UQ Down- duvet and pillows?

[Beansprout]

I'm looking to convert an old 1/2 season down sleeping bag into a Under Quilt. I've done the UQ bit, I just need to fill it with a bit more down. [I hung a month or two ago with it under and the down slipped into the middle- I also need to sew new channels into it!]

SO I was thinking... Duvets and pillows have down in them... What if I get a cheap duvet from ebay or something? Or a couple of down pillows?

I don't need much, as the sleeping bag has already got some in it. It just needs a little fluffing! I didn't think it would be worth the hassle of finding a UK supplier and then buying a bulk load.

OOORR alternatively, if a lovely forum member has some spare...!!

 

[spandit]

Pillows & duvets marked as "down" usually have a percentage, the rest being plain ol' feather. You might get lucky, though...

 

[fishfish]

the more expensive the down duvet usually means better quality of filling,but then that can be really expensive!

 

[tartanferret]

This is what you need...

http://www.ukhammocks.co.uk/shop/ar...zHqeTbV64Fh2zp1XN4wC&shop_param=cid=7&aid=38&

I'd been looking at making one myself

 

[Beansprout]

Hohkay, cheers.

So plain ol' feather obviously wouldnt be as effective, but would it 'do'?

How much.. volume... is a 100g of 800, in "pillow" terms

 

[Teepee]

Hohkay, cheers.

So plain ol' feather obviously wouldnt be as effective, but would it 'do'?

How much.. volume... is a 100g of 800, in "pillow" terms

A genuine 800 cuin/oz soft fill pillow will contain around 550g of down. Thats enough to make an underquilt and top quilt at a 2" thickness of insulation. To get a pillow with this fill, you'll need to spend well over £100, £150 is nearer the mark.

Goose down aint cheap though and prices have risen 30% this year.

If I were you and not worried about weight too much, get a 600 fill pillow from a good quality vendor and use that.

A point to note; 100% down can have up to 10% feathers in it by law, don't expect pure goose down-it doesn't exist. Its almost impossible to remove all feathers.

 

[Beansprout]

So if I buy the 100 grams from UK hammocks, that would equal 1/5 of a pillow?

What sort of effectiveness has feather got (vs down)?

 

[Teepee]

That would be about right me ol' Bean.

Feather is very effective at poking through and escaping, and not being compressible. It also much less insulative- its in another league.

 

[Beansprout]

Thanks TP!

So to get enough to fill an old down sleeping bag I'm looking at £75+.

Any cheaper options- synthetic equivalent? (weight/pack size not too much of an issue)

 

[tartanferret]

How about..

http://www.ddhammocks.com/product/underblanket?


Youtube review of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-fNrVhxEXg

 

[Teepee]

Some more insulation; 700, 850 fill and primalofts. It may help.

http://www.extremtextil.de/catalog/Insulation:::53.html

 

[mousey]

I've been looking for down insulation suppliers, wanting to make an UQ and a top quilt - got the shell material and have made a start, but the expensive bit, the down will require abit of searching. So far I've found -

http://www.extremtextil.de/catalog/Insulation:::53.html?XTCsid=a2be578d898bfeef60a8822071de3358 in Germany with 100g 860+ down @ 27.90 euro = £22.17 depends on how much shipping is though [I've not looked at shipping yet]

The link previously [from ukhammocks] = 100g 850+ down @ £25 plus shipping & handling @ £4

or:

http://thru-hiker.com/materials/insulation.php from US = 3oz 900+ [the american measurement of loft I presume] $29.95 = 85g £18.53 plus shipping, VAT and customs charges [could be expensive as shipping from outside EU]

I did think about buying pillows duvet etc but upon closer searching most are filled with 600+ down or if have high loft down are REALLY expensive for the amount of down you get. Also duvets and pillows have a higher feather to down ratio.

SO anyone else know of suppliers of Down preferably EU based??