Down vs. Down Alternative

Down vs. Down Alternative

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Last Updated on Jan 17, 2023

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    Our bed is hands-down our favorite place to chill and spend cozy winters. Hence we need the best bedding to keep ourselves warm and comfortable. The much debated bedding is a down vs. down alternative. The main difference between the down vs down alternative is filling types.

    Down bedding is made from ducks or geese. Down alternatives are synthetic that try to mimic the warmth of the natural feathers. It is suited for those prone to allergies. It is because of its hypoallergenic properties. 

    But that’s not all. Let us dive deeper into our guide to understand the key differences that enable you to choose the appropriate one for yourself.

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    What Is Down?

    Down is made from the feathers of birds like ducks and geese. Down pillows provide cloud-like comfort and fluff.  It is best for people who like soft and feathery pillows. Down is extracted from bird feathers. Hence it possesses exorbitant insulating properties.

    Who must opt for down? 

    • Those looking for a long-lasting comforter/pillow 
    • Who won’t mind making a one-time investment
    • Who prefer breathable, soft, and fluffy pillows

    Down is a natural material and a limited resource. It takes a long time to extract and process. Hence the final product is expensive. Down materials are lightweight and airy. They won’t cause you to sweat under the sheets.

    Down can achieve higher levels of insulation at much less filling. So down is breathable and best for people who sleep hot. One ounce of down has around 2 million filaments that interlock together to retain warmth.

    What Is Down Alternative?

    You might be thinking, “what is down alternative fill made of?” 

    Down alternatives made from synthetic fiber like polyester are cheaper. It replicates the comfort and warmth of the natural down. 

    Down alternative is cost-effective and is easy to maintain. Hypoallergenic properties of down alternatives attract a lot of buyers. Down alternative does not attract dust or mites because of synthetic filling. This filling prevents users from bed allergies.

    People looking for animal-friendly products should also choose down alternative. Since the down alternative can be machine washed at home, it is an attractive buy for people. 

    It saves the initial cost of investment. It also saves on frequent dry cleaning expenses. 

    Down alternative suits people who-

    • Sleep cold
    • Want cruelty-free items
    • Want affordable bedding
    • Are allergic

    How to Choose Between Down vs. Down Alternative?

    You might have made up your mind about whether you should opt for a down or a down alternative. But you can consider the following factors before making your final decision of down vs. down alternative-

    Fill Power

    Did you know you can determine the quality and warmth of down used in pillows and comforters

    • The scale of measurement used to determine the quality of down is called fill power. 
    • Fill Power is the number of cubic inches occupied by one ounce of down filling.
    • A higher fill power suggests the capability of trapping more air. It gives warmth and higher insulating capacity.  

    A Down comforter is more fluffy because it can expand and occupy a larger space. This capability is because of its fill power. For better understanding, we can categorize fill-power as-

    • 400-600 Fill- This is a lighter fill ideal for people residing in warm countries who want to sleep comfortably.
    • 600-800 Fill- This happens to be an ideal fill suitable for people living in cold countries. Those who need to keep themselves warm at night should go for this one.
    • 800+ Fill- This fill is perfect for people living in cold countries. Those whose primary motive is to keep themselves warm while sleeping must opt for 800+ fill.

    Categorization of down-alternative fill is relatively challenging. We can only increase the warmth of the down alternative by increasing the filling. An increase in synthetic filling also increases the weight of the comforter.

    Allergies 

    Down, made from natural animal fiber, can trigger allergies. Down attracts skin cells, pollens, and dust mites. Hence, making down an ideal breeding ground for allergies. 

    A Finnish study has suggested that allergies from actual down are rare. Such allergies are caused by dust mites or bacteria more often. It can happen because of insufficient washing, poor storage, and long-term use. 

    People with high sensitivity from goose down can develop allergic reactions. They may suffer from teary eyes, throat irritation, and rashes. Especially the people who have asthma must avoid using down. Dust mites from down may trigger asthma attacks in such patients. 

    Down alternative is a knight-in-shining-armor of those who suffer from allergies. The down-alternative has hypoallergenic qualities. These qualities make it an ideal fit for people prone to allergies.

    Cleaning

    Cleanliness and maintenance are some of the most critical factors.  One must consider the maintenance criteria before deciding down v/s down alternative pillow. 

    As per research, used pillows contain a variety of species of fungi. It can have adverse effects on people with respiratory diseases. Thus you must only invest in beddings that you can regularly maintain.

    • Down pillows are machine-washable but need extra care. 
    • You must wash down pillows with mild detergents without any chlorine bleach. Make sure to use a front-loading washing machine. 
    • But, you shall not attempt to wash a down comforter in the washing machine. They ought to have regular dry-clean sessions instead.
    • To reduce the laundry expenses, you can use down duvet covers to protect the down comforters.
    • Hence when dirty, you can take off only the duvet cover and wash it separately.

    Down alternative items are much easier to maintain. 

    • Down alternative pillow is machine wash friendly. You can toss it into the washer with mild detergent and cold water. 
    • Similarly, down alternative comforters are also washer safe. You can clean them at home without spending a dime on their maintenance. 

    So the battle of down vs. down comforters is won by down alternative comforters in at least ease of washing.

    Breathability 

    Down materials win the competition in breathability. They are soft, fluffy, and breathable. It also provides the best sleeping experience. 

    Down comforters can give increased warmth by higher fill power. Hence, increasing their aeration and breathability without increasing their weight. Down comforters are ideal for people who don’t want to disturb their good night’s sleep by waking up from sweat.

    On the contrary, down alternatives need higher stuffing to provide higher insulation. Which successively reduces the breathability of down alternative comforters. But, they can be an ideal fit for people who tend to sleep cool.

    Durability

    Down pillows are not only a heavy investment, but they are highly durable. Their durability makes them worthy of every penny. The natural fiber used in down pillows has a longer life. They provide similar levels of comfort even after extended years of use.

    Down alternative tends to get worn out comparatively faster than original down. 

    The reason being the polyester  filling tends to get broken or unevenly spread. It makes the down-alternative pillow uncomfortable to use. This wear and tear is due to frequent wash cycles of down alternatives.

    Cost

    Down pillows are expensive because the down fill is extracted naturally from animals. It is a time-consuming and limited resource process. Hence the costs of all down items are much higher than its counterpart.

    Down alternative pillows are more affordable and don’t burn a hole in your pocket. It is because the down-alternatives are polyester or cotton. Both polyester and cotton are grown in bulk. Hence down alternatives are available at a reduced price.

    Pet Owners/ Non-Pet Owners

    Are you a pet owner? 

    If yes, you might want to consider this another factor before making your final decision.  As per research, synthetic pillows contain higher amounts of cat and dog allergens than feather pillows. 

    So if you are planning to buy a down alternative and have a pet at home, you may want to reconsider your decision.  People who have pets should opt for down comforters. It will reduce the chances of their pets having allergic reactions. 

    Is Down or Down Alternative Better?

    Down or down alternatives can suit different people. They are affordable and animal-friendly. People who are allergic should opt for down alternatives.

    On the other hand, down is better for people who like soft and fluffy pillows. Down is breathable and durable. It is perfect for people who can invest a lump sum in down.

    In the following table, we have elaborated on down v/s down alternatives.

    Down or down alternatives can suit different people. They are affordable and animal-friendly. People who are allergic should opt for down alternatives.

    On the other hand, down is better for people who like soft and fluffy pillows. Down is breathable and durable. It is perfect for people who can invest a lump sum in down.

    In the following table, we have elaborated on down v/s down alternatives.

    Difference between Down and Down Alternative

    FeaturesDownDown Alternatives
    FillingNatural Fiber- Feathers of Duck and GeeseSynthetic Fiber- Polyester or Cotton
    AllergiesPossibleHypoallergenic, not possible
    CleaningPillows- Machine Wash with Mild Detergents Comforters- Dry Clean OnlyPillows- Machine Wash with Mild Detergents Comforters- Machine Wash
    BreathabilityBreathable due to high insulation in less fillingLess breathable due to dense volume of filling
    DurabilityMore durableLess durable- prone to wear and tear
    CostExpensiveAffordable

    So who wins the final debate of a down or down alternative? 

    The final decision of a down vs. down alternative would vary from person to person.

    Down is preferable for those people who like soft, fluffy, and breathable beddings. Those looking for a long-term investment should opt for down fill.

    Down alternative is the best for those who want cruelty-free and hypoallergic beddings.

    This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.
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However, it is more expensive too.\u00a0\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},{"_id":"246a9f1","title":"What is the best filling to have in a duvet?\n","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003EDown is the most natural and best filling for a duvet.\u00a0\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},{"_id":"ca257db","title":"Do hotels use a down or down alternative?\n","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003EIt depends on the hotel. Some use a down and feather combination and some use a down alternative. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},{"_id":"7c31512","title":"Is down Alternative good for hot sleepers?\n","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003EDown is good for hot sleepers. 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