Archive for the ‘Bedding’ Category
Back sleepers have less gap to the mattress
If you are a back sleeper, you will require a pillow that fills less of a gap from head to mattress pad than a side sleeper. A soft pillow is the correct choice for back sleepers and a more firm pillow should be avoided.
Back sleepers need to take into consideration where the head is at on the pillow before selecting the pillow. If the head and back are over the pillow a medium soft pillow is best, and if only the head rests on the top of the pillow a soft pillow is the correct choice.
A side sleeper needs the firmest pillow
Most sleepers will have a predominant position for sleeping on any given night and it is an important factor in deciding on a perfect pillow. Side sleepers will benefit the most from a pillow that is firm and a soft pillow should be avoided.
Another consideration that must go along with the selection of a pillow is the mattress, with them needing to complement each other. A firm mattress would best be complemented by a firm pillow and a soft mattress by a soft to medium goose down pillow so as to maintain the spine to body angle during sleep.
A good pillow will alleviate pressure point tension
Rigid pillows that cannot be formed to the body should be thrown away and replaced with feather or down pillows. Form is important as a good pillow must mold to personal contours of the sleeper in order for pressure point tensions to be alleviated.
Natural pillows with down or feathers are ideal for conforming to individual bodies that provide the most comfort. The pillow alone will make the most difference, over a longer period of time, to give consistent rest. If good rest can be narrowed down to a rather inexpensive item such as a pillow it can become the best investment you will ever make.
Why consider personal preference in choosing a pillow?
Every person will have a personal preference about a pillow that is key to being comfortable while sleeping. A pillow that feels comfortable will help a person feel rested in the morning because of quality sleep.
The pillow surface is another factor in determining the level of comfort in achieving the desired good night’s sleep. Goose down pillows can be the most expensive, but if other factors are not right, it is not always going to be the best choice. Expensive pillows can come with a 30-day comfort guarantee.
How does a pillow keep neck pain away?
We can get a full eight hours of sleep but wake up feeling tired and less than refreshed. This can happen due solely to a pillow that does not support the head and neck the way our bodies require.
A down pillow can provide comfort, and with the right amount of firmness can provide support for the neck, and help alleviate and prevent many common neck and back pains. Pillows are necessary to support the weight of the head and to maintain the natural curves of the neck. If the neck is unnaturally curved it will cause the pain in the neck and back.
A baffle box makes for an even feather distribution.
A baffle box is a term in bedding referring to three-dimensional boxes of fabric wall that create a maximum thickness that is evenly distributed on the inside of Pacific Coast feather beds. A second attribute from the baffle box design is comfort, as the feathers are kept from shifting and leaving gaps and clumps.
Feather beds should be covered as you would any mattress, preventing direct contact of the body. It is important to protect the feather bed so that washing can be kept to a minimum to extend the life and the cover can be washed often.
Large down clusters make for high fill powers
Fill power describes the quality of the down used in many fabrics from sleeping bags to comforters. Pacific Coast down comforters use a minimum of 550 fill power in products that it produces for better loft and insulation.
Superior insulation is accomplished with large clusters of down, which breathe and last longer than the smaller, fragile down clusters that are used in low quality comforters. The higher the fill power means that the clusters of down are larger and stronger.
What were you doing Christmas Eve?
What an interesting Christmas Eve we experienced here in the upper Midwest in 2009. It was definitely a white Christmas and we spent the evening without electricity and ate cold food and we burned candles for light.
The thing that got us through the evening and into the night was a lot of blankets and throws, including down throws and comforters. We woke up to electricity and opened gifts and read the Christmas story from the Bible.
The weight of down can add up significantly
Fill power can be a hard term to understand, so I will try to explain the amount of weight difference that would be associated with two products with the same loft. The down used in a goose down comforter with a 550 fill power would weigh up to 50% more than the down used in one with 800 fill power.
Warmth is provided by layers of air that separate a cold side from a warm side, whether it is down or some other form of insulation. When a thicker layer of air is trapped it will insulate more, which is called loft. The greater the loft the more it will insulate with less weight.
How much fill power is enough to keep me warm?
When considering the purchase of a quality down feather comforter the application should be considered. If you need the bedding for use in your home, it may not be necessary to get more than a 650 fill power.
If you intention is to use comforters for backpacking, where the weight and warmth are both important, you would consider a 700 fill power or more to keep it on the light side. Backpackers try to keep their packs as light as practicable and every ounce of weight saved would add up.