the size. I can squeeze into the bag, but it comes to about my neck and won't zip up past my sholders. I big bag with cold spots is no good for a 5'2" skinny 15 year old who thinks 68 degrees is a cold front.”

“Isn't a woman's bag extra wide so us men can slip in and feel the bappage..eheh”

“Women's bags are shorter, narrower in the hips, and have extra inlulation in the foot.”

“Sorry, that should have said narrower in the shoulders and wider in the hips.”

“I keep trying to follow where posts are going, I keep hearing slams on synthetics for weight, but they're not that heavy(I think). I have the same 3# fill fiberfill 2 bag I've used since 74, still going strong too,, but I do store it loose, not stuffed, so that may be part of it,, it still lofts fine and I've used it for all my camping, it has a full length zipper(2 sided), so I can vent when I need to or mummy if I need to. I also canoe camp and down would not survive some of the dunkings very well, I think. Before you judge from opinions, try for yourself and you may get surprised ( I was using closed cell foam pads back when they were packing material!).”

“Why would women sleep colder than men if they supposedly have a greater percentage of bodyfat? I'm not trying to bash anyone, just wondering.”

“Good question. I've always wondered the same thing myself. Usually after waking up shivering.”

“Maybe it has something to do with metabolic rate.”

“richb, your right”

“Also, much of the blood in a woman's body is dedicated to keeping her womb warm (whether there's a baby cooking in there or not). So we get a lot less blood pumping out to keep our extremities warm.”

“And most women have more hair to keep their nogin warm than most men do.

Maybe because women are too worried about their figure, and don't eat enough food calories to keep'em warm???”

“I don't really know. I have a fast metabolism but I'm cold all the time and sleep cold too. Also you have to understand that women may have a higher percentage of their body weight in fat but a higher proportion of that is concentrated in certain areas and so I wonder if we might actually have less in the insulating layer.”

“A bag specifically designed for women = a "mommy" bag?”

“I always thought it had to do with metabolism, but not in Scully's experience, apparently.

I wonder if your body simply adjusts. So if you want to be comfortable in a cold environment, make sure that you spend a lot of time in a cold environment. Does anyone know if that works?”

“I'm just whistling in the dark here. I really have no clue why this is. I do wish I knew, though. I am REALLY tired of being cold whenever the thermometer drops below 80.”

“In my experience women are much less tolerant of cold than men. And conversely, they are more able to stand the heat than men.

Most women I know would much prefer to be in 90 degree heat with 100% humidity than in temps below 60 degrees.”

“ive got a 15 degree down bag, so with socks on my feet freeze?? any Idea why? temp. outside this weekend was 21 degress and i was in my 4 season bivy.”

“Prowler, those ratings aren't usually all that accurate (depending on brand). It was probably at it's limit. If it was just your feet that got cold, try tossing one of those disposable handwarmers down there before you go to bed. Didn't bring those? Boil some water and pour it into a nalgene bottle. Cap it good and tight, dry it off, and toss it into the foot of the bag. Mmmmmmmm....toasty toes all night long.”