I have to ask because i see a lot of hangers over stuffing their top/bottom quilts. If I am buying a 0-degree top quilt why would I need/like the extra down. I understand that the obvious extra insulation will provide more thermal comfort at a given rating, but am I missing something?
I've wondered this as well. If I were to guess, I'd assume it gives you a truer rating for cold sleepers, increases the loft, and helps prevent cold spots from uneven dispursement of down.
I'd love to hear from those with more experience... Is more always better?
That is why I do it.Originally Posted by Fire-Bug
Thin spots bug me and I don't want to do a bunch of shaking to get things even.
My understanding is so it can be used for colder temps. or if you are a cold sleeper. If I am correct you can overstuff it and it not work the rating it should. Sorry if not making sense. One of those days.
Some of the specs I've seen look quite 'skimpy' on down fill. Down insulation acts a bit different when actually used outdoors vs. fresh out of the clothes dryer!
If you have some time to 'waste', look up the fill weights of some good sleeping bags from the olden days (Bauer, Holubar, 70s Sierra Designs, Frostline, etc.) and compare with those 'modern' fills.
The ratings are usually 40*, 20*, 0* F. The % for the overstuff is to get a little more specific in the temp range.
I believe there is a 5*F difference for every 10% of overstuff.
For example a 20*F with a 10% overstuff will be rated at 15*F, a 20% overstuff will be rated at 10*F and so on.
Last edited by Floridahanger; 12-10-2013 at 20:13.
Enjoy and have fun with your family,before they have fun without you
Overstuffing can also provide greater longevity. All things degrade over time down is no exception. An overstuft 0 degree quilt will stay comfortable @ 0degrees for longer than one that is not overstuft.
But I think it is mostly done for insurance like mentioned above.
I've inadvertently overstuft the crap out a 20*f (2" baffles) shell and it's easily taken me to 8*F (I'm also a rather cold sleeper). There is definitely merit in overstuffing how much is kinda up to you. I thought 25% was said to be the point of diminishing returns a while back but I (and others above) would question that now.
Last edited by HomeMadeHiker; 12-10-2013 at 22:30.
Directionally challenged...comicly so.
Not all who wonder are lost...But I'm probably just lost.
I've researched this a lot lately and here's what I found.
You can only get so much temp rating improvement without going to taller baffles (different temp rating) so while there is some increase in warmth, that's not the primary reason. The main reasons are
1) proper lofting under less than ideal conditions (high humidity, dirty down, condensed water vapor from sleeping in it, etc.)
2) longer loft life. As down ages and gets compressed/decompressed it looses some loft. This is unavoidable and a little overfill helps compensate over the life of the quilt.
3) prevent unwanted down shifting.
My research reveals the sweet spot is around 35%-40% overfill. Much less than that and you don't get those benefits for as long. Much more than that and you get diminishing returns.
If the maker says it's already overfilled find out how much and adjust accordingly. Example:
A quilt has 12 oz down and maker says "15% overfilled". 12/1.15=10.4. 10.4 oz is "standard fill". 10.4x1.35=14. 14 oz is 35% overfill. 14-12=2. Order 2 extra ounces to get 35% overfill.
"Overstuff" just sounds good.
That too ^
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