The Low-Down on Down Bedding

You loved your down comforter. From the moment you got it from the grandparents for Christmas 8 years ago, it was like an old, snuggly friend. “Ordinary” blankets would never feel the same again. And now… tragedy! Your new Yorkie uses it as a restroom while you’re consoling a friend over the phone, and the next thing you know, you are saying good-bye to your beloved duvet.

You know you want to, nay, MUST,  replace it, so you Google “down duvet”.  It is only then that you are bewildered to discover that there are many kinds of down comforters, and now you don’t know where to begin to replace yours. Well fear not. Coupon-Gurus and Pacific Coast Feather Company have teamed up to demystify the purchase of down…

First off, what exactly is down?
Down is the soft, fluffy under-layer cluster found beneath the tougher and larger exterior feathers. These clusters trap air for insulating heat that is light-weight. Duck down is the least expensive, and white goose down is the most widely-used. Eiderdown is rare and expensive.

Measuring Quality:
What is Fill Power? It sounds like something at the gas station… Fill Power (FP) measures down’s ability to loft and insulate. It is measured in cubic inches per ounce.  Higher fill will last longer.

What is Turbidity?
Turbidity measures the cleanliness of down. As it is a natural and delicate animal product, there are minute traces of sediment, dirt, and foreign particles in all down.  Better turbidity means cleaner products.  And allergies should be considered when using any animal products.

What thickness to purchase?
Actually, this is personal. This author owns both winter, and a summer down duvet. But honestly, I could see using the winter one all year round, as I tend to like to be really warm when I sleep.  If you tend to get hot when you sleep, the lightest summer one is probably all you’ll ever need, unless you are very Northern.

How much should one spend?
Well, let’s face it; down comforters aren’t cheap. But they are a great investment. Anyone who’s slept under a down comforter knows that the rest of the house can literally be frigid, and as long as you’ve got your down comforter, you’re fine. So I tend to think that down comforters pay for themselves in the money you save getting to turn down the heat at night.  But be prepared to spend at least $100. And certainly don’t feel you have to spend $600 either; a $200 one is still pretty great.

Good luck from the team at Coupon-Gurus, and make sure you save an extra dime or two with our special Pacific Coast offers. If you want to learn more about what’s available out there for down comforters, pillows, and any other snuggle-worthy delicacy you may desire, head straight over to Pacific Coast and get busy browsing.