It’s like sleeping under a dollop of meringue — the prized down comforter. But what should you know when shopping for one? Stephen Palmer, co-president of United Feather & Down Inc., offers some tips. Based in Des Plaines, United Feather is a seventh-generation maker of down-filled bedding and down alternatives.
1. NATURAL FABRIC. – Look for 100-percent cotton. Natural fibers breathe and wick moisture. Silk and silk-blend fabrics are upgrades.
– Thread count is the usual way of communicating quality.
– Look for at least 230 threads per inch.
– But that’s only part of the story, Palmer says. Cotton is key. The longer fibers of cotton prevent feathers from poking through the fabric. Look for the words “Egyptian cotton” or “Supima cotton.” And, feel the comforter — it should feel soft and supple.
2. FILL ‘ER UP. THREE KEY THINGS TO LOOK FOR:
– Purity of the down. All down comforters are composed of down (the fluffy undercoating of waterfowl) and feathers (the overcoat that protects the down). In order to be labeled a down product, a comforter must have a minimum purity (of down) of 75 percent. Otherwise, it’s a feather-and-down blend and must be labeled that way. Higher-quality down comforters are in the 85- to 90-percent purity range.
– Fill power. Indicates how many cubic inches of space 1 ounce of down occupies. The higher the fill power, the better the quality and the lighter the comforter. Good: 550 cubic inches. Better: 600 to 650. Best: more than 700.
– Cleanliness. Look for “hypoallergenic.” A comforter must pass cleanliness tests to make that claim.
3. INSIDE THE BOX. Closed box is the best construction to keep down from shifting. It means the comforter is stitched in a pattern, most often boxes or diamonds, that completely walls off one section from another. In a lighter-weight comforter, the box will be stitched-through with the two outer pieces of fabric sewn together. In a warmer-weight comforter, the box needs more space for more filling so there will be interior walls or baffles inside.
4. THE HEAT IS ON. Lightweight, medium, really warm — there’s a smorgasbord of warmth levels. If you keep your thermostat at 75 degrees year round, you don’t need the warmest comforter.
5. DOWN ALTERNATIVES. Synthetic down comforters have improved greatly over the years. “They mimic the feel of down,” Palmer says. “But they can’t really mimic the performance of down. You can get close with some of the very best ones.” Those will look fluffy, not flat and lifeless. And when you crunch the comforter, the polyester fibers inside should feel soft and supple, not coarse. Allergy sufferers who haven’t tried down lately ought to give it another look, Palmer adds. The cleaning process has greatly improved.
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