Who here knows about Wiggy's sleeping bags ?

As well as being a climber,I'm also a backpacker, and every BP'ng forum site for the last couple of years has been getting spammed/ sock-pupputed/ trolled by the syn bag manufacturer, "Wiggy" and it's constant claiming that countless climbers are dying or needing rescue because they use a down bag vs one of Wiggy's.

Does anyone here actually use a Wiggy's Bag ? I'd never even heard of the manufacturer until the insensate trolling posts.

In the Pac NW or AK, Patagonia, Himalayas, how many of you use down vs syn on a long expedition climb ?

I've had some experience with Wiggy's. I've used two of their 20degree bags. It was a few years back but they certainly do hold up. the problem comes when you have to pack them up they are uncooperative and large. I've found that they are quite large, probably part of the reason taht they can withstand being soaking wet and still keep you rather toasty.

I don't have a bag, but I bought a Wiggy's bivy about a year and a half ago, which is actually insulated (supposed to add 20 degrees to your bag). I haven't done anything crazy, I just sort of got eyes bigger than my boots when I was bivy shopping, but it is awesome. Warm, durable - in moderate weather you could sleep on a pad with no sleeping bag in it. Haven't heard anything about their bags first hand, but they can definitely make a good bivy.

The basic down vs synthetic argument:

Down: is lighter, has more loft, is more compressible, keeps its loft longer, looses all insulation ability when wet (this is the crux of Wiggy's argument) and cost more. Down is great in dry climates like Western US, not so great in damp areas like the Midwest/ Eastern US.

Synthetic: still has insulation ability when wet, cost less, less compressible, will break down quicker with compression and washing.

I own a -20 Wiggy's. It is built to last, but that is because it is heavy. All Wiggy's bags use their proprietary synthetic insulation that is a silicon impregnated continuous filament. There is no quilt stitching on the bags like other synthetics therefore less cold spots. The claim is that is can be washed and compressed without loosing any loft. They offer a lifetime guarantee to back up this claim. Wiggy's also uses a huge #10 YKK zipper on all bags. This burly zipper will not break and is good to arctic temps. There are also made in the USA in Grand Junction, CO.

My experience with the bag is that is performs like most synthetics, I find that Wiggy's claim that it feels like down to be false. It is also a beast to carry. However it is bombproof and if your bag does get wet, you'll be wishing it was a Wiggy's (or at least a synthetic). The bag also is very roomy which makes it feel colder to me. There primary market is to hunters and survivalist, not mountaineering. They do make custom bags for $$$. It is important to note that for some reason Wiggy refuses to put a draft collar on the bags, despite the Wiggy's hype that it is not needed I found this to be a big detractor.

I have had the bag for 10 years, including living in it for 6 months in the back county , and it has held up well. The zipper and loft (the two biggeset issues on any bag) have held up to the claims. I felt the temp ratings were inline with other manufactures. I used it to temps to around -15 with descent results. I have also used a North Face Cats Meow (synthetic) and had to return it twice loft degradation after a single season of use. I was a trail crew leader at the time living out of the bag for months in a row (North Face did replace each time). In my experience the Wiggy's is a much more durable synthetic.

I now use a 800 fill down exclusively and have found it to be lighter and feel warmer and softer when sleeping. It does take greater care to keep dry and those snow cave drips can really be a drag. I live in Colorado and moisture is not a huge threat in most conditions. My opinion is that Wiggy's is a solid company that is boisterous in its politics and propaganda, but builds a solid, albeit heavy, bag and stand behind its products.

Long winded I know! Just my own expediences and opinion.