Do down products degrade over time?

[FLV]

Now, i know the down clumps up and a proper wash can help with that. But do down filled products, specifically thier temperature rating degrade over time?

I have a PHD diamir bag from circa 2004 and it really feels like its still a nice product. Always stored in a large mesh bag. Still lofts up nicely.
Used it fairly recently (after not using it for a while) and was a little chillier than i thought i would be.
Now i know the human factor of fatigue and nutrition etc etc matters as much as the kit.

Also, its probably due a nice wash.

But, the questions stands.

Ta

[Bearbonesnorm]

If it's been stored well, not compressed, hasn't got damp etc then there's no reason why it should degrade - certainly not noticeably.

I put this down to age as the older I get, the more I feel the cold.

[whitestone]

Yes but it's one of those length of a piece of string things in determining just how long and by how much. The discussions I've seen have been on US backpacking forums, here's one https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/87630/ . Getting the down dirty and subsequent washing appears to cause as much damage and shortening of life as actual usage.

Maybe measure the loft and ask PHD what it should be?

[Bearbonesnorm]

How do people get the down dirty, it's sealed inside the shell? I appreciate that there may be oils off the body etc which possibly might get through the shell material but I'm fairly sure it'd take a long time to accumulate enough to effect the loft to any great degree.

[Lazarus]

everything degrades over time,me you, our products and our bikes.

How much down is affected and how quickly is not something i can help with as I dont use it

[Bearbonesnorm]

everything degrades over time,me you, our products and our bikes.

Oi, I'm getting better with age

[RIP]

Like a fine wine eh? - you've been laid down in a nice cool cellar...

[ScotRoutes]

Or smelly cheese...

[FLV]

Cheers all, I'll give it a wash then and carry on.

[benconnolli]

My cosy duvet at home is down and that gets used nearly every day of my life, far more than any sleeping bag, and is not showing any signs of degrading.

[composite]

everything degrades over time,me you, our products and our bikes.

Oi, I'm getting better with age

The older I get, the better I was.

[Borderer]

My cosy duvet at home is down and that gets used nearly every day of my life, far more than any sleeping bag, and is not showing any signs of degrading.

Yes, mine is more than 25 years old now and is still fine.
I wouldn't do a full immersion wash on your sleeping bag. Sponging off the outside should be enough for most issues if you have always used a liner. Even with a liner, it's inevitably the area that might touch your face or hair that gets greasy over time but that will sponge out without too much difficulty.

In 2017 I bought Joe and I down sleeping bags which we always used with a liner. I replaced them earlier this year after they must have seen at least 6 months of continuous use. I sold them on eBay without washing them. They looked and smelled fine. I got good feedback.