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The down is a feather which is mostly used in bedding (like in this case pillows) sleeping bags or jackets. It is also called "under feather", because in most bird species it is located under the "normal" elongated feathers known to us.

Advantages of down pillows

Down pillows are very elastic, if you have lain on it all night you just have to shake it briefly in the morning and the down unfolds back to its original shape. Another feature, as well as an advantage, of pillows with a down filling are their lightness, because down is more than just "feather light", because, among other things, they have no keel, which in the feather is the elongated solid style in the middle.
The biggest advantage of down, and therefore of a down pillow, is its insulating capacity. Thanks to its three-dimensional structure, down can trap a relatively large amount of air, which makes it a perfect heat accumulator and filling for winter jackets, sleeping bags, comforters and even pillows.
Moreover, pillows filled with down are very soft and pleasant for the skin!

  • High elasticity or malleability
  • Low weight or very light
  • Insulation capacity
  • Very soft & comfortable

Sleeping position

We are often contacted and asked why down pillows sometimes still have 30% feathers with as a filling, some even more than 70% feathers, but still called down pillows.
Basically, the amount of filling, or the proportion of down and feathers, depends on the sleeping position. A pillow that is designed for people who sleep on their side is not the same as a pillow that should be used as a back sleeper. The size of a pillow also depends on the sleeping position at night.

Side sleeper

The distance from the head to the mattress is the greatest for side sleepers, and it is also common for side sleepers to turn and twist more often.

Pillow filling quantity

To bridge or support this high distance from head to mattress, it is recommended for side sleepers to buy a down pillow with a feather content of at least 50%. Because a pure down filling would be too pliable and the head would overstretch to the side, which would result in a rude awakening the next morning.

Pillow size

The ideal down pillow size for side sleepers is 40x80. Because as already mentioned, people with this type of sleep are most in motion or like to turn around sometimes. The elongated pillow then continues to provide the necessary support despite turning around or lying on your back at times.
Furthermore, it is important that the shoulder sinks into the mattress accordingly, which would prevent a large pillow reaching to the shoulder.

Back sleeper

Back sleepers have it relatively easy when choosing a pillow, as they usually lie quietly on their backs and do not change their lying position too much.

Pillow filling amount

In this case, the down percentage of the down pillow may be higher than the side sleeper, as there is less distance to bridge or support. So you can choose between a share of 30% and 50% down, depending on whether you prefer it softer or a little firmer.

Pillow size

The pillow size for back sleepers is relatively flexible to choose, as long as the head sinks in sufficiently and the back does not rest too much or preferably not at all on the pillow, you can fully devote yourself to their preferences.

Belly sleeper

Belly sleepers are similar to side sleepers much in motion. It is common for stomach sleepers to literally hug their pillow, which ensures or results in the arms under the head serving as additional support.

Pillow filling amount

Most stomach sleepers, like side sleepers, also use a 40x80 down pillow, as this is the easiest and best to hold in your arms. In general, however, you are not further limited in the choice of pillow size in relation to their stomach sleeper sleeping position.

Pillow size

Most stomach sleepers, like side sleepers, also use a 40x80 down pillow, as this is the easiest and best to hold in your arms. In general, however, you are not further limited in the choice of pillow size in relation to their stomach sleeper sleeping position.

Buy down pillow

Pay close attention when you want to buy a down pillow how much down is really included. Often, offers and particularly cheap down pillows are advertised which then, however, only have a very low down content.
A certain amount of feathers, as already explained, never does any harm, on the contrary it provides the necessary support, but a down pillow with 70% feathers is no longer as soft as a down pillow with 30% feathers.

Differences of duck down, goose down and eider down

There are three well-known and common types of down which are used as filling material for bedding. As explained above, down scores with unique advantages, which makes it so popular.

Duck down

Duck down is 13% less insulating than goose down, so you need more in quantity to achieve the same insulation value. For bedding this is not too crucial, but for jackets or sleeping bags value is placed on low weight and high thermal performance, where goose down scores better.
Duck down is nevertheless light, warming, soft and wonderfully compressible, which is why it is often used in down pillows.

Goose down

As already mentioned, goose down insulates better, which makes it more valuable and therefore more expensive.
The better insulation power can be derived from the average larger diameter of goose down, because down itself does not really warm, much more they enclose air which becomes warm. So if a down is bigger it can also trap more air.

Eider down

This special type of down comes from the Eider duck which lives in the European North seas, as well as in parts of North America and Siberia. Above all, however, the eider is known in Iceland.
As you can already see from the habitat, the climate there is not very warm, from which you can already deduce the main characteristic: Eider down is perfect for cold winter nights. But not only that, since the eider down does not store and release heat in itself, but the air between the individual downs is responsible for it, a down pillow with eider down is breathable and adapts to the appropriate ambient temperature.
The extraction of eider down is also very strictly regulated. Eider ducks pluck the down themselves from the feathers so that the laid eggs and soon chicks have it warm.
Only after these have grown up and left the nest, the eider down left behind may be taken.

Feather or down pillow?

How feathers look actually knows almost everyone, usually one had at some point times in the hand, as however down look know relatively few people in comparison.
Therefore, here is a picture of what a down looks like:
A white down on black background

One of the biggest differences are already visible in the picture, the down compared to the feather does not have a long style in the middle, which is called keel. Thus, a feather pillow is much firmer and more supportive compared to the down pillow.
So, when you lie down, a down pillow will sink in and adapt to its compressive strength, whereas a feather pillow has a firm shape and will yield only minimally.
Therefore, down pillows with a certain amount of feathers are perfect, so you get a soft pillow that adapts to you and your lying position, but at the same time, thanks to the certain amount of feathers your head is sufficiently supported.

Multi-chamber pillow

A Multi-chamber pillow is also a possibility to combine the advantages of the down pillow with those of a feather pillow. Because here are mostly in the core or the inner chamber feathers, which are responsible for the supporting function, and in the outer chamber down, which provide for the soft and pleasant lying feeling.
As an alternative, however, is also often in multi-chamber pillows polyester. Thus, the inner chamber is filled with a normal and compact polyester filling, and the outer chamber with soft fibers.

Washing down pillows

Down pillows should be washed at least every two years, but not only washing helps for a constant freshness, you should also air out the pillow every 4-6 months.
Especially if you sweat a lot, regular airing is essential.
However, make sure that your pillow is not directly exposed to sunlight.

Detergent

Generally, the pillow should be washed at 40 degrees on the gentle cycle. For down pillows there are even own natural detergents, if you use such you should of course consider the instructions given there. Alternatively, you can also use a mild detergent.
What should be avoided, however, are fabric softeners or full detergents, these damage the down permanently.

Can you dry down pillows in the dryer?

Drying a down pillow is particularly important and should definitely happen immediately after washing.
Some dryers even have their own drying program for down pillows. If not, the pillow should be dried at medium to low temperatures for a long time.
In between you can take the pillow out and fluff it by hand, but before you finally take it out you should make sure that all the down is really one hundred percent dry, otherwise it can start to mold.