What is Goose Down?
Goose down has had high value for many years as the ultimate material for filling bedding products as well as for providing superior softness and comfort. So, what is it exactly?
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Goose down is a type of natural insulation that all geese have as an underlayment below their adult, contour feathers. It is typically very soft, fine and
short shafted. Fine down is not single shafted, as are
feathers, but is generally a cluster with many strands
of soft material that grows in various directions, much
like a small, fluffy cotton ball.
Unlike contour feathers, soft down does not have
prickly quills. Young geese wear down as their only
initial covering before their feathers grow in at
adulthood. This material helps them to stay dry and
warm. Other waterfowl, such as ducks, are also clad
with down which helps them have buoyancy on the water as well as helps to retain body heat during the winter. Interestingly, land fowl do not grow down feathers.
Types of Down
There are natal, body and powder down that are commonly associated with several types of waterfowl as well as some pet birds. Natal down is the substance that always covers fowl during their early development. Some are already covered with fine down when they are born, and others develop it early on.
Body down is another type of fluffy, fine material that is located underneath the outer body feathers of many birds. And finally, powder down is a special kind of down that is found in only a few types of birds such as Cockatoos, Parrots and Cockatiels. This type of down has special tips that disintegrate to produce a white powdery substance that becomes airborne when the birds preen and clean their feathers.
Powder down is an natural allergen to some people, who cannot be exposed to the powder without experiencing allergic symptoms. Geese do not grow powder down feathers, so this allergen is not present in goose or duck down.
The color of goose down is somewhere between a dark gray or white color. This has nothing to do with the quality, but the color is affected by the time of the year and the bird's age when the substance is harvested. A high fill power dark gray goose down is just as fine as a white fill power of the same loft. The reason that white goose down is generally preferred more often in down bedding items is the fact that white will not show through the bedding covers of pillows, comforters and mattress toppers as easily as a darker color.
What does 'fill power' mean?
Fill power or loft refers to the size and material quality of down. The term 'fill power' refers to how many cubic inches that one ounce of down will fill when tested in a laboratory condition. You can find fill power ranging from 300 to over 800 cubic inches. The higher the fill power, the better the quality rating of the goose down in goose down bedding products.
Which is the best down material for goose down bedding?
There is not only goose down, but also duck down.
Both are very much alike except for the size of the
down clusters. Ducks are smaller than geese, hence
goose down clusters tend to be larger as well as
provide better insulation and comfort qualities when
used for bedding products.
So, the absolute best material is generally Canadian
white goose down that is harvested in a humane way
from grain fed, open range geese that roam grazing
lands free and naturally. Canadian geese serve first a
food purpose, are USDA, CFIA & EU certified and then
processed at poultry facilities.
The aboriginal white goose down material that is
processed is absolutely the finest in the world. A
comforter made from this material can cost several
thousand dollars! Hungarian goose down is also a
close second in quality material used for down bedding products. Poland and China produce goose down as well, but many of their methods of harvesting are questionable and inhumane.
Benefits of Goose Down Bedding
- Best, lightweight insulation material - Ounce for ounce, down is better than all other insulation materials, both natural and synthetic.
- Durable - Did you know that a fine quality featherbed can last for over 50 years, if maintained properly?
- Resilient - Large cluster, fine down easily bounces back to shape time after time.
- Extremely breathable - Wicks dampness away from the body and through the miniscule down air pockets to keep you dry during sleep.
- Washable - Did you know that you can actually wash down pillows and comforters? Of course, you want to follow instructions carefully and take care of your investment, but you can wash these items by following proper instruction.
Goose Down Bedding Products
Goose down has had high value for many years as the ultimate material for filling luxury bedding products as well as for providing superior softness and comfort. In fact, five star hotels worldwide often provide their guest rooms with the finest goose down comforters, down filled pillows and featherbeds for superior comfort.
If you want to enjoy the same quality as in a fine European hotel, there are many good quality online stores that offer superior fill power and quality encasements for their products such as down comforters, white goose down pillows, feather beds, down mattress toppers and more. You will find a wide range of quality that is reflected in the prices, so don't be fooled. However, if you're a savvy shopper, you can pick up a fine quality goose down bedding product at discount or outlet prices.
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