Whats the deal with down?

Hi, I've been into this injection game for a few weeks now, even made myself two real nice hammocks. Since I can sew a sew a straight stitch I purchased materials to make 2 down quilts with matching under-quilts (to be used on the AT this spring/ summer. As my down source I selected a comforter on ebay, it came new with 50oz. of "100% 750fp goose down" for $129 including shipping.

I received the comforter last night and can see through the packaging a tag that says "minimum 75%" down. I contacted the seller and he stated that this was to fulfill a legal requirement, but is that true? I know down can't be separated 100% from feather material, but is 75% adequate for thru-hiking abuse? Last question, know the fill power reflects the volume of the down per ounce, is this shift in volume a result of additional feather material; as in 750fp would always be a min. 75%, and 850fp would be 85% or at least in the vicinity?

Thanks for any help, the seller would take the comforter back, but if it is what I'm looking for I would be very happy.

-Bootsah

Fill power is measured in cubic inches per ounce. The higher the number, the more loft the down has and therefore insulates better. Using a lower fill power means you need to use more of it to achieve the same insulating ability as a higher fill power. That's my basic understanding anyways.

The seller is correct. I believe that all down products are sold with similar tags, had a tag just like that in the down jacket I have.

I purchased a pound of down from downlite and I think it was labeled as 95/5.

Items of all sorts which come into contact with human skin must be labeled for content under US law. I don't know about world wide. Beyond that all sorts of games can be and are played. Hypothetical example... 100% of the down is 75% 750 fp but the down only makes up 30% of the total fill. They can still advertise on the bag 100% 750 fp down but the tag on the quilt must be more correct and specific.

It's for reasons like that I tend to steer clear of the quilt/pillow "deals" you find out there. They may not be as good as they appear.

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Originally Posted by Ramblinrev

Hypothetical example... 100% of the down is 75% 750 fp but the down only makes up 30% of the total fill. They can still advertise on the bag 100% 750 fp down but the tag on the quilt must be more correct and specific.

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It's the same for bread that advertises "made with whole wheat." The portion of wheat that is whole wheat might be a small fraction.

Another reason to despise modern American corporate "gotcha capitalism." They are no better than snake oil salesmen in many cases and too rarely any better than government regulations require. The few exceptions are stellar if only by comparison.

Rain Man

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Does anyone have an opinion on this pillow as a possible source of down?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1200TC-LUXUR.../140864472160?

It claims to be 100% goose down, 750 fill power, with 30 oz of fill weight. If true, that's a very good deal—enough for a 20° top+underquilt set for just $85. It's a little fishy though, as the listing allows you select firmness and size but only lists 1 value for fill weight. The description also looks to be copied and pasted as it refers to a 'comforter' in a couple places.

75% are guaranteed to be intact down clusters. The remaining 25% can be down fibers or feather portions. A product can be labeled as "minimum 75% down" and still meet the 750fp advertised, but manufacturers might want to label it with the 85% minimum or 90% minimum needed to reach 750fp.

http://www.idfl.com/pdfs/IDFL%20Fill...%20Steam%20EN/


The minimum 75% down label can also be used on 450fp and 550fp. US law does not require Fill Power claims to appear on the law label. For instance, duck down meeting the law label requirements for 75% down might be 500fill power, or to stay within the advertising limits for fill power (a few % tolerance) might be advertised as 450fp.

http://www.idfl.com/pdfs/IDFL%20Stan...SA%20Labeling/

http://www.idfl.com/pdfs/IDFL%20Stan...and%20Answers/