Goose Down Vs Duck Down: Pros and Cons

While shopping for a down sleeping bag, jacket, quilt, comforter, or pillow, you may have noticed that there are two different types of down available. This guide outlines the pros and cons of goose down vs duck down to help you decide which insulation is the best choice for you. We’ll compare the warmth, weight, price, durability, compressibility, loft, odor, and more.

The difference between goose and duck down is pretty minor. Duck down is significantly cheaper. Goose down is slightly lighter and softer. It can have a higher fill power. Both are warm, durable, and long-lasting. Duck down is better for those on a budget. Goose down is better for those who want the lightest and highest quality gear.

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What is Down?

Down is a fine layer of wispy fibers that lie between the protective outer feathers and the skin of waterfowl like geese and ducks. It grows in large clusters and small clusters. Birds use their down the same way we use it, for insulation. Down keeps the birds warm. It also increases the bird’s buoyancy.

Down fibers differ from feathers in that they don’t have a hard central quill. Instead, each plume of down consists of many tiny fibers that radiate out from a central point with fine filaments radiating from each fiber. Each ounce of down contains around 2 million filaments that intertwine and cross over one another in all directions.

The unique structure of the down clusters gives the material its excellent insulation property. When many down clusters are loosely bunched together (or lofted), they create structures that trap air between the fibers. As heat radiates from your body, it warms the trapped air pockets. This keeps you warm and slows heat loss. This works because air insulates incredibly well and doesn’t conduct much heat.

Goose Down Vs Duck Down

Goose and duck down perform about the same for a given fill power. There is no significant performance difference between the two. There are very few differences in terms of price, fill power, quality, color, and more. In this section, I’ll outline the differences and pros and cons to help you determine whether or not cheaper duck down can compare to tried and true goose down.

Prices of Goose and Duck Down

Duck down is cheaper than goose down. The main reason for this is simply that there is a bigger supply of duck down because more ducks are raised around the world than geese. Down is a byproduct of the food industry. Birds are not raised for their down alone.

Manufacturers can source duck down quite a bit cheaper than goose down. For example, 850 fill goose down costs around $13 per ounce. 800 fill duck down costs just $9 per ounce. That’s a difference of $4 per ounce. If a sleeping bag needs 15 ounces of down, that means the goose down version will cost $65.10 more in materials, which is significant. Some of these savings get passed on to consumers.

Of course, manufacturers probably pay less than this due to economies of scale. Higher-end down with a higher fill power also costs more. On average, a goose down product costs around 30-50% more than a comparable duck down version.

Down wasn’t always so expensive. The price increased significantly over the past 10 years. For example, according to this article from the Wall Street Journal, in 2009, goose down cost $12 per pound. By 2012, it cost $28. The article is a bit outdated now but prices have continued to increase.

There are two causes of this explosion in down prices. First is the increased demand for ultralight down jackets and sleeping bags. More people want high-end outdoor gear. Second is a decrease in demand for goose meat and eggs. Most down is produced in China, where people are diets are changing and fewer farms are raising geese. There is a much smaller supply of goose down available these days.

Because goose down has become so expensive, many outdoors manufacturers are switching to lower-cost duck down to keep the prices of their products reasonable. After all, most casual campers don’t want to pay $500 for a goose down sleeping bag.

Warmth

For a given fill power, goose and duck down insulate equally well. They have the same insulating power. For example, a 20° 700 fill duck down sleeping bag will be just as warm as a 20° 700 fill goose down sleeping bag. Both types of down share the same structure and insulate exactly the same way.

Fill Power of Goose and Duck Down

As a natural product, down varies greatly in quality. Fill power measures the down’s ability to loft and trap heat. It is calculated by measuring the number of cubic inches that one ounce of down can fill when lofted or fluffed up.

For example, if a sleeping bag is insulated with 700 fill power down, that means that one ounce of down fills 700 cubic inches of space. 800 fill power down fills 800 cubic inches. Most down ranges from 600-800 fill. Down has a maximum fill power of around 1000.

Manufacturers use the fill rating to indicate the quality of the down. Goose and duck down fill power are measured in a lab using the same method. This fill rating allows you to directly compare both types of down.

When it comes to fill power, a higher number is better. High-end fill is considered to be 750+. Higher fill power means less down is required to fill a given volume and reach a given temperature rating. When less down is used, the sleeping bag, jacket, or quilt weighs less. It will also compress down smaller.

For example, a 40° down sleeping bag may require 10 ounces of 850 fill down to achieve that temperature rating. The same 40° sleeping bag may require 14 ounces of 700 fill down to achieve the same temperature rating. In this example, the bag with higher quality down weighs 4 ounces less.

Goose down offers a higher maximum fill power than duck down, topping out at around 1000. Duck down, on the other hand, maxes out at around 750-800. With modern down sorting technology, 850 fill duck down is becoming possible. This is the main difference between the two and the main reason to choose goose over duck down. For reference, 750-900 fill down is considered to be high-end.

The down fill power determines the efficiency (warmth-to-weight ratio) and the compressibility of a sleeping bag, jacket, or quilt. If you want the lightest, warmest, and most compact sleeping bag, quilt, or jacket possible, you’ll want to go with high fill power goose down.

There is one exception to this rule. Eider duck down or Eiderdown offers the absolute highest maximum fill power of any down at around 1200. This unique down is harvested from the nests of Eider ducks, mostly in Iceland. It is not plucked from the bird. Due to the rarity and small supply, Eiderdown is incredibly expensive. To learn more, check out this interesting article about Eiderdown from the Guardian.

The fill power of the down depends on a number of factors including the size and age of the bird. Older and larger birds tend to develop higher-quality down with larger down clusters. Because geese are larger than ducks, they produce higher-quality and larger down clusters with higher fill. They are the only birds that produce large down clusters for high-end down. Geese are also slightly older than ducks when they are harvested. This gives the down a bit more time to develop. Additionally, geese tend to live in colder climates than ducks so they naturally produce bigger down clusters.

The sorting process also plays a role in the fill power of the down. Large down clusters are sorted from small clusters. Feathers are removed. Some sorting techniques work better than others. Because goose down is of higher quality to start with, the end product may end up being of higher quality in some cases.

Durability and Longevity

Both goose and duck down are equally durable and long-lasting. The fibers can be compressed and decompressed for hundreds of cycles before breaking down or losing loft. If properly cared for, a high-quality down sleeping bag or jacket can maintain loft and keep you warm for well over a decade, even under heavy use. Some people can get 15-20 years of use out of their down sleeping bags and jackets.

The durability of down depends primarily on its fat and oil content. Some birds naturally have more fat and oil on their down than others. The more the better.

Fat and oil increase durability by making the down more pliable and water-resistant. The down can compress more without breaking down. It will also be more weather-resistant.

Fat and oil content could relate to the season that the down was harvested, the climate the bird was raised in, the bird’s diet, the conditions it lived in, the health of the bird, genetics, etc. All of these factors can also play a role in the overall quality of the down as well.

The way the down was initially processed also plays a major role in its durability. Overwashing can cause down to degrade prematurely. When down is washed, some of the natural fats and oils get washed off of the clusters. If enough washes off, the down can become brittle. When this happens, the clusters can start breaking down when they are compressed and decompressed. At this point, the sleeping bag or jacket loses loft, meaning that there are fewer air pockets between the fibers to trap heat. It won’t keep you as warm. High quality down is processed in a way that leaves the necessary oils and fats intact.

To extend the life of your down sleeping bag or jacket, try not to wash it too often at home either. Once or twice per year is usually enough. Also, make sure you use the proper detergent. You can also spot clean as necessary.

Down Odor

One drawback to down insulation is that it tends to have an odor. Even when it’s clean and new. Usually, it just smells a bit musty. In some cases, it downright stinks like a barnyard. The odor tends to worsen when the down becomes wet. Both goose and duck down can smell.

Natural oils and fats from the ducks or geese cause the odor. If the odor is particularly strong, it is usually caused by something living in the down like bacteria, fungus, or mites. Dust and other contaminants that were not washed off during processing can also add to the smell.

Generally, duck down has a stronger odor than goose down. There are a number of theories as to why this is. It could have to do with the diet of the birds. Another theory is that ducks tend to collect more dirt, bacteria, and other contamination on their down because their chest rubs against the ground because they are shorter.

Whatever the case, if you have a sensitive nose, this is one reason you may want to avoid duck down. Down that has been treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating usually smells less.

The odor of goose and duck down tends to dissipate naturally over time. If your new down sleeping bag or jacket is particularly stinky, the best way to get rid of the smell is to hang it outside in the wind and sun for 2-3 weeks. If you believe bacteria, mold, or mites, caused the odor, give the down a good wash. Otherwise, just try to wait it out.

Down Insulation Efficiency and the Warmth-to-Weight Ratio

A great way to measure the efficiency of a sleeping bag is to look at the warmth-to-weight ratio. This measurement is helpful when comparing sleeping bags with the same temperature rating but different types of insulation. An efficient sleeping bag has high warmth but low weight.

For example, a 1000 fill power 20° goose down sleeping bag might weigh 19 oz. A 700 fill power 20° duck down sleeping bag might weigh 26 oz. In this case, the goose down sleeping bag has a much higher warmth-to-weight ratio because it weighs 7 oz less but will keep you just as warm. It’s more efficient.

Goose down can have a higher warmth-to-weight ratio because it has a higher maximum fill power than duck down. In other words, geese produce warmer down clusters. If the goose and duck down fill power is equivalent, the warmth-to-weight ratio will be the same, assuming all else is equal.

Volume and Compressibility

The compressibility of the sleeping bag depends on the fill power of the down. Sleeping bags insulated with higher fill down can compress more so they take up less volume in your pack. Goose down sleeping bags can compress smaller than duck down because they have a higher maximum fill power.

If you care about the packed size of your sleeping bag, you may want to consider the warmth-to-volume (or warmth to compressibility) ratio. This will help you compare the packed size of two sleeping bags with the same temperature rating but different types of insulation.

Most manufacturers indicate how much volume in liters the compressed sleeping bag takes up. An efficient sleeping bag will be warm yet compress down very small. A 20° 900 fill goose down sleeping bag may compress down to just 6 liters. A similar 20° 700 fill duck down sleeping bag may take 10 liters in your pack.

You may need a larger pack to accommodate the bulkier sleeping bag or you may need to store it in a more tightly compressed state. When you store a down sleeping bag tightly compressed, it takes longer to loft when you’re getting ready for bed.

Color

Both goose and duck down come in white and gray colors. Both colors of down perform exactly the same in terms of warmth, durability, compressibility, and weight assuming they have equal fill power. The color has no effect on performance.

For campers, the down color is really irrelevant because you won’t ever see the down. It will be hidden inside the shell of your sleeping bag or jacket.

Having said this, some people care about this type of thing. For example, the bedding industry tends to prefer white down because it isn’t as visible when it sheds from a comforter or pillow if you use light-colored sheets.

Prestige

Even though duck and goose down perform almost the same, goose down is still considered to be the gold standard for down insulated products. It is considered more premium. This is probably mostly from marketing and history. Goose down has a better product image and has been in use longer. The high-end bedding industry often uses goose down for this reason.If money isn’t really a factor for you and you just want to use the best, highest-quality product, goose down is the way to go.

A Note About the Ethics of Goose and Duck Down

Both goose and duck down are byproducts of the food industry. Birds are not raised for their down alone. One big problem is that the birds aren’t always treated ethically during their lives. In some cases, they are unnecessarily harmed or even abused during their lives.

Unethically sourced down is often harvested while the bird is still alive. This is called live plucking. The industry does this so that down can be harvested from the same bird multiple times because it regrows. This brings down costs. The problem with live plucking is that it causes the bird great pain. The skin often tears while the feathers are plucked out.

Unethical down has also been linked to the force-feeding of geese for the production of foie gras. Sometimes the birds are simply kept in unclean or unhealthy environments or not allowed enough space to roam about. Factory farming is not pretty.

When down is ethically sourced, the bird is killed before the down feathers are removed. This is much more humane because the bird doesn’t feel any pain from plucking. In addition, the birds are given the five freedoms including freedom from hunger or thirst, discomfort, pain and diseases, fear and distress, and the freedom to behave normally. The birds are treated ethically throughout their entire lives including on the farm where they’re raised as well as in the slaughterhouse where the meat and down are harvested.

Several organizations exist which certify down so you know that the down in your product was ethically sourced. These independent organizations inspect the entire supply chain including the farm, slaughterhouse, and factories to ensure that no birds were mistreated to make your sleeping bag or jacket. To ensure that the same down makes its way from the farm to the product, they use a transaction certificate system.

These days, every decent outdoor gear manufacturer uses only ethically sourced down. It’s a major marketing point. A few organizations that certify down include the Responsible Down Standard (RSD), Global Traceable Down Standard, American Down and Feather Council, and Dawnmark.

When shopping for a down sleeping bag or jacket, look for one of these organizations’ logos or look the model number up on their websites to ensure that the down was in fact ethically sourced.

A Third Option: Synthetic Insulation

Goose and duck down aren’t your only insulation options. Man-made synthetic insulation offers an excellent alternative to down for some situations. Synthetic insulation is usually made from polyester, which is derived from petroleum. It’s basically a plastic.

For more info, check out my down vs synthetic insulation pros and cons list.

Down/synthetic hybrid sleeping bags are also available. These can use a blend of goose/duck down and synthetic fibers.

My Experience

Over the years, I have owned jackets and sleeping bags that were filled with both duck and goose down. I haven’t really noticed any major differences. If money were no object, I would probably buy goose down gear just because it’s considered to be higher quality. I have not had any issues with duck down sleeping bags. The fill power is more important than the type of bird down came from.

Final Thoughts

The warmth, weight, compressibility, and durability of your down sleeping bag or jacket have more to do with the quality of the down rather than whether the down comes from a duck or goose. Down quality is affected by the age of the bird at harvest, its diet, the climate it was raised in, the season, genetics, etc. The sorting, processing, and washing of the down also play a role in the quality of the finished product.

When choosing a down sleeping bag, jacket, quilt, or comforter, look at the fill power. 800 fill duck down performs the same as 800 fill goose down. The warmth rating and total weight can also help you choose. A high-end duck down sleeping bag may be better than a mid-range goose down sleeping bag. Whether you decide to go with goose or duck down for your next sleeping bag, jacket, or quilt, I hope this guide has been helpful in making your decision.

Where do you stand on the goose vs duck down debate? Does cheaper duck down compare to tried and true goose down? Share your tips and experience in the comments below!

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Zachary Friedman

Zachary Friedman is an accomplished travel writer and professional blogger. Since 2011, he has traveled to 66 countries and 6 continents. He founded ‘Where The Road Forks’ in 2017 to provide readers with information and insights based on his travel and outdoor recreation experience and expertise. Zachary is also an avid cyclist and hiker. Living as a digital nomad, Zachary balances his professional life with his passions for hiking, camping, cycling, and worldwide exploration. For a deeper dive into his journey and background, visit the About page. For inquiries and collaborations, please reach out through the Contact page. You can also follow him on Facebook.

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