PHD's Down

PHD have expanded the range of downs we use from two to three with the introduction of our exceptional 900 quality down. All three downs, 700, 800 & 900 are European goose downs, the best of their kind, backed by our own almost fifty years of experience in the trade as well as by our own Lorch test machine.

Our Lorch test machine

• 700 Superb European goose down, lively and well processed. Fillpower average about 700 cu.in. Used in our Baltoro Sleeping Bags and most of our down clothing, where the extra fractions of fillpower are not so critical.
• 800 European goose down of rare quality. A truly excellent down with large clusters, consistent quality and lively long-term performance. The fillpower average is about 800 and the down has demonstrated remarkable performance in actual use. This is the filling for the Minimus clothing and for the Diamir, Minim, Xero and Delta sleeping bags.
• 900 A goose down of unique quality with exceptionally large lively clusters. Tested in 2007, then introduced in 2008 in a limited range of items. There will be more 900 products in the future, but it will take us a little time to evaluate the full possibilities of this resource.

Normally we expect a fillpower variation of around 3% up or down, as down is an organic product which can vary. For example we find that our 700 down can register between 680 and 730 at different times. With the 900 the lowest test figure we have recorded on our Lorch machine is less than half of 1% below 900 and the average is well over.

The figures are exceptional in themselves: 900 cu.in. fillpower. But essential though they are, the fillpower tests just give us a first quick check. For anyone experienced with down, just handling the large lively clusters of the 900 raised exciting possibilities which called out to be proved in the form of actual sleeping bags and clothing. And as soon as we started making them, the results were obvious. The difference between our 700 and 800 down is considerable. The difference between the 800 and 900 was startling.

Whenever we filled one of our standard jackets or bags with the calculated equivalent weight of 900 down, it was well overstuffed. At this point we were forced to reconsider. To allow this down to deliver its full potential we had to look at each of the products involved individually and to change design specifications where necessary. Here's a summary of our new 900-down products.

Remember that our figures are based on the standard Lorch test as approved by the International Down and Feather Bureau. These figures are roughly 4% more conservative than US Federal tests, as quoted by some other manufacturers.

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