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Down is a tricky business. Where does it come from? What is loft? Is it high quality, is it high loft, is it DWR down?
Knowing about these terms is important when it comes to choosing down products, knowing what sort of conditions they’re appropriate for and knowing whether you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
Down is a layer of very soft feathers that grow underneath a birds exterior feathers. Down is extremely lightweight, very soft and is very effective at trapping warmth.
This is an easy one, Fill Weight is in reference to how much down is inside.
The Brindabella Standard Sleeping Bag has a fill weight of 680g. That’s 680g of down.
Loft (or Fill Power) is in reference to the quality rating of the down. Down quality is measured in Loft and Loft is measured by cubic inches per ounce (28.35g). The higher the number, the greater the volume per ounce and the warmer the down will be.
1 ounce of 785+ Loft Down will have a minimum volume of 785 cubic inches and1 ounce of 850+ Loft Down will have a minimum volume of 850 cubic inches.
The higher the loft rating, the higher the warmth to weight ratio. 100g of 850 loft down has the ability to trap more air, and more warmth, than 100g of lower loft down.
High loft down is able to spring back to its full size many more times after compression than a lower loft down.
When comparing down products between different manufacturers it is important to understand that there are multiple different tests used to grade down. Each of these tests have different procedures and will produce varying results. Mont down is tested using only the IDFB USA Test Method.
The quality of down fill and its performance doesn’t necessarily relate to the species it is sourced from. It is true that in the case of extremely high lofting down, loft ratings of 900 and higher, the down is sourced from Geese. But regardless of this fact, an 850 loft Duck Down will be just as warm and have the same weight as an 850 loft Goose Down.
When it comes to bang for your buck, duck down is more affordable than goose down. A sleeping bag with 850 loft duck down will be significantly cheaper and have the same performance as the same sleeping bag with 850 loft goose down inside.
As for differences between grey and white down, those differences are purely cosmetic.
All down batches will contain some percentage of pin-feathers and down fibres. The higher the down quality or loft, the lower the percentage of pin-feathers and down fibres. Good quality down will generally contain at least 90% down clusters.
All down used by Mont is tested and rated by an independent lab and is guaranteed to be of the highest quality.
DWR Loft is an environmentally friendly (Blue Sign Certified) down treatment that protects down from moisture, helps it maintain its loft in wet conditions, greatly reduces the drying time, extends the life of the down in your product and improves its resistance to bacteria growth.
Look for the DWR Loft logo on Mont Down Sleeping Bags and Down Clothing.
For more in depth info on caring for your down product see the Sleeping Bag Care Guide
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This past month, Canberra’s trail running community came together at the Frith Road Substation in O’Connor for an action-packed night of testing, learning, and connecting. The Mont Trail Running Shoe Demo gave runners of all levels the chance to put the latest footwear from La Sportiva, On Running, Altra, and Hoka through their paces on a dedicated 1.2km trail loop that quickly became a Strava segment.
At Mont, we believe in supporting events that encourage people to embrace the natural world, challenge themselves, and connect with like-minded adventurers. Mont has been the sole sponsor of Kowen over the 6 years since its humble beginnings, providing flags, bollards, marquees and infrastructure, a market stall to provide the best trail gear, nutrition and mandatory kit. And donating incredible prizes, including Julbo’s newest, top of the line ultra-light glasses – Ultimate Cover Reactive 0-4. The lucky recipient being one of first in the country to own a pair.
In a world that moves fast, finding time for adventure can feel impossible. But what if the solution isn’t in grand expeditions, but in small, intentional escapes? Micro-adventures—overnight or short trips into nature—are the perfect way to reset your mind, recharge your body, and reconnect with the wild, all without taking time off work.
