Sleeping bags

Sleeping bag with down or synthetic filling

We are regularly asked what the difference is between a down and a synthetic sleeping bag filling. The advantages of down are that it is lighter, more compact and therefore easier to pack and that it lasts longer than a synthetic filling. A down sleeping bag also sleeps more comfortably, because you are less stuffy in it. Down also has a wider temperature range, so that weather influences are less. The disadvantage of down is that it is more expensive to purchase than a comparable synthetic sleeping bag. In addition, a down sleeping bag dries less quickly than a sleeping bag filled with synthetic material. The fill power of down determines the insulation value of the sleeping bag. The higher the filling power, the higher the insulation value. This fill power is measured by placing a certain amount of down with a weight on it in a cylinder. The greater the “resilience” of the down, the more air remains between the down feathers and the better the insulation. The higher the fill power, the higher the quality of the down. The European fill power standard uses 30 grams of down and a weight of 94.25 grams. Temperature and humidity are kept constant during the test. The fill power is expressed in cubic inches per ounce, or CUIN. In the United States, the procedure for determining fill power is slightly different. A different preparation of the down and different weights are used. So you can sleep well!