扯淡党党部

填充力不是大问题
为什么我们不列出LuxuryLite “V”型睡袋的填充力（诸如600，750，800，900等等），因为我不知道这个睡袋的填充力。当我设计这个睡袋，并把长宽规格和前胸拉链设计交给中国的工厂时，我只要求了三个性能指标：1 填充羽绒 2 重量在2磅以下 3 起码有8厘米厚。

如果我规定了舒适温度范围或填充力，我无法控制生产商的行为。然而即使有语言障碍，我们还是可以称重并测量睡袋的厚度。经过三次抽样调查和收到一整袋的超重睡袋，我终于找到了达到标准的睡袋。在华氏33度的情况下我配合LuxuryLite Silk Pad和LuxuryLite Low Rise Cot在即将放出的LuxuryLite Tent里面睡得很暖和。

有些填充力超高（950）的睡袋畅销是一件令人惊奇的事情。但是把睡袋压缩后整天装在背包里并不是一件好事，让我引用一个公正的欧洲网站的文章：

http://www.warmpeace.cz/en/index.php?sec=27 羽绒的质量是靠它的”纯度”（90/10, 80/20, 70/30 羽茎和绒朵的比例）和填充力–一盎司羽绒最大能填充的空间。质量最好的鹅绒（100/0）可以到到950-1000的填充力（即一盎司羽绒能够充满950-1000立方英寸）。这么高的填充力是在实际应用中是不可取得，因为羽绒达到最大蓬松状态的时间太长。以经常被装入压缩袋的羽绒睡袋而言，羽茎和绒朵的混合物有着更好的恢复蓬松状态的能力。这保证了最佳的厚度和耐久性。

这篇文章讲的是，如果你有一个填充力超高的睡袋，如填充力1000，这个睡袋很难在短时间内恢复到最蓬松的状态，一点点地泥土、尘粒和皮肤油脂都会使绒朵黏在一起。羽绒中的羽茎让羽绒更快的变得蓬松。这就是为什么LuxuryLite “V”型睡袋使用了90/10的羽绒，其中包含10%的羽茎使它更快恢复蓬松。

如果你的睡袋有4英寸厚（上片2-3英寸侧面1-2英寸）大多数使用者会在温度降到华氏20度时感到温暖（你应该每晚摇晃睡袋保持羽绒蓬松）。无论睡袋的厚度是由羽绒、羽毛、涤纶、绒毯甚至旧报纸撑起。被锁在缝隙里的空气的厚度决定了保暖性能。当然用绒毯和报纸做的睡袋会十分沉重。所以我仅仅规定了睡袋的最大重量，制造者只能使用好的羽绒和轻量的布料。如果他还希望以后有订单，他会提供防钻绒的面料和好的做工。如果他给我发来一批烂睡袋，我会把它们安成本价出售并寻找其他的供货商。

Bruce A. Warren, P.E.

Founder, Inventor, Designer

Why Fill Power Does Not Matter

LuxuryLite Gear

Why don’t we list the Fill Power (600, 750, 800, 900, etc) for the LuxuryLite “V” Bag? Well, bottom line, I don’t know the fill power of the down in our bag. When I designed and specified this sleeping bag for the manufacturer in China I specified the length and width, and the full-length chest zipper; and I specified only three performance specs: [1] it must be down filled, [2] It must weigh less than 2 lbs and [3] it must have a minimum loft of 8 cm.

If I would have specified a ‘Temperature Rating’ or a ‘Fill Power’ I would have no way to argue with the manufacturer. Even with the language barrier, we can both weigh a bag and we can both measure the thickness. After three off-spec samples and one whole run of overweight bags, I finally received sleepings bags that met the specifications. I have slept in this bag at 33 degrees on the LuxuryLite Silk Pad on the LuxuryLite Low Rise Cot inside the LuxuryLite Tent (to be released soon) and was very warm. (I lucked out with a several rare freezing February nights here on the Texas gulf coast.)

The super-duper (950!) down now being promoted is certainly amazing stuff. But not the best for a sleeping bag that gets compressed into a pack all day long. Let me quote this honest European web site:

http://www.warmpeace.cz/en/index.php?sec=27“The quality of down is measured by its content (90/10, 80/20, 70/30 = the ratio of down plumules and feathers), and its fill power, ie. the ability of 1oz of down filling up as much space as possible. The best quality goose down (100/0), would have the fill power (FP) of 950-1000 (1oz of down fills up 950-1000 cubicinches of space). Such a super high FP is impractical because it takes a long time to reach its maximum loft. For sleeping bags, where frequent rolling compresses the down fill, a mixture of down plumules and larger, more resilient down parts is desirable. This assures an optimal loft and durability.”

What he is saying is that if you owned a super-duper sleeping bag made from 1000fp down, that bag would not fluff up for hours, if ever. (A little dirt, dust, or body oils will keep the plumules stuck together.) The feathers in the down make it fluff up much faster. That is why the LuxuryLite “V” bag uses 90/10 down with 10% feathers to make it fluff up fast.

If your sleeping bag is 4″ thick [which means 2-3 inches on the top and and 1-2 inches on the sides) most sleepers will be warm down to about 20 degrees F. [You should do a bag ’shake down’ each evening until the down migrates to this ratio.] It does not matter if that thickness is accomplished with down, dacron, feathers, layers of fleece blankets, or even old newspapers. The thickness of tiny pockets of dead air creates the insulation value. Of course, the sleeping bag would be rather heavy if made from fleece blankets or newspapers. So, when I simply specify the maximum weight of the bag, the manufacturer is forced to use good down and lightweight fabrics. If he wants future orders, he will use downproof fabrics and good workmanship. If he sends me a batch of crummy bags, I sell them at breakeven and find another supplier.

~ by mcluxun on 六月 23, 2007.