Sleeping bag filling?????????

[bearpaw]

I'm looking to pick up a midpriced synthetic sleeping bag. What's the top of the line for synthetic filler these days????
I have a good marmot down bag but I want a synthetic to take on my bike tours... thanks folks,
Bearpaw

[walt walkabout]

Here's the skinny Bearpaw. From B'packer mag. and my opinion. One note,when I say wet I mean damp,squeezed out,not saturated with water.
1.DOWN Lightest and best insulation per weight. Does not work when wet.
2.LITE LOFT,MICROLOFT,PRIMALOFT,PRIMALOFT 2,THERMOLITE EXTRA,
THERMOLITE EXTREME Next lighest and best insulation per weight(IMHO)
BP-Short staple fibrs that come close to matching the insulation of down-but not the compressibilty.
Works when wet.
3.POLARGUARD,POLARGUARD DELTA,POLARGUARD 3D,POLARGUARD HV
BP-Long continous fibers that are more durable than short-staple synthetics,but heavier and bulkier. In our testing,3D and Delta performed best.
4.HOLLOFIL,HOLLOFIL 2,QUALLOFIL
BP-Old standbys that are cheaper but heavier and bulkier than more modern fibers.
(IMHO) Fills numbers 3 and 4 are about the same for bulk and compressibilty,both work when wet.
I hope this helps, but I don't think you can beat down. If your worried about water look into getting a water resistant outer shell fabric.
Walt

[erikkellison]

Don't know if you're still shopping, but you should definitely look into the latest ish of the Backpacker Gear Guide. Seems that there are some new synthetics on the market:

Marmot Dualmax
Peformance Construction Technologies:

Anchored Shingle System
Anchored Flex System
Dual Material System
All available in Marmot, Big Agnes and EMS bags