What is 800 fill down

Shield, etc. Combined with a standard DWR treatment on the shell, treated down can put up a pretty solid fight against moisture. The ethics of down are an increasingly touchy subject and one that manufacturers certainly have an ear to.

It starts with the notion that down always should be harvested from the bird after it has been slaughtered for food or gathered after it has fallen naturally. Live plucking exactly as it sounds is a highly frowned-upon and cruel practice that many companies actively are fighting against. It is a reality that live plucking still exists, which allows for the down of the goose or duck to be harvested multiple times. Oversight has increased significantly but still is far from perfect. This is a very positive step in the right direction and a large number of brands are using down that meets this standard Mountain Hardwear, Black Diamond, Feathered Friends, Outdoor Research, and L.

Bean, just to name a few. We read a lot of articles while researching for this one, including from leading animal-welfare organization PETA. We praise the companies that hold themselves to the highest possible ethical standards in down products and support continued and increasing oversight. First, make sure to store your down uncompressed if possible.

Many down sleeping bags come with two storage options: a small stuff sack for backpacking and a larger bag for storage that lets it expand to its full size. This takes up more space in your home, but storing down compressed in a small stuff sack can cause permanent damage to the loft and it may never fully bounce back. Second, good cleaning can extend the life of your down product. Dirt and oils from your body can eventually make their way into the down and cause it to lose its loft. For sleeping bags in particular, one way to avoid this is by using a sleeping bag liner.

Not only are these liners comfortable, they form a thin barrier between you and your bag that keeps it clean and oil-free. For backcountry trips, we carry a down jacket for warmth, usually of the lightweight variety.

Almost all of our recommended backpacking sleeping bags are made with down. For winter sports and downhill skiing in particular, some ski jackets and ski pants use down insulation for added warmth. From fill power and weight to water-repellent technologies and ethical concerns, we answer all of your down-related questions. Photo Credit. Switchback Travel. By: David Wilkinson Last Updated: June 07, We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases.

Down Fill Power Fill power measures the quality and loft of down—the higher the number, the better the down and the more loft and warmth it will provide. Down Fill Weight Down fill power gets the most press, but fill weight—or the total amount of down stuffed into a jacket or sleeping bag—is just as important. In comparing down jackets, it's very helpful to know both fill power and weight 3. Goose Down vs. Duck Down A third consideration for down is the type of bird it comes from.

Climbing companies like Montbell use high-end goose down First, geese generally are larger than ducks and more mature when taken for food, so the down has a higher average fill power.

The Pros and Cons of Down Insulation Down is known for its impressive warmth-to-weight ratio, compressibility, and overall comfort.

Feathered Friends' Eos weighs just On the flip side, a fill power sleeping bag with a fill weight of 12oz g will be just as warm as a fill bag with a 6oz g fill weight. So, keep down fill weight in mind as we discuss what fill power of down you might need because these 2 metrics go hand in hand.

Note that we said ounce for ounce in our last statement. If the fill weights of 2 garments are similar, the one with the higher fill power will almost always be the best quality. When it comes to down fill, to fill sleeping bags and jackets are a fantastic middle ground between expensive, high-end gear and budget-friendly equipment.

At the same time, however, to fill power gear has a much better warmth to weight ratio than to fill alternatives. What really sets to fill gear, like the fill Rab Microlite Alpine Down Jacket apart, is their value for the money. By sacrificing a bit in terms of weight and packability, you usually end up with quite large cost savings when you opt for gear with fill power in this range.

While you might not end up with the lightest equipment on the market, to fill jackets and sleeping bags are perfect for the vast majority of outdoor pursuits. You will, however, notice the extra money in your bank account. The warmest down jackets are built with a high fill power down and a heavier down weight. Whatever your down insulation needs, Outdoor Research makes the down jacket for you.

All Outdoor Research down jackets have been certified by The Responsible Down Standard RDS , ensuring that the down and feathers come from animals that have not been subjected to an unnecessary harm.

Visiting from another country? Check out our international portal in order to check out with up to date currency and inventory.

Find Your Country No thanks, Stay on this page. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Posted: September 21, Categories: Gear and Tips.

Author: Outdoor Research. How does down insulation work?