View Full Version : bulk goose down?
I'm making camp pillows for me and my partner and I wanted to stuff them with goose down so they would be light and packable.
My original intent was to do this in order to save a little bit of money (and have something home-made, and custom sized), but I've looked for bulk goose down and its about $40 for 5lbs.
I don't need 5 lbs first of all, and don't want to spend that much money.
Does anyone have any recommendations about where to get bulk goose down for cheaper?
hammock engineer
11-22-2005, 12:03
Are you really finding it for $40? The cheapest that I found bulk goose down was $300 for 5lbs of 800 fill. If you are seeing it for $40, check the fill and make sure it is not all feathers.
peter_pan
11-22-2005, 15:11
Try Ed Speer at Speer hammocks... He sells 800pf down in 3 oz packets.
Pan
betic4lyf
11-22-2005, 17:45
seems like it doesnt matter that much the fill power if he is making a pillow. just a thought, but that might save money. i am personally allergic to down, so i dont know much about down pillows
You're right that I mis-read - its $37 PER pound of 600 fill goose down.
I checked out the Speer site - which has the 3oz bags for $25.00.
So here's my next question:
If I'm making 2 pillows, about 12x14 inches, how much goose down am I actually going to need??
Nightwalker
11-22-2005, 18:18
You're right that I mis-read - its $37 PER pound of 600 fill goose down.
I checked out the Speer site - which has the 3oz bags for $25.00.
So here's my next question:
If I'm making 2 pillows, about 12x14 inches, how much goose down am I actually going to need??
3 ounces will be more than enough. 900 fill down. 3 ounces. 2700 cubic inches!
That'd make your 2 12 X 14 pillows an uncompressed thickness of 8 inches. :)
SGT Rock
11-22-2005, 18:21
Well 800 fill down is supposed to fill 800ci per ounce, so for 12x14x2 = 328 ci. So for two sleeping pillows like this you could use one once and still get an over stuff. It is just that at this level you would get a pillow that could fluff up that size, but not necessarily be very firm. In such an application where you actually want some firmness you may want to use a lower loft down like 1 ounce of 600 fill.
I've used down pillows for sleeping at home. It's a nice concept, but doesn't work. Like SGT Rock mentioned, you're going need a LOT of down to keep it from compressing to nothing when you lay your head on it. And then you've defeated the purpose of light and compressible. Feathers make a much better pillow for sleeping in a bed but they're too heavy for backpacking with. If you're not happy with the idea of using the clothes in a stuff sack kind of pillow you may want to look into an inflatable type.
Nightwalker
11-22-2005, 21:35
Actually, I got a 2 dollar and change blow-up bath pillow at Wal-Mart. It weighs very little and is way comfy. Sleeping on wadded up clothes is not. At least for me. I stuff it in a little-bitty pup-tent bag from days gone by, and I sleep great.
peter_pan
11-22-2005, 21:38
Well 800 fill down is supposed to fill 800ci per ounce, so for 12x14x2 = 328 ci. So for two sleeping pillows like this you could use one once and still get an over stuff. It is just that at this level you would get a pillow that could fluff up that size, but not necessarily be very firm. In such an application where you actually want some firmness you may want to use a lower loft down like 1 ounce of 600 fill.
Hoppy,
To elaborate, the down is going to compress a lot under the weight of your head... I'd figure on deviding fill power by at least four, maybe even six, to get a reasonable element of support when you compute your requirement.
JMHO and I've stuffed a lot of down.
Pan
PS... I have two oz of 500 fp that we used a few years back for prototype work...PM your address and I'll send it to you... Happy Thanksgiving.
my first thought when i read 'down pillow' was that it's going to compress like crazy... no loft/support once you put your head on it, but that's been covered by about 3 posters...
i took a piece of fleece roughly 8 x 12 and sewed it to my sleeping bag stuff sack, so that when i stuff it with spare clothing, it makes a softer-surfaced pillow... i hate nylon sticking to my body... this prevents it, and is one of my few truly 'luxury' items...
i've used an air pillow, but it just weighs too much to be worth it...
Nightwalker
11-24-2005, 01:59
i've used an air pillow, but it just weighs too much to be worth it...
'Bout 4 ounces. Maybe a little less. Lots o' comfort, though. That includes the bag.
Fom Backpacker mag... I got a "box of wine" and saved the plastic liner. It weighs only 2.5 oz, plus you get to drink the wine:bse . I inflate the liner too what ever size I need and then wrap it in a towel or shirt.
spiderartist
10-16-2007, 13:18
I have four large down-filled sofa cushions and wondered if there was a market for the down anywhere.
Thanks,
--SpiderArtist
You're right that I mis-read - its $37 PER pound of 600 fill goose down.
I checked out the Speer site - which has the 3oz bags for $25.00.
So here's my next question:
If I'm making 2 pillows, about 12x14 inches, how much goose down am I actually going to need??
Where did you find a pound (16oz) of 600 fill goose down for $37??
I have four large down-filled sofa cushions and wondered if there was a market for the down anywhere.
Thanks,
--SpiderArtist
If it's 100% GOOSE DOWN, i'd be interested in buying a bunch!
Where did you find a pound (16oz) of 600 fill goose down for $37??
I want to know also.
Maybe an inflatable down pillow, as in "pass me my DAM pillow".
saimyoji
11-14-2008, 18:53
y'all realize this thread is 3 yrs old? just sayin.
No Belay
11-18-2008, 16:53
I'm making camp pillows for me and my partner and I wanted to stuff them with goose down so they would be light and packable.
My original intent was to do this in order to save a little bit of money (and have something home-made, and custom sized), but I've looked for bulk goose down and its about $40 for 5lbs.
I don't need 5 lbs first of all, and don't want to spend that much money.
Does anyone have any recommendations about where to get bulk goose down for cheaper?
Try shootin a goose.