Underquilt Baffle Design

[WVwanderer]

I've noticed that some UQs have radial baffles (those that go across the body) and other have longitudinal baffles (those that run from head to foot). What are the advantages and disadvantages of each and which is considered better?

[ataris121]

I imagine both have issues with down shifting to the center/bottom. I would assume that in the radial the down shifts away from your sides and shoulders, and in the longitudinal the down shifts away from head and foot. This and wet performance is why I use synthetics

[AaronAlso]

Actually, a propperly stuffed high quality (800+FP) down quilt shouldn't experince noticeable shifting of the down unless it is wet of very dirty. Lower quality down is more likely to clump with age is my understanding.

As for the baffle configuration there is a commonly held belief that radial baffles are more suseptable to sifting than longitudinal ones. Maybe that is true, but I think that with high quality down it is a moot point. Personally, I like the snuggliness of the radial baffles, ala JRB.