Best Place To Buy Down Comforter

Our best overall pick is the Brooklinen Down Comforter, a luxurious bed cover with generous fill power and a cotton sateen shell. If you're looking for a down-alternative option, you can't go wrong with the Buffy Cloud Comforter, which earned high marks from our tester for its lightweight yet cozy feel.

best place to buy down comforter

You can expect most down comforters to last between 10 to 15 years, but with proper care, a high-quality down comforter can last up to 20 years. Using a duvet cover will greatly extend the life of a down comforter, as it will allow you to wash it less frequently. Down is a fragile material that breaks down over time, so washing and drying down comforters on the gentlest cycles possible is imperative. Also be sure your comforter is completely dry before replacing it back into a duvet cover, as a damp down comforter can develop mildew easily.

Ideally, down comforters should get a good fluffing every day when you make the bed. Just give each side of the comforter a quick shake to help redistribute the down inside and you'll prevent any clumps from forming. You can also fluff a down comforter in a dryer with an air fluff cycle. Most dryers have an air fluff setting, which tumbles without any heat, but if your dryer doesn't, you can select the lowest heat setting and tumble in 10-minute increments. Add the comforter and a few clean tennis or dryer balls (if you're using tennis balls, insert them into clean white socks to make sure the neon green color doesn't transfer to your comforter) to help prevent the down from clumping.

To find out what makes an excellent comforter, we spoke with down expert Jack Sukalac on two different occasions when writing and updating this guide. Sukalac is an engineer who started repairing down comforters more than 40 years ago. And he turned it into a business, All About Down, making and repairing down comforters in his Seattle basement. We also consulted David Sweet, then-president of the American Down and Feather Council; Gary Peterson, a longtime manager at famed outdoor-gear maker Western Mountaineering; Daniel Uretsky, president of down and down-alternative supplier Allied Feather + Down; and Shannon Maher, interim dean at the Fashion Institute of Technology and former product designer for The Company Store.

All comforters consist of two outer layers of fabric with an insulating material (like down) sandwiched between them. Most are stuffed with clumps of fill (like down, feathers, or polyfil) that are evenly distributed in channels throughout the entire comforter. There are two ways to do this: the sewn-through method and the baffle-box method, illustrated by the comforter cross-sections below.

Duvet or comforter: Technically, a comforter is a bed covering that is filled with some kind of insulation and sewn shut; it usually features a color or pattern and does not require a cover. A duvet typically contains down or down-alternative fill and is made to be inserted into a duvet cover. However, according to Shannon Maher, the interim dean at the Fashion Institute of Technology, in the US these terms have become interchangeable.

A comforter can add warmth and coziness to a bed and a down comforter is often sought after for its insulating feel. Having high-quality bedding is beneficial for sleepers, as it can help create a relaxing bedroom environment and regulate temperature at night.

A down comforter is filled with the soft clusters found underneath the feathers of ducks and geese that provide insulation. Down is durable, warm, and ideal for a range of climates and sleeping preferences. But there is a wide variety of down comforters on the market today and it can be easy to become overwhelmed as a shopper.

Additional maintenance is required to keep the Brooklinen Down Comforter looking its best, and airing it outside can help the down clusters maintain their loft. Purchasers can also fluff the comforter in the dryer with no heat. Any small spills or stains should be spot cleaned. Larger stains will require professional dry cleaning, which can reduce the lifespan of the down comforter. A duvet cover is recommended to protect the comforter and the Brooklinen Down Comforter is designed with corner loops that help keep the comforter in place inside of the cover.

All versions of the comforter are constructed with 75/25 down and feather fill encased in a shell of cotton twill. A certification from the Responsible Down Standard ensures the ducks are treated humanely during each step of the plumage extraction process. The shell fabric is fairly durable compared to other cotton weaves like percale or sateen, and its smooth hand-feel should feel comfortable for people with sensitive skin. Perimeter piping and sewn-through baffle boxes keep the fill evenly distributed and help prevent it from escaping.

Goose down has been prized as a bedding material for centuries due to its natural softness and insulating properties. Shoppers seeking maximum coziness from their bed covering should consider the All Year 700 Fill Power Down Comforter from Down Cotton. The high fill power makes the comforter feel exceptionally lofty, a quality enhanced by large 15-inch baffles and an oversize design.

The 100 percent Egyptian cotton shell is breathable and soft, due to the long-staple cotton fibers used. The smooth weave allows air to flow throughout the comforter, while preventing down fill from escaping.

Unlike traditionally quilted comforters, this model is constructed with thin vertical channels to contain and equally distribute the down. This means less fluffing to restore its full shape after each use. The down is luxuriously plush and lofty. You can also rest easy knowing the comforter is certified by the Responsible Down Standard, indicating ethical and humane animal treatment. You may wash and dry the comforter in any household machine whenever a cleaning is needed.

A down comforter is a popular bedding piece that has a high loft and fluffy, cozy feel. It is filled with down for exceptional warmth. Down is the plumage underneath the feathers of birds, and duck and goose down is commonly used for luxury bedding. Duck down is soft, lightweight, and insulating. Goose down tends to form in larger clusters for better insulation. Since down forms in clusters and does not have sharp quills, the result is a soft comforter.

There are various construction methods used for down comforters, which we will break down in depth later on. In addition to the type of down used, shoppers should also consider the fill power, construction, and design of the down comforter.

Down comforters differ from down alternative and other comforters when it comes to price, warmth, and quality. Down comforters are typically made with natural materials and tend to be more expensive than other options. Down alternative comforters are filled with synthetic fiber fill to imitate the feel of down at a more affordable price-point.

Purchasing a down comforter can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options to choose from. Understanding what to look for can help shoppers narrow down their choices and pick a down comforter that suits their needs.

Quality MaterialsDown comforters are often sought after for their durability and quality construction. When considering the quality of materials, shoppers should look at the shell, fill, and design. The shell material will likely be made with cotton, as it is breathable and soft, but some comforters are made with wool, silk, or synthetic fabrics. To determine the quality of the down fill, shoppers can consider the type of down and its fill power, in addition to the supply chain and any relevant certifications. The stitching should keep the fill in place. Extended warranty coverage can also speak to the quality of the comforter.

WeightThe weight of a down comforter is often measured in ounces, indicating how much down fill is used. In addition to weight, shoppers should factor in fill power, which measures how much room one ounce of down fill takes up. Higher fill power means more warmth, as do heavier weights. Shoppers may want to consider what season or climate they plan to use the comforter in, and whether or not they tend to sleep hot.

DesignA down comforter can be paired with a duvet cover, so the down comforter itself is often simple in terms of design and color. That said, many down comforters are woven with subtle stripes or patterns or available in more than one color. The stitching used to keep the down fill from shifting also creates a design, which can include box, diamond, or channel patterns.

PriceA down comforter can be expensive, but it is also a valuable investment due to its durability. Shoppers should expect to pay more than they would for a down alternative comforter, but the price range can vary widely. Setting a budget before shopping is helpful, as is keeping an eye out for sales and promotions.

Temperature RegulationDown is naturally insulating, so it provides plenty of warmth but is still breathable. Different fill powers determine how well the down comforter regulates temperature. Hot sleepers and those who live in warmer climates may want to look for a lightweight down comforter with a fill power of 600 to 700, while those who want added warmth may opt for 700 to 850 fill power.

There are several pros and cons of down comforters, which shoppers will want to keep in mind before making a purchase. One of the main benefits of a down comforter is its durability. The natural down clusters provide warmth and comfort for many years, especially if the comforter has a high-quality construction.

The drawback to the durability of a down comforter is that it comes with a higher price tag. While a down comforter can provide a valuable return on your investment, it is more expensive upfront than other comforter types.

When selecting a down comforter, the quality of the materials used will matter more than the materials themselves. That said, there are different types of down comforters available, and it is helpful for shoppers to understand their options before deciding on a down comforter. 041b061a72