Feathered Friends Puffin

Review Date
July 10, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: chris carroll(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from claryville, ny

Summary:
Oh man, do I love this bag! I've only slept in it ten or so nights. I haven't had a chance to test out it's waterproofness (PTFE Light shell) or how true it is to it's temp rating. Still, I sleep outdoors like a baby in this thing.

I don't know why more companies don't make semi rectangluar bags, I DO know using the Puffin is like sleeping in your bed at home. I have the long version (I'm 6'3") and sleep like a bug in a rug. Stiching, finish, etc on this bag are flawless. It compresses tiny, explodes out of the stuff sack and fills the tent. After a long day paddling or hiking, it's incomparable to slip into this big pile of heavenly cloudlike loft.

Pricey, but definitely worth it. I'm using this (20°) bag as my main summer bag and I love it so much I'm planning on getting another FF as my winter bag.

Customer Service:
You have to order your FF bag custom, so you'll be dealing with the people at the factory. They are veeery laid back, but do everything they promise. My bag was delivered in 6 weeks, which is what they'd predicted. I had one little problem with the way the snap was attached to the fabric (a bit of down was able to leak out beside it). I sent it back and they did the repair and fedexed me back the bag within the week.

Similar Products Used:
Had a Bean mummy for years, and so psyched to have finally splurged on a killer bag.

Review Date
March 24, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Kevin Stith(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Delaware, Oh. USA

Summary:
Feathered Friends Puffin is the best bag I've ever owned or have looked at! The loft is heavenly, the stiching is flawless, materials[ Dry Loft] is top of the line. Quite a few of my climbing friends have marveled over it, not to mention my 13 yr. old daughter who calls for it when we go camping! Did I mention that it looks great too? I don't think I'll ever own any other bag than a Feathered Friends.

Customer Service:
The only down side is that I heard there is a bit of a wait for ordering a Feathered Friends bag. But the wait would be worth it.

Similar Products Used:
Similar products would be North Face, Marmot, West. Mtn.

Review Date
March 8, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Ralph Cutter(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Truckee, CA

Summary:
GREAT sleeping bag. I have the overstuffed -20 PTFE job. It is my second one. The PTFE shell on the first one delaminated but other than that kept me toasty on many icy Sierra and Alskan winter nights. Certainly too warm for a general purpose bag but excellent for someone who needs warmth.

I am sold on the wide bag. Narrow mummies look great on the showroom floor, but when you need to dry wet clothes in it or keep water bottles from freezing, mummies simply don't have room.

Customer Service:
Feathered Friends has the worst customer service of any company I've ever met. Last June I sent the bag to Rainy Pass Cleaners (who does all of Feathered Friends down cleaning jobs) and the PTFE shell delaminated in the cleaning process. Apparently it was a known Gore defect and FF said they would send me a replacement bag ASAP. They lied up and down and made every excuse in the world and even sent me a low end Raven to replace my bag. FINALLY only after filing complaints with the BBB and Chamber of Commerce, I got my replacement bag in October . . . lost the entire summer backpacking season. Feathered Friends makes a big to-do their "life-time" guarntee. . . don't believe it.

Similar Products Used:
I have a pair of North Face Ibex bags that are 30 years old and have been refilled twice by the company. Great general camping bags but not up to the feathered friend. Also have some synthetic pieces of schit that are good when wet but don't stuff down and weigh a ton. I like down.

Review Date
May 4, 1999

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Dean(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Ruston, LA

Summary:
I just bought my wife a -10 Feathered Friends Puffin with removable Collar and PTFE Shell. This appears to be an extremely well made bag with incredible Loft (+750 Down). I bought this particular bag because of the generous cut which allows more movement than the traditional mummy design. The extra weight, however, could be a problem for prolonged hikes but for us this is made up by the extra comfort. The PTFE shell is much more noisy with movement than a nylon shell and is so far my wife's only complaint (she doesn't know how much I had to pay for the bag...OUCH!)

Customer Service:
My only experience with customer service has been when I ordered the bag. They seemed knowlegeable and helpful. Every thing was delivered as promised. No surprises.

Similar Products Used:
Camp7 blue, ""0"" bag. Also, a Semi-mummy bag which has seen lots of service. Finally losing some loft and has developed a zipper problem.