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What's the Difference between Feather and Down?
Feather and Down
Look closely at the feather and then at the down. You will notice that the feathers in your quilt have a quill, making them flatter, heavier and less soft than down. Down however has no quill. It comes from the breast of the water bird duck or goose and is THE MOST EFFECTIVE WARMTH HOLDER. Because down is softer, lighter and traps more air around it, it feels more luxurious and retains extra warmth in winter without weight.
Down as an Insulation
Because of its three dimensional structure and ability to "loft", each down cluster traps more air for its weight than any synthetic fibre. Every ounce of quality down has about 2 million fluffy filaments that interlock and overlap to form a protective layer of still air that keeps warmth in and cold out. Because of its resilience, you can scrunch it up or flatten it out. All it takes is a good shake for it to fluff up and bounce back to the form that keeps you cozy and warm
The best Down
Generally speaking, the best down comes from larger, more mature birds. When age and maturity are equal, goose down is better than duck down. However, down from an older duck is better than down from a younger goose. Larger Down has an extraordinarily high warmth-to-weight ratio. A quilt or sleeping bag filled with this down will be very light and incredibly warm. And it will last for decades. On the other hand, poor quality White Goose Down will have smaller Down. It will not loft up, and has a rather low warmth-to-weight ratio. Even if there is more of this down by weight, it won't be as warm. Down from younger birds not only tends to have poor filling power, it will also tend to collapse in a relatively short time, because its fibers are too fragile. This is usually the difference between an inexpensive goose down product, and an expensive one. At Quilt and Pillow Factory we only use the world's highest quality Down
Why is Down superior to synthetic fibre?
Down gives approximately three times the warmth per ounce compared to synthetics. Its ability to loft, or to fill the space it occupies is greater, longer lasting, and more uniform. Synthetics mat and lump together in time, leaving empty cold spots, while down continually re-lofts, and molds itself to the body. Down also has the marvelous ability to breathe and wick away perspiration, so the user doesn't experience the clamminess which often occurs with synthetics.
What happens if the Down gets wet?
It's not easy to get down completely wet. Just look at a duck or a goose in the rain! Even if you get caught in the rain, the natural oils in the plumes tend to repel water, and the product will usually look a lot wetter than it really is. Getting wet does not hurt down, as long as it's properly dried within a reasonable length of time. Once it is dried, it simply needs 'fluffing up' again. |
Down Clusters
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