The North Face® products are insulated with exclusive, high-fill power goose down ranging from 550 to 900 fill, which represents the highest quality down commercially available. Goose down is always better than duck down, Heli Women’s 600 Fill Hooded Lightweight Down Jacket, Heli Men’s 600 Fill Hooded Lightweight Down Jacket. Polymer treatment helps down fight dampness. 600 fill down is warm, lightweight and durable. Kathmandu’s down jackets range in fill power from 550 to 800. Second, good cleaning can extend the life of your down product. ULTIMATE-DIRECTION: 25% Off Sitewide with coupon code "HOLIDAY2020". Provides an exceptional amount of warmth for minimal weight. FREE shipping on all orders. You can't expect people to call them comforters, now. Is winter camping what you look forward to each year? I think it's worth paying more to get a lighter sleeping bag that will last longer. DownTek claims a 30% reduction in water absorption after the treatment, which is notable but certainly not a true barrier to entry. The advantage of choosing the XT Ultralight is that it has less fill because it uses a higher fill power, so it’s: There are still a few urban myths around the down traps. These days there are a host of choices to select from, so shopping can seem overwhelming. CHICKEN-TRAMPER UL: 20% off site wide from 11/24 to 11/30 (discount applied automatically at checkout and prototype gear not included). It’s easiest to judge fill weight when the fill powers are the same or similar. We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3f40efa616a1ae9e8419f8988c47d73" );document.getElementById("je705695a8").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); I have read and accepted the Privacy Policy *. • Design Catalog, How Jackets are Rated for Weather Proofing and Warmth, The Surprise & Delights Of A Forward Convenience Store. Call us at {insert number] or contact us [link] via email with any questions you might have. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. True fill power is measured by placing one ounce of goose down in a graduated cylinder and measuring the volume the down occupies in cubic inches. Outstanding warmth from a high cluster-to-feather ratio, 800 fill down features increased loft and compressibility for superior warmth and performance. Where can I buy good quality down? Fill power is important, but don’t overlook fill weight. It is a reality that live plucking still exists, which allows for the down of the goose or duck to be harvested multiple times. Some that we can categorically dismiss are that: A higher fill power number is always warmer – this isn’t necessarily true as the warmth of a jacket also depends on the weight of the down filled into it (as Jacket D in the above example shows). A higher fill power number doesn’t automatically mean a jacket will be warmer. Will you mostly be wearing winter gear from your car to the office? It's Here! Sahar, Thru-hiker.com sells 900 fill down. Explore a retail store or outlet near you. Fill Weight (grams) FP x FW. All Rights Reserved. one ounce of down covers 300 or 900 cubic inches). Weight of the fabric (measured in grams per square meter / GSM / gsm/ gm/2). No need to wait for vapor to build up. COLUMBIA: Holiday Sale! And if you’re interested in what’s available on the other side of the tracks, see our article on the best synthetic jackets. In terms of jacket weather ratings, the higher the number, the warmer the down. The type of insulation will affect how well it retains warmth, reacts in wet conditions, and how small you can pack it. Waterproof testing is performed by independent laboratories or in-house. Despite continued efforts in synthetics, down is the best insulator on Earth. For a deeper dive into this topic, see our article on down vs. synthetic insulation. Speak to a friendly representative by calling (800) 433-0983 or contact us via email and tell us about all of your winter jacket needs! How warm and compressible do you want it to be? A thick protective cover similar to or suggestive of a quilt. Not all jackets are equal or meant for the same purpose. The number (or fill power) refers more to the quality of the down, not the actual quantity of it. To find the absolute weight of the down in the coat, contact the manufacturer if they don’t publish the spec. When you need to choose a down jacket to keep your core body insulated during winter, how do you decide which one? Some manufacturers measure PSI (Pounds per Square Inch). You’ve probably noticed when you’re among friends and family, people in the same room say they’re cold while others say they’re hot. Not sure who wrote this but 'quilts' do not contain down. It spreads sheets of confusion, forcing me down to take cover. Base your choice of down jacket on the main activity you want to use it for. But if you are comparing 6 ounces of 600-fill down against 3 ounces of 900-fill down, the calculation becomes trickier. And if a cluster of down or errant feather makes its way through the shell of your gear, it’s best to gently massage it back in as opposed to pulling it out. This can be effective in light to moderate perception but DWR won’t protect your down during any kind of heavy perception or exposure. ), the better the down and the more loft and warmth it will provide. • Returns & Refunds Cold Weather Water Treatment and Purification, Thru-hiking the Lebanon Mountain Trail by Lisa Robbins, Big Three Ultralight Backpacking Makeovers, The Kovea Hydra Dual Fuel Backpacking Stove: A Hikin’ Jim Review, Garmin inReach Mini 2-Way GPS Satellite Communicator Review, 200g vs 400g Insulated Winter Hiking Boots: How to Choose, What are the Differences Between Men’s and Women’s Sleeping Bags. A 20 degree bag with 550 fill power may weigh (for example only. Down jackets are filled with feathers – they’re actually filled with down clusters that grow under the feathers of ducks and geese. The exterior shell jacket features plenty of secure-zip pockets hold trail permits and pocket knives. A DWR treatment on the shell of your jacket or sleeping bag along with treated down on the inside combines to give a solid boost in water resistance.