The Best Down Comforters for Warmth and Quality

Down comforters are a certain type of bedding stuffed with the down of birds, which is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. Historically, down feathers were gathered for insulation from wildfowl, gulls, and seabirds. Nowadays, most down feathers come from domesticated geese.

Known for their warmth and loft, you can’t go wrong with a down comforter, especially in winter.

How to Choose the Best Down Comforter

Down comforters vary in quality so it’s important to know what to look for when shopping for this type of bedding. The quality of down is largely determined by the fill power, also known as loft, as well as, the type of down used and how it’s constructed.

Fill Power

Fill power is one of the most important qualities when shopping for a down comforter. Fill power is determined as the amount of down per ounce within the comforter. The higher the fill power, the higher the loft (fluffiness) and insulation (thickness). If you’re living situations are in a warmer setting then you will want to look for a lower fill power. A fill power of 600 or more is considered best for warm, winter months. Any fill power lower is best for all season long or warmer living conditions. If you can’t seem to find the fill power when searching for products, another term to look for is warmth ratings.

Materials

Most down comforters are filled with goose or duck feathers. Both are highly efficient at insulating and providing comfort. The only difference is the size. Goose feathers are larger than duck feathers.

Additionally, a down comforters exterior fabric can be made of several different types; cotton, polyester, silk or sateen. There is also such a thing as a down alternative comforter, which are not made with 100% down. Therefore, if you are looking for pure down it’s important to make sure the label reads 100 percent down, otherwise,  it may be filled with rayon, polyester or cotton. However, alternative down is great for individuals that struggle with allergies, as many of these comforters are made with a hypoallergenic exterior which prevents allergy disruptions.

Related: Best Cotton Comforters

Construction

There are a few terms you should know and look out for as you search for the perfect down comforter:

Shell Fabric and Thread count

In order to determine the level of comfort and quality of your down comforter, the outer fabric, and its thread count is a key indicator. Thread count is defined as the density of sewn threads per square inch. This means that a higher thread count leads to greater breathability and comfort of the down. When the thread count is low, it’s going to feel somewhat crisp and hard. You will even be able to tell the difference in sound when tossing and turning in a high thread count vs low thread count down. Look for a 100 percent cotton shell, as it’s more breathable than synthetic fabrics.

Stitching

There are two ways that down comforters are stitched together— sewn through or baffle box. Here’s what you need to know about both:

Baffle box construction

This is the more luxurious and expensive construction of down comforter stitching. A baffle box gets sewn internally to create a “box” connecting the top and bottom of the down. This allows an even distribution of loft throughout the entire comforter which results in better insulation.

Sewn-through construction 

Sewn-through is what you’ll most likely come across in standard down comforters. It’s less expensive but it doesn’t equally disperse the down like the baffle box construction. The sewn-through method does not connect the two layers, instead, it’s just sewn directly through the fabric. This puts a limit on your warmth opportunity.

Care Instructions

Down comforters are not meant to be the top bedding, therefore it doesn’t need to be washed that often. In most cases, down comforters go inside a duvet cover which is what will be washed. However, when you do wash down, it’s important to care for it properly. Here are some standard tips to follow:

1. Read the washing directions on YOUR comforter. All manufacturers are made differently so it’s important to see what they recommend.
2. Make sure your washing machine is large enough for a full comforter. If not, we suggest getting it professionally laundered.
3. If you can wash at home, wash alone and on a gentle cycle but keep the spin cycle on fast to decrease leftover moisture.
4. Once it’s ready to dry, it’s up to you or your comforters instructions on what level of heat to use. Most manufacturers recommend drying on a low cycle. You may have to dry multiple times but be patient so the quality of your down stays in top-notch shape.
5. An alternative is laying the comforter out flatly on a clean, fresh surface and allowing it to let air dry.

Down Comforters vs Duvets

It’s important to know the difference between a down comforter and duvet. A duvet is another form of bed covering that is sewn as a large fabric “bag” and stuffed with down or other materials, such as wool or feathers. Duvets most often come in white because they are meant to be purchased with a duvet cover. Duvets are lighter weight than down comforters and less expensive. The quality and insulation aren’t nearly as strong on a duvet.

No matter what option you choose for your down comforter, educate yourself on the differences and pay attention to your needs.

Still, have questions about down comforters? Drop us a line and we’ll do our best to get you an answer.

P.S. We recommend getting a duvet cover to protect your comforter from getting soiled. The duvet cover is easier to clean than a comforter, even a machine washable type. We are particularly fond of Primary’s linen duvet. Check out the review here.