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Eiderdown Comforters: What Makes Them So Special?

Eiderdown is the world’s most coveted down insulation used in comforters and pillows. Harvested from the nests of Eider Ducks in the chilly North Atlantic, an Eiderdown comforter or pillow can command thousands of dollars. It therefore may be natural to ask what one is getting for the sizable premium prices.

The Common Eider (Eider Duck) is the northern hemisphere’s largest duck. They line their nests with down from their own bodies, typically plucked from the nesting female’s chest. It is this insulation that is so prized due to it being so light yet so incredibly effective. The Eiderdown far more than other down clings to itself and this density rewards the sleeper with the utmost in insulation value. Our Eiderdown comforter contains down that is measured at 700 fill power, but insulates at the equivalent of 850 to 900 fill power. The Eiderdown in our products is hand collected from nests in special Eider Duck sanctuaries without disturbing the Eider Ducks. I’ve had the opportunity to personally have eiderdown rest in my hands. Closing my eyes and having the eiderdown placed in my hands, I quickly got the sensation of this amazing warmth, yet I could feel essentially no weight or mass. Only after opening my eyes, could I notice the plump mass of dark colored eider down. It is this unparalleled insulation which is so highly sought after.

Other types of high quality down will tend to look poofy or fluffy. They might have a fill power rating higher than the 700 fill power of our eiderdown comforters. But ounce per ounce, no other down can match the insulation value of the eiderdown. The eiderdown comforter may not look as fluffy as some high grade goose down comforters due to the clinginess of the eiderdown. But in fact, the eiderdown is so warm ounce per ounce that it’s best to have somewhat lower fill weights (number of ounces of down) to avoid overheating. The eiderdown comforter is something which if properly cared for will last many years and in fact is regarded as having the qualities of an heirloom.

If Eiderdown appeals to you, we would recommend that you select a reputable source or provider. Any ad or solicitation promising “eiderdown cheap” is almost certainly not selling the genuine article. It can easily take eiderdown from dozens of nests to provide enough filling for merely one comforter. A few hundred dollars per ounce of eiderdown is not unreasonable given the extremely limited harvest quantities per year and rising demand, particularly from newly affluent societies in east Asia. Our Eiderdown is not only harvested on a sustainable basis, but hand sewn into comforters using the finest, softest downproof fabric to provide unsurpassed comfort and rest.

Down Comforters: Sewn Through Box Stitch or Baffle Box?

At Supercomfort.com, we’re often asked what the difference is about the stitching, particularly between sewn through box stitching and baffle box construction.

Our clients often are concerned that any comforter they purchase have stitching that keeps the down from shifting away. I’ve heard numerous stories of clients who purchased years ago from other retailers some comforters which were the old fashioned singled chambered down comforters. As those old type comforters consisted of a single area in which down could move, these persons would find that the down would settle to the lowest point while they slept. Typically, this meant that the down would settle to the sides and to their feet, leaving the main parts of their bodies with minimal down coverage! Fortunately, these days, it’s rare to see new down comforters on the market where all the down is in one single chamber. Most comforters manufactured today have more stitching to contain the down.

There’s quite a few different styles, but the most common construction types for down comforters now are sewn through box stitching and baffle box stitching. Both keep the down confined to a smaller area. The sewn through stitching, as the name suggests, has thread that goes through from the top to the bottom of the comforter. This does divide the down into smaller compartments or boxes. However, where the sewn through stitching occurs the comforter is pinched, which can result in cold spots as there is no down to provide insulation.

Baffle boxes solve this issue because the baffles are vertical walls between the top and bottom of the comforter. The baffles also divide the down into smaller areas, but provide depth to the comforter and allow the down to loft to its maximum. Baffle box construction is most commonly found in premium down comforters such as our Luxury & Hungarian Goose Down Comforters but also in down comforters overall. However, to really ensure that the down doesn’t migrate from one box to another, look for “true baffle box” or “closed baffle box” construction. Some baffle box designs may have partially open baffles which does allow for some movement or shifting of the down. Conveniently, all of the down comforters at Supercomfort.com show in the title and/or the description the exact kind of construction, whether it is sewn through or baffle box, and whether it’s a true or closed baffle box.

The best down comforters for spring & summer.

As the days grow longer and the temperatures higher, we’re often asked, “What is the best down comforter for spring and summer?”

Ounce per ounce, down is the best insulation material for a comforter. In fact, it’s ability to breathe makes it an ideal choice for even warm evenings. It’s never clammy like a polyester filling.

We recommend that you choose a light down comforter for summer with high fill power but low fill weight. What is fill power? It’s a measure of the quality of the down. Specifically, it’s the number of cubic inches that a single ounce of down occupies. Down typically ranges between 500-800 fill power. Higher fill power leads to greater loft per ounce or fluffiness. In the winter or cooler temperatures this is important as the enhanced insulation keeps you warmer. However, in the summer, it’s critical because when the ability to loft makes the down seem lighter, and higher lofting down is better able to wick moisture away and keep you cooler. In other words, higher fill power down is more comfortable than lower fill power down.

What is fill weight you ask? Fill weight simply refers to the number of ounces of down filling contained within your comforter or your pillow. As one adds more ounces of down to your comforter, it will keep you warmer. So for the summer it’s best to have a have a down comforter with lower fill weight. Go ultra light!

Supercomfort.com has a wide range of light warmth down comforters that are suitable for warmer climates, for spring and for summer. Look for “ultralight” or “light warmth” or “summer warmth” or “light-weight” in either the product description or look at a specific comforter and its drop down menu that displays the size-weight options.

For example, all of our Light Feather Goose Down comforters have summer warmth options. The Pacific Coast ® Grandia Oversized Down Comforter has light weight options available in both queen and king sizes. For the finest comfort, we have top of the line 800 fill power goose down available in ultra light comforters with the Premium 800 Fill Power Down Comforter - White Goose from Lajord Colony, the Paradise Hungarian Goose Down Comforter - 800 Fill Power by Daniadown, and the Silk 800 Fill Power Goose Down Comforter, Salzburg by St. Geneve. They are perfect for warm evenings in summer as they are extra light in warmth, closer to what might call a blanket. And don’t forget our Down Blankets which can be ideal when one wants a single light layer above when sleeping.

For further information check out our Down Bedding Buyer’s Guide. Always protect your comforter inside a duvet cover.
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Silk Comforters for spring

Here in Seattle, spring has made a sudden appearance. Only last week, it was snowing. However, today it’s sunny, with temperatures in the upper 60s. The forecast is for rain tonight and tomorrow, so we’ll have to enjoy our brief sunshine while we can.

This time of year, we often get asked about what comforters and blankets or fill weights are best for warmer temperatures or year round. Many people, whether by habit or comfort, seek to have at least a light blanket layer over them while sleeping. So in spring, with warmer temperatures, it’s usually not as hard to keep warm as in winter, but staying comfortably warm without stickiness or clamminess remains just as important. For this reason, we continue to recommend natural fibers for their superior breathability. Blankets made of polyester or other synthetic materials can lead to uncomfortable clamminess and uneven body temperature. Silk and down comforters remain superior options for comfort. Both silk filled comforters and down comforters are available in lighter weights that are suitable for spring. I’ll discuss the silk options in more detail today.

Our silk filled comforters are made from stretching the silk into thin layers and placing hundreds of these layers on top of each other in order to create the filling. The full/queen comforter may need 140 layers while the king size needs about 200 layers. Some 30 silk cocoons may be required per layer, so a king size, silk filled comforter may need 6000 cocoons for only the filling. The result is an exceptionally comfortable comforter that is hypoallergenic, soft, breathable, and suitable for many climates. By adding higher amounts of silk layers, the winter warmth comforters are created while the spring/autumn comforters have less silk filling. People sometimes shy away in winter from silk comforters if they have extremely cold conditions as the silk filled comforters don’t have the very high thermal insulation found in the top of the line goose down comforters. But it’s this light to medium warmth levels found in silk comforters that makes them ideal for spring. By providing breathable insulation, silk is known for seeming warmer in winter yet cooler in summer. The All Silk Comforter by Empress Silk is popular for offering the comforter in both lighter (spring/autumn) and heavier (winter) warmth options, and for making the comforter in both regular and oversized dimensions. DreamSacks makes a 100% Silk Comforter that’s available in a variety of sizes including a convenient throw size that’s perfect for napping or watching tv. Most luxurious of all is the Crimson Royal 100% Silk - Comforter by Ashley Lin Home which is richly decorated with Asian inspired traditional designs and is part of a matching ensemble collection. For a more economical option, consider our Silk Filled Comforter - Cotton Covered by Silkqueen. What’s distinctive is that while the inside filling is 100% silk, the outer fabric is cotton. We recommend that you always use your comforters inside a duvet cover anyway to protect your comforters and extend their useful life. Inside duvet covers, the silk covered comforters and the cotton covered comforters feel essentially the same.

Is it better to have a closed baffle box comforter or open box?

A lot of times we’re often asked whether it’s better to have a down comforter with closed baffle boxes or partially open baffle boxes or an open box design. A baffle box is a vertical wall of fabric between the top and bottom of a comforter, and divide the down into smaller spaces to minimize shifting. It allows the down to rise to its maximum loft. It also helps to prevent cold spots because if there is no baffle wall and the stitching is used to divide the down into boxes, then that stitching will pinch the down and comforter to form those boxes. This kind of stitching is called sewn-through stitching. That makes the comforter thin along those lines and so in the winter or colder times, that allows for cold spots in those line areas.

A closed baffle box, also known as a true baffle box is where those baffle walls are completely sealed so that the down cannot move between boxes. Examples of these are the True Baffle Box Hungarian Goose Down Comforter - Premium 750 Fill Power by LFGD and Oversized 720 TC European Goose Down Comforter by Phoenix . Most people would prefer closed baffle box or true baffle box design as this means the down can’t shift around the comforter.

However, in some instances a partially open baffle box like the Wabenstep Premium Hungarian Goose Down Comforter, where the baffle boxes have periodic openings, or a completely open box design (with only only occasional columns to support the comforter construction) like the Punktstep Premium Hungarian Goose Down Comforter may be preferred.

In the summer time when the evenings may be warm, it may be helpful to be able to shift the down away from you and towards another part of the comforter to help keep you more comfortable. So if you are looking for a comforter to use only or primarily in the summer, consider an open box or partially open box design.

Also, if you have a sleep partner who sleeps either colder or warmer than you, it may be helpful to have an open baffle box comforter so that the down may be shifted from the partner who is too warm to the partner who feels too cold.

What’s the big deal about higher fill power?

Fill power measures the number of cubic inches that a single ounce of goose or duck down occupies before placement in a comforter or pillow. Clients often want the puffy, billowy look that the high fill power down provides, but may be hesitant about the higher prices. Higher fill power down is scarcer and more coveted than lower fill power down so the price is higher. The cost of a single ounce of 800 fill power premium down can easily be many times more than a single ounce of low grade 500 fill power down.

So besides the look of the down, why should anyone pay more for higher fill power down? First, it’s more durable and longer lasting as higher fill power down has larger and stronger clusters of down. Over time, they’ll retain their loft and fluffiness better than lower grade down. If down loses its loft, it loses its insulation value. Also, higher fill power down is more breathable and thus is more comfortable. Low grade 500 fill power down tends to compress more, and that’s bad for your body’s circulation and for keeping your at a comfortable temperature. High grade 700-800 fill power down lofts up more, and allows for better air circulation and it feels lighter. Thus you can be more comfortable at a wider range of temperatures with high grade down. Great examples of high grade down can be found at our Luxury & Hungarian Goose Down Comforters section.
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What makes a down comforter fluffy: Fill Power or Fill Weight?

Hello,

A question we’re often asked at Supercomfort.com is whether you need fill power or whether you need fill power to have a fluffy looking comforter. Fill power is an indicator of the quality of the down, measuring the number of cubic inches that one ounce of down occupies before placement in a comforter or pillow. Down is rated on a 500-800 fill power scale, and higher fill power means higher quality and loft per ounce. The other term, fill weight, measures the number of ounces of down, so fill weight just indicates quantity and not quality.

The short answer is that you need both fill power and fill weight for a fluffy comforter. If you took the highest loft 800 fill power down but only had 1 ounce fill weight, the comforter would have essentially zero loft. Higher fill weight (ounces of down) will tend to make the comforter look fluffier when using the same fill power down. In other words, a comforter with 700 fill power down will look fluffier if filled with 50 oz fill weight compared to a comforter with 700 fill power down but only 30 oz fill weight. The higher fill weights tend to be warmer as well. At the same time, a comforter with 700 fill power down and 50 oz fill weight is going to look fluffier than a comforter with 600 fill power down and 50 oz fill weight.
For example, in our premium 750 fill power Hungarian goose down comforter product line, the queen size summer warmth comforter has 30 oz fill weight. The queen medium warmth has 42 oz fill weight, while the queen winter warmth comforter has 58 oz. As you step up to higher fill weights, the fluffiness or loft factor increases and so does the warmth level.

Welcome to the Bedding Blog from Supercomfort.com

Today is the launch for our Bedding Blog. It’s a place where I hope to share and discuss useful tips on what’s good, what’s great, and how to decide what to buy in bedding and more. Bedding and bed linens is an area in which there is almost infinite variety and the information or misinformation out there can be confusing.

Just today I had a client considering down pillows who asked whether I thought standard size or king size pillows were better. Considerations of cost aside, I looked at this as primarily a question of what would be more comfortable. Yes, king size pillows (20×36 inches) are 10 inches wider than standard size pillows (20×26 in U.S. specifications) and look more impressive when on a king size bed. But my personal opinion is that standard size pillows are more comfortable. With king size down pillows, there’s more space for the down to shift from side to side. With standard size pillows, the down has less room to shift sideways. If you have a king size bed and want pillows to cover the width of the bed for that luxuriant look you see in upscale hotel rooms, I’d suggest buying 3 standard size pillows and put them sideways. So what did my client buy? She bought the standard size pillows.

Cheers,