baerbelleksa
05-26-2006, 14:08
picked myself up one of these yesterday. it's 800 fill down (not that i know what this means) and weighs something like 1 lb 15 oz. anyone have any experience with this bag?
Kerosene
05-26-2006, 14:29
From Campspot at www.my-favorite-camping-store.com/down-sleeping-bag.html (http://www.my-favorite-camping-store.com/down-sleeping-bag.html):
Down Fill Power
The quality of the down is determined by testing a one-ounce sample in a cylinder. The volume that one ounce of down fills is measured in cubic inches. This number is called the “fill power” of the down.
So, a fill power of 600 means that one ounce of down occupies 600 cubic inches. Good quality down will be around 500 to 600 fill power. A fill power of 600 to 700 is considered quite excellent. The best fill power available today is 800. [Actually some manufacturers claim to sell 900 fill].
The fill power is also a good indication of how much actual downy feather and quill there is in the down. The higher the number that is given, the more feather and less quill. A lesser number means more quill and less feather. Your bag will be loftier and warmer with a higher fill power.
Understandably, a sleeping bag with a lower quality fill that has been carefully used and properly maintained will function better than an improperly used, poorly maintained sleeping bag with a higher fill power.
The fill power isn’t the only determining factor of quality and warmth. The fill’s effectiveness is also influenced by the design and quality of the rest of the bag, too. A sleeping bag's shape (http://www.my-favorite-camping-store.com/sleeping-bag-shapes.html) is also an important factor.