When shopping for new bedding, you’ll undoubtedly run into both natural down and materials described as down alternatives. This prompts a lot of questions. Is down or down alternative better? What are the differences between them? Why is one more expensive than the other? Which is easier to care for? Which is warmer? It can all be very confusing.
As evinced in our down comforter buying guide, not to mention other stories in our sleep directory, there are plenty of options for high-quality down and down alternative blankets. But which should you choose for a good night’s sleep? We spoke with textile and bedding experts to break it all down and help you decide.
What Is Down?
Down is an insulation made from the feathers of ducks or geese. Because of its unmatched warmth-to-weight ratio, it’s the preferred insulation for high-end applications like mountaineering jackets.
“Down is generally known for being fluffy, light, compressible, and naturally insulating while still maintaining its breathability,” says Parima Ijaz, founder at Pure Parima. The standard specification for down is fill power, which measures the volume in cubic inches that one ounce of down occupies. This helps indicate its fluffiness, weight, and loft, with higher fill power translating to better insulation and a lighter weight. The higher the fill power, the better it insulates, says Ijaz.
Down is frequently used in bedding pieces, including pillows, comforters, and mattress toppers. “When we think of high-end sleeping, we often think of down pillows, down comforters, and down mattress toppers,” says Andrew E. Colsky, founder of National Sleep Center. There are different kinds of down from different kinds of birds. For example, some blankets are made with goose down, and some are made with duck down. Goose down is usually fluffier and loftier; duck down is more affordable and can be smellier. If you’re shopping for down bedding, we recommend going with goose down or a blend of goose and duck to cut down on allergens and have a better, fluffier experience.
What Is Down Alternative?
Down alternative is made with synthetic materials—typically microfiber, polyester, or a blend. “It’s designed to mimic the plush, fluffy feel of traditional down at a lower price point,” says Byron Golub, vice president of product and merchandising at Saatva. “It will usually have a slightly heavier drape as compared to down,” says Ijaz. Golub adds that, “depending on the type of down alternative used, some are created for warmth, while others are engineered to be more breathable.”
Why Choose Down?
It’s hard to quantify, but down bedding products have a premium and luxurious feel. There’s a noticeable difference between similar comforters made with down and down alternatives. In my experience, the down comforter almost always feels better, with crisper and crinklier outer fabric, a fluffier and loftier warmth, and that classic high-end hotel feeling of sinking into a really nice bed. Even the best down alternative comforters I’ve tested haven’t felt as nice.
Down products are often much more expensive than their down-alternative counterparts. This is because down is pricier than synthetic fibers, and “its construction requires down-proof textiles, which also tend to be more expensive as compared to non-down-proof fabrics,” according to Golub. That means a tighter weave to help prevent any stray feathers from coming loose or poking you in your sleep, but it’s also factored into the price of the bedding you’re buying. Your investment will last, though. Down products have a longer lifespan than down alternatives. Caring for down is often a more finicky and involved process compared to less expensive counterparts. Down comforters, for example, are usually supposed to be dry-cleaned or delicately washed, then fluffed frequently while drying. Drying often takes a long time, and you have to be careful to get it completely dry to prevent mildew. I recommend using a duvet cover if you’re sleeping with a down comforter.
Although down alternatives do a solid job of imitating the real deal, the comparison is more of an apples-to-oranges situation. To achieve the same warmth as a fluffy, lofty down comforter, you’ll need a much heavier-feeling down alternative. Down is just more breathable as a material.
Why Choose Down Alternative?
Hot sleepers might prefer a down alternative. “Synthetic down alternatives typically offer a cooler and more temperature-neutral sleeping experience when compared to natural down,” says Golub. It’s my experience that this is also true in its inverse: If you want to stay very warm without feeling weighed down too much, then true down may be a better option. Down alternative requires more fill material to achieve the same effect, which can result in feeling stuffy if you’re sleeping with a heavyweight or bulky blanket.
Down alternative is generally more affordable than down, so it’s a better choice if you want a budget-friendly comparable experience. Down alternatives are also naturally hypoallergenic. If you’re particularly susceptible to allergies from dust mites, down alternative is worth considering since you can wash it more easily (though Golub says that “many down bedding pieces are also washed and treated to be hypoallergenic for sensitive sleepers.”) Double-check with your chosen bedding manufacturer to see if it lists any information about allergies. Down alternative can be easier to care for; usually, down alternative comforters are machine-washable and don’t require any special drying instructions (though you should always check the tag to be sure). Down alternative does feel less luxurious than true down, but if you don’t care about the utmost of high-end experiences, you likely won’t miss the difference.
FAQs
Is Down Alternative as Warm as Real Down?
Generally, no. Down is an excellent insulator. The feathers and feather clusters efficiently trap air, lending a warmer feel than synthetic alternatives. A down alternative comforter can be as warm as a down comforter, but the down alternative will be heavier, both because it takes more material to achieve the same effect and because it isn’t as fluffy or lofty.
How Do You Care for a Down Alternative Comforter?
One of the upsides of down alternative comforters is that they’re generally easier to care for. You should check the tag and manufacturer instructions. Usually, you’ll put it in the washing machine on a delicate cycle using cold or warm water and a mild detergent. Then throw it in the dryer on low heat. Wool dryer balls can prevent clumping, as can manually fluffing the blanket throughout the drying cycle.
Meet the Experts
- Parima Ijaz, Founder, CEO at Pure Parima
- Andrew E. Colsky, JD, LLM, LPC, LMHC, Founder at National Sleep Center
- Byron Golub, Vice President of Product and Merchandising at Saatva
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