What the Heck is Down Fill Power?
Posted by BAP Store on
It may technically still be fall until December 21, but here in Steamboat the warm days, cool nights, and brightly colored leaves of autumn have long since vanished. Snow and temperatures are falling and winter coat season is fully upon us. If you have ever gone shopping for winter gear and apparel during this time of year, you have likely encountered items bearing tags that denote their level of down fill power. If you are anything like me, you have wondered what on Earth down fill power means. Fortunately my colleagues at BAP! have enlightened me with their gear expertise, so I can share with you just what exactly those numbers mean and how you can use this knowledge to stay toasty all season.
Down Fill Power Measures the Relative Lofting Quality of Down
Down is a desirable insulator in large part due to its warmth to weight ratio and its packability. Down feathers trap body heat most efficiently when they are lofted- meaning puffed out to the max. More loft creates more pockets of air, which create more space to trap heat, which results in greater warmth. The higher quality the down feathers, the fewer of them you will need to achieve a certain amount of loft.
Down fill power measures how many inches of loft one ounce of feathers can achieve. When one ounce of feathers has greater loft, it is considered to have a higher fill power. Say you are comparing two 15 degree sleeping bags and one contains 650 fill power down while the other contains 800 fill power down. The 650 fill power down bag will require more feathers to achieve the same temperature rating as the 800 fill power down bag. Thus, the 800 fill power down sleeping bag will be lighter in weight and capable of compressing down to a smaller size than the sleeping bag with the lower fill power rating.
Down Fill Power is Not a Warmth Measurement
It is important to remember that down fill power measures warmth to weight ratio, but it is not a temperature rating. Here at BAP!, we sell a plethora of cold weather layers that utilize 700 fill power down, but that certainly does not mean that all of the garments we sell are equally warm. For instance, the men's Chilton down sweater is a great layer to have while out skiing or being similarly active, but it will probably not do the trick in cold weather situations where you are not generating much body heat. Meanwhile, the men's Fire Tower belay parka is a perfect option to stay toasty while you stand around watching the kids compete with the Winter Sports Club, but should you wear it out snowshoeing? Not unless you're trying to sweat out every ounce of moisture in your body. Both these jackets contain 700 fill power down feathers, but their warmth and intended uses are very different.
Why Does it Matter?
Down fill power matters when you are looking for gear that is as light weight and compressible as possible. High fill power down sleeping bags and jackets will give you maximum warmth for minimal weight and will compress down to a small size to fit easily in a pack. However, high quality, high efficiency down does come at a price. Lower fill power down offers a more budget friendly option that still gives the benefits of down's packability and light weight, just to a slightly lesser degree. Your need for weight and space efficiency along with how much you are willing to spend are the factors most likely to determine whether you are in the market for a product with high fill power down.
Have questions about how to stay warm during your winter adventures? Come in and talk to the gear experts at BAP!
-Jess
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How I Got My Husband back… Am so excited to share my testimony of a real spell caster who brought my husband back to me. My husband and I have been married for about 6 years now. We were happily married with two kids, a boy and a girl. 3 months ago, I started to notice some strange behavior from him and a few weeks later I found out that my husband is seeing someone else. He started coming home late from work, he hardly cared about me or the kids anymore, Sometimes he goes out and doesn’t even come back home for about 2-3 days. I did all I could to rectify this problem but all to no avail. I became very worried and needed help. As I was browsing through the Internet one day, I came across a website that suggested that Dr.Mahlangu can help solve marital problems, restore broken relationships and so on. So, I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and told him my problems and he told me what to do and I did it and he did a spell for me. 48 hours later, my husband came to me and apologized for the wrongs he did and promised never to do it again. Ever since then, everything has returned back to normal. My family is living together happily again.. All thanks to Dr. Mahlangu If you have any problem contact him and I guarantee you that he will help you. He will not disappoint you. you can Whatassp:+27787390989
Email; drmahlanguhome@gmail.com website :https://www.drmahlangu-home.com
How I Got My Husband back… Am so excited to share my testimony of a real spell caster who brought my husband back to me. My husband and I have been married for about 6 years now. We were happily married with two kids, a boy and a girl. 3 months ago, I started to notice some strange behavior from him and a few weeks later I found out that my husband is seeing someone else. He started coming home late from work, he hardly cared about me or the kids anymore, Sometimes he goes out and doesn’t even come back home for about 2-3 days. I did all I could to rectify this problem but all to no avail. I became very worried and needed help. As I was browsing through the Internet one day, I came across a website that suggested that Dr.Mahlangu can help solve marital problems, restore broken relationships and so on. So, I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and told him my problems and he told me what to do and I did it and he did a spell for me. 48 hours later, my husband came to me and apologized for the wrongs he did and promised never to do it again. Ever since then, everything has returned back to normal. My family is living together happily again.. All thanks to Dr. Mahlangu If you have any problem contact him and I guarantee you that he will help you. He will not disappoint you. you can Whatassp:+27787390989
Email; drmahlanguhome@gmail.com website :https://www.drmahlangu-home.com
How I Got My Husband back… Am so excited to share my testimony of a real spell caster who brought my husband back to me. My husband and I have been married for about 6 years now. We were happily married with two kids, a boy and a girl. 3 months ago, I started to notice some strange behavior from him and a few weeks later I found out that my husband is seeing someone else. He started coming home late from work, he hardly cared about me or the kids anymore, Sometimes he goes out and doesn’t even come back home for about 2-3 days. I did all I could to rectify this problem but all to no avail. I became very worried and needed help. As I was browsing through the Internet one day, I came across a website that suggested that Dr.Mahlangu can help solve marital problems, restore broken relationships and so on. So, I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and told him my problems and he told me what to do and I did it and he did a spell for me. 48 hours later, my husband came to me and apologized for the wrongs he did and promised never to do it again. Ever since then, everything has returned back to normal. My family is living together happily again.. All thanks to Dr. Mahlangu If you have any problem contact him and I guarantee you that he will help you. He will not disappoint you. you can Whatassp:+27787390989
Email; drmahlanguhome@gmail.com website :https://www.drmahlangu-home.com
How I Got My Husband back… Am so excited to share my testimony of a real spell caster who brought my husband back to me. My husband and I have been married for about 6 years now. We were happily married with two kids, a boy and a girl. 3 months ago, I started to notice some strange behavior from him and a few weeks later I found out that my husband is seeing someone else. He started coming home late from work, he hardly cared about me or the kids anymore, Sometimes he goes out and doesn’t even come back home for about 2-3 days. I did all I could to rectify this problem but all to no avail. I became very worried and needed help. As I was browsing through the Internet one day, I came across a website that suggested that Dr.Mahlangu can help solve marital problems, restore broken relationships and so on. So, I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and told him my problems and he told me what to do and I did it and he did a spell for me. 48 hours later, my husband came to me and apologized for the wrongs he did and promised never to do it again. Ever since then, everything has returned back to normal. My family is living together happily again.. All thanks to Dr. Mahlangu If you have any problem contact him and I guarantee you that he will help you. He will not disappoint you. you can Whatassp:+27787390989
Email; drmahlanguhome@gmail.com website :https://www.drmahlangu-home.com