As the weather gets colder, it’s almost time to wear down jackets again. With so many options available online and in stores, how do you choose the right one? Some say, just check the label. But how do you read the label? Some indicate goose down, others duck down—what’s the difference? And what about all the technical terms on the label—fill weight, down content, loftiness... What do they all mean? These often leave consumers confused.
Refers to the weight of the down filling in a product, measured in grams.
For example, an ultra-light down jacket may have 70g of fill, some fast-fashion brands may use 35g, while standard insulated down jackets may have 180g.
Refers to the percentage of down clusters and down fibers in the total down and feather content. Down consists of down clusters, down fibers, feather fibers, and impurities. A higher proportion of down clusters generally means higher loftiness, fewer impurities, and better insulation.
For example, clothing care labels or certificates may indicate 90% white duck, or 80% white duck, or 80% gray duck.
Ducks are omnivores, so duck down often has a stronger odor; geese are herbivores, so goose down tends to have less odor, and if properly processed, it can be virtually odorless.
Refers to the volume occupied by a given weight of down during testing. The higher the FP value, the greater the volume the down occupies at the same weight, meaning it traps more still air and provides better insulation.
Generally, goose down has higher loftiness and better insulation than duck down. For example, in duck down, 600FP or above indicates high-quality down; in goose down, 800FP or above indicates premium quality.
