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| Be
an informed shopper! Learn about baffles, fill power, down vs.
feathers, and more. |
Learn About
Down: A Buyer's Guide to Comforters & Bedding
For the most
comfortable, restful night's sleep, nothing compares with a down
comforter! Down is, by far, the best bedding insulation material.
It effectively maintains your body's natural temperature with a
lightweight feel. Once you learn how to choose a down comforter,
you will never be too cold or too warm again.
If you want
to learn how to choose a down comforter, SuperComfort.com has compiled
information on a down comforter in our down buyer's guide below
to help you make an informed decision:
- What is down?
- What are feathers?
- What is fill power?
- What is fill weight?
- Is the down hypoallergenic?
- What is a thread count?
- What is a baffle or baffle box?
- What is sewn-through stitching?
- What about Hungarian Goose Down?
- Caring for your Down Comforter
- Shop now our Down
Comforters, Down
Pillows, and Feather
Beds.
If you
still have difficulty making a decision or have questions that haven't
been answered after reading our information on a down comforter,
please contact us and
speak with one of our expert customer service representatives.
1) What is down?
Down is the soft inner plumage of waterfowl such as ducks and
geese. Down has numerous light, fluffy filaments extending in all
directions, without a feather’s quill shaft. Down keeps birds cooler
in summer yet warmer in winter, and provides breathable comfort.
Down can insulate in down comforter & blankets, and provide support
as in down pillows due to its ability to spring back to its original
shape, known as lofting.
Down is more comfortable than synthetic filling due to its ability
to let moisture such as perspiration escape in a process known as
wicking. One never feels clammy with a quality down comforter. Simply
put, down is more comfortable in varying temperatures and climates
than other materials.
Down feels incredibly light to the touch, so is more comfortable
to sleep under.
Helpful Tip: You can easily tell if you have a down comforter
or feather comforter by grasping a handful of the comforter and
squeezing between your thumb and fingers. If you feel sharp feather
quills shafts and points poking out, that’s not a genuine down comforter.
That’s a feather comforter and cannot provide the comfort that a
true down comforter can. The comforters sold by Supercomfort.com
are down comforters, not feather comforters.
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2)
What are feathers?
Feathers are
the plumage or out-growth forming the external covering of birds.
Feathers are flat, appearing two-dimensional, and characterized
by a pointy central shaft. Since feathers are harder than down and
provide support and resilience, they are also used in items like
pillows and featherbeds where additional support is preferred by
some.
User Tip: Pillows with higher feather content are firmer
than lower feather percentage pillows or those with no feathers
(all down pillows).
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3)
What is fill power?
Fill power
is a measure of the quality of the down. Once the down has been
sorted, cleaned, and sterilized, it’s measured for fill power rating.
Fill power is the number of cubic inches that a single ounce of
down occupies. The very finest down has a fill power of at least
750 cubic inches per ounce (very rare and extremely expensive) and
the lowest is around 300 per ounce. Average department store comforters
are often only 500-550 fill power, but Supercomfort.com focuses
on higher quality comforters from 600 to over 750+ fill power. Higher
fill power ratings indicate that a single ounce of down occupies
more space and is of higher quality. Higher fill power means more
warmth with less weight, creating a better way to sleep comfortably
and healthier. Higher fill power down is also fluffier in appearance.
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4)
What is fill weight?
Fill weight
is the weight of down/feather included in a comforter, blanket,
pillow, or featherbed. Fill weight is a measure of the quantity
of the down, not its quality.
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5)
Is the down hypoallergenic?
All down products
sold by Supercomfort.com are hypoallergenic to almost completely
reduce the risk of allergenic reactions. Few people are actually
allergic to down, but instead to the dust, pollen, and other allergens
found on raw down and feathers. Today, quality modern down bedding
manufacturers such as Phoenix Down put all of their processed down
and feathers through a rigorous washing process that eliminates
any existing dirt or dust that may be present to ensure the products
are allergy free. In addition, certain manufacturers in long-time
down producing regions such as Hungary are very sophisticated in
producing hypoallergenic down comforters and bedding.
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6)
What is a thread count?
Thread count
equals the number of threads per square inch. Higher thread count
means a tighter weave for a softer and silkier feel to the fabric.
For down comforters and bedding, slightly higher thread counts such
as 240 tc and above are required in order to prevent leakage of
the down from the inside to the outside.
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7)
What is a baffle or baffle box?
A baffle is
a wall of fabric perpendicular to the top and bottom layers of the
comforter fabric. The baffled walls allow the down to expand to
its fullest potential for the highest loft and no cold spots. In
other words, baffles help to give comforters the appearance of depth.
Baffle box construction is of a higher quality than sewn-through
stitching (see below).
User Tip: To keep the down in place the best, look for "true
baffle box" or "closed baffle box" or "end-to-end" baffle construction.
These indicate that the baffle boxes are fully sealed as opposed
to being partially open. Partially open boxes may allow some down
movement from box to box. Closed boxes do not permit the down to
move.
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8)
What is sewn-through stitching?
It is where
a stitch goes from the top of the comforter direct through the comforter
and emerges on the bottom of the comforter. It can keep the down
in place and is a more economical form of construction than baffle
box construction.
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9)
What about Hungarian Goose Down?
Hungarian goose
down has an excellent reputation due to its long heritage of down
production and its colder climate. Hungary has produced down comforters
and bedding for centuries, and its goose down industries are highly
sophisticated. In addition, geese from colder regions such as Hungary
tend to produce stronger clusters of down.
The premium 750+ fill power Hungarian goose down sold by Supercomfort.com
is hand-harvested in the Hungarian countryside and processed by
a company with 300 years of experience in down production. The birds
are raised specifically for down production, and are not injured
by the hand-gathering of down clusters. top
10)
Caring for your Down Comforter
Always use a
duvet cover to protect your down comforter from dirt and oils. This
will prolong your down comforter's useful life. With normal care
and use, your comforter should require cleaning no more than every
3 years. Have your comforter cleaned by an experienced dry cleaner.
Don't have your comforter dry cleaned too often as that deteriorates
the quality of the down. Don't wash your comforter at home as home
washing machines are typically too small. Water washing can cause
the down to clump, which not only impairs the down's ability to
insulate but can actually ruin the comforter as down that is kept
wet and not dried properly will rot and mildew as down filling is
a natural product.
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11)
Shop Now: Down
Comforters, Down
Pillows, and Feather
Beds. |
