Down - Duck or Goose

[CiK01]

I am researching for a new quilt. Its a UGQ Bandit XL. I am using their build/design feature and I keep getting negligible weight savings but significant cost savings when I select between their 800 fill power and the 850 fill power. Apparently the difference is the 800 is duck, and the 850 is goose.

All things being equal, what benefits am I getting from goose that weighs the same but is more expensive?

Thanks!

 

[glass eye]

Goose down is larger than duck. However, eider down ( duck ) is regarded as the best.

 

[CBreeze]

What weighs more a pound of 850fill duck down or a pound of 850 fill goose down- my scale is broken?

 

[CiK01]

Here are the figures I am getting. 0deg bag with overfill.

800 Fill
PRICE: $336.95
ITEM WEIGHT: 51.32 OZS

850 Fill
PRICE: $424.95
ITEM WEIGHT: 51.53 OZS

 

[CBreeze]

They might share the same rating but an 850 fill bag and an 800 fill bag of otherwise similar construction will not be equal in warmth/ insulation. The 850 bag will be warmer. By how much I can’t quantify.

 

[CiK01]

I am being told a 0deg bag is a 0deg bag regardless of fill power. That would lead me to believe that the 800 and the 850 appear to be dang near the same in warmth for their weight.

Reading more about, I see duck down has odor issues and might not be as resilient as goose down because the clusters are smaller than that of goose. I guess the question is whether odor and resiliency is worth the $90 more.

 

[CBreeze]

I’m struggling to link an image here but a gfolge search of down fill power by volume will show test tubes full of different fill power down- regardless of source- 850 lifts more therefore insulates better than 800, resulting in better thermal efficiency, resulting in a warmer bag than an otherwise identical bag filled with 800, even if they share a rating.

I’ve used hyper dry 800fp duck down to great effect in several projects there has been no odor.

 

[20DYNAMITE07]

Here are the figures I am getting. 0deg bag with overfill.

800 Fill
PRICE: $336.95
ITEM WEIGHT: 51.32 OZS

850 Fill
PRICE: $424.95
ITEM WEIGHT: 51.53 OZS

You might want to call UGQ about the weight rather than going with the estimated weight you get when you "build" it on the web site. Having said that, they have some charts that show about 1oz difference in total weight in the base 0* bag 800FP and the 850FP. That 1oz difference varies somewhat between the various lengths offered, but that seems to be about the average. The exception being the 78" length which lists them weighing about the same - but I'm guessing that's a typo, since all the other lengths show the 850 being about an ounce less, so like I said, you might want to contact UGQ.

One last thing... the total item weights you have listed above are off by about 20 oz. Their 0* bags clock in around 30oz. Even with a couple ounces of over-stuffing you won't be approaching 40 let along 50 oz

I've got their 20* quilt and I totally love it - so either way I'm sure you'll love yours too.
I went with the 800FP by the way, and there wasn't any odor with mine.

 

[danarnold]

not the question asked but....I completely froze my ass in a tent @ 17deg with a 0deg quilt, was good in a 20deg bag same trip/conditions
just .02cents from a fellow flatlander

 

[CiK01]

not the question asked but....I completely froze my ass in a tent @ 17deg with a 0deg quilt, was good in a 20deg bag same trip/conditions
just .02cents from a fellow flatlander

Dammit Man!!!

I was planning on a Western Mountaineering bag if I am not going the quilt route.

 

[danarnold]

Dammit Man!!!

I was planning on a Western Mountaineering bag if I am not going the quilt route.

sold my quilts, lotsa people like em.
good luck man

 

[AK Troutbum]

Here are the figures I am getting. 0deg bag with overfill.

800 Fill
PRICE: $336.95
ITEM WEIGHT: 51.32 OZS

850 Fill
PRICE: $424.95
ITEM WEIGHT: 51.53 OZS

Not trying to derail your thread here, but 3.25 lbs. for a 0 degree quilt? I'm thinking they're adding a little something else besides down to the fill. Either that or the quilt is both a XXL long/XXL wide. By way of comparison, my 0 degree, 850 fill, reg/wide, EE quilt weighs 27 oz.

 

[20DYNAMITE07]

Not trying to derail your thread here, but 3.25 lbs. for a 0 degree quilt? I'm thinking they're adding a little something else besides down to the fill. Either that or the quilt is both a XXL long/XXL wide. By way of comparison, my 0 degree, 850 fill, reg/wide, EE quilt weighs 27 oz.

It’s a mistake. UGQ 0* quilts weigh about 30oz.

 

[tdot]

I've had duck down that was superior to Goose down.... and vice versa.

There's so many other things going on then just the bird the down was plucked from that I wouldnt worry about it too much.

I've never had any down smell. But I have heard that in some of the cheap 650 fill duck down is where you can start to get smells. Personally I wont touch down below 800 fill power, otherwise I'll just use a synthetic.

 

[turley]

A great benefit of high fill down is how well it compresses.
When you get to down fill powers 650 and below the weight between a similarly rated synthetic is approximately the same as well as the compressed size.