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Do you love to snuggle to your pillow as you sleep? A good pillow could make the difference between a warm, supported sleep and poor quality sleep resulting in fatigue and tiredness. Introducing down pillows; hailed as the best pillow to avoid neck pain.
These pillows are designed to mold to the shape of your head, irrespective of the sleeping position. They are all-natural and an excellent choice particularly if you want a pillow that allows airflow. What’s more? They come in an assortment of lofts, and can be filled to match your preferred density.
Below is a closer look at down pillows and what you need to know about them.
What is a Down Pillow?
A down pillow is made from animal products, specifically the chest, back and wing feathers of a duck or geese. Because of their nature, these pillows and be refilled and re-cased. They come in different densities and sizes, ranging from standard to king.
Types of Down Pillows
Even though there are a number of different down pillows, goose and duck pillows are the most common. Here is a brief overview of the two types.
Goose Down Pillows
If you’re looking for the best down pillow, this could as well be your best option. They are made from fine feathers and offer consistent quality. While a bit pricey, goose down pillows boasts superior filler power in comparison to other types of pillows. The feathers used to make these pillows are from the Hungarian goose, considered as the best possible quality of feathers.
Duck Down Pillows
These are made using duck feathers and are ideal for people who want high-quality pillows on a fixed budget. It is important to note that the clusters found in duck are relatively smaller in comparison to geese, which translates to less resilience, thus shorter lifespan.
Duck down pillows are best used occasionally as opposed to daily use. If you’re a stomach sleeper, duck down pillows will make a brilliant choice. In fact, the Pinzon Hypoallergenic White Duck Down Pillow is considered as one of the best stomach sleeper pillows on the market at the moment.
Combined Feather Down Pillows
These are filled with both geese and duck feathers. Most will contain a small percentage of down feathers. Combined down feather pillows are firmer and softer when compared to duck down pillow. They are oval shaped and are available in different sizes.
Pros and Cons of Down Pillows
Why would you want to own a down pillow? The best down pillows offers the following:
Pros
- Incredible Aesthetics – Down pillows are considerably firmer and fuller in comparison to the PrimaLoft pillow, which makes them aesthetically pleasing.
- Ideal for Stomach Sleeper – If you’re a stomach sleeper, you’re better off with a down pillow because of the adjustable shape.
- Durability – The best down pillow can last up to 10 years even with continued use. Besides, if you know how to make a pillow, you can always refill and re-case yours.
- Luxurious Feel – Down pillows are designed to make you feel as though “you’re sleeping on a cloud.”
- Lightweight – Down pillows are lighter in comparison to other types of pillows
Cons
- Down pillows offer less support because of their soft nature
- They lose shape relatively fast and may require constant fluffing
- They have low loft primarily because of the materials used to fill them
- They are expensive than most pillows
Down Pillow Buying Guide
What characteristics should the best down pillow have? What should you look for when buying your pillow? To help you get value for your money, here are the considerations to make when buying a down pillow.
The Filling Material
You can choose between duck and goose fill. While goose is better, more comfortable and durable, it’s more expensive. Duck pillows are good when compared tom other pillows filled with microfiber or synthetic material. In essence, the price may ultimately determine the type of pillow you end up buying.
The Fill Power
Fill power can translate to quality and durability. How full the pillow is can give you an idea of the space down clusters occupies. The more the fill power, the larger the clusters are. Large clusters offer superior insulation and increased longevity. Be sure to buy a pillow that has the highest fill power within your budgetary allocations.
The Thread Count
The thread count is directly connected to the quality of cotton. The thread count will tell you how rough or smooth a down pillow is. You can determine the thread count by counting the number of threads up and across a square inch. The higher the thread count, the finer the cotton. Select a pillow that has a thread count of 200 and above.
The Bottom Line
With a good down pillow, not only are you assured of a goodnight’s sleep but also the luxury of waking up feeling refreshed. Historically regarded as fit for a king, down pillows still set the pace as far as luxury pillow goes. With the comprehensive overview above, you now know what to look for in a down pillow and how to buy one.
