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  1. #1
    New Member DokkSr's Avatar
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    Question Too Heavy UQ?? - DIYed

    I sewed and stuffed my UQ. The goal is '20 degree'. Not sure how much down to use.
    I think I may have used too much down??? (Reused down from an expensive down comforter.)
    It is so heavy it really stretches the shock cord almost to the limit. (I haven't weighed it yet)

    The question is what is an approximate average 'total weight' of a 70" x 46" 20 deg. UQ ? TIA

    Material I used: 72" 1.1 oz ripstop nylon (calendared), for top and bottom, plus 3" strips of .9 oz noseeum mesh

    Photo before filling with down:
    20191122_130939.jpg
    20191127_090023.jpg

  2. #2
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    Anything from 1-2 lbs. Really depends. I think my DIY is ~24oz.

    Down comforters generally use lower fill-power duck down and often contain high amounts of feathers. That's fine on your bed, but not the best option for ultralight backpackers.

    Be sure to weigh it before proceeding. Hard to give guidance without more data.

  3. #3
    cmc4free's Avatar
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    The answer to your question completely depends on the fill power of the down that you harvested from the comforter. Any idea?

  4. #4
    Senior Member Cabmanhang's Avatar
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    So you used all of the down in the comforter and you weren't able to weigh it beforehand?

    Fill power will be lower from a comforter.

    You can check many of the cottage makers and they will have weights listed for various fp of down.

    That ripstop 1.1 is so nice to the touch.

    Take it picture of it with down in it and weigh it.

    Also, what size shock cord did you use?

  5. #5
    Senior Member Cruiser51's Avatar
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    I did up a -10F (-23C) quilt at 42" x 72", using 850 down and 1.1 oz ripstop, weight ~ 24 oz.

    For yours (20F) using 850 down, weight would be ~16 oz

    As said a few times, using comforter down is likely not a good idea ... if you don't know where you started ... hard to have an idea where you will end up

    Brian

  6. #6
    New Member DokkSr's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by leiavoia View Post
    Anything from 1-2 lbs. Really depends. I think my DIY is ~24oz.

    Down comforters generally use lower fill-power duck down and often contain high amounts of feathers. That's fine on your bed, but not the best option for ultralight backpackers.

    Be sure to weigh it before proceeding. Hard to give guidance without more data.
    Indeed, I knew going in the comforter down wasn't as the optimal choice. But, it's what I had. And I don't ultralight backpack so weight wasn't my primary concern. I motorcycle and car camp. So my goal was more for space savings than ultralight. I did weigh it and it's > 4 pounds. So as I suspected, I've used too much fill. Thanks.

  7. #7
    New Member DokkSr's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cabmanhang View Post
    So you used all of the down in the comforter and you weren't able to weigh it beforehand?

    Fill power will be lower from a comforter.

    You can check many of the cottage makers and they will have weights listed for various fp of down.

    That ripstop 1.1 is so nice to the touch.

    Take it picture of it with down in it and weigh it.

    Also, what size shock cord did you use?
    Right, I knew the comforter was inferior but it's what I had. And no, I didn't use even 1/4 of the down from the comforter. I thought I'd just begin filling it until it felt right. 1/8" shock cord. I took pics and ill post update below. Thanks!!

  8. #8
    New Member DokkSr's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cruiser51 View Post
    I did up a -10F (-23C) quilt at 42" x 72", using 850 down and 1.1 oz ripstop, weight ~ 24 oz.

    For yours (20F) using 850 down, weight would be ~16 oz

    As said a few times, using comforter down is likely not a good idea ... if you don't know where you started ... hard to have an idea where you will end up

    Brian
    I removed the Fill tag and can't find where I put it. But it seems like it said 650. I had the comforter and I'd decided a while back it was good enough specs to give it a go for a DIY project. I'm thinking I've just used too much fill.

  9. #9
    New Member DokkSr's Avatar
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    Ok, I've taken a couple pics of it filled.
    I think I've just used too much fill. (Live and learn.)
    Though I can't find the specs I had on the comforter, I seem to recall it was 650. It had a Feather/Down percentage, I'll find the info soon.

    It weighs well over 4 pounds. HA! 4lb 12oz. (best i can tell from my postal scale)
    20191221_154514.jpg
    20191221_154549.jpg
    20191221_154620.jpg

  10. #10
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    If you're not backpacking, 4.75lbs is fine! Good job on getting it finished.

    If the shock cord stretching to max is still a problem, you might check out some alternative suspension ideas i have formulated here and here.

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