Archive for October, 2009
Down clusters must be large to be good
When it comes to purchasing a low quality down product, some things to consider beforehand are that small down clusters are fragile and do not last as long. Low quality and imported comforters that are sold for cheap prices are not a good investment in the long term because the small clusters do not breathe and are inferior at insulating.
Since a down comforter is a long term investment, care should be taken to find a brand that uses down with at least 500 fill power. For the long term, the better quality down will continue performing by breathing and insulating.
Goose down that lofts is key to the best
In order to find high quality down, it is necessary to go to cold climates and to find ducks and geese that are more mature. To be selective in finding the best quality will reflect in the price. The higher fill powers will have the largest and strongest clusters of down and have the best loft, ability to trap air, and insulating ability.
Down pillows that are constructed under the Pacific Coast label use down with 550 to 600 fill power. These pillows come in a variety of designs to accommodate the individual taste of the consumer. Some may prefer an extremely soft pillow versus another that may prefer more firmness in a natural pillow.
A cold weather goose makes me warm
As a rule, larger birds that live in colder climates have the largest down clusters with a corresponding higher fill power. Ducks and geese can both have high quality down because the age of the bird and the climate in different parts of the earth has an affect on quality.
The quality of the down that is used in bedding products such as down feather comforter is measured by its fill power. Fill power is the determined by how many cubic inches that is filled by one ounce of down.
A bird of a different feather
Every bird was created with some feathers and down, but the down and feathers of geese and ducks are the only birds whose down we harvest. One reason that down is harvested from a goose is that it will have bigger down clusters, generally.
White goose down with 525 to 650 fill power is used to construct Pacific Coast down comforters. Fill power can range from about 175 to around 900, but fill powers of over 700 are rare. Large percentages of down clusters and large average down cluster sizes are associated with the higher fill powers.
Softness with Support to Match
It’s not always easy to find a happy medium, and that’s especially true when it comes to bedding material. People demand a mattress that isn’t too firm because comfort remains a top priority. On the other hand, a mushy mattress that gives way under the slightest bit of pressure can be bad for the back and joints. The key is to find a balance between the two – a perfect equilibrium that’s one part comfort and one part support.
Feather beds are the sensible solution, as their downy softness is unparalleled. At first blush, one might expect a feather bed to err on the soft side, but baffle box technology keeps the material in place to ensure support. Some down comforters have a tendency to become bunched after extended use, but that’s never a concern with a high-quality feather mattress topper.
What’s in a pillow besides feathers?
Feathers and down are different because feathers have quills and down does not. Feathers are two dimensional whereas down is three dimensional. For the purposes of bedding, smaller feathers are used for products like featherbeds and blends of feathers and down pillows.
Feathers are the outside covering of most birds and have a range of less than 1 inch up to several feet in length. Waterfowl feathers are rigid and can range from two inches to five or more inches in length, with the shorter lengths used for bedding.
Separate feathers and down
Down has a quality that makes it ideal when compared with all other natural and synthetic materials used to make bed covers. Down has a remarkable ability to breathe, a quality that actually can lift perspiration away from the body, something that synthetic materials cannot do.
Feathers provide some of the same qualities as down such as insulation, but are different in that they are used to give support. Featherbeds are a common usage for feathers, which is something I will write about more in future posts to this blog.
Lightweight goose down is warmer
To get a better understanding of what down is and what its properties are we need to better understand how ducks, geese, and other migratory birds were designed by God. Down is a light fluffy coating that protects waterfowl from warm and cold elements of nature such as air and water. Most of the light fluffy coating is found clustered under the feathers on the underside of the bird keep it warm in cold water.
Down are three dimensional clusters containing many tiny fibers but with no quill; it is warm yet lightweight and lofty. By making a comparison, one down comforter could keep you as warm as fourteen times the weight in woolen blankets.
Why is down so lightweight?
To get a better understanding of what down is and what its properties are we need to better understand how ducks, geese, and other migratory birds were designed by God. Down is a light fluffy coating that protects waterfowl from warm and cold elements of nature such as air and water. Most of the light fluffy coating is found clustered under the feathers on the underside of the bird to keep it warm in cold water.
Down are three dimensional clusters containing many tiny fibers but with no quill; it is warm yet lightweight and lofty. By making a comparison, one down comforter could keep you as warm as fourteen times the weight in woolen blankets.
Dust mites are allergens
In bygone days our forbears discovered that a natural occurring insulator to cold air found on geese and ducks – down – could also keep his own kind insulated. Down is a by-product of meat consumption of ducks and geese that are most commonly eaten in Europe and Asia.
Before down can be used and made into down blankets and other bedding or clothing it needs to be cleaned and sanitized. People with allergy’s are normally allergic to dust mites that can collect in down and feathers and not to the down itself. The use of a pillow protector on new or thoroughly cleaned pillows generally eliminates problems associated with many allergies.