Down Fill Power Explained
How down fill ratings work and how they can help you choose the right product for your needs.
Introduction
When choosing a down garment, you’ll often see the term “down fill power.” This number measures the insulating efficiency of the down used inside a garment. Let’s talk fill power in more detail, including the meaning of “down fill,” how down fill ratings work and how this information can help you choose the right down jacket, sweater or vest for your needs.
What’s Down and How Do We Use It?
When it comes to cold and dry conditions, nothing beats nature’s lightest, most packable insulation: down. It traps warmth while being lightweight, and it’s compressible for packing. But what exactly is “down” in jackets and outerwear? Down filling for jackets is made from the soft clusters under the plumage of geese, waterfowl or ducks—these soft, light and fluffy plumes help insulate against heat loss and are different from the protective outer feathers that have quills and help birds fly.
We use recycled down insulation in many of our products. The 100% recycled down we use is either 600- or 700-fill-power that’s a mix of duck and goose down and waterfowl feathers reclaimed from down products like comforters, cushions, bedding and other used items. It helps us save useful material from going straight to the landfill.
When a higher fill power is required for the technical performance needs of a garment, we use virgin down certified to the Responsible Down Standard by Control Union. Learn more about recycled down and the Responsible Down Standard for virgin down.
What Does Down Fill Power Mean?
“Fill power” indicates the volume and fluffiness of the down inside a garment—versus “fill weight,” which measures the actual quantity or weight of down filling used. The fill power number indicates the amount of space one ounce of down takes up in cubic inches. For example, 650 cubic inches of down equates to 650-fill-power down. Higher down fill power in a garment means the down provides a better warmth-to-weight ratio thanks to fluffier down clusters that don’t require adding extra weight or bulk to better insulate the garment.
Down Fill Power Ratings
Down fill power ratings typically span between 300-fill-power and 900-fill-power. The higher the down fill rating, the better the insulating efficiency of the down. Garments with higher ratings (like 800- or 900-fill-power) require a lower fill weight or quantity of down to provide the same warmth. Generally, the 600-fill-power and 700-fill-power garments we make with recycled down are best for everyday use. 800-fill-power garments are made for technical outdoor sports where performance, weight and compressibility matter most.
Does Higher Fill Power Mean More Warmth?
Down fill power isn’t an exact measure of warmth—but a higher down fill rating means the down insulation can better trap in warm air, as fluffier down has higher garment “loft” (or insulating efficiency). There are other factors at play when it comes to garment warmth, like the materials used, the fill weight and distribution of down insulation, and the garment construction method.
Patagonia Down Garments
In cold, dry conditions, the right down-filled jacket will help keep you warm and comfortable. Our insulated, compressible men’s and women’s and kids’ down jackets—and other down garments—layer easily for lightweight warmth.
