Goose Down Comforter vs Synthetic

Goose Down Comforter vs Synthetic

Best Color for a Bedroom Reading Goose Down Comforter vs Synthetic 4 minutes Next Macy’s Goose Down Comforter

Imagine this – a beautiful, fluffy comforter that envelopes your body and keeps you warm while you drift away. Everybody needs at least one such bedding product. Choosing a comforter, however, is easier said than done.

Down comforters are a staple but new technologies have brought a couple of alternatives to the market. Should you get a goose down or a synthetic comforter? Let’s look at the features of these two and find out.

Synthetic

The Pros and Cons of Down Comforters

Since this is the more traditional option, let’s examine its characteristics first.

As the name indicates, a down comforter features a filling that’s made from the natural goose down. This material plays an important role in nature – it keeps the bird warm. When put inside a comforter, it does something similar.

The biggest advantages of a goose down comforter are the warmth that the filling provides. Synthetic materials can’t really compete with natural goose down. In addition, the material is breathable and it molds to the body (the down simply shifts around to accommodate for sleeping position).

The downside of having a down comforter is that the thick filling could be a bit heavy. Synthetics tend to be much more lightweight, even if the same thickness of filling is accomplished. Another major disadvantage of a down comforter is that it tends to be pricier than the product that features a synthetic filling.

The Pros and Cons of Synthetic Comforters

A synthetic comforter is a term used for products that feature fillings made of synthetic materials. Most often, the synthetic filling is comprised of polyester, rayon and microfiber. These materials have insulating properties, which is why they can be used to create a warm and fluffy comforter.

As already mentioned, the lightweight design of synthetic comforters is one of the biggest advantages. These also tend to be hypoallergenic – the filling doesn’t trap dust and dander. The final benefit (and it’s a big one) is that synthetic comforters are incredibly easy to clean.

When washing down comforters, you have to take special precautions. Warm water and the machine’s gentle cycle are to be used. No spinning is allowed. The comforters that have a synthetic filling are a lot easier to deal with – just throw them in the washing machine, take them out and dry them.

On the downside, some synthetic fillings aren’t as breathable as a natural material like goose down. These comforters tend to be less expensive but they aren’t as long-lived as down-filled bedding. It’s very important to understand the characteristics of different synthetic fillings to identify the one that will be best-suited to your individual needs.

Which One should You Choose?

The answer to this question depends on several factors.

The first thing you have to do is decide how much money you’re willing to spend on the purchase of a comforter. Down is a classic choice but it tends to be much more expensive. If you don’t have a bigger budget, look for a synthetic. There’s one thing to remember, however – down is a lot more long-lived, which will make financial sense in the long run.

If you’re an allergy sufferer, you have two options.

The first one is to opt for a synthetic comforter. The overwhelming majority of these products will feature hypoallergenic filling and exterior fabric. A synthetic comforter is also easy to wash, which can be quite beneficial during allergy season.

Allergy sufferers can also go for a goose down comforter. The feathers themselves aren’t a popular allergen. In fact, feather allergies are incredibly rare. The down comforters, however, can accumulate dust, dander and pollen. Buying a hypoallergenic cover for the down comforter and having it professionally-cleaned will reduce the risk of experiencing an allergy episode significantly.

Finally, if you live in a very cold climate, you should most definitely invest in a down comforter. The level of insulation is unparalleled. Even if the house isn’t heated during the night, you’ll still be perfectly warm underneath the covers. Down comforters are available in several thickness levels. You may want to test those products in the store to get a better idea about what they feel like and how warm they’re going to be.