What Is Down Fill Power (2026): Fill Weight, Synthetics

Updated February 2026: We've added a caller conception connected caring for down and immoderate notes connected Outdoor Vital’s Zero Stitch fabric.

What Does Down Fill Power Tell You?

The higher the capable power, the greater the loft. Down puffer jackets and sleeping bags support you lukewarm by trapping the warmth coming disconnected your body, retaining it successful aerial pockets betwixt the down. A higher down capable powerfulness means the down has much loft, which means determination are much aerial pockets, which means that much vigor is retained. If everything other is equal, that means that a higher capable powerfulness garment volition beryllium warmer than 1 with a little capable power.

Unfortunately, everything other is ne'er equal. Fill powerfulness unsocial is not capable accusation to cognize however lukewarm thing volition be. There is nary nonstop correspondence betwixt capable powerfulness and however lukewarm a merchandise volition support you, due to the fact that determination are galore different factors to consider, similar however overmuch of that capable is successful the product, however good it tin grow wrong the baffles oregon down chambers, however good does the cloth halt the wind, and truthful on.

To cognize however lukewarm a down jacket, sleeping bag, oregon comforter volition be, you request to cognize astatine slightest 1 different number: the capable weight.

What Is Down Fill Weight?

Down capable value is simply a elemental number. It’s the magnitude of down successful the product, usually measured successful ounces oregon grams. Using down capable value and down capable powerfulness unneurotic tin springiness you mode to comparison 2 items. For example, the comparative quality of a puffer overgarment to clasp vigor tin beryllium estimated by multiplying the capable powerfulness by the capable weight. This means that a 900 capable powerfulness overgarment with 2 ounces of capable value volition beryllium capable to trap astir the aforesaid magnitude of vigor arsenic a 600 capable powerfulness overgarment with 3 ounces of capable weight. The large quality betwixt them, and the crushed they are priced differently, is the value of each and the packed size.

In jackets, the value quality isn’t huge. This is wherefore immoderate of our favourite puffer jackets are 600 capable power. When it comes to sleeping bags, though, things are different. Since determination is simply a batch much down successful a sleeping bag, the value quality betwixt equivalent amounts of capable powerfulness is much significant. Unless your fund is unlimited, you’ll privation to wage attraction to the warmth-to-weight ratio. How overmuch warmth bash you need, and however overmuch value bash you caput carrying?

The 1 downside to down capable value is that immoderate manufacturers don't database this. It sounds large to accidental your puffer overgarment arsenic 900 capable powerfulness down, but erstwhile you person to database that it lone has 2 ounces of it, it sounds little impressive. Less reputable companies often don't advertise the capable weight. We database capable value of each the jackets we test.

Other Factors to Consider

While down capable powerfulness and down capable value unneurotic springiness america a mode to comparison items, determination are different things to see to get an thought of wide warmth. The 3rd large origin is the baffles, the compartments that are built into the product. If you conscionable sewed up a azygous portion of nylon arsenic a ammunition and shoved immoderate down inside, gravity and question would propulsion it each down adjacent the hem successful a substance of minutes. To debar this, garment makers adhd baffles to support the down successful place. Baffle benignant and signifier play a large portion successful however lukewarm your jacket, sleeping bag, oregon comforter ends up being.