I'm looking for down filling for making my first camping quilt. Any ideas on a good place to order 700-800 fill down? Amazon seems to have some sellers but I'm not sure if that's the quality I should be using.

Ace at Thru-Hiker has been selling down, as well as quilt materials, kits and plans for many years. I've dealt with him a few times in the past and am always happy with his service.

Another is Quest Outfitters  -    100% WHITE GOOSE DOWN

Backpacking Light thread on quilt making

butthead

I have a high thread count white Egyptian cotton king size comforter filled with 800 fill down that I found at a 2nd hand store and paid $8. It is just begging to be made into an underquilt for my hammock but I just can't do it! It is by far the most luxurious thing I own.

Its too warm to sleep under even with the bedroom window open and 45* air blowing in all night. It does however cover both of my boys while winter camping so it does have a use.


I would buy down from someone who puts it into pre-measured bags so you know exactly how much you are using.

DO your homework on what you get when you purchase down. If it can be compared to anything-- it would be like purchasing firewood by the "cord". "Cord" is one of most misunderstood measurements ever with air space/stacking involved.Purchasing down is on the same level-- do your homework as volume and weight are not the end all when it comes to down-- more variables then meets the eye.

would you also think baffles are a must for a quilt that i hope to use down to 20 degrees? would 9-10 ounces of 800 down do the trick or should i look more at a pound? Baffle FAQ

quote VaderStrom: "would you also think baffles are a must for a quilt that i hope to use down to 20 degrees? would 9-10 ounces of 800 down do the trick or should i look more at a pound? Baffle FAQ "

Imho--- at the 20F rating , without baffles you have a heavier bag/quilt then otherwise.
Baffles are basically increasing loft and making things overall warmer by increasing insulation by AIR (convective) space-- period. Solid dense insulation (synthetic) is good -- but air space with down is superior etc on either side is even better.

The colder (really drier) it gets-- the better down is the long haul.

Speaking as someone who has made three down sleeping bags from scratch,I will point out that bulk down is very expensive, ranging from $105/lb for 600 fill to $150/lb for 700, to $180 for 800- 900 fill.
down fill

By far the least expensive way to get down is to buy a ready made high grade down comforter, and take the down from it if you want to make a custom outdoor quilt. For example, a comforter with 50oz of 750 fill down can be had for about $130, which is less than $43/lb. True, you can't be absolutely assured of the grade of the down, but the price difference is substantial
. 750 fill comforter

Disassembling the comforter can be a mess, but if you do it in a small clean room (like a bathroom) and vacuum up the down into a clean bag or a clean shop vac, it is not a big deal.

You might try this place, can't remember where I first saw this but they sell material and down for those that make their own... http://ripstopbytheroll.com/products/hyperdry-850-fp-dwr-goose-down

quote VaderStrom: "I'm looking for down filling for making my first camping quilt. Any ideas on a good place to order 700-800 fill down? Amazon seems to have some sellers but I'm not sure if that's the quality I should be using. "

What would be the difference between a down camping quilt and a off the shelf down comforter. I was just wondering if it was just a size difference, why couldn't you do some fancy sewing and just reuse a cut down comforter?

quote OldScout48: "

quote VaderStrom: "I'm looking for down filling for making my first camping quilt. Any ideas on a good place to order 700-800 fill down? Amazon seems to have some sellers but I'm not sure if that's the quality I should be using. "

What would be the difference between a down camping quilt and a off the shelf down comforter. I was just wonder if it was just a size difference, why couldn't you do some fancy sewing and just reuse a cut down comforter?"

The materials that the comforter is made out of will not hold up well to the outdoors. The cotton will degrade much quicker and pick up stains a lot easier than ripstop nylon.

quote Dammfast: "

quote OldScout48: "

quote VaderStrom: "I'm looking for down filling for making my first camping quilt. Any ideas on a good place to order 700-800 fill down? Amazon seems to have some sellers but I'm not sure if that's the quality I should be using. "

What would be the difference between a down camping quilt and a off the shelf down comforter. I was just wonder if it was just a size difference, why couldn't you do some fancy sewing and just reuse a cut down comforter?"

The materials that the comforter is made out of will not hold up well to the outdoors. The cotton will degrade much quicker and pick up stains a lot easier than ripstop nylon."

Okay so the camping quilt is basically a down sleeping bag without the zipper. Could you make a nylon shell that you could slip a down comforter into? Sounds like a good idea, but I sure don't have the sewing skills to make one and prices for manufactured one are pretty high.

Quilt kits available here. Ray Jardine Quilts

That's a very pretty comforter.

I know many of you are off-put by my abrasive posting style, but I'm feeling another one coming on...


THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THIS IS FILLED WITH AN AVERAGE 750 FILL POWER GOOSE DOWN.

Real 750 is serious loft, found in only the highest grades of gear. It would be totally uneconomic to put it into a comforter, especially one that RETAILS FOR $130 ON AMAZON.

Now having said that, I'm tempted to buy one, knowing that either the fill power claim is false, or that they are selling these at a loss (or there is a $250 shipping fee).

Here's one linked from that page, from the same supplier, that has a more realistic list price of $800:

http://www.amazon.com/Thread-Siberian-Comforter-Egyptian-Cotton/dp/B0011YLG2U/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1FE5T5G3QHW2F3HMFGND

Buy now and save $665.04! (83%!)

If it sounds too good to be true . . .

As always where down is concerned, I would recommend contacting Feathered Friends in Seattle. They might sell you the down, or they might put you in contact with somebody reputable.

quote Dammfast: "

quote OldScout48: "

quote VaderStrom: "I'm looking for down filling for making my first camping quilt. Any ideas on a good place to order 700-800 fill down? Amazon seems to have some sellers but I'm not sure if that's the quality I should be using. "

What would be the difference between a down camping quilt and a off the shelf down comforter. I was just wonder if it was just a size difference, why couldn't you do some fancy sewing and just reuse a cut down comforter?"

The materials that the comforter is made out of will not hold up well to the outdoors. The cotton will degrade much quicker and pick up stains a lot easier than ripstop nylon."

Also, the nylon shell on a sleeping bag/quilt is more water resistant.

quote Moss Tent: "That's a very pretty comforter.


I know many of you are off-put by my abrasive posting style, but I'm feeling another one coming on...



THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THIS IS FILLED WITH AN AVERAGE 750 FILL POWER GOOSE DOWN.


Real 750 is serious loft, found in only the highest grades of gear. It would be totally uneconomic to put it into a comforter, especially one that RETAILS FOR $130 ON AMAZON.


Now having said that, I'm tempted to buy one, knowing that either the fill power claim is false, or that they are selling these at a loss (or there is a $250 shipping fee)."

I agree with this assessment, hence my disclaimer "you can't be absolutely assured of the grade of the down". However, consider this:
Assuming that the down quality of the comforter is overrated, one could reasonably assume that the fill power is probably at least 550, the standard low grade down (that particular seller has amazingly high customer satisfaction scores). The cost of the down is $2.60/oz, including the cost of the 800 tpi down-proof cotton, which isn't cheap.
If one were to construct a sleeping bag filled with 1.5 lb (24 oz) of high grade 800 fill down from one of the bulk suppliers, the cost for the down would be about $180 x 1.5 = $270. This would be a nice warm mummy bag.
To achieve the same loft using 550 fill down from the comforter would require almost 35oz, and the cost would be $91. One would therefore have to pay a $179 premium for the 11oz weight saving in the newly constructed bag or quilt.
Now, I would agree that for some applications such as mountaineering and lightweight backpacking, or for those who must have the best of everything, that extra money would be well spent. For the average person on a canoe trip, it would not. One of the nice things about traveling by canoe is that you can splurge a bit on the weight, because the portages are relatively short compared to the length of the trip. The canoe will carry that extra 11 oz.

The cost to the consumer for small quantities of high quality bulk down is much higher than the manufacturers pay, especially for items made overseas, where almost all goose down is sourced.

Does anybody own one of those Amazon comforters, and have an opinion on it?

I'm thinking about pulling the trigger.

Just for home use, BTW.

After having read the reviews, I'm not going to buy one.

Construction problems, along with "down powder" problems, are too much for me, especially the powder problem. Been there, done that.

Would rather spend more and get something I can inspect, from bricks & mortar & duvet store.