GOOSE DOWN - FILL POWER WARMTH LEVELS (SIMPLE GUIDE):

• 250FP-350FP   -LIGHT- Ultra-Light Loft and Insulation; Year Round Use
• 350FP-450FP   -MEDIUM - Light Loft and Insulation; Year Round Use
• 450FP-550FP   -WARM - Exceptional Loft, Insulation and Warmth
• 550FP, 240TC WHITE GOOSE DOWN COMFORTER ($200 Retail, Dep't Store)
• 550FP-600FP+ -ULTRA-WARM - Prime Loft, Superior Insulation and Warmth
• 650FP, 400TC WHITE GOOSE DOWN COMFORTER ($300 Dep't Store)  
  Highly recommend!... If you are looking for essential luxury, durability, warmth and comfort!  This comforter is an exceptional value!
• 650FP, 700TC WHITE GOOSE DOWN COMFORTER-Oversized ($400 Dep't Store)
• 700FP, 1300TC WHITE GOOSE DOWN COMFORTER-Oversized ($600 Dep't Store)

Fill power is the key to determining the quality of the down fill and level of warmth.  The higher the fill power, the larger the down cluster; thus, the higher the resilience, strength, insulation, and overall quality of the down. 

Fill Power (FP) - Volume measured in cubic inches (in3), indicates the amount of void that an ounce of down will expand to fill.  The higher the FP, the higher the quality, lofting, and insulation of the down.  Also, the less likelihood that the down will shift unevenly and leave voids or 'cold spots'. 

Types of Fill:

Feather - Two-dimensional, flat plumage on a quill that provides minimal insulation and maximum support.  An excellent fill choice for featherbeds that is also breathable.  Loft not usually measured in terms of FP since it is not three-dimensional and fluffy.  Comforters filled with more than 75% feathers will rarely have a FP rating, so when your shopping for a down comforter and the FP is not provided in the listing, make sure to ask the Seller for the down/feather ratio instead.  Of course, even FP rated down comforters will contain a very small percentage of feathers; the typical tag will state 'filled with at least 75% down'.  For comforters and blankets that you use year-round, a higher feather contents is desirable, but for winter warmth, you will only want to look for comforters with down FP ratings of at least 550.

Down - Three-dimensional, fluffy plumage.  Provides maximum insulation and warmth.  Down clusters are soft, light and airy.  The loft is usually measured in terms of FP (volume an ounce of down expands to fill).

Down Alternative - Perfect for those allergic to down fill.  Usually synthetic.  Simulates the look and feel of down.

• MEDIUM - Light Loft and Insulation; Year Round Use
• Equivalent Down Alternative Comforter, 210TC
• WARM - Exceptional Loft, Insulation and Warmth
• Equivalent Down Alternative Comforter, 240TC
• Equivalent Down Alternative Comforter, 300TC
• Equivalent Down Alternative Comforter, 330TC Stripe
• ULTRA-WARM - Prime Loft, Superior Insulation and Warmth
• Equivalent Down Alternative Comforter, 400TC
• Equivalent Down Alternative Comforter, 800TC Stripe 

Duck vs. Goose:
The highest quality down is found in ducks and geese.

• Duck Down - Small down clusters.  Low loft, low FP and low insulation.  A nice fill choice for lightweight blankets and comforters used year-round.
• Goose Down - Large down clusters.  High loft, high FP, and high insulation.  European white goose down and Hungarian goose down are known to provide the highest FP, softness, lightness and quality - typically higher than U.S. down due to the colder climate of the bird.

Fill Weight (FW) - Measured in ounces (oz.), indicates the amount of down the comforter contains.  FW alone is not a reliable indicator of a down comforter's loft or warmth level.  A common mistake that people make is assuming that a comforter with a higher FW will be warmer and loftier than a lower weight comforter, but do not be fooled!...

Duck vs. Goose:
A goose down cluster has significantly higher FP than a duck down cluster, which means goose down is larger and denser than duck down.  A duck down comforter will require more oz. of down than a goose down comforter in order for both comforters to achieve the same level of  loft and warmth.

When you are shopping for featherbeds and pillows, the FW is a good indicator of the thickness of the item.  The higher the FW, the thicker the featherbed or pillow.  As I mentioned earlier, this is not always the case for down comforters, so pay close attention to the FP rating.

Recommended Comforter Construction:

Baffle Box or Sewn Thru Box - 4" to 18" squares that keep down evenly distributed and eliminate 'cold spots'. 

Down Comforter Sizes/Dimensions - Standard and Oversized:

Many prefer their down comforter to hang slightly over the sides of the bed, rather than tucking it under the mattress.  Also, a popular preference is that the down comforter dimensions be small enough to remain hidden under the bedding ensemble.  Down comforters come in various dimensions in Twin, Full/Queen, and King. 

Recommended standard dimensions for minimal overhang (inches):
Twin:  62x86
Full/Queen:  86x86
King:  102x86

Recommended 'oversized' dimensions for maximum overhang (inches):
Full/Queen:  90+ x 90+
King:  106+ x 90+

Thread Count (TC) - The higher the thread count of your comforter shell, the higher the quality.

The thread count of a down comforter [shell] is usually a good indicator of its...

• Softness
• Durability
• Down/feather resistance

Duvet Cover - Essentially a comforter cover that is used to prolong the life of your down comforter.  Duvet covers are especially useful at protecting 'dry clean only' comforters and making them easier to care for.  They come in all colors, sizes, and thread counts.  Highly recommended!

Look for a duvet cover that is ...

• machine washable for easy care
• easy to install with button closures
• 2 to 4-inches longer than the down comforter on each side

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For Luxury Bedding, Visit Texas Boutique
New from the manufacturer and up to 75% off of retail.  We are proud to offer, made in the USA (of imported materials), the highest quality down and feather bedding.  Our products are filled with clean, fresh down.  The cotton shells are soft, durable, and down/feather proof.  We offer a wide variety of sizes, FP's, FW's, and TC's to meet your needs.  Please feel free to contact us if you need further assistance with a product.