2008-05-12 #1

Ethical down sleeping bags

I've been looking for a warm sleeping bag and jacket for winter activities, but have been shying away from down due to the unethical way in which it may or may not be obtained - most companies do not tell you (of course) where the products come from - which is also true for non-animal products - but that's a whole other story.

I came across a company in the UK called Tundra (the Brits are definitely at the forefront of providing choices to consumers who care about how their $$ is spent!). They offer products that are not just manufactured ethically but are also very good quality with attention to detail. TUNDRA

In a nutshell, the ethics extend to animal welfare + employee welfare:

1. Tundra sleeping bag employees in Poland enjoy the same standards as EU workers.
2. Not only are the animals not part of the meat industry (with questionable practices), since they're not killed but the down is also harvested by just collecting the feathers that naturally moult - so the animals live their natural life and are kept humanely - it's a symbiotic relationship.

One of the benefits in addition to providing a choice for consumers is that the down comes from more mature birds and this is better quality down. The claim is that the warmth to weight ratio is better and the bags pack tighter. Here are some reviews.

Also, the bags have a few neat features - one is that the area around the feet is rated to 5deg warmer than the bag rating; really good for people like me. The second feature, this one I like - the bags are tested at the University of Leeds (I believe) to certify the stated ratings.

Now if they only made a bag in my size .. and also made down jackets ..