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#200590 - 03/29/18 12:34 AM Want to recycle alot of excellent goose down
tuanbuffalo Offline
newbie

Registered: 03/29/18
Posts: 1
Nearly 40 years ago, I purchased a Trailwise (Berkeley, Ca) sleeping bag with 10 inches of loft (As I recall, it was approximately $300, alot of money in those days). After a successful ascent of Denali, I have been using it as a comforter ever since. The baffles have deteriorated over the many years, but the prime goose down still keeps the heat in! What is the life-span of down? Is there a way to repurpose the down? Seems a pity to throw it in the trash. I live in the Bay Area and would be delighted to pay someone to fabricate a his and hers down vest!

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#200591 - 03/29/18 04:34 AM Re: Want to recycle alot of excellent goose down [Re: tuanbuffalo]
Bill Kennedy Offline
member

Registered: 02/27/18
Posts: 332
Loc: Portland, Oregon
The down is still very usable as long as the bags still have close to their original loft. I have a mating pair of the Trailwise Slimline bags, bought in the late '70s, that are still as good as ever. They used the best down available at the time, but not the 800 fill power you see today. Probably more like 600, which is still good, it just means that the finished item will be a bit heavier. The Slimlines weigh 48.7 and 47.9 ounces and have about 6.75" and 6" of loft, respectively (short length, up to 5'8"). I've occasionally thought about re-purposing the down (or selling them, but they're like old friends...old friends that need to be washed.)

If you sew, there are lots of possibilities...vest, quilt, bag, or all of the above with that much down (probably 3lbs or so). A baffled sleeping bag is a big project, though, and recycled down may be poor economy.

I don't know if Feathered Friends in Seattle would consider making you something using your down, but it can't hurt to call.
_________________________
Always remember that you are absolutely unique, just like everybody else. -Margaret Mead

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