Centuries ago, people discovered the benefit of stuffing duvets with the fluffy down taken from ducks and other aquatic species.

By the 16th century, the down duvet had spread throughout Europe’s wealthier classes, as the peasants continued to stuff their cloth bedding with grass, straw, or hay.

Since then, the down duvet has been filled with either the eiderdown of ducks or geese. But which is better?

Goose eiderdown is generally considered superior as a rarer and more expensive material whose plumule clusters are also larger. The eiderdown clusters trap thousands of tiny air pockets in the bag, expanding with body heat to form a loftier blanket of insulation.

However, the range of eiderdown quality means that sometimes duck down is higher in quality than goose down.

What Is a Down Duvet?

A duvet is a kind of bedding that consists of a flat bag filled with soft, insulating material with a removable cover for easy laundering.

Also known as a comforter, duvets at the high end may be filled with duck down or goose down—the soft and fluffy layer of plumules found beneath the exterior feathers. The down duvet insulates the sleeper through a process called “lofting.” The down material expands to fill space and trap thousands of insulating pockets of air within the filament.

Eiderdown has no stem or shaft like a feather but consists of many tiny filaments. The air pockets trapped between filaments provide insulation rather than the material itself.

The quality of down duvets ranges with the type of eiderdown and the amount stuffed into the bag.

What Makes Down Products So Special?

The down duvet’s breathability traps body heat without allowing moisture to stick to the covers, creating a more luxurious sleeping experience. The same qualities that keep the body warmer in the colder months and keep it cooler in the summertime.

Moreover, the sensation of a light and airy warmth without the usual weight brings a superior feeling of comfort and peace.

The eiderdown of ducks and geese ranges in quality measured by fill power (FP). The highest quality goose down may run at 1,000 FP, compared to higher quality duck down at 850 FP.

The more common and affordable duck and goose down duvets range between 450 to 850 FP, with filtering machines producing higher-quality fill. Recent improvements in the machine-sorting process have yielded higher fill power in both duck and goose down duvets.

Manufacturers measure fill power by placing a 30g sample of down in a plexiglass cylinder, compressed with a weighted piston. The testing controls for temperature, humidity, and preparation of the down sample. That allows manufacturers to make an accurate comparison across source species and varieties to determine the range of quality for fill.

Which Is Better? Duck or Goose Down Duvets?

The superiority of either duck or goose down duvets is a preference best left to the consumer’s priorities.

Duck down is far more common as a byproduct of the meat and egg industries, with goose down much rarer. Goose down is also larger given the animal’s longer lifespan, which provides a higher fill power and, therefore, more excellent loft.

Yet, the quality difference between the two may seem negligible to most consumers, particularly after comparing the price. Goose down duvets typically sells at 35-50% higher prices than comparable duck down products.

Some consumers may find that duck down is a good median between cotton and goose filling for duvets.

Should You Buy Down or Feather Duvets?

The consumer might choose to buy a feather duvet over the more expensive down product in many cases.

Feather duvets typically offer a blend of feather and the softer down at a less expensive price. Duvets filled with duck feathers or goose feathers are heavier and less breathable than the airier down-filled versions that offer more loft.

Some people might prefer a weightier cover, though loftier is considered more luxurious. The covering is much lighter than a comparable duvet filled with cotton or wool.

Manufacturers typically fill down pillows with a blend of 80% down and 20% feather, and vice versa for feather pillows.

Hungarian Goose Down, What Makes It So Special?

Hungarian goose down is generally considered the premier eiderdown, although Canadians and Siberians may claim the superiority of their own goose varieties.

This may get even more heated with the addition of “white Siberian goose” down.

However, most such products on the global marketplace are sourced from either Hungarian goose down or those bred in tropical environments. The non-Hungarian varieties typically have shorter feathers and smaller down clusters, given the difference in the climate. With smaller clusters, more of the goose down is required to fill the duvet, which means a heavier weight.

In contrast, Hungarian geese grow longer feathers and larger down clusters, providing a much greater loft and more luxurious comfort.

Animal Welfare

Consumers may also be assured that Hungarian eiderdown products come from manufacturers who comply with European Union and international regulations for animal welfare and traceability. Hungary sources goose down from its meat industry, meaning that no live geese are ever plucked or skinned, unlike some tropical sources.

Conclusion

After learning all this information, it seems like goose down is the clear winner for your choice of bedding. It will make your nights much softer and cosier.

The average 21st-century person spends some 26 years of life sleeping in bed, researchers say. That’s not even counting the seven years we spend trying to fall asleep, for a total of 33 years in bed—or more than 12,000 days. On top of that, many people spend leisure time in bed watching television, reading, or working on laptops and mobile phones.

Moreover, the quality and duration of our sleep is closely linked to health outcomes, including mood and perceived quality of life. Chronic insomnia may increase the chances of developing a mood disorder, worsening depression and irritability.

So considering the time we spend in bed and sleep’s importance to health, spending just a bit more money on a quality sleeping experience makes sense.

Here at Sleepseeker, we are experts in sleep and bedding. We offer a range of duvets, pillows, mattress toppers and more to keep you comfortable at night.

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