Down Comforters and Down Alternative Comforters Compared

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Down Comforters and Down Alternative Comforters Compared

Staff Writer · Oct 25, 2010

Down alternative comforters are a great bedding option. They are very popular for many reasons including the fact that they can keep you very warm without being very heavy. Other materials that have the same amount of insulation are much heavier, such as wool. Down comforters are warm, soft, lightweight and in addition give the bed a cozy, fluffy look. In recent years, new down alternative comforters have been developed that use synthetic material instead. There are pros and cons to both options to be considered before making your purchase.

Durability of Down Comforters

One of the benefits of buying a authentic down comforter is how long it will last you. High quality down comforters may last you the rest of your life. Alternative down comforters will last many years, similar to other comforters but will not have the durability and stay in the same shape over the years as a real down comforter.

Price of Real Down

Real down comforters are made from goose down or duck down, for this reason and the fact that they will last so long, they are much pricier than a down alternative. This is the main reason why some people opt for the down alternative instead. It has the same feel and look of down but for a much lower price.

Difference in Warmth

Down and down alternative has the ability to both have the same amount of warmth. Comforters are sold in varying degrees of weight for both real down and synthetic down. Synthetic down comforters may require a slightly heavier weight to compare with the warmth of real down but the difference between the two is not very much.

Maintenance of Comforters

Real down comforters must be dry cleaned, they can not usually get wet. Synthetic down comforters can usually be machine washed, which is not only more convenient but will also save you money. Consider what the comforter will be used for and how often it will need to be cleaned. In a child’s room, for example, you may decide to go with the alternative because of the frequency that children’s bedding usually needs to be washed.

Allergies to Down

Next to price, the other most common reason why people choose alternative down to real down is because of allergies. Down allergies are fairly common and may especially cause problems in those prone to asthma. Even if someone prone to allergies is not allergic to the down itself, the real down comforters still may not be the best choice for them because of the way they are cleaned. Because real down comforters are not washed in hot water, they may build up more dust inside them which may trigger allergies in some people as well.

Odor of Duck Down

Another factor to be aware of when choosing a comforter is that duck down has a distinct odor. Goose down, and of course, synthetic down will have no odor. Look for the label if you decide to buy a real down comforter to see if it is goose or duck. Duck is usually less expensive for this reason.

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