Duck Down vs Goose Down

**TheMushroom** · 03-26-2016, 12:18

Originally Posted by Alamosa

With the Duck, you keep sitting. If its Goose you get up and run around.

Hahahahaha

**DrPhun** · 03-26-2016, 12:43

There are other differences in down than just duck vs goose. I understand one 800 is not the same as another's 800. Some 800 is average 800 while other 800 is min 800. Also the amount of feathers in the down, and how well it was cleaned varies.

**Tacblades** · 03-26-2016, 14:34

Originally Posted by DrPhun

There are other differences in down than just duck vs goose. I understand one 800 is not the same as another's 800. Some 800 is average 800 while other 800 is min 800. Also the amount of feathers in the down, and how well it was cleaned varies.

Yes also 800fp in the states is not 800fp in europe its a feather minefield

**CamoDeafie82** · 03-26-2016, 21:38

For you graybeards...... or those who know historical/vintage stuff.... What's the likely FP of 100% Goose Down in a sleeping bag made by Hirsch Weiss with White Stag label? Shell material is a nylon or polyester taffeta type, metal zipper, tag says GOOSE DOWN, and 2lb fill weight. Its got slightly less than that due to a hole made by an ember on the bottom, but it lofts up quite well... approx 6 to 7 inches of loft after laundering and fluffy drying with tennis balls..... I was originally going to make a quilt or three from this much down, but the bag fits me perfectly... 34x90 size and Mummy shaped.

**FJRpilot** · 03-26-2016, 23:02

"Fill power is expressed as cubic inches per ounce (in³/oz)—a lofting power of 400–450 is considered medium quality, 500-550 is considered good, 550–750 is considered very good, and 750+ is considered excellent." (Taken from Wikipedia)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fill_power

**CamoDeafie82** · 03-26-2016, 23:11

Originally Posted by FJRpilot

"Fill power is expressed as cubic inches per ounce (in³/oz)—a lofting power of 400–450 is considered medium quality, 500-550 is considered good, 550–750 is considered very good, and 750+ is considered excellent." (Taken from Wikipedia)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fill_power

That doesn't help me, short of completely emptying the bag of its down and weighing it and see how big it is per ounce.....

So.... no one knows? How would I know if I've got a 550 fill down bag with 2 pounds of down, or a 700 fill down bag with 2 pounds of down...... other than how thick it is.... it's much thicker than my Fiancee's The North Face red down bag, but that red down bag is a lot narrower....

**BananaHammock** · 03-26-2016, 23:38

There's no other real way to test it. Even how thick it is doesn't matter if it's overstuffed. My guess is that it is near the 500-600 range. High power downs are more recently used and most vintage bags did not have 800 fill power down in them.

**CamoDeafie82** · 03-27-2016, 18:44

Originally Posted by BananaHammock

There's no other real way to test it. Even how thick it is doesn't matter if it's overstuffed. My guess is that it is near the 500-600 range. High power downs are more recently used and most vintage bags did not have 800 fill power down in them.

I'm aware that it is definitely not 800-850 fill; but just how common were fill powers of 600-700 Goose Down in the 70s thru to 90s? That is as far as I can tell of the two down bags I have; the NF bag doesn't say Goose down, just down, while the White Stag bag says Goose Down and has the tag saying 2lbs of Goose Down; which according to the Federal Trade Commission, is supposed to be 90% down to feather fill; since it's supposed to be Goose down, I assume it is much higher quality than budget Duck down stuff, right?

Whatever down leaked out, is very similar, if not the same in feel as the ones leaking out of the 700 FP Costco Down throws.

**BananaHammock** · 03-27-2016, 19:46

I'm not sure as I was only 6 years old at the end of 1990. Either way, you have two pounds of down. Make something to the loft you desire and enjoy! A cheap DIY project is very satisfying and great on the wallet

**CamoDeafie82** · 03-27-2016, 20:40

Yeah thanks

I'm thinking if I turn the bag into a TQ with no back, and then use the down from the back of that bag to make a couple UQs that's similar in thickness to the Costco down throws, but with proper baffles, or some such, for 2-3 season usage... the Costco down throw triple layer UQ I made, works good down to mid 30s, but I am thinking I want something lighter for summer hanging