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I think it depends in part on what down you use. Eider down is (I've been told by a sign at Barnes WWT) is the baby Eider duck moultings as they fledge (or maybe shed winter feathers). So if it's Eider down then it's picking up duck left overs. Is that exploitation? Does it deprive other ducks of material for their nests? Haven't a trucking clue. But when I read the sign I was slightly surprised as I'd always assumed it was left over dead ducks.
Edit - this might be shite and the sign was a lie.
olaf_von_pokemon-
Yeah it's mostly a byproduct from geese/ducks/whatever that have been killed to be eaten I believe. Eider down is unfortunately a fair chunk more expensive and I'm already going to find it difficult shelling out £200 for a sleeping bag.
Andy Kirkpatrick recommended (in 2008) synthetic bags for multi-day trips in the damp (which is what I'll probably be doing in Scotland)... pointing out that down bags, whilst lighter, accumulate water weight and end weighing about the same after some period of time. And actually this makes perfect sense to me; the two most recent multi-day trips I've done up here, I got absolutely soaked both times. To the point where my drybags were starting to let water in even. I can't imagine how miserable I would have been in a wet down bag in those situations. Aside from the weight the main disadvantage is pack space which I don't think will ever be a major issue for me.
Found this: synthetic, -9 comfort rating, 1.7kg. Seems a pretty good spec. $195 in the US... £200 here! Bastards.
frankenbike
Going to Everest Base Camp in about a year and do a bit of winter stuff up here in Scotland. Grappling with choosing a sleeping bag that's comfortable to -13 or so. Seems that nothing synthetic matches down in terms of weight/warmth/pack size... although they do have the waterproofiness advantage.
Any one have any suggestions for something non-down? I might try to get a second-hand down one otherwise.
Edit: how ethical is ethical down? Am I better with natural/biodegradable down than synthetic stuff produced from oil? Apparently down has a lower carbon footprint? And so on... Just looking for random opinions basically.