How to choose a down comforter

By: Early To Bed  01/05/2011
Keywords: Comforters, Comforter, Duvet

How to choose a down comforter.  Are you toasty even on the chilliest of nights?  Or do you turn up the thermostat as soon as the sun goes down?  Find the right down comforter for you by answering these questions.

Are you:
  1. Always hot
  2. Comfortable in a variety of climates
  3. Freezing even in summer

Is your partner:
  1. Always hot
  2. Comfortable in a variety of climates
  3.Freezing even in summer

At night, is your house:
  1. Above 68 degrees
  2. Between 62-68 degrees
  3. Below 62 degrees

Do you want your bed to be:
1. Tailored and understated
2. Comfortable and inviting
3. Billowy and plush

Add up the score from the choices above to find the right Ogallala comforter.
Quick Duvet Quiz Results
4-6 If your score was 4-6, you are Hot! Hot! Hot! You generate so much heat on your own, a lightweight will suit you fine.  Keep from overheating with these lightweight duvets.

4  Southern Weight, Hypodown 700 or 800 fill power
5  Southern Weight, Hypodown 700 or 800 fill power
6  Avalon Southern Weight, Hypodown 700 or 800 fill power

7-9 If the score was between 7 and 9, you are comfortable in most surroundings.  Your best choice is located in the mid-range.  Enjoy sleeping in the comfort of moderate duvet choices.

7 Southern Weight, Hypodown 800 fill power
8 Classic Weight, Hypodown 700 fill power
9 Arctic Weight, Hypodown 700 fill power

10-12 If the total score was 10 to 12, you are a freeze baby!  You need the extra bit of warmth to get through the night.  You'll want a high fill power with some weight.  Stay toasty warm with these duvets.

10 Classic Weight, Hypodown 800 fill power
11 Arctic Weight, Hypodown 700 fill power
12 Arctic Weight, Hypodown 800 fill power

What is Fill Power?
Think of M&M's. They come in different sizes: mini, regular and peanut M&Ms.  Down Clusters are sorted, much like M&M's, into different categories based on their size. The lower number Fill Power are the smaller down clusters and will have less loft (or 'poof') than the higher number down clusters. The fill power also has some impact on warmth. If you want the biggest, puffiest, warmest down comforter you will want the highest fill power and heaviest weight (weight is number of ounces of down usually translated into terms like arctic, classic, southern, southernlite.) If you want the lightest, thinnest down comforter go for the lower fill power number and the lighter weight. When choosing the weight of your comforter go lighter rather than heavier - you don't want the investment of a beautiful down comforter to end up on the floor because it is too warm for you to sleep under. It is important to know that the higher number fill power down clusters are also stronger and retain their shape and their 'poof' better over time. My personal opinion is that for the small difference in price the 700 fill power is a better value than the 600 fill power. The 800 fill power is worth every penny, and by choosing a southern or southernlite weight in an 800 fill power you can achieve luxury without too much weight.  
 
800+ = Superb quality
700+ = Excellent Quality
600+ = Good Quality
 
Ogallala Hypodown™ Comforter  Dimensions
Twin    68” x 88”
Full    80” x 88”
Queen    88” x 88”
King    104” x 88”
Super Queen    98” x 98”
Super King    115” x 110”
 
Sleeping Pillow Dimensions
Standard      20" x 26”
Queen    20” x 30”
King    20” x 36”
 
  
Featherbed Dimensions
Twin              39” x 75”
Full    54” x 75”
Queen    60” x 80”
King    76” x 80”
Cal King    72” x 84”
 
Down products are a minimum of 75% down clusters. Hypodown™ clusters meet or exceed testing requirements. Usually the higher the Fill Power, the higher the down cluster content. The down component in Ogallala Hypodown™ is:
 
800 Fill Power is 95% Goose Down
700 Fill Power is 85% Goose Down
600 Fill Power is 75% Goose Down
 
Every bird, whether the robin in your back yard or a goose on a farm has down and feathers. Specie plainly tells you what bird the down is from. The biggest difference between goose and duck down is odor. Goose down has little or no odor. If it does not say goose down on the law label it is most likely duck down and a lot less expensive.
 
Down is harvested during the natural molting process from farm raised geese. Goose down is also the by-product of the world wide poultry industry. American Standard Testing: One ounce of down is placed in a cylinder and stirred. The loft is measured in cubic inches. The sample is compressed. The down is left alone to rest for 24 hours. After the resting period, the down is re-measured and should regain its original loft with 72 hours.  

Keywords: Comforter, Comforters, Duvet, Ogallala Hypoallergenic down comforter

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