The Duck Down vs. Goose Down is a non-issue.
Down collection in general has improved greatly (part of the reason for these higher fill powers now).
The conventional wisdom of that market impression persists because of some stale marketing and some reality.
The reality- Duck down tops out a 100-150 FP lower than Goose Down naturally. Nothing inferior about it, the species as a whole just doesn't produce down in enough quantity at the upper limits of Fill Power.
The marketing- So folks used to tout goose down as the "premium fill" simply because the highest fill powers came from that species. So before fill power was a common term the way to differentiate your product was to market your use of goose down over duck down.
There is some debate on these 900+ fill power downs as discussed before.
I think 800/850 FP is a fine choice and worth the minor weight penalty. I'd only use 900+ FP in FKT levels of gear... it's a bit too fickle of a product IMO... and I would never buy it in anything less than 20*.
PS- Secondmouse, your comment about the bandit being a new design is an insightful one. Despite all our best efforts and experience (which UGQ has plenty of) there is always a little bit of play in any first round product and that extra bit is indeed cheap insurance.... assuming the vendor didn't have the same thought as well.
It's a bit of an odd time-
This was a much bigger deal when ounces of down were $15-30 and products were often well north of $300 or $400 a pop.
We'll see how long this down down market lasts.
And a bit of perspective is in order as well...
You have something available now like the HG Econ line. With a "budget" minded 1.1 taffeta shell and 800 FP Goose Down for well under $200 for even a zero degree quilt.
Basically a tried and true premium design from a quality cottage vendor with "cheap" materials.
I still have an old North Face Inferno (-40*ish mummy) from when I worked there nearly 20 years ago now... it was mega cutting edge technology and well over $500.
The shell material was much heavier than 1.1 ounces and it was filled with an INSANE 750 FP down. Almost everything they sold was 550/600 FP and still considered great... now that stuff would be junk. (Sorta)
Enlightened Equipment was one of the first vendors I am aware of that dropped their prices when down pricing first started recovering... some still haven't. But for those who have dropped the prices you're getting the same gear that ran up to double the current price a few years ago because of the down market bottoming out. So "investing in down" does actually take on some meaning at the moment... and dismissing a $200 quilt as "cheap" is no longer true at all.
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