When shopping for new bedding, you'll undoubtedly run into both natural down and materials described as down alternatives. This prompts a lot of questions. Is down or down alternative better? What are the differences between them? Why is one more expensive than the other? Which is easier to care for? Which is warmer? It can all be very confusing.
As evinced in our down comforter buying guide, not to mention other stories in our sleep directory, there are plenty of options for high-quality down and down alternative blankets. But which should you choose for a good night's sleep? We spoke with textile and bedding experts to break it all down and help you decide.
What Is Down?
Down is an insulation made from the feathers of ducks or geese. Because of its unmatched warmth-to-weight ratio, it's the preferred insulation for high-end applications like mountaineering jackets.
“Down is generally known for being fluffy, light, compressible, and naturally insulating while still maintaining its breathability," says Parima Ijaz, founder at Pure Parima. The standard specification for down is fill power, which measures the volume in cubic inches that one ounce of down occupies. This helps indicate its fluffiness, weight, and loft, with higher fill power translating to better insulation and a lighter weight. The higher the fill power, the better it insulates, says Ijaz.
Down is frequently used in bedding pieces, including pillows, comforters, and mattress toppers. “When we think of high-end sleeping, we often think of down pillows, down comforters, and down mattress toppers,” says Andrew E. Colsky, founder of National Sleep Center. There are different kinds of down from different kinds of birds. For example, some blankets are made with goose down, and some are made with duck down. Goose down is usually fluffier and loftier; duck down is more affordable and can be smellier. If you're shopping for down bedding, we recommend going with goose down or a blend of goose and duck to cut down on allergens and have a better, fluffier experience.
What Is Down Alternative?
Down alternative is made with synthetic materials—typically microfiber, polyester, or a blend. “It’s designed to mimic the plush, fluffy feel of traditional down at a lower price point,” says Byron Golub, vice president of product and merchandising at Saatva. “It will usually have a slightly heavier drape as compared to down,” says Ijaz. Golub adds that, “depending on the type of down alternative used, some are created for warmth, while others are engineered to be more breathable.”
Why Choose Down?
It’s hard to quantify, but down bedding products have a premium and luxurious feel. There's a noticeable difference between similar comforters made with down and down alternatives. In my experience, the down comforter almost always feels better, with crisper and crinklier outer fabric, a fluffier and loftier warmth, and that classic high-end hotel feeling of sinking into a really nice bed. Even the best down alternative comforters I've tested haven't felt as nice.
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