Down or synthetic - which comforter is the right one?

It's cold outside, so it's all the better to snuggle up under a warm comforter in the evening. But which comforter is the right one for a good night's sleep? Classic down or synthetic? The sleeping climate is very important for rest. Here, the natural material is unbeatable. This has also been shown by Stiftung Warentest measurements. Down and feathers are better at storing and wicking away the moisture released during sleep.

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via Sabrina
12/13/2016, 11:48
Daune oder Synthetik: Wichtig für erholsame Nachtruhe ist das Schlafklima.© iStock
Down or synthetic: the sleeping climate is important for a good night's sleep.

Advantages of the down comforter: unique shape

Which comforter is the right one depends on several factors. Above all, down ensures cozy warmth with a lightweight comforter. It has a short keel and - unlike feathers - is three-dimensional. This means that the barely visible core gives rise to soft down legs with very fine branches. This shape allows the down to form an air cushion that traps heat and protects against the cold. They are also astonishingly robust: down can be compressed to a small size and still quickly regain its volume. The comforter adapts perfectly to the shape of the body, yet is light and does not weigh you down.

Not from live plucking!

A high-quality down comforter has a high proportion of down - e.g. 90 percent down and ten percent feathers. The way the animals are kept is decisive for the quality. Fully mature down develops after around four to six months. This requires that the goose can grow up in peace. How the down is obtained is also important. Live plucking is cruel. Therefore, you should look out for down that has only been obtained after slaughter, as is the case with Dithmarsch geese (www.gaensebetten.de), for example. Unfortunately, there is no reliable seal for this. Only eiderdown from Germany is free of animal suffering. It is harvested from the abandoned nests of the animals. The eider ducks use it to pad their nests. That's why eider down is so expensive.

Synthetics are catching up

Manufacturers of synthetic comforters are trying to imitate the properties of natural down. And they are getting better and better at it. The lightness that modern synthetic fibers allow is perceived as pleasant. The question of which comforter is the right one is particularly important for allergy sufferers. Synthetic comforters can be washed at high temperatures and are therefore often the better choice for them. Blankets with a synthetic filling but a cotton cover are the most comfortable - especially for people who perspire easily. Cotton absorbs moisture more quickly. According to the magazine Ökotest, there is no need to worry about harmful substances in most synthetic blankets.