Heck of a deal on down at KMart

[Frost]

There are a few feathers, but the 75/25 number they give on the tag seems really high. I just stuffed a new 3 season UQ this morning. I think 450-500FP is pretty reasonable. It took less than 11oz to get 2" of loft (at the baffles) on a 32"x56" quilt. I didn't do the math, so I can't say for sure, but it seemed better than some down I've handled.

[brohandy]

That seems like a pretty good deal to me.

[Pipsissewa]

There are a few feathers, but the 75/25 number they give on the tag seems really high.

Wait a minute. The tag says 75/25? The item description says pure down. What a bust! Feathers are of no value for this project, in my opinion.

[wwk10]

Pips, I noticed the conflict. Pkg says down, official label says 75% down. I cut a hole in the cover in the parking lot and took a quick look. I dont see a lot of feathers but I am not experienced. This is my first DIY down project.

[wwk10]

Frost,
32 * 56 *2 = 3,600
3,600 / 11oz = 325 FP
I'm going to call it 450

I live in the hot humid south east. I want to get down to 30 degrees.
I am thinking UQ 45" x 60" x 2.5" loft
At 450 FP that = 15 oz. I think I am just going to do one full 16 oz pillow and call it done.

[airbornehippie]

Omg these pillows are AMAZING salvage! I'd have to guess at a 600 fp, but i still don't have the proper equipment to confirm. Even if it was 400fp, at under $.70/oz.... this is awesome !

$49.74 for 90oz of 75% min duck down? Yes please.

Hello new summer TQ and new winter TQ!

[CatSplat]

Not sure the specific spec of the down used, but #902/B White Duck Down & Feather Blend (75% Down, 25% Feather) is listed as ~500FP, so it's probably in that ballpark. That blend runs ~$1.50/oz (plus shipping) in <2lb. quantities so at $0.70/oz it's still a pretty darn good deal.

[AaronAlso]

Please excuse my ignorance, but, if this down is only in the 500FP range wouldn't bulk fill Primaloft be a better choice? I mean for the warmth, weight, & compressability, they are pretty much equal but the Primaloft will provide a little more warmth if it ever gets wet and most certainly will dry faster.

I'm not trying to start a debate; I'm just a little confused. With 5lbs of bulk fill Primaloft costing the same $50, why all the excitement over equally priced similar quality duck down? Will the down really retain it's loft so much longer? I can't imagine there is any significant difference in warmth; for all I know the Primaloft is warmer.

So someone please set me straight.

[Frost]

My experience with Primaloft is somewhat limited, I only own a couple of items, but while it is quite warm and light, it doesn't compress to nearly the same degree down does.

My 32"x56"x~2.5" down underquilt packs down to just about the same size as my Primaloft jacket which has a bit more than half the surface area, and less than half the loft.

Also, the degree to which Primaloft compresses depends a fair bit on which variety it is, and I don't think the bulk stuff is Primaloft One, which is the one that most closely matches the weight/compressibility of down.

From reading a number of articles and write-ups, I can tell you that the bulk stuff is almost as much of a PITA to deal with as down, though it is less because of the mess, than it is the 'why won't you stay where I put you??' issue.

wwk10, regarding your calculations, the 2" loft is at the baffles. In the center, I think I'm closer to 2.5-3", and I overstuffed a bit so it's probably a fair bit higher than the 325FP your calculations yielded. I think your 450-500FP assumption is a pretty safe bet.

Pipsissewa, it says 75% down, but there's no way. Maybe it's just a legal CYA thing on the tag, it says "75% minimum down", not actually 75/25. The pillow I cracked open for the quilt I just finished looks at least as clean as the 80% minimum stuff I've handled before. It might not be absolutely feather free, but the feathers that are there are really really tiny, and there aren't many. I mean tiny as in, you'd have to actually spread the down out a bit to be able to spot them in the blobs of down. I don't think it will cause any problems. I don't see any that are the size you'd typically find escaping from your pillow in the middle of the night.

[wwk10]

Frost,
Speaking of math, your 32 x 56 UQ is 72% the size of my proposed 45 x 55. To get your equvalent loft I will need 15 oz or about one pillows worth.
I am hoping for a 30 degree quilt.
I know you havent tested and it is subjective, but do you think you have a 30 degree quilt?

Off subject: I have never seen an UQ in real life. Is 45" too wide?