Re: Stuff size of syn vs pack size

Down at this time still stuffs smaller than any of the synthetics. Well, to qualify that a bit, the best grades of down at present (800 to 900) stuff smaller than the most down-like synthetic (Primaloft, Liteloft). However, Primaloft stuffs as small as the down found in the mass-market sleeping bags (Slumberjack, Campmor, Coleman, etc, with 600 to 650 fill down or less) for the same warmth, and noticeably smaller than the duck down and down/feather mix bags. I expect that the life of a Primaloft bag will be somewhat shorter than a 600-fill down bag, given equal care, although the companies still using the lower quality down do not make their bags anywhere near as well.

IF (and that's a very big IF) you can deal with very wet conditions without getting your bag wet, and IF you take proper care of the bag, and IF you spend the money to get a top quality bag, down is the way to go. But, judging where you are on the learning curve from your posts, I would suggest you get a synthetic bag from Integral Designs, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, or someone in that category (I hesitate to include TNF, although they have moved back toward their old high quality level over the past 3 or 4 years after a big decline about 10 years ago). Don't expect a Slumberjack or Campmor (down or synthetic) to stand up as well. After you build some experience in wet conditions (real downpours on that third day out from the trailhead, for example) and can stay dry, then consider a down bag, again from one of the top manufacturers.

Ed's suggestions on keeping the bag dry are good, and are pretty much SOP for Jim's "extremely experienced outdoorsmen" (and outdoorswomen, too, Jimmy). Use a combination of plastic garbage bag (the heavy duty ones, so they don't tear on the first day) and stuff sack (compression sack to get it inside your pack). Set the tent up first and get the sleeping bag out inside the tent. Use care about dragging the wet rain in the tent with you (this is something only learned by experience - the usual directions for avoiding dragging snow and dripping clothes leave out some small subtleties that experience teaches). A tent with a vestibule or Ed's trick of a tart over the tent help a lot (the tarp needs to be over the entrance, so there is a place to brush off snow or shed rain-soaked clothes and not take them into the tent). Things like a sponge or absorbant towel help get the wet off the rain jacket and tent floor (the synthetic, moisture loving "pack towels" work well for this), and a whick broom helps get snow out of the tent. These can add up to a lot of weight, but there are ways to cut the weight down and do the same thing (e.g., get a SilTarp at 6 ounces rather than the "blue" tarps that the hardware store sells, but weigh a hunnert pound).