Down comforters are blankets filled with down, or a mixture of down and feathers, ducks and geese. Down is the particularly warming plumage that has neither hooks nor long keels as a radiating feather. The down and feather content of down comforters is usually given as a percentage, with a down down comforter from „pure goose“ the proportion of duck feathers does not exceed ten percent. At a down comforter from „goose“ may be contained up to 30 percent duck feathers. As a classic natural product is the down comforter also suitable for allergy sufferers. A good down comforter costs between 250, – and 400, – Euro. Eider down duvets are a lot more expensive, as they can last up to 50 years.

Worth knowing about the filling of down comforters

Down comforters are filled with down and feathers from geese and ducks. The higher the down proportion, the greater the filling power and the heat development. Because down have the property to hold and isolate the body heat in their air gaps. As a result, they give extra warmth. It also depends on the down comforter purchase on the quality of the down. The higher the quality, the less filling volume is needed. These high-quality downs include eider down, twice as warm and breathable as goose down. The region of origin also plays a role in the quality of down for blankets. Down from warmer regions are not as high quality as down from cold areas such as Siberia or Canada. Down and feathers of geese are higher quality and more expensive than ducks. For this reason, the down filling is often mixed with up to 30 percent duck down. This composition must, however, according to EU standard DIN EN 12934 at each down comforter be specified. The obligation to inform also concerns information about color, origin and class division. As „pure down“ ceilings are called 100 percent down. „Light feathery down“ are blankets with a division of 90 percent down and 10 percent feathers. As „feathery down“ one calls one blanketwith 60 percent down and 40 percent feathers. A blanket filled with down and feathers is only referred to as a duvet if the proportion of down is at least 60 percent. If the down portion is below, then it is a feather bed.

Pay attention to the degree of heat when buying a duvet

In addition to origin, filling power and ratio of down and feathers, the degree of warmth is important to find the right down blanket. In trade, down comforters are therefore divided into seasons and degrees of heat. A down comforter with the heat degree 1 is also called a summer blanket. It is a very light blanket for warm rooms and summer nights. Down comforters with the heat degree 2 are so-called summer half-yearly ceilings. They are suitable for people who get slightly warm and sweat quickly. In this case, this blanket can also be used throughout the year. The winter half-year blanket with heat degree 3 is considered the most popular universal blanket, as it is also suitable for year-round use. For people who freeze fast or like to sleep in the winter with the window open, the Winter duvetwith heat rating 4. This is usually equipped with cassette toppings and webs to provide even better thermal insulation. Ceilings of thermal grade 5 are also called winter plus ceilings. These are very warm blankets, which are mainly used in cool cabins and bungalows.