24/07/2022
Down or feathers - which is better and what are the differences?
Down or Feather – Which is Better and What Are the Differences?
If you are considering buying new pillows or duvets, you might wonder: Should I buy feather pillows or down pillows, and what are the differences?
Table of Contents
Down and Feather – Here is the Difference
Down is found in the lower part of the plumage of birds and serves to protect the body from cold and heat. Unlike feathers, they are not directly visible and form the second layer of plumage. Down consists of very fine feathers. Feathers, on the other hand, are functional and appear as tail feathers or on the wings. Feathers do not have a temperature-regulating function. This also explains the price difference between the two materials. The most obvious difference between down and feathers is the quill. Feathers have a firm, noticeable, and visible quill in the middle part. Down does not have this quill, making it much softer and lighter than feathers.
What Advantages Do Down or Feathers Offer?
Down, as a high-quality part of the plumage, offers several advantages that feathers cannot provide: Due to the loose composition of fine down, they store a lot of air while remaining light, fluffy, and voluminous. This makes them perfect heat insulators that also provide remarkable temperature regulation. They keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. Feathers, on the other hand, add more fill and weight to the duvet or pillow but do not have a warming function. Because feathers have a quill, cheap products may have quills that poke through the thin outer cover of the pillow or duvet.
Duvet - Down or Feather?
Down duvets outperform any feather duvet. The best down duvets are filled with 100% down, not mixed fillings. Although these are significantly more expensive than feather or mixed duvets, they can last up to 30 years with proper care and offer numerous benefits for a restful, healthy sleep. Down duvets can be covered with a very thin fabric since they do not have poking quills. This thin fabric cover allows the positive properties of down, such as its temperature-regulating ability, to shine. People who sweat a lot, for example, can sleep very well in a pure down duvet.
Pillow: Down or Feather?
The pillow, on the other hand, has a different function. It should support the head while sleeping to ensure a straight spine. If a pillow is filled with 100% down, you will sink into the pillow, which can cause back and neck pain. By mixing feathers into the pillow, it remains stable and can provide the necessary support. The feather content also ensures that the pillow does not become too warm, which is often perceived as disturbing for the head. Therefore, we recommend a mixture of feathers and down for pillows. There are different mixing ratios, such as 70% feathers and 30% down or 80% feathers and 20% down. Common pillows used in hotels are, for example, the Classic Down Pillow from Mühldorfer.
INFORMATION ABOUT MÜHLDORFER: Mühldorfer is one of our suppliers, providing top hotels worldwide with high-quality down pillows and duvets. All Mühldorfer products are produced in the Bavarian Forest. The basis for the high quality of the processed down and feathers is the lime-free, pure mountain spring water of the Bavarian Forest. After washing with fresh spring water and drying in the air stream, the germ- and dust-free selected down is filled into the beds using the state-of-the-art filling system. For the duvets and pillows, organically grown cotton is used and gently finished. This creates fabrics with an incomparably soft feel and elegant appearance, meeting the highest environmental standards. All Mühldorfer products guarantee to be hypoallergenic, antibacterial, washable at 60°C - 95°C, and suitable for tumble drying. They all meet the Öko-Tex Standard 100 and have a hydro-transport system.