What You Should Be Aware of When Shopping for a Down Comforter

In purchasing a down comforter, you’re choosing the most luxurious, warmest, and comfortable way to sleep.

You probably want to feel warm and cozy in bed without having to deal with several ordinary blankets that slip around, fall in disarray, feel heavy on your body, and never really keep you warm. You spend a third of your life in bed; why not make it as comfortable as possible? Many down comforters are on the market but there is little information for the shopper on how to evaluate them. A down bedding specialist can help you choose a quality comforter that will last for years and enjoy year around. You won’t want to have to replace your comforter every few years. Bedding specialists also offer cleaning and renovation services.

What do you need to know before you go shopping for a down comforter?

First, goose down is better than duck down. Down from mature geese living in cold climates produce larger clusters that trap more body heat, keeping you warmer. They also loft up to produce a comforter that is puffy without added weight. Fill power refers to a down cluster's ability to loft up after compression. A fill power of 650 and higher is considered luxury quality. The higher the fill power, the greater the thermal properties, and the puffier the comforter. Cluster count should also be considered. This count consists of the percentage of whole down clusters, as opposed to pieces of broken down, known as “fly.” Canadian white goose down is the finest in the world. Siberian, Hungarian and Polish white goose downs are of premium quality as well. Eiderdown, now rare, is the ultimate in softness and warmth without weight. It is the best down in the world.

Down will eventually “leak” out of any material except a cotton cambric down proof fabric. The Egyptian cotton fabric is down proof not just because of its high thread count, but also because of calendaring, which consists of compressing the fabric between giant steel rollers to fill in spaces invisible to the eye. The best cambric cotton down proof fabric is made in Germany and Switzerland. Many have a sateen finish and are soft, durable, and breathable. Thread counts over 300 are best; these fabrics will remain down proof for 10 to 15 years. For eiderdown, the best ticking is Swiss batiste, which is the lightest of all down proof cambric cottons with the highest thread count, a sateen finish, and a soft, silky touch. It is woven especially for eiderdown, the softest down in the world.

Comforters may be stitched in several ways. In open stitch (karo-step and ring stitch), the filling can move. In closed stitch (baffle box and sew-thru box stitches), the filling is fixed into one small box. In the baffle channel tri-wall construction, a channel stitch with a triangular baffle wall prevents unwanted shifting. The channel tri-wall is the ultimate couple-friendly comforter style, as the filling can be adjusted on one side for individual comfort. This is useful in summer and when one person likes to sleep warmer than another. Baffles prevent the formation of cold spots and allow quality downs to loft up to their full potential. Less filling is required with a sew-thru stitch, making the comforter better for summer use or a warm bedroom.

The temperature of your bedroom will play a part in determining the best comforter for you. Select a year-round white goose down or eiderdown comforter. Most high-quality goose down or eiderdown comforters can be used year-round in bedrooms kept between 60 and 72 degrees.

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