Compare our top 11 down comforters
We’ve tested more relaxers
If you want a warm blanket but you don’t want a traditional blanket, consider down options or a quilt made from eucalyptus or bamboo.
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Company Store Legends Luxury Luxe Royal Down Medium Warmth Comforter: For the price, I admit I was expecting it to be as high-end down comforter experience as one can get. And indeed, the RDS-certified Legends Luxury Luxe Royal looks nice, with a silky embossed basketweave design on the cover, but it didn’t have the same loft or fluff feel of the brand’s Legends Hotel line. Which is strange, because it has more fill power than my favorite Legends hotel comforter, the Premium Alberta (700-750 to the Alberta’s 600-650). And it’s not just me , during testing, I loaned the Legends Luxury Luxe Royal to my teenage son, who was trying the Alberta first, and he only made it three days before asking for the Alberta back. ,cat merch
Photograph: Kat Merk
LaCrosse Premium Down Medium Warmth Comforter: From the Company Store’s flagship Lacrosse collection, this RDS-certified comforter hits all the brand’s high points: loops for comforters that have ties; 600-650 feeding power; Combed cotton sateen cover. However, it is around the same price as the Legends Hotel Premium Alberta, which is significantly more comfortable. ,cat merch
Courtesy of Brooklynn
Brooklinen Airwave Cotton Comforter: This fluffy comforter is made from a muffled, textured fabric that feels light, airy and fluffy but still retains warmth. This is a wonderful blanket for the summer months or an afternoon nap, and I love its cute colors. (I tested it in Marigold, a vibrant orange color that brings me joy whenever I see it.) There were a few loose threads in my tester blanket, but careful cutting fixed those.
Utopia Bed Down Alternative Comforter: If you’re on a budget, this affordable down alternative comforter offers great value for the price. It’s quilted and lightweight, but will keep you warm while not being particularly heavy. I wasn’t a huge fan of the outer fabric – it’s microfiber which I found a little scratchy and rough. But the comforter is available in a wide range of colors (there are 11 colors to choose from), and it has corner loops so it will work with duvet covers. It’s also well constructed – I didn’t find a single loose thread or stitch, unlike some other affordable comforters I’ve used in the past.
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Ikea Fjällbräcka: I used this Ikea comforter for several years. It’s not even 100 percent down (they cut it from duck feathers), it tends to be a little lumpy, and it’s not particularly lofty, but it has a 252-thread-count shell that prevents feather leakage. The biggest downside is that the added duck feathers give this cozy a bit more of a “poultry smell” than white goose feathers. However, this quilt is also machine washable and sturdier than many quilts I have used at this price. ,Martin Szymar
Comforters we don’t recommend
Courtesy of Wayfair
White Noise Goose Down and Feather All Season Comforter: This all-season medium-weight comforter is breathable, well-balanced, and suitable for all seasons, with 600-fill power thickness between 2 and 3 inches. The outer material is soft but feels rough to the touch as it’s made of polyester and nylon – although it does help reduce noise and is quieter than others I’ve tested. It’s machine washable and strikes a good balance between being thin and light for warm weather while still being thick enough to feel comfortable. However, the comforter actually came with a strange, pungent odor that smelled of grass and sweat. I washed and dried it twice to make the smell bearable for sleeping, but I still noticed a slight odor occasionally during testing. This is a solid all-season down comforter that strikes a good balance and is also priced at a great price. I just wish it didn’t smell so bad. ,molly higgins
Down is a layer of hairy feathers between the bird’s outer feathers and its skin. It’s a great insulation material – just think of all the birds that manage to stay warm and dry all year round. Down is efficient, it’s more eco-friendly than some alternative materials, and it’s breathable despite keeping things so warm. Down holds up well over time with proper care, so your initial investment will last for years. A down comforter is especially worthwhile if you live in a cold climate. Down options or blankets made from other types of materials can also be good, but if you’re looking for a warm blanket that will last for decades, down is probably what you want. We have an article dedicated to helping you decide.
How do you choose a down comforter?
Look for cover thread count between 230 and 500Fabrics with these thread counts are “down-proof” and reduce the possibility of feathers penetrating through them,
Fill Power vs Fill Weight: Fill power is a measure of how much space an ounce of down takes up in cubic inches—for example, a fill power of 600 means that one ounce of down will take up 600 cubic inches of space. Higher fill power means fluffier, more efficient down. Fill power does not necessarily translate into warmth, but it is an indication of the quality of the down and how compressed the down is. Fill weight, on the other hand, is the volume inside the product. If something has a high filling power but a low fill weight, it is not necessarily hotter than something that has a low filling power and a high fill weight. This is a bit confusing. The most important factor is how the down is distributed. Look for baffle-box or stitched-through construction in your comforters to ensure that the down will be evenly distributed and keep you warm all night long. Baffle boxes stay high but require occasional shaking to reposition the bottom, while stitched boxes keep things in place but often result in a slightly less fluffy comforter.
Goose vs Duck below: Goose down has more fill power than duck down, so it is fluffier and higher. It is less smelly and generally more hypoallergenic. Duck down, on the other hand, is usually more affordable. We believe that unless your budget is very tight, Goose Down is the best. The two common types of swans are Hungarian and Hutterite. Both are considered top class, based on large groups of birds coming from the cold regions of Hungary and Canada. Hutterite is more economical. You probably won’t be able to tell the difference between the two. Hungarian down may be a little higher, and Hutterite down may be a little softer, but ultimately neither of these factors should make or break your decision to purchase a comforter. However, when it comes to the types of birds that use down, you should look for all goose down or at least a mix of goose and duck. This will reduce odors and allergies and result in a softer, higher quality blanket.
Down Comforter Care Tips: If you’re investing in a comforter, you may want to consider getting a duvet cover, which can help protect the comforter and generally improves the look as well (unless you’re into plain white). When it comes to washing the comforter, you’ll want to follow the instructions on the care tag, and wash it as less often as possible. You can even do this at home if your washer is big enough; Otherwise, visit a local laundromat to use their larger machines. Use a delicate wash cycle with a high spin speed to get out as much moisture as possible, and avoid using fabric softener, which can ruin the fluffy texture of down. You should also use a small amount of detergent – a small amount, not more – and consider an extra rinse cycle to make sure all the soap is removed. Use the low-heat setting to make sure your comforter is completely dry. This may take a few cycles. Fluff the comforter between rounds to ensure efficient drying and maximum height. I like to use wool dryer balls to help make drying more efficient.
How does Wired test comforters?
For each comforter we tested, our testers slept with their respective choices for at least seven nights in locations around the U.S. — our testers included people living in Portland, Oregon; Northern Illinois; New York City; and Kansas City, Missouri. Every comforter on this list has been tested during at least the autumn season, although most have been tested during every season. We looked for comforters that strike a balance between price, efficiency, and quality, and looked at different fill weights, fill powers, and materials to make sure our recommendations met the diverse needs of readers. We evaluated how we felt when we woke up, slept and woke up. We paid careful attention to details such as whether the comforter was making noises when we came to rest at night, or whether a feather had fallen out of it. We’re always testing new down comforters, especially during the colder months. We are also testing more alternative options which will be featured in a separate story.
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