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Down & Down Alternative Buying Guide

Down & Down Alternative Buying Guide

What do pillows, comforters, and mattress pads have in common? Other than being great ways to make your sleep more comfortable, they are filled with down or down alternative to cushion and insulate you when you sleep.

The biggest debate we hear among experts and consumers is, "Is down better than down alternative?".

The answer to that question really depends on what you are looking for in your bedding. Let's learn a bit about both and you can decide what you think!

 

 Down Filling

Down is pulled from under the protective top-layer of quill from a water fowl (geese or duck, primarily). Down is fluffy, thus trapping air and offering great insulation and resilience. Down is expensive to harvest and is used in the most luxurious bedding in the world.

Most down-filled items are usually going to be more expensive than their down-alternative counterparts. The amount of "fluffiness" or loft of a down pillow or down comforter is measured by fill power. The higher the fill power, the more air is captured by the Down. The lower the fill power, the less air is captured.

Standard fill powers range from 500 to 700. The most luxurious down comforter often has a fill power of 600-700. The eLuxury Hotel White Goose Down Pillow has a fill power of  600 and is the top of the list for luxury pillows. The biggest downside of down applies to those with allergies. Down carries allergens and can cause issues for someone with any sort of feather or Down allergy.

 

DOWN ALTERNATIVE FILLING

Down alternative is a synthetic alternative to Down and is usually comprised of polyester cluster fibers. Down alternative pillows and comforters are hypoallergenic and can help someone get the feel and softness of Down without the allergic downsides.
There is a loss of loft with down alternative,but overall, it is a great alternative to Down and is much more affordable. Many eLuxury customer choose to purchase our White Down Alternative Comforter and use it with one of our luxury duvet covers.