Home > To better understand the down
Down Bedding offers a collection of different types of comforter blanket pillow and feather bed made from a sumptuous goose and duck down.
What is the down that fills our comforter collection?
The down comes from the abdomen of water birds such as goose or ducks and grows under the protective feather layer. That is why farmyard poultries such as chicken or turkey do not grow down. Unfortunately, some not so conscientious comforter brands use these poultries' feathers to manufacture very bad quality comforters. For its comforter range, Down Bedding only uses Canadian goose and ducks down. Birds that live in Canada grow a world unique quality down, because of the extreme winter temperatures.
How can a down comforter, so light, insulate so well?
Thanks to its three-dimensional structure as well as its ability to fill up, every down core of the comforter collects more air versus its weight than any other product (wool, synthetic fiber...). Each down kilogram counts about two million fluffs that intertwine and overlap to create an air layer that keeps the warmth your body needs and pushes cold back. This phenomenon is the cause of its elasticity, you can compress or flatten the comforter, it just needs to be shaken up for you to see the comforter take its comfortable shape back.
Canadian geese in winter time
Which birds grow the best down?
The best down for the comforter manufacture is the one whose fibers are the biggest. It comes from the biggest and oldest birds. That is why goose down is the best quality. We also notice that duck down shows, under the microscope, a construction less intense than the goose down.
Which are the best geese for the comforter?
Without any doubts geese that come from regions which guarantee at once noticeable health qualities, a rich diet and long and extremely cold winter times are the birds which will grow the world best down. Canada is obviously the best choice, it is however possible to find very good quality down in Europe (Sweden, Norway).
What is Eider down?
The Eider is a marine duck, whose down is almost black and very thick. People hunted it so much that it almost disappeared and finds itself on the list of endangered species. The price of this rare down is very high and does not justify its choice. It is for environmental reasons that Down Bedding chose not to sell Eider down, all the more since its quality borders of our Hutterite down quality.
What is the goose down we call “duvet d’oie vif”?
This down also called slough down, is delicately taken from birds at precise periods during the year. Birds that gives this down are thus well looked after and fed. This down will be the best. It is thus possible to put less down in the comforter for the same comfort, and therefore allow a unique ratio comfort/lightness/heat/weight. For its comforter range, Down Bedding only uses “duvet vif” from handcrafted sources, which represents the only guarantee that the geese and ducks did not suffer from bad breeding conditions.
Why are down comforter better than wool or synthetic comforters?
Down gives approximately three times more air circulation per kilogram than synthetic fibers or wool. Moreover, this down swells permanently depending on its environment and fills perfectly and homogeneously the space it occupies. Wool as well as synthetic fibre comforters, end up felting and forming balls and leave empty and cold spaces, whereas down comforters reinflate and adapt themselves to the silhouette of the body.
Why are down comforters more comfortable than wool and synthetic fibre comforters?
Down adapts itself to the silhouette of the body as well as its need of warmth. Synthetic fibers and wool comforters remain rigid and bring static warmth. Damp, which is produced by wool and synthetic fibre comforter because of lack of ventilation, is not felt with a down comforter.
How long can a comforter filled with down last?
Maintained well and cleaned well, a down comforter will last for very a long time (it might even survive you).
How to clean comforter or any other bedding product filled with down?
We recommend to dry clean all of our down bedding collection. Washing your down products in washing-machines is not prohibited but it is important to note that it can spoil the down. Beside we advise you against using a dryer as it will ruin the swelling properties of the down.
Why does down comforters are expensive?
The price of the comforter’s raw material (the down) is ruled by supply and demand. Since 1975, this price quadrupled because more and more people tasted the remarkable assets of this incomparable natural product. Our prices have been stable for many years, and Down Bedding guarantees an impeccable quality for its comforters, blankets, pillows and feather bed.
Can down create allergies?
To manufacture of its comforters, Down Bedding only uses high quality down, dust free, washed and sterilized. For this reason, our down cannot cause allergies. Unfortunately, for cost and profitability reasons, other brands will offer quickly treated qualities. For your own sake, avoid these poor qualities!
Does down attract acarids?
The acarids are not attracted by down comforters, quite the contrary! Actually, according to a study made by professor Hans JURGENS and presented at the International Congress of feathers and down:
“… down does not offer an adequate environment for the acarids to survive, nor a source nutritious enough (...) the quality of the casing in which the down is, is made of a very tight cloth that prevents the down from getting away, thus it also represent a barrier for the acarids (...) under a duvet a microclimate higher than 25°c develops, the acarids hardly resist this kind of environment.”
Specialized and helpful websites such as www.acarien.net will give you information on that matter.
Why use the term “new” when talking about down filled in comforters?
Most of the global production is made of reconditioned down i.e. already used down. It is treated and perfectly healthy, but when considering comfort and lifespan it is less efficient. Unfortunately, not very conscientious manufacturers use reconditioned down to replace new down (misleading tags). All comforters, blankets, pillows and feather beds of Down Bedding are filled with feathers, white goose or white duck new down of Canada.
