TARIFFS AND WASHING INSTRUCTIONS

INCREASING IMPORT TARIFFS ON CHINA

I just read an article published by SNEWS the outdoor industry publication about the potential affect that tariffs may have on the industry.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that so many companies choose to build product in China in order to reduce their manufacturing costs so they could have lower prices for the American consumer and where ever else in the world they sell their products. However, I do not think they took into consideration of what happens over the course of time.

In China the workers have asked for better wages which I believe has taken place so the American companies buying the products made in China have increased in price. To offset the labor price increases the American companies have gone to cheaper materials, which I commented about two years ago when I bought summer shirts that were made with fabric close to half the weight of fabrics used two years earlier.

With respect to sleeping bags all importing of continuous filament fiber came to an end as it is a premium fiber and only made in the USA so ALL of the companies getting sleeping bags made in China use chopped staple fiberfill. Look on the rei web site and type sleeping bags made in Americas in the American made products search bar and you find they have none. Why because none of the bags they sell in the stores are made any place but China. If tariffs are increased on insulated products you can be sure the quality of the materials will diminish since the labor has gone up, so that would be the only way to offset the tariff increase.

What are they doing; they go to their government representative hat in hand asking for relief. The do not understand the government does what is in the governments best interest at the moment. Things will change at a future date as is always done with new people in charge. The government would ideally like to see production get started again in the USA but that is I believe a pipe dream. Factories are run by people who know the manufacturing business and from what I have seen in the textile business serving the outdoor market there are no people of knowledge for the most part any longer. Too many years have passed without factories here so new people could learn.

Of course it is possible that textile products will not be affected and the industry will breathe a sigh of relief. The rules will be put in place in about two weeks.

Will this situation cause any to consider domestic production or not? Time will tell.

Apropos of the sleeping bag situation with bags coming from China I guess I just received this email of washing instruction published by a company called nemo.

Jerry,

I’d be afraid of using a sleeping bag that has to be so gently handled:

sleeping bags

Storing

After each trip, air dry your bag for at least 24 hours before storing. Avoid storing your bag for extended periods of time in its stuff sack. Over time, tightly compressed insulation can lose its loft and warmth trapping ability. Hang your bag or store it in its oversized breathable storage bag in a cool, dry space.

WIGGY BAGS CAN BE STORED IN THEIR STUFF SACKS, EVEN COMPRESSED

Washing

Dirt and oils affect performance over time. Washing will help restore warmth and breathability so the bag performs like new again. For most people, washing your bag once a year is enough. Front-loading, oversized washers are best — do not use a washing machine with an agitator and try to avoid lower volume home washing machines that can compress and twist the insulation and internal baffling system of your bag.Close any zippers and wash the bag inside out. Spin twice to remove excess water.To gently remove dirt and oils that impact performance of the down and synthetic insulation in our bags, we recommend the use of Nikwax Down Wash Direct® or Nikwax Tech Wash®, respectively. Regular detergents will leave behind residue that can harm the insulation. Dry cleaning is never recommended.

WIGGY BAGS CAN BE LAUNDERED WITH ANY DETERGENT AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE OF OVER 40 YEARS OF WASHING MY BAGS THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY RESIDUE LEFT OVER. ALSO THEY CAN BE WASHED IN ANY WASHING MACHINE.

Drying

Take care transferring a wet bag from the washer to the dryer; fine fibers and stitching are more susceptible to breakage when wet. For best results, choose an oversized commercial dryer and keep the settings on medium at most — it can take a few hours to dry a bag completely. With a down bag, add a few tennis balls to encourage the down to regain its loft for maximum warmth and longevity. Occasionally pause the dryer to gently tease apart any down clumps. This will speed the drying process and help to avoid any damp spots. It may also be helpful to turn the sleeping bag inside out half way through the dry cycle so the foot end dries faster. When completely dried, unzip and allow to air dry overnight before storage.

WIGGY BAGS ARE REGULARLY DRIED AT HOME IN ANY STANDARD DRYER, OF COURSE I RECOMMEND THE FLUFF CYCLE BUT NEVER NEED TO USE A COMMERCIAL DRYER.DRYING TIME IS LESS THAT ONE HOUR.

The reality is this set of restricted washing instructions applies to all of the bags made in China or elsewhere in Asia. You now know why these companies really do not want yopu to was their bags. This also demonstrates how little knowledge these people have of fiberfill and how it should be used.

Thank you JJ for sharing.