Downlite Hotel and Resort European Down Comforter Reviews
The research
- Why y'all should trust us
- Warm, fluffy, and lightweight: Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter
- A budget-friendly goose down comforter: Hotel Grand White Goose Downwardly Comforter
- An affordable, ethical down comforter: Target Casaluna Mid Weight Downwardly Comforter
- The nigh luxurious down comforter nosotros've tried: Feathered Friends Bavarian Medium 700 Downwardly Comforter
- A colorful down comforter for kids: Garnet Hill Essential Downwards Comforter
- Our favorite down-alternative comforter: Utopia Bedding Queen Comforter Duvet Insert
- Who should become this
- How we picked and tested
- How to choose the best comforter weight for you lot
- Comforter structure 101
- Deciphering labels
- Ethical down
- What to look forward to
- Care and maintenance
- Other expert comforters
- The competition
- Sources
Why you should trust usa
To notice out what makes an first-class comforter, we spoke with downwardly expert Jack Sukalac on ii unlike occasions when writing and updating this guide. Sukalac is an engineer who started repairing down comforters more than forty years ago. And he turned it into a business, All Nigh Down, making and repairing down comforters in his Seattle basement. Nosotros besides consulted David Sweet, then-president of the American Downwards and Plume Council; Gary Peterson, a longtime manager at famed outdoor-gear maker Western Mountaineering; Daniel Uretsky, president of downward and downward-alternative supplier Allied Feather + Downwards; and Shannon Maher, interim dean at the Fashion Institute of Applied science and former production designer for The Company Store.
Wirecutter senior staff author Jackie Reeve, who worked on the latest update of this guide, has written virtually all of our bedding guides, including those for sheets, blankets, and pillows. She built on the excellent piece of work of Alex Arpaia, who wrote about comforters from 2017 to 2019, when she was a staff writer at Wirecutter.
Warm, fluffy, and lightweight: Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter
Our pick
Brooklinen All-Season Downwards Comforter
Lofty and warm
This high-quality downwards comforter is fluffy, lightweight, and very warm on a chilly dark. It's also one of the few comforters we've seen that didn't accept major stock problems during the pandemic.
Buying Options
Why information technology'south dandy: If yous're gear up to invest in a loftier-quality down comforter, we really like the 700-make full-power Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter. Information technology's one of the only down options nosotros considered in 2020–21 that didn't have major pandemic-related stock issues through the wintertime. And the company told us in September 2021 that it'south confident in the supply through the upcoming cold flavour also (we'll exist keeping an eye on it equally always). It's also just a lovely comforter. At only under vi pounds for a king size, it weighs less than the Riley and L.Fifty.Edible bean comforters we've recommended in the past (and, according to our home scale, it is fifty-fifty an ounce less than the blusterous and pricier Feathered Friends we recommend). Only information technology's lofty and so warm to sleep under (without overheating), and it doesn't slide off the bed like some of the heavier comforters we've tried. The Riley was easy to wash at home, with no feathers leaking in the washer or dryer. The smooth cotton fiber sateen vanquish kept all the downwardly in identify during our milkshake tests, too, and afterward continued utilize since early 2021, the Brooklinen is nevertheless in fantastic shape. It comes with a one-twelvemonth return policy and a two-twelvemonth warranty.
We've tested Brooklinen comforters before and found them to be limp and unimpressive. But the visitor completely redesigned them in 2020, and this brought strong improvements. The baffle-box construction is now fluffy and calorie-free, and the all-season version nosotros've been testing since early 2021 has kept its loft, even later on a summer in storage. All three available weights (Lightweight, All-Season, and Ultra-Warm) are Oeko-Tex–certified (which guarantees textiles are free from certain harmful substances). And each is fabricated with a unlike kind of plumage: The 650-fill-power Lightweight is filled with recycled feathers nerveless from down-filled bedding and apparel, the All-Season we recommend has duck down, and the 750-fill up-power Ultra-Warm has goose down. None of the Brooklinen comforters carry an RDS certification for ethical down. But they are made with down from Feather Industries Canada, which provides a traceable number to source its downwards (nosotros submitted the form in September 2021 to source ours but haven't heard back yet as of this writing). Brooklinen comforters also have a Downmark certification from the nonprofit Down Association of Canada (the president of Feather Industries Canada sits on its board). And the Brooklinen website says the All-Season weight we recommend is fabricated with duck downward from Hutterite farmers in Canada, communal people belonging to a peace-driven Anabaptist sect. Consider the Lightweight and Ultra-Warm versions of this comforter if your climate needs are different.
Flaws only not dealbreakers: User reviews for these down comforters note that the down does leak from the beat out, merely so far in testing this hasn't been a problem with ours. We'll go on to use it to come across if it develops any feather shedding issues. Too, the sateen shell is slightly stiffer than that of our former selection from Riley, merely once the comforter was inside a duvet cover, we didn't detect it noticeable. And ane of our testers constitute the Brooklinen comforter to be nearly too light (he prefers a little heft). If yous'd like a heavier comforter, the Riley and L.L.Bean are worth considering.
Fill ability and plumage blazon: 700 fill power, duck down
Certifications: Oeko-Tex, Downmark
Sizes: twin/twinXL, full/queen, king/California rex
Other weights: Lightweight, Ultra-Warm
A upkeep-friendly goose down comforter: Hotel Grand White Goose Downward Comforter
Our pick
Hotel Thousand White Goose Downwardly Comforter
Affordable goose down
This Costco comforter is i of the all-time budget comforters we've tried. Information technology'due south warm, lofty, and filled with 100% goose downwardly, which is usually much more expensive than duck down. We call back it's a fantastic value with an fantabulous warranty.
Buying Options
Why it'southward keen: Costco'due south 650-fill-power Hotel Thousand White Goose Down Comforter is warm and lofty, and has a pleasantly soft shell. It's filled with goose down, often considered to exist more desirable than duck down because the clusters are larger and fluffier (in reality, you lot probably wouldn't notice much departure between the two fills, and nigh of our picks use perfectly fine duck downward). The fill'due south popularity typically makes these comforters far more expensive, so at less than $200 for a queen size, the Hotel M is a bargain if you lot accept your centre assault a cozy goose downwards comforter. Information technology'due south made with a baffle-box structure, and it'due south a bit loftier than the Casaluna, likewise. Costco user reviews give the Hotel Grand a 4.6 rating, and it'due south been around for several years, so nosotros don't think it will be discontinued anytime soon.
It performs virtually as well as the Target Casaluna, but in our shake tests pocket-sized tufts of down escaped its shell, and it doesn't have the Oeko-Tex and RDS certifications the Target carries. Afterwards over a year of testing and tracking comforter inventory, though, we've decided to recommend it alongside the Casaluna. Our tester is "incredibly pleased with it" and uses information technology every solar day. She hasn't noted whatsoever ongoing problems with down escaping, so we think it could just be an result with vigorous movement—you may detect some shedding when yous change the duvet cover, or when you wash the comforter, but not equally y'all employ it everyday. Plus, the Hotel One thousand comes with Costco's 100% satisfaction guaranteed return policy, which refunds you the entire buy cost someday; this is 1 of the best policies on our listing (Garnet Hill also offers a total satisfaction guarantee).
Flaws but non dealbreakers: Because the goose down isn't RDS-certified, we cannot know if it was ethically sourced. If that's important to you, we recommend the Casaluna comforter over this one. The same goes for the lack of Oeko-Tex certification: If you want reassurance that other materials used in your comforter were responsibly manufactured, choice the Casaluna (which is likewise slightly less expensive). The Hotel Thousand's price has increased since concluding winter (probably because of downwards supply issues nosotros've seen beyond bedding and outerwear brands), but it'south even so a steal. Also, the Hotel Yard comes in i weight only, whereas most of our other picks come in iii weights, allowing yous to selection the ane that best fits your climate. And the Hotel Grand does not have corner loops to attach a duvet cover. So yous may want to invest in a set of comforter clips similar these to continue a embrace in identify.
Long-term test notes: Our tester has a queen-size bed, but our test comforter is a king. "The male monarch size actually seems to be the right fit for complete down envelopment in the winter," she noted. Yous may want to consider sizing up, besides, if you like that extra-cozy feel.
Fill ability and plume blazon: 650 make full power, white goose down
Sizes: twin, full/queen, male monarch
An affordable, ethical downward comforter: Target Casaluna Mid Weight Down Comforter
Our choice
Why information technology's great: If you're conscientious about how your downwards is sourced simply you lot can't or don't want to splurge on one of our pricier picks, the Target Casaluna Mid Weight Down Comforter is one of the well-nigh affordable comforters on our list. Also, it'south RDS-certified for ethical down. Information technology'south less than half the price of the Brooklinen and about a 3rd of the price of the Feathered Friends. And even though information technology's less fluffy and the material isn't equally smooth, the Casaluna is comfortable, warm, and well made for the toll. It's as well Oeko-Tex–certified. Nosotros're impressed that Target is making an effort to manufacture things as responsibly every bit it can, something we've noticed more and more from the visitor in recent years. Although many of our picks are either Oeko-Tex–certified or RDS-certified, this is the simply pick on our list that has both certifications (the Brooklinen carries a Feathered Industries Canada certification instead of RDS).
The Casaluna is fabricated with 600-fill-power duck down, and it feels heavier than comforters we tested from Riley, Brooklinen, and Feathered Friends. Nosotros didn't notice that actress weight once we were sleeping under it, though, and it kept us perfectly warm (without making us sweat) when we opened the windows on a 50ish degree Fahrenheit night. Information technology has a sewn-through construction, so the summit and bottom layers are stitched together, trapping the down in sealed-off pockets. This type of construction compresses the down more than baffle-box comforters like the Hotel K and the Brooklinen do, so information technology can be less lofty and cloud-similar. But this also means the downwards won't shift within the comforter or clump in the launder, which (co-ordinate to some of our experts) makes information technology easier to launder at home. If you need to launder your comforter more frequently because of pets who sleep on the bed, or due to frequent turnover in the guest room, that might make this comforter a ameliorate choice.
The Casaluna's cotton sateen outer shell is thick and well sewn, and this comforter was one of the only upkeep options in our 2020 testing that didn't release tufts of fluff in our shake tests. Considering Casaluna is i of what Target calls its "owned brands," it'south covered by a one-year return policy, instead of by Target's usual 90 days (we confirmed this with the company). It'south bachelor in three weights—Low-cal, Mid, and Ultra—merely nosotros recommend the Mid Weight for most climates and seasons.
Flaws only non dealbreakers: This comforter definitely leaks feathers over time, according to the staffer testing information technology during the 2020–21 winter season, fifty-fifty though they never done information technology. Some other staffer, who purchased this comforter after our initial recommendation, did wash it (note that yous need to wash a comforter only every few years, and not when it's new). They said the crush leaked down after it came out of the dryer. Nosotros don't remember that'southward uncommon for less expensive comforters, just if you have allergies or don't want to deal with shedding, you lot might prefer the Hotel One thousand.
Long-term test notes: Despite the plume leaks our tester experienced last wintertime, they said, "I'1000 totally planning to go along using the Target." They added, "I like it for the loft, and I've never had the money to sleep with anything also [our downwards-culling pick], so it still feels fancy to me." The shift from a synthetic comforter to an affordable downwards comforter was noticeably nicer, and it outset the feather frustration.
Fill up power and feather type: 600 fill power, duck down
Construction: sewn-through
Certifications: Responsible Down Standard, Oeko-Tex certification
Sizes: twin, full/queen, king
The most luxurious down comforter nosotros've tried: Feathered Friends Bavarian Medium 700 Down Comforter
Our selection
Why it's great: If y'all want a loftier-end, luxury comforter—one that'due south fluffy and light just also super-warm—the Feathered Friends Bavarian Medium 700 Down Comforter is the one to get or to save upwards for. It's the best value of the luxury comforters we've considered, and we think that with proper intendance and maintenance, it will last for decades (and most likely longer than whatever of our other picks). It's also incredibly lightweight, fabricated of 100% goose down and with a sewn-through construction. At just over 5 pounds for a queen size and simply under half dozen for a king, it'due south one of the lightest comforters we've ever tested. Feathered Friends also has an splendid reputation for its down sourcing. Non only do its comforters encounter the Responsible Downwards Standard requirements, just each comforter comes with a tracking number that buyers can enter at TrackMyDown to come across the source of each comforter's fill. All RDS-certified comforters are supposed to come with a tracking number, but we've plant that they rarely do.
The other details of the Bavarian Medium 700 are upward to snuff too: generous oversize dimensions; a long-staple-cotton cambric (plain-weave) beat that's one of the softest, quietest, and lightest we've come across; and a lifetime warranty protecting against defects in workmanship or materials. If your comforter does need repair that the warranty won't cover (due to normal wear and tear), Feathered Friends is happy to fix it, for a fee. Take note: The warranty requires that you use a duvet cover to maintain coverage, which nosotros recommend for nigh comforters anyway to protect them from harm.
No other comforter we've tested feels every bit cloud-like as the Bavarian Medium 700. The only drawback nosotros've found is the cost, which tops $500 for a queen. The Bavarian Medium 700 is Feathered Friends's most popular weight. But one of our editors owns and loves the Bavarian 700 Calorie-free for her Los Angeles home, and she establish information technology to be ideal for a warmer climate. "It's so light it feels like information technology's floating over my body, but I'chiliad perfectly warm," she said. The Bavarian 700 also comes in a warmer, Arctic weight.
Flaws but non dealbreakers: Due to pandemic-related supply problems and increased need, this comforter has had stock issues over the past couple of winters. Simply we recently spoke with company representatives who told us that the company opened a second manufacturing facility in Seattle in December 2020 to help encounter the demand. Since then, we've seen this comforter sell out occasionally. The representatives told us, however, that each fourth dimension, the visitor has managed to restock inside a week or two. We'll keep monitoring the supply.
If the 700 sells out and y'all demand a comforter before the company can restock, a couple of Wirecutter editors own the more-expensive 850 version and are happy with it. The 850 version has a higher fill up power (which we explain hither) and comes in Light, Medium, and Chill weights. Nosotros haven't tested it because we focused on the more-affordable 700, only we recollect this comforter is likely an excellent alternative if price isn't a concern.
Long-term test notes: I of our editors has been using our original 2016 test model since Feb 2020 and says it looks and feels new. "I am all the same obsessed with our Feathered Friends. I've only done it once, and as soon every bit it gets chilly I'm going to pull it out again, just so far, so good!" We'll be testing a newer 1 this winter to see how information technology compares against our other picks, head to caput, over time.
Fill power and plumage type: 700 fill up power, European white goose downwards
Structure: sewn-through
Certifications: Responsible Downwards Standard
Sizes: twin, full, queen, rex/California rex
A colorful down comforter for kids: Garnet Colina Essential Downwardly Comforter
Our pick
Why information technology's great: Kids can be tough on their bedding, then for them we like the Garnet Hill Essential Down Comforter because it's unfussy, warm, and well synthetic. Information technology's a set up-to-become summit layer that comes in a dozen or so solid colors that entreatment to kids. There are no cutesy prints here, so it can transition with your child's taste as they grow up. In our 2020 testing, the Garnet Hill got the stamp of approval from our 8-year-old kid tester, who reported that it was "then warm and cozy" to snuggle under. It's Oeko-Tex–certified and comes with Garnet Hill's lifetime guarantee, one of the best return policies of all our picks. And it'due south the simply comforter nosotros recommended in 2020 that remained consistently in stock during the pandemic.
The Garnet Hill'due south dense percale crush is strong enough to employ without a duvet embrace (this makes it easier for kids to brand their own beds). And the whole comforter is simple to launder at home (which makes information technology easier for grownups to shove everything in the wash at once, a bonus when kids get ill). The twin size we tested didn't overload our machines (neither did the king-size down-blanket version we'd tested previously), and we didn't encounter any loose feathers or clusters in the lint trap or on the comforter itself. No feathers escaped during our initial shake tests or during the 3 or four washes since then.
If your children are allergic to down, or you simply prefer a down alternative, you lot tin can opt for the Essential Core-Loft Comforter, which has the same 550-fill-ability and durable percale shell but costs most four times the price of the Utopia down-alternative comforter. We've as well tested the Essential Down Blanket, a lighter version of this comforter (same fill power, just less of it) for our bed blankets guide (it besides comes in a Core-Loft version). All are excellent, depending on the warmth you need and the fill you prefer.
Flaws simply not dealbreakers: The Essential Down has the lowest fill ability of any comforter we recommend. This ways the down isn't as light and airy as that of our other picks. But it kept us warm, and the heavier weight didn't bother our testers. The down isn't RDS-certified, either, and so nosotros don't know how it was sourced. Also, our kid tester strongly recommends washing the comforter before using it to soften upwardly the crinkly percale fabric, which is stiff out of the packaging (she much preferred the texture after a launder).
Long-term exam notes: Subsequently near a year of long-term use, the Garnet Hill has held up perfectly through iii or four washes, many playroom fort campouts, and a lot of dragging effectually the firm. We're impressed with how solid the percale shell has been; we oasis't seen any feathers leak out, and it'south just gotten softer and comfier with each wash. The color (nosotros tested Faded Rose) has also stayed vibrant.
Fill up power and fill blazon: 550 make full power, duck down
Construction: sewn-through
Sizes: twin, full/queen, king/California king
Available colors: 12 solid colors, including some bright, kid-friendly options
Our favorite downwardly-alternative comforter: Utopia Bedding Queen Comforter Duvet Insert
Our pick
Why it's groovy: Over the past 5 years of testing, the fiber-fill Utopia Bedding Queen Comforter Duvet Insert remains the best under-$50 selection we've tried. We know real down is hard to beat out for comfort, loft, and breathability. But if y'all avert using animal products, are allergic to downwardly, or don't want to spend the coin, the Utopia is the most breathable, cheap alt-downwards comforter we've ever tested. Information technology was better at regulating heat than several higher-priced down-alternative comforters we tried, including those from Brooklinen and Snowe, and the outer shell was softer than those of many competitors. Similar the Garnet Hill Essential Downwardly Comforter, the Utopia does come in several colors, which implies it may be fine to use without a cover. But the fabric isn't as thick, so nosotros even so recommend using a cover on the Utopia to extend its life (information technology includes loops on the corners to attach one).
We've tested a range of budget downwardly options from retailers similar Amazon, JCPenney, and other big-box stores, and we've eliminated many of them because they were substantially lacking in quality. Not and so with the Utopia: It has sturdy stitching with piped edges and lofty, siliconized, fiber-filled boxes. Almost downwardly-alternative comforters don't breathe well, just when we slept with the Utopia, we rarely woke upwards considering we were too hot or too cold. With competing down-alternative comforters, we often woke up halfway through the nighttime, sweaty and eager to toss off the covers. The shell feels solid yet soft and polish. Plus, all sizes cost less than $fifty, then nosotros think the Utopia would be a great, non-down choice for a child'due south bed or in a guest room.
Flaws simply not dealbreakers: One of our editors purchased three of these for her kids and notes that the corner loops are small, which makes threading through duvet cover ties a challenge. As well, although presumably you can return the Utopia comforter to Amazon, we haven't been able to reach anyone at Utopia to ask whether the company itself offers any warranty (at this price, information technology'due south doubtful). In Apr 2021 nosotros noticed low inventory in several sizes and colors; they've since been fully restocked in white, but other colors are sold out in some sizes. We'll go on watching this one for stock issues.
Long-term test notes: Our editor who purchased these comforters for her kids says that after nearly two years of employ, they're of much better quality than she'd look for the price. "They're surprisingly soft, and the filling is evenly distributed."
Fill power and fill type: siliconized cobweb-fill
Construction: sewn-through
Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king/California male monarch
Available colors: ix solid colors (mostly nighttime colors)
Who should get this
Anyone who lives anywhere other than the tropics likely already has a comforter. The existent question is: Do you need a new one? Though many high-quality comforters will last 10 years or longer, down can clump and shift, leaving cold pockets. Eventually, downward clusters may even fully atomize. If you lot regularly find that you're common cold, information technology may be time for a replacement comforter. See the graphic below on how to choose the appropriate weight.
Before you make a buy, though, give your existing comforter a wash and dry—y'all may run across information technology magically return to its old fluffy glory. (See our care and maintenance department for more details about cleaning.) If you're allergic to downwards or not keen on using animal products, opt for a down-alternative comforter.
How nosotros picked and tested
Over the years, we've considered more 90 comforters and interviewed five experts, some more once. Though we don't apply any hard-and-fast rules when deciding which comforters to exam, we exercise await for models that ideally meet the post-obit criteria:
- We adopt comforters with 600 to 800 fill power. (We explain more about make full power below, just higher numbers mean fluffier, more-voluminous down, which makes a comforter warm just lightweight.)
- A well-woven shell (normally cotton) and solid construction will help ensure that down doesn't escape. Our experts recommend plain weaves (cambric or percale), sateen, or jacquard material.
- Nosotros looked for comforters with a generous return policy and a long warranty.
- Ideally a comforter volition have mostly positive owner reviews.
- A comforter should come up in a decent size (at to the lowest degree 88 by 88 inches for a queen bed).
- We looked for ones with corner loops, for attaching a duvet cover.
We had a slight preference for:
- goose down over less-fluffy duck downward (though there is cipher incorrect with duck downward, goose down does take slightly larger clusters)
- Responsible Down Standard certification
- Oeko-Tex certification
In 2019, 2020, and 2021, nosotros tested a total of 22 comforters in down, down alternative, and wool, including retests of four existing picks from Riley, 50.L.Bean, Feathered Friends, and Utopia. We inspected each one to gauge the feel, the stitching, and the weight and loft, and in our 2021 tests we washed them to cheque for feather leaks and shell durability. Nosotros shook each ane 10 times to see whether down clusters or feathers escaped. Nosotros paid attention to how noisy the shells were. And we spent fourth dimension nether each one to gauge warmth. Then nosotros sleep-tested the most promising (a total of about 16 comforters).
We focused on employing the comforters as near people would in their own homes, spending a night or two under each and using v sleep testers—including an 8-year-sometime child—over the class of two years. Two of our testers were hot sleepers, and three were boilerplate-warmth sleepers. For Jackie'south fall 2020 update, our testers tried some new budget options in a bedroom with a temperature betwixt 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, with the windows open (except for our child tester—her windows stayed closed). Nosotros wanted to see whether lower make full power and less expensive materials would nonetheless proceed u.s. warm when the temperature dropped. In Jackie'due south fall 2021 tests, when she retested our picks alongside new comforters, testers slept in a bedroom with a temperature around sixty degrees Fahrenheit.
How to choose the best comforter weight for yous
Many comforters, including three of our picks, are bachelor in multiple weights, so you can choose one based on the corporeality of warmth you need. Although there'due south no manufacture-standard warmth rating in the Usa, most companies interruption it downwards only: light, medium (frequently called all-season), and heavy. Here'southward a guide to help yous effigy out your platonic comforter weight:
You lot can also fine-tune the warmth of any comforter by changing the type of cover you use (see our duvet embrace picks here). To brand a comforter warmer in the fall and wintertime, add a flannel cover, and for spring and summer, opt for a lightweight linen or percale comprehend. With the exception of the Garnet Hill Essential Downward Comforter (which is set to apply equally is out of the bag), we recommend using a duvet cover on any comforter you cull. Skipping a cover might void the warranty on your comforter, co-ordinate to some policies nosotros've seen. Contact with skin oils tin can make both cotton and down dethrone more speedily over time than they otherwise would. A encompass also keeps dirt off of your comforter'south shell (which might cause discoloration), and it can help keep feathers from leaking.
Comforter construction 101
All comforters consist of two outer layers of fabric with an insulating material (like down) sandwiched between them. About are stuffed with clumps of make full (similar down, feathers, or polyfil) that are evenly distributed in channels throughout the entire comforter. There are ii ways to do this: the sewn-through method and the baffle-box method, illustrated past the comforter cross-sections below.
Sewn-through comforters
What it ways: Sewn-through comforters may take boxes, channels, or other patterns; these sew together the top and lesser of the comforter and foreclose the make full from shifting. This construction method is low-maintenance and makes a comforter easier to wash because the downward inside each smaller pocket doesn't have much space to move effectually. David Sweetness of the American Downward and Feather Council told united states of america that if you lot're non interested in having to maintain something, become with a sewn-through comforter. "You'll never have to worry about make full shifting," he said. The drawback to sewn-through comforters is that some cold air may seep through the sewn-through seams, and the comforter may be slightly less lofty overall.
Baffle-box comforters
What it ways: Baffle-box comforters are constructed with vertical strips of fabric that carve up the top and lesser layers of the outer beat, creating iii-dimensional walls. The baffles help keep the down lofty and therefore trap and retain more estrus. Merely because the bigger boxes can as well let the downward clusters to shift around, it's a skilful idea to shake out your comforter to proceed the down evenly distributed and fluffy. Bamboozle-box construction is more than labor-intensive and tends to be regarded as beingness of higher quality. But we plant that many of the sewn-through comforters nosotros tested—including our luxurious upgrade pick—were just every bit warm and fluffy as those with baffles.
Deciphering labels
The world of down comforters has its ain language, and it can exist confusing. Here'south a breakdown of what the terms hateful and (even more important) how they might factor into your decision-making process.
Fill up power: This is the volume of i ounce of downwardly measured in cubic inches—the college the volume, the higher the fill ability. Voluminous, loftier-fill-power down is lightweight, making a comforter warm but not heavy. Loftier make full power can too mean college-quality fill. Jack Sukalac told u.s. that the Federal Merchandise Commission allows manufacturers to use as little as 75% downwards in an all-downward comforter—the rest can be cheap feathers. This mix is more common in lower-priced and lower-make full-power comforters. For an entry-level down comforter, 600 to 700 fill ability is plenty.
Goose down or duck down: The down in comforters comes from either ducks or geese. Duck down is generally not as fluffy as goose downwardly because most of it comes from small-scale ducks with small puffs of down. Both goose downwards and duck down can make excellent comforters, though, so there's no reason to turn your nose up at a downward puff's provenance.
Down alternative: This is a grab-all term for whatever non-down comforter filling. At the low finish, it's a polyester-cotton fiber blend that comes in sheets like batting. It goes upwardly to gel-fiber filling or a patented material called PrimaLoft (a lightweight, breathable fill that tin can increase the price of a downwards-alternative comforter by 15% to 20%).
Fabric weave and thread count: Most of our experts recommend a dense, plain-woven fabric, such every bit cotton cambric or percale, to help keep downwards inside a comforter'south shell. Many high-quality comforter shells are besides made from sateen (a softer, shinier weave, unremarkably of cotton wool) or jacquard, which oftentimes has a decorative weave pattern. Thread count also plays a office, but don't pay attending to super-high numbers—300 to 400 is ideal. Anything higher won't give you better downwardly retentivity and is probable just marketing hype.
Duvet or comforter: Technically, a comforter is a bed covering that is filled with some kind of insulation and sewn shut; information technology unremarkably features a color or pattern and does not require a cover. A duvet typically contains down or downward-culling fill and is fabricated to be inserted into a duvet cover. However, according to Shannon Maher, the interim dean at the Manner Constitute of Engineering science, in the US these terms have get interchangeable.
Oeko-Tex–certified
Oeko-Tex–approved items (cotton wool, in the case of near comforter shells) are certified as free from substances that are potentially harmful to humans and the environment, such every bit formaldehyde, heavy metals, and plasticizers. However, Oeko-Tex–certified items are not explicitly organic.
Ethical downwards
Information technology's difficult to sort out exactly where downwardly is coming from, let alone whether it was collected using the inhumane do of plucking a live duck or a live goose. Thankfully, some comforter companies are trying to use humanely harvested downwardly merely. The Responsible Down Standard certifies the traceability of down and verifies that no animals have been live-plucked. The RDS seal appears on items from companies that are operating within the standard'southward requirements and whose products are audited and certified past Control Union. You can enter the lot number of any RDS-certified slice into Allied Plume + Down's TrackMyDown to trace the downward back to its source. If you would similar to learn more about ethical down, we accept written a whole mail on the topic.
What to look forward to
Care and maintenance
Here's the good consensus: Employ a duvet encompass to protect your investment. An exposed comforter will accumulate more body oils, causing the down and shell to deteriorate more quickly. Down-culling comforters are the least delicate and can generally be done like most other bedding; follow the care instructions on the characterization. Down comforters, including well-nigh all of our picks, can exist washed at home or at the laundromat with extra care.
Most recommendations we've seen say to launder your down comforter once a yr. But comforter-repair specialist Jack Sukalac said if it'due south non stained, soiled, or smelly, you could really launder information technology every three to five years. Washing a down comforter too often, especially at high temperatures, can shorten its lifespan by damaging the down or the bamboozle-box walls (which are made of a effectively material than a comforter's beat out). "I tell people when I sell them a new comforter that maybe one time every three to 5 years is adequate," Sukalac said. "If you wash it every year, it'due south just going to transport y'all back to get [a new comforter] sooner." Utilize a duvet embrace on your comforter to maximize the fourth dimension needed betwixt washings.
Sukalac as well strongly advises against dry cleaning a down comforter, fifty-fifty though many care labels we've seen say "dry make clean only." He said dry cleaning "ruins" a comforter considering the chemicals are too harsh and will accept the oils out of down. Tread carefully here, though, because even though our experts may recommend that y'all launder your comforter, you could void its warranty if yous exercise.
When your comforter does need to exist cleaned, remember to exist extra-gentle. Ideally yous should use a front-loading washer, since these make clean bulky items more than effectively. If you have a height-loader, try to keep the load counterbalanced—it's easy for comforters to get tangled or perchance torn on an anarchist. Or take your comforter to the laundromat and use a car that'south intended for oversize items. Employ balmy soap, and cull the delicate setting. Sukalac has washed comforters in all h2o temperatures—depending on the stains—but he said cold water is best if your comforter is not heavily soiled. The important thing is to make sure all the lather is rinsed out so it doesn't soak into the fill and cause bug. Sukalac likes to run 1 washer bike with soap and and then a 2nd, shorter cycle without soap, to be sure the comforter is thoroughly rinsed make clean.
The dryer is really the place where dust mites and pathogens volition be killed off. And if y'all need to disinfect your comforter, Sukalac recommends that you lot dry it on high for 20 minutes and then lower the dryer temperature, leaving the comforter in until it is completely dry. If you have a potent allergy to dust mites, he said you could kill them off by putting your comforter in the dryer every 3 weeks, for 20 minutes on high heat, without washing it. This is also where sewn-through comforters have an advantage over baffle-box ones: Considering the down doesn't shift, sewn-through comforters dry out more evenly. If you have a baffle-box comforter, Sukalac said you should have it out of the dryer a few times to shake it and try to redistribute the down as information technology dries.
Other expert comforters
Downwardly comforters
If it'south available: The L.50.Bean Baffle-Box Stitch Goose Down Comforter, Warm is another former acme pick. And, next to the Feathered Friends comforter, this is the best one nosotros've ever tried. But it'due south constantly sold out. In fact, we downgraded it from being a top pick to a runner-up in 2019 because of these supply issues. We contacted L.L.Bean in summer 2021 to see whether the comforter might be available this twelvemonth, and the company said it didn't conceptualize 2021 being any better for supply with this comforter. This comforter hasn't been discontinued—it's just difficult to get. So if you lot do happen to see information technology in stock in the size you need, grab information technology (as of this writing, it was available to purchase with a three- to iv-week wait fourth dimension).
If you need a down comforter for a more-extreme hot or cold climate: We recommend the all-season weight of the Brooklinen Downwards Comforter because it'southward lofty and warm for most climates. Only if yous live somewhere with milder temperatures (or very dank winters), Brooklinen makes Lightweight and Ultra-Warm versions that nosotros also tested. The quality of the beat is but as high every bit that of the all-season version, and both are light and fluffy. The lightweight version is made with recycled down, and the ultra-warm uses goose downward from Hutterite farmers in Canada (the all-season version we recommend uses Hutterite duck downward).
If our other picks sell out and yous're willing to put up with possible delays: The Riley White Goose Down Comforter is our former pinnacle pick, and we still remember it's a fantastic comforter if one of our other picks is unavailable. But we've seen Riley struggle to see customers' expectations in the past. The comforter is heavier than the Brooklinen, and information technology isn't every bit lofty as the Feathered Friends. But the Riley is warm and durable, and it's held up beautifully in testing, with no plume leaks or damage. In 2020, though, this comforter was plagued with supply problems and shipping delays, and Riley's customer service team at the fourth dimension was besides small-scale to meet the needs of frustrated customers. Riley has since expanded its client service team and supply chain, and information technology has assured usa things take gotten better (Riley is a smaller company that grew quickly). We have seen improvements over the past year, with fewer and fewer readers notifying united states of issues. Still, nosotros've moved the comforter off our list of picks while we watch how the company handles the upcoming winter flavour.
If you want luxury and don't listen waiting for Garnet Loma'southward frequent sales: The Garnet Hill Signature White Down Comforter was among the best we've tested in the by few years. Information technology's lofty and warm merely non too hot, and it feels super-light to sleep under. But it's about $100 more than our Brooklinen option. If you're looking to invest in something that is a step above the Brooklinen, we think you'd be meliorate off going with our Feathered Friends choice, which feels much high. However, Garnet Hill has frequent sales throughout the year, and its return policy is one of the best out in that location (a lifetime guarantee). If you can await until this comforter is discounted, the Garnet Hill is an absolute steal for the quality.
If yous demand an affordable comforter that comes in different weights: The Target Casaluna Low-cal Weight and Ultra Weight down comforters were but also made as the Mid Weight. Only we didn't call up they offered the correct level of warmth for year-round use by most people. They could, however, work for people who live in very cold or very hot places. The Lite Weight version left u.s.a. reaching for actress blankets on a fifty-ish degree Fahrenheit night, and the Ultra Weight comforter fabricated us sweat uncomfortably.
If you lot need a comforter for your kid, teen, or college student that comes in a twin Twoscore and an assortment of colors: Like the Garnet Hill Essential Down Comforter we recommend, The Company Store's LaCrosse Down Comforter doesn't need a duvet cover, and it's a fun option for kids. We've besides tested the thinner, blanket version of the LaCrosse (for our guide to bed blankets) and the down-culling version (for this guide), and overall we prefer the Garnet Loma considering of its lower cost, feel, weight, and structure. Merely the LaCrosse is available in more colors, and many of them are brighter (and change throughout the year). If your kid has an absolute favorite hue, and you don't heed paying a niggling more, we doubt they'll notice the slight differences in quality. Plus, the LaCrosse comes in a longer, twin Forty size for dorm rooms (unlike the Garnet Hill).
The competition
Down comforters
The Allied Home Deluxe White Downwards Comforter, some other budget option, scored the lowest overall in our 2020 budget-comforter testing: It leaked clusters of down in our milk shake tests and lacked corner ties for attaching a duvet encompass. It is made with RDS-certified down (a plus), with 550 fill up power. But nowhere on the packaging or the label did it specify duck or goose down. Target'south production-description page says duck, and we're sure that's true given the price, nevertheless this was an odd omission since nigh companies conspicuously specify the animal origin on the label.
We retested the Snowe Down Comforter in late 2019, subsequently ii years without testing information technology. This ane should have been a decent deal for the toll, considering it's blimp with 750-fill-power RDS-certified duck down and has a soft, 330-thread-count Oeko-Tex sateen cover. Only when nosotros retested this comforter, it lacked a lot of the loft that made the earlier version a bang-up comforter. The diminished quality, along with bug we've had with Snowe's customer service in the by, make information technology impossible for u.s.a. to recommend this comforter.
We liked how light and warm the Parachute Downwardly Duvet Insert felt during our preliminary tests. But at $400 for a queen, it costs more many of our picks, which are also of higher quality.
The Casper Down Duvet is constructed with long, horizontal boxes that will almost definitely lead to uneven fill distribution and cold spots. Plus, its noisy beat bothered us.
The Balichun Goose Down Comforter had a scratchy vanquish then piffling make full inside that it felt like two pieces of cotton were just sewn together. To say there wasn't enough loft would be an understatement.
Nosotros thought the Crane & Canopy Classic Goose Down Comforter (now discontinued; the new version is called the Supreme Goose Downwards Comforter, which we take not tested) appeared to be well fabricated. But we're leery of any comforter with a 30-day return policy, specially one that says the comforter must be unused and unwashed.
In by years we have also tested the following at present-discontinued comforters: the Target Fieldcrest Comforters (the mid-weight was a former budget selection), the IKEA Hönsbär and Sötvedel comforters, and the Downlite Hotel & Resort European Downward Comforter.
Downward-alternative comforters
The Company Shop'southward LaCrosse Dual LoftAIRE Downwards Culling Comforter costs every bit much as many real downwards comforters we tried, but it ran much warmer and didn't breathe nearly too as the Utopia (though its structure and materials were of higher quality). The medium weight fabricated usa sweat, so consider the lightweight option, fifty-fifty if you live in a common cold climate.
Riley's Down Alternative Comforter felt as proficient as many down comforters we've tried. Its shell was pretty noisy, though, and its polyester fill was flatter than those of other comforters. Nonetheless, this comforter felt light, a rarity for downward-culling comforters.
Nosotros tested both the Buffy Deject and Breeze comforters, and we fifty-fifty slept for a night with the Deject. Just we found they were both extremely heavy and didn't breathe at all. Waking up drenched in sweat and trapped under the Cloud was awful.
In past years we likewise tested the now-discontinued JCPenney Home Classic Light-Warmth Down Alternative Reversible Comforter, the Target Warmest Down Alternative Comforter past Fieldcrest, and Target's Made by Design Downwards Alternative Comforter.
Wool comforters
Authenticity50'southward Comfort Temp Duvet is the only wool-filled comforter we've tried then far, and it is significantly heavier than the downward comforters we tested in fall 2020. Nonetheless, during testing in winter 2019–20, nosotros found that it was breathable while nevertheless very warm and cozy. It isn't fluffy and lofty like our picks considering information technology's essentially a slab of wool sandwiched between two outer layers of cotton, instead of a baffle-box or sewn-through construction. Because of this, nosotros thought it looked smoother and more polished when folded dorsum at the foot of the bed. It also didn't trigger whatever allergic reactions in our testers (including 1 who is allergic to pretty much everything). Information technology'south in the Usa and slightly less expensive than our picks, but during the pandemic stock has been unpredictable because of manufacturing plant shutdowns.
Sources
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Jack Sukalac, engineer and down comforter skillful at All Nigh Down, interview , October 16, 2020
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Peak-Rated Comforters, Sleep Like The Dead
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Ashley Poskin, No Demand to Dry Clean: How to Launder A Downward Comforter, Apartment Therapy , June 5, 2019
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Shannon Maher, interim dean, Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Engineering science at Fashion Institute of Technology, interview
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David Sweetness, so-president of the American Downward and Feather Quango, interview
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Daniel Uretsky, president of Allied Plume + Down, interview
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Gary Peterson, general manager at Western Mountaineering, interview
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-comforter/
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