How to Buy Down Pillows

If you want a peaceful slumber, there’ s nothing like a down pillow to start you on your merry way.  But before you even think about counting sheep (or in this case geese), here’ s what you need to keep in mind to get the down pillow that is fit for a king or queen (or merely a king or queen sized bed).

• How much money do you want to spend?  Set a budget. Down pillows can be much more expensive than foam-filled pillows. You could easily spend over $100 at one of those expensive ritzy sites or retailers, but you can also get a reasonably priced quality down pillow by doing a little homework when you know what to look for

• Quack, quack – there’ s more than one type of down pillow.  Down is the soft cluster of fibers found beneath the feathers of a goose or duck. It is lightweight, retains warmth and is perfect for making soft and supportive fill for pillows. Many down pillow manufacturers will use different grades of down, from those with mostly feathers to those with a combination of feathers and down, or those completely made with down.
  

Pillows made completely of down will be the most expensive those made mostly of feathers will be much cheaper. This is because more down is required to fill one pillow than one filled with feathers alone.    Additionally there are several types of down pillows that you should be aware of.

• Duck Down: Duck down is often cheaper than goose down. Duck down may also retain a strong odor longer than goose down does. All down needs to be aired out after purchase before it is used.

• Goose Down: Goose down is more expensive but does provide better insulation than duck down.

• Eiderdown: Eiderdown is the most expensive and lightweight of all downs.

Fill Me Up – What About Fill Power

Fill power or loft refers to the volume of one cubic inch of down. Fill power will determine the firmness of the pillows that you purchase. The higher the fill power, the longer the firmness or fluffiness will last.  Ask yourself what kind of firmness do you prefer or need.
 

• 500 Fill Power- this number represents a good quality down

• 600-700 Fill Power – a higher quality down that will retain heat and firmness longer

• 800 or Higher Fill Power – the highest quality down you can buy

Thread count refers to the number of threads per inch used to weave the fabric covering of the pillow. It isn't the most important thing, but you should at least have a basic understanding of thread count. You will want to check that your pillow's outer layer has a minimum thread count of at least 250. Any less than that and the down may be able to escape. Higher thread counts are typically softer, but since you'll be covering your pillow in a pillowcase, it shouldn’ t affect your comfort.

Sleep Comfort

If you have never used down pillows before, the following guidelines should help you select a down pillow that meets your particular needs.

• Soft – a soft down pillow is the right choice for people who sleep on their stomachs

• Medium – a medium down pillow is perfect people who sleep on their backs, are petite or have small shoulders

• Firm – a firm pillow is the best choice for people who sleep on their sides

 

• Standard Size Pillow – the best size of down pillow for sleeping on

• King Size Pillow – the king sized pillow is good for using as support for your back when sitting up in bed. It isn't the best choice for sleeping on since it will tend to depress more in the middle due to the longer size.

If money is not an issue, you may want to purchase a standard sized pillow for sleeping and larger pillows for decorating your bed.
Knowing how to buy down pillows will help you make a wise investment that should last for years. Down pillows are considered extremely comfortable for all kinds of sleeping positions, making them a popular choice for people wanting the most restful sleep possible. While down pillows are more expensive, they should last for years before they need to be replaced.
As Shakespeare said, “ to sleep perchance to dream, ay there’ s the rub” .  Now time to count geese.