Goose Down Comforters - Making An Educated Purchase

Buying a comforter can be a sizable investment in your bedroom and you certainly want to be happy with your purchase .  With all the choices available of Fill Power, Thread Count, Goose Down vs. Duck Down, Hungarian and European Down vs. Asian down, it can seem quite confusing.  It doesn't have to be.  Come with me and we'll learn about the differences in down and how it affects the making of a comforter, the heritage of the European textile industry, comforter construction,  how to distinguish quality in a comforter, and a guide to help you choose which weight of comforter will best suit your sleeping needs.

Goose Down vs. Duck Down

No doubt about it, Goose Down is by far superior to Duck Down.  Why?  For one thing, goose down has virtually no odor.  Duck down, due to the strong natural oils in a ducks skin has an odor and no matter how rigorous the cleansing process is in readying the down for comforters there will always be a slight odor.  Duck down also has tiny barbs on their smallest fibers.  Those barbs make the duck down cling together.  In the down comforter world this is not a good thing.  After all, the purpose of having a down filled piece is to have large, lofty, fluffy pieces that will separate and fill a certain space.  Most ducks used for down fill are of the restaurant duckling variety that are at most 8 weeks old.  Their down is not even close to being mature.  It is more like fuzz.

Goose Down Varieties

There are also differences varieties of Goose Down.  You may have heard of Hungarian Goose Down, European Goose Down, Asian Goose Down, and even Siberian Goose Down.  Okay, there is no such thing as Siberian Goose Down.  Basically it is marketing hype and considered a trade name.  I guess the idea is to make customers think that if a goose can stay warm in Siberia, it must have exceptional down underneath all their feathers.  In fact, they are implying that these so-called Siberian Geese have larger clusters of down due to the extremely cold climate they live in.

Yes, the climate in Siberia is extremely cold!  The climate is far too harsh to farm geese in.  Oh there is a Siberian goose.  It is a migratory bird that very smartly leaves Siberia when it gets too cold.  It is also an endangered species protected by international treaties.  Plus its plumage is red and black.  White Siberian Goose Down Comforters from that?  I think not.  There is also a large population of the migratory White Snow Goose on Wrangel Island, a wildlife preserve north of Siberia.  Again, they are only residing there during the summer months and are a protected species.  They cannot be harvested. 

Today a vast majority of down is being manufactured in Asia.  This type of down is considered to be inconsistent and inferior in quality.  The down used is typically from very young geese.  Asian down usually comes from geese that are used for the food industry so they are quite young when their down is harvested.  Simply put, the clusters are quite small, limiting their loft and effectiveness when it comes to insulation and warmth.

Let's talk about Hungarian or European Goose Down.  Basically European Goose Down is referring to down from Hungary, Poland and Germany.  Many geese farmers in this region pride themselves with the fact that they offer down to the industry that is from a no kill harvest.  The down is literally hand harvested from the birds.  I'm sure it can be quite uncomfortable at times for the birds, but many say the geese become used to the plucking after a time and it is considered to be like shearing a sheep.  By farming the goose down in this manner the birds are able to live a long productive life; their down clusters are formed to their fullest capacity, which in turn manufactures a higher quality comforter.  Remember, in a comforter you want large cluster down to provide the best loft and insulation.

European Textile Heritage

Since we're talking about Hungarian and European Goose Down, you really must know about the strict European standards for harvesting, processing, and cleansing the down.  Their strict environmental standards for ecologically safe and healthful textiles require them to use no harmful chemicals that are generally used in textile production around the world, including formaldehyde and chlorine, and no heavy metals such as chromium, or chemical bleaching agents.   Think about it, you're going to be using your comforter for 7 to 9 hours a night.  I don't think you would want something that's full of chemicals in your sleeping environment.  Europeans also pride themselves in a heritage of Textile Technology.  For centuries the German textile mills have been world renowned for production of the finest down proof fabrics.  Many of these mills have been handed down generation to generation some dating back to well into the 1800's.  Today these mills are producing the most technologically advanced down proof fabrics on the world's most sophisticated computerized looms.  They make their textiles with a deep sense of pride and self worth, a commitment to quality. 

Only the finest long staple cotton is used and spun into specialized yarns of superior fineness and strength.  They are very tightly woven from 226 to 400 thread count, creating a fabric that is exceptionally fine and soft to the touch, yet strong and durable to provide many years of enjoyment.  Maybe you've heard the phrase, the higher the thread count, the better quality the fabric.  Not necessarily so.  Thread count is only one part of the equation in what makes a certain number of thread count superior, or better.  You also must consider the type of thread being used, the weaving technique, and also the weight of the thread.  You can have a 1300 thread count comforter that you paid a lot of money for, yet the cover may not hold up well under normal wear because of the quality of the thread that was used, or the way the thread was woven.   

Also consider the actual type of comforter construction.  Baffle Box construction is definitely the premier style of construction.  Baffle box means that the comforter was literally constructed from the inside out, using a series of internal fabric walls, or baffles that separate the top and bottom layers of the fabric.  This creates individual boxes in which the down is blown into and in high quality comforters weighed to the hundredth of an ounce.  This construction allows the down to reach its maximum loft, while also preventing it from shifting, keeping you warm and cozy at night. 

Fill Power - How Do I Choose?

Fill Power is one element to consider when purchasing a comforter.  Fill Power represents the number of cubic inches one ounce of down occupies in a comforter.  One ounce of 650 Fill Power down will occupy 650 cubic inches.  Taking that into account consider this, a 300 Fill Power down comforter would require more than twice as much weight to replicate the loftiness and warmth of  the 650 Fill Power comforter.  To achieve maximum warmth without the weight  a 650 Fill Power comforter is recommended.  Larger clusters of down, will loft more, thus you will need less down to achieve the warmth level you desire.

We must also look at the total fill weight of your comforter.  The higher the fill weight, the heavier the comforter, therefore it will be warmer.  If you have a queen size comforter at 650 fill power with a fill weight of 36 oz, and one with a fill weight of 48 oz. the 48 oz comforter will be a warmer piece.  Let's make this simple.  Are you a cool sleeper, or a warm sleeper?  Do you have heat in your bedroom during the winter months or not?  Take into consideration the region that you live in and the climate there.  Fill Power in quality comforters typically ranges from 550 to 800.  .
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About Hypo Allergenic down

Typically people aren’t allergic to down.  They are allergic to the dust, and allergens such as dust mites, mold spores, and other impurities that can develop in comforters that are not cared for properly.  Down cannot really be made to be hypo allergenic.  But with todays standards for cleansing and drying the down, it is pretty safe to say that down is as allergy free as it will ever be.  Develop a habit of regularly airing out your comforter every so often to help re-fluff and reduce dirt and dust.  This will help quite a bit in keeping allergens at bay.

Last but not least consider a duvet cover for your new investment.  Aside from the fact that it allows you to quickly transform your room into a different look, it protects your comforter from dirt, dust and everyday wear.  Just periodically wash your cover when needed and have your comforter professionally laundered every few years.  Most of all enjoy your comforter.  Drift off to dreamland and get your best nights sleep ever! 

To see a variety of quality White Goose Down Comforters we offer please stop by Bright Trends