Down is the undercoating of water fowl. It provides the greatest amount of dead air space of any insulation material for its weight. A down pod consists of light, fluffy filaments that grow from one quill or point. These filaments intertwine and mesh, forming air pockets which trap air. One ounce of goose down contains 23,000 pods and two million filaments.The best quality down comes from geese living in cold climates, especially China and other parts of Asia. Goose down has pods 12 inches in diameter, compared with 34 inch pods in duck down. Although goose down is 1012 more effective than duck down, its availability is limited. Contrary to popular opinion, color has no affect on the insulation value, construction, or quality of down. Government Regulations state that insulation material labeled as down must contain at least 80 down and no more than 20 feathers. More expensive mixes go as high as 85 down and 15 feathers. Feathers are less resilient do not retain loft which causes them to break and reduce the amount of dead air space available. Prime down is of high quality, with one ounce filling 550 cubic inches of space. Sometimes the term Northern down is used on labels. It does not indicate quality, as all down comes from Northern climates.

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Website: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5540.html