Find the Perfect Down Comforter to Suit you

Nothing beats down bedding when the weather outside gets cold. Down is the lightest, warmest material available in bedding. But there are many options in down bedding, and choosing a comforter to suit your needs is difficult.

Most down bedding is made with a type of natural bird feather. With so many styles and varieties, knowing what to focus on and shop for is important. Picking out the perfect down comforter doesn’t have to be a pain in the neck. Be mindful of these important qualities while purchasing a down comforter and you’ll be on your way to warm winter nights.

The finest down available is Siberian Goose Feathered down. This down is considered the warmest and softest, but it is also the most expensive. Hungarian Down is another high quality option. Both Hungarian and Siberian downs come in very high fill powers – from 600 and up – making these comforters valuable in extremely cold climates. Less expensive down offered are downs feathers from geese used for foods, and combinations of heavier duck feathers and goose styles of down.

It is important to include a duvet cover with your down comforter purchase. Acting as a protective pillowcase for your comforter, duvets allow for additional designs and bedroom color.

Three important qualities to remember when shopping for your new comforter are fill power, thread count, and the baffle box design. Fill power determines the fullness of your comforter. Higher fill powers indicate greater warmth, and usually better down. Though few bedding companies make them, avoid comforters with high fill powers made with lower quality materials. These down comforters feel cumbersome and uncomfortable.

The tightness of the outer cover’s weave or thread count is another important aspect of a down comforter. The tendency for down’s small feathers to get out requires a tightly weaved exterior, so the higher the thread count of your comforter, the longer it will last. The same is true when shopping for your duvet cover. Since higher quality downs contain smaller feathers, the better quality of down you want will help you to determine what thread count you’ll need.

Square cloth walls sewn into a down comforter are called baffling. Because feathered material naturally clumps together, baffle boxes work to deter this bunching. Without baffle boxing, large down comforters form cold spots. You’ll need some form of baffling if you’re in the market for a queen sized comforter, whereas twin sized comforters need not be purchased with baffle boxes.

Another way to discern a down’s quality is to read the comforter warranty. While down weathers easily, most keep these comforters for many years because they tend to be so expensive and used so infrequently. Warranties for down comforters range from one year to a lifetime. Lifetime warranties indicate a high level of quality, whereas comforters with one-year warranties are often too good to be true.

Dust naturally clings to down materials. This makes down comforters problematic for those with bad allergies. Composed of a mixture of bird feathers and soft milkweed clusters, Hypo down is an excellent hypoallergenic alternative.

Though an expensive investment, nothing trumps the softness and warmth of a down comforter. Since down bedding can last as long as a decade if cared for properly, it is critical to shop for the best comforter that fits your budget. Take your time to find the down bedding just right for you, and you’ll notice a dramatic difference in your bedroom comfort this year.

Jonathan Billingsworth is a freelance journalist who writes for consumer’s interested in learning more about proper bed care and greater comfort in their nightly routine. Mr. Billingsworth writes various bedding products from protectors to Sealy Down Alternative Pillows.