I'm considering replacing my old down jacket that I can wear as an insulation layer under my gortex parka in winter, if necessary. I am also considering replacing a heavy down sleeping bag with a something close to a kilo bag. That will be my 3-season bag. I hike/climb mostly in the pacific northwest, but in years and years of doing so have always managed to keep my down gear adequately dry. So here are my questions. If cost were only a secondary issue: 1. should I replace my old down jacket with a new down, or with a synthetic filled jacket. 2. should I replace my old down sleeping bag with a new lighter high loft down bag, or should I get a synthetic bag?

-- Jim Morrison (jimjuliem@yahoo.com), March 28, 2004