| FAQ |
What are down’s properties?Down still constitutes the best available isolation. Special method of processing makes it safe also for people with allergies. It is light, extremely compressible and breathing. Its most crucial feature is down resilience – it creates the isolation layer. It is measured by checking the volume of a particular amount of down – that is precisely: how many cubic inches does an ounce of down fill in an standard measuring cylinder. The bigger the volume the higher quality of the down is. The measurement is expressed in units called CUI.The 700 CUI down is a mixture of high quality gray types of down from northern variety of ducks and geese. It ensures excellent filling and the highest weight-to-isolation ratio. We use this type of down in our standard products. The 860 CUI down is a down from specially selected white geese, very rare. We use it in our luxury products, prepared for extreme conditions. Products filled with this type of down are designed for the most demanding clients. The use of 860 CUI down may lower the weight of the product (we will obtain the same level of isolation as with the use of 700 CUI down but the product will be lighter) or make the given product warmer (in comparison with the product filled with the same amount of 700 CUI down). The same down jacket or sleeping bag can be filled with either 700 CUI or 860 CUI down without any negative change in the utility value.
Which famous travelers used YET products?Wanda Rutkiewicz, Krzysztof Wielicki, David Kaszlikowski, Eliza Kubarska, Anna Czerwińska, Leszek Cichy, Marek Kamiński and others. Most recently Jarosław Gawrysiak has reached Broad Peak using YET gear.
Is it true that women require warmer clothes than men?Yes it is true. Women’s tolerance of low temperatures is generally significantly lower than that of men. It is claimed that it can come as far as to 5-7 degrees of difference. Our thermal parameters refer to men, women should be aware of that while choosing gear. However, we also take the difference into consideration and that is why our shorter versions of our sleeping bags are filled with the same amount of down as the longer versions – and so, as a result they are a little thicker and warmer.
How should down clothes and sleeping bags be stored?Down is very resilient – it regains its volume fast and holds it, and in the same time it can be packed very tightly. There is no problem in putting any YET down sleeping bag onto a very little sack. However, a little air do well for down threads that is why on every day basis we suggest storing our down sleeping bags expanded, in a bigger airy sack. It allows down to breathe and keep its qualities longer. To each YET down sleeping bag we add two sacks. Bigger – made of white canvas – is for storing the sleeping bag at home. Smaller – to compress it for travelling. Sleeping bags should not be stored in small bags for longer periods of time than it is absolutely necessary. We do not recommend using sacks with compressing tapes, which can damage the down’s structure. It is also very important to thoroughly dry the sleeping bag after every trip – in other case, left in closure it can turn into felt-like bits and start smelling badly. These storing rules apply to all down products.
Which sleeping bag would You recommend to be used in all three seasons?Firstly: there are no three season down sleeping bags. Secondly: we would recommend Boulder 450 down sleeping bag for all those who do not get cold very easily and GT II 600 down sleeping bag for all those who do. The Boulder sleeping bag is good for late spring, summer and early autumn (its comfort zone is down to -2 ̊ C), the GT II 600 additionally for early spring and late autumn. In summer time it can be too hot, then the zipper should be left undone in the lower part or on the whole length of the sleeping bag, it can be then used as a coverlet (its comfort zone is down to -5 ̊ C).
When to use the Dry fabric in a sleeping bag?The Dry fabric should be used when the sleeping bag can be exposed to high humidity. It can happen especially when:
Can You join two sleeping bags together?Bouldery and GT II sleeping bags can be joined together (even when one is longer than the other), if one of them has a zipper on the left and the other on the right hand side. Feather, Winter II, Iceberg and Igloo sleeping bags cannot be joined.
How much does servicing cost?Circa 30-40 zł per patch, adding 100g of 700/860 CUI down: 50/90 zł
What does the servicing include?Patching a torn fabric, if necessary - exchanging whole chamber, adding new down or exchange of old down.
How to clean down clothes and sleeping bags?Down should not be dry cleaned (despite many producers’ suggestions) – such cleaning may damage down’s delicate, biological structure, dry it too much and cause crushing. Down, just as wool and silk, may be washed in water with delicate cleaner. There are also special cleaning products for down on the market.How to begin the washing? More visible marks should be removed with a wet sponge. If we want to wash the whole item we have to remember that a jacket or a sleeping bag are too big to just put them into a washing machine. They may remain dry inside the machine’s drum or even cause water and lather to get out of the machine. That is why down products should be first drenched and hand squeezed to get rid of the air in the down, e.g. in a bath or other big water container. Only then can be a wet down jacket or sleeping bag put into a washing machine, washed and finally dried. The washing itself is easy – a mild cycle and additional rinsing to remove the cleaner. It should be remembered that down can turn into felt-like bits. To avoid this the jacket or sleeping bag should be dried immediately, not allowing it to stay wet and for a long time. It is best done in a large clothes’ dryer (temp. c. 60 ̊ C) or on sun and wind. Down is a long lasting material and if it is cared well after it can serve for a long time. It should be remembered, however, that too frequent washing may make the product weaker, e.g. jacket’s internal tapes. There is yet another problem – escaping of the down. Sometimes it happens that, especially during the first week of using a product, separate down feathers go through the fabric before it stabilizes inside the jacket or sleeping bag. It is not the products flaw, and the problem should cease after few days.
Does YET prepare untypical products, made-to-measure or made of the down delivered by a client?On our Client’s request and for additional fee we prepare down jackets and coats made for measure. We may also make a jacket or a sleeping bag using down delivered by the Client, then we deduct the down’s cost from the price of the product. |
