Waterproof Down: What's The Word? - Video

Since the announcement in late-2011 of a forthcoming water repellant down insulation (no company thus far has actually made a claim of "waterproof"), there has been quite a buzz in the outdoor sports world. So what do you need to know about water repellant down?

Down has long been the choice for
mountaineering and cold-weather adventures,
but moisture is a constant threat

Due to down's susceptibility to moisture (in the forms of perspiration, snow melt, and precipitation) and subsequently diminished loft and insulating ability, until now the best solution has been to pair a down insulating piece with a waterproof shell layer (a hardshell jacket or bivvy sack, for instance) or to use synthetic insulation, instead. However, with the announcement of a hydrophobic down, all of that may no longer be necessary.

DownTek, one of the companies supplying this new down fill, claims that their product is "water repellant, anti-microbial, and anti-bacterial." Using a nano polymer treatment to coat goose and duck down fills so that they retain their warmth-to-weight ratio even when wet, DownTek was recently awarded GearJunkie's "Best In Show" at the 2012 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, indicating that there may be more to these claims that just "fluff."

One of DownTek's early adopters is Brooks Range Mountaineering, a boutique outdoor equipage manufacturer with an excellent mountaineering pedigree. GearJunkie recently tested the water repellant qualities of BRM's Mojave Down Jacket and reported, "No gimmick here, the down in the Mojave Jacket held its loft even when wet."

Brooks Range Mountaineering Mojave Down Jacket

However, the tester also pointed out, "This is no raincoat. Waterproof shell jackets are still a must for any serious outdoor trip. Synthetic insulated jackets (including those with PrimaLoft insulation) will remain in my kit as well." With that kind of review, it's hard not to be curious but also hesitant.

(Full article: Water-Repellant Goose Down 'Not a Gimmick,' company touts)

While it sounds like DownTek's claims are founded, it still begs the question: does water repellant down fill an unserved niche in my gear kit?

DriDown, another supplier of water repellant down, has teamed up with Sierra Designs to produce hydrophobic down garments and sleeping bags. Claiming to stay dry 10 times longer than regular down and retain 2.7 times (170%) more loft than untreated down when wet, DriDown also emphasizes that their product helps make a sustainable resource (down) more versatile, giving environmentally-conscious outdoor adventurers an option that is "non-harmful to the environment" and does not rely on petroleum products.

Check out Sierra Designs Women's Gnar Jacket with DriDown:

GearJunkie also grabbed one of Sierra Designs' jackets last fall and put it through what they called the "Shower Test." Obviously not a conclusive study of the jacket or its thermal and hydrophobic qualities, the tester did note that after 5 minutes of intense soaking in a shower and then stepping outside into the 40-degree Denver night air, "Despite a soaking... it retained most of its original loft, and I could still feel the insulating properties as I stood still." (Full article: Shower Test: Water-Resistant Down Puffy gets soaked in Bathroom 'Lab')

And so, early reports would indicate that water repellant down is, in fact, as good as advertised - offering a degree of confidence in knowing that packing your down piece doesn't necessarily expose you to the risk of ending up the opposite of "high and dry" on your adventure.

However, the question remains - if hydrophobic down is "more expensive... less compressible and a tad heavier than traditional down," does it have a place in my wardrobe? Try it out and let us know what you think.