Originally Posted By: KevinR
I think there's a relationship to water-resistance and loft simply because of the heavier, less flexible fabric.


if it's a baffled chamber construction, especially on the vertical plane of the garment, this should not be a factor regarding loft. The membrane fabric is certainly less flexible and heavier, but that sleeping bag I have just lofts up like anything else. I can see it being restrictive when expansion requires puffing out stitched-through chambers. Weight of the fabric on horizontal surfaces may make a small difference.

My Precip jacket doesn't really leak - it's the nylon that soaks up with water on the outside, making it heavy and cold on the skin below. Water never really got inside.

PS just came back from REI. Sad state of affairs when the entire store in winter in Wisconsin has only a rack full gecko-colored $200 Patagonia down sweaters thinner than my pinky, and one TNF Nuptse fashion puffer coat. That was it for down jackets.

Bought some liner socks and left.