How to Compare the Fill on Down Comforters
Selecting a down comforter can be a "down"-right confusing process if you're not acquainted with various fill types, fill powers or the methods of baffling or top-stitching that manufacturers use during the construction process. A simple look at what goes into a down comforter--and how much goes into it--will make you a smarter consumer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Examine the ratio of down-to-feathers in the comforter's fill. Comforters comprised of a combination of down and feathers may be more affordable. But those made of 100 percent down are more durable and have better lofting power.
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Find out where the down came from. Down harvested from mature birds doesn't flatten and will give you more years of use. Duck down is considered inferior to goose down. But fill from the Eider duck (eiderdown) is the most desirable in a down comforter--and the most expensive.
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Look at the fill power, which refers to the amount of down that can fit into 1 cubic inch. A higher fill power is directly equated to how warm the comforter will be, as well as the ability of the down to loft. Down comforters with a fill power between 500 and 600 will be more lightweight, while those that have a fill power of 600 and above will yield considerable more substance, warmth and rise.
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Note if the down comforter has baffle boxes or if it has "baffles" that are sewn-through (top-stitched). A down comforter with a true baffle box construction, in which slender pieces of cotton cloth are sewn inside of the comforter horizontally, permit the down to rise to its fullest potential and prevent down from migrating to one portion of the comforter disproportionately.
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Tips & Warnings
A down comforter with a high thread count is also desirable. Ticking that's tightly-woven doesn't allow small pieces of down to escape through gaps in the weave.
Gary McEldowney of the Allergy Buyer's Club notes that in the United States, a comforter can be labeled "100 percent down" if it consists of at least 75 percent down fill.
