Down and Feathers
Down is a brilliant insulation material, and its low weight makes it extremely suitable as fill for duvets. The insulating ability of the fill is measured with the concept fill power. Goose down with fill power 825 is certainly a fantastic warmer, but fill can also easily be used in a light and airy summer duvet – just not so much of it. Feathers are great as support in pillows – if you prefer a high, firm pillow.
What is the difference between down and feathers?
The secret behind down
The finest, largest and strongest down originates from regions with substantial fluctuations between day and night temperatures. Anseriformes (ducks, geese) have developed the ability to keep warm on cold nights, yet also feel comfortable in the day’s heat – all with the same plumage.
The secret lies in a protective layer of fat, lanolin-type, which makes feathers flexible, resistant, and waterproof, which is also the explanation why these birds can remain dry and warm.
The secret lies in a protective layer of fat, lanolin-type, which makes feathers flexible, resistant, and waterproof, which is also the explanation why these birds can remain dry and warm.
Only down from Europe
The best down comes from fully-grown birds, and if they have lived under optimum conditions, in particular, geese can yield down with a fill power all the way up to 825. Birds in the Far East are generally treated worse and are also slaughtered at a very young age. The result: down of inferior quality and ready products with a shorter life span.
As a rule, cheaper products contain inferior quality down, so the price difference between different duvets is therefore mainly owing to different fill grades. As a consequence of this, we only use down and feathers from carefully selected suppliers in Europe, to get the best and most fluffy down and feathers. Read more about our look at ethics and animal welfare here.
As a rule, cheaper products contain inferior quality down, so the price difference between different duvets is therefore mainly owing to different fill grades. As a consequence of this, we only use down and feathers from carefully selected suppliers in Europe, to get the best and most fluffy down and feathers. Read more about our look at ethics and animal welfare here.
Fill power
What do down and fill power have to do with your sleep?
What is fill power?
Fill power is an expression of the down’s insulating ability and quality. A high fill power means that the fill is light and airy and insulates well because it contains a lot of air – and it is the air between the down that keeps you warm underneath the duvet. The lower the down quality, the lower also the fill power and the ability to insulate. If treated properly, good raw materials can preserve their fill power for many years.
Measurement of fill power
Prior to 2019, fill power was measured on a scale up to 13, with 13 being the best and most isolating. This measurement method has now been updated to match the fill power known from sleeping bags and down jackets. The change means that in the future there will be a new fill power on the products.
Now the fill power will be measured on a new scale up to 900. Although the fill power is now called something else, it is exactly the same products in question.
An example of this is a 90% European muscovy down which previously had a fill power of 11. In the future it has a fill power of 725. But the filling (the down) is completely the same.
Now the fill power will be measured on a new scale up to 900. Although the fill power is now called something else, it is exactly the same products in question.
An example of this is a 90% European muscovy down which previously had a fill power of 11. In the future it has a fill power of 725. But the filling (the down) is completely the same.
Quality control of down
Scandinavian design & production
