Things to Know before Choosing a Down Featherbed Once a practical comfort item made by hand, down featherbeds are now a luxury item made from the finest materials. While down featherbeds aren't an essential bedding item -- unlike folks 100 years ago, people today put their down featherbeds on top of cushy mattresses -- they can make climbing into bed each evening a heavenly experience. If you enjoy pillow-top mattresses, love the feel of down or just want to try out a luxurious piece of down bedding, then you may enjoy down featherbeds. Keep reading for a few pieces of information that will help you decide if a down featherbed is right for you and, if so, which down featherbed is the right one. Choosing a Down Featherbed: Down featherbeds supplement your mattress. While the term "down featherbed" is usually used, "down mattress-topper" is probably more accurate. Down featherbeds are roughly six inches thick and are meant to be used on top of your standard mattress, giving your bed unrivaled softness, but also retaining the support of your spring mattress.
Down featherbeds contain a lot of feathers. Again, while the term "down featherbed" is often used, simply "featherbed" is usually more accurate. While the use of feathers may sound like a way of cutting corners, it's really not. Feathers add bulk to a down featherbed so that the fill doesn't completely compress when you lay down on it. While you can find some featherbeds that are made from 100 percent down, they usually are either very expensive or very thin. Some brands offer featherbeds that have a layer of feathers that form the base of the fill with a layer of down on top. Down featherbeds are very warm. This can be a plus or a minus, depending on your preference. In terms of warmth, sleeping on a down featherbed is a lot like sleeping on top of a down comforter. In the winter months, sleeping on a warm down featherbed is very pleasant. However, if you live in a warm or humid climate, or if you often get hot at night, a down featherbed may add too much warmth, especially if you already use down bedding.
Down featherbeds feature different types of construction. In terms of comfort, baffle-box construction is usually considered the best kind of featherbed construction. "Baffle-box construction" means that the bedding has been stitched with squares, like a checkerboard, and that the stitched squares on each side of the featherbed are connected by strips of fabric called "baffles." That may sound confusing, but it means that the fill won't shift around, so you won't have to shake your featherbed every few days, and that your down featherbed won't have any cold spots created by sewn-through stitching. SwissLux Classic Eco Feather and Down Featherbed Topper Hotel Madison 300 Twill 2-Inch Gusset Baffle Box Down Featherbed Luxury Natural Down on Top Featherbed with Cotton Cover Set Downia Luxury White Goose Featherbed Mattress Topper Supportive Cotton and Natural Down and Featherbed Mattress Topper Grandeur Collection Overfilled 300 Thread Count Cotton Down and Goose Featherbed
Mattress Topper Reviews – Summary Memory Foam Mattress Topper Reviews Latex Mattress Topper Reviews Wool Mattress Topper Reviews Mattress Topper Reviews > Featherbed Topper Reviews Featherbed Reviews, Ratings and Comparisons Based on 4,607 Actual Consumer Experiences What You Need To Know THE GOOD: Featherbeds (also known as feather mattress toppers) are often effective at softening a firm mattress. They typically cost less and sleep hot less than the average mattress topper. THE BAD: Regular fluffing / shaking is needed to maintain most loft and comfort. Lumpiness / clumping is possible. Thickness and cushioning may be inadequate for some people. Feathers may poke through the cover, causing discomfort. Dry cleaning is often required. THE TOPPER: Despite its name, a featherbed is not an actual bed or mattress but a mattress topper. The product is filled mostly or entirely with feathers from the wings and backs of geese and duck.
THE COMPETITION: Mainly fiberbeds and wool toppers. Learn how featherbeds compare in the mattress topper comparison. Featherbed Ratings: As a Group The ratings show how featherbeds compare to the average topper as evaluated by consumers. For ratings on individual models, see the following section. Prices often range $60-$155. The average price is $87 which is well lower than that of the average mattress topper ($141). Given their relatively low price and general effectiveness at softening a mattress, featherbeds are a solid value. Featherbeds have similar longevity / durability as other topper types. About 20% of owners report that some feathers escape the topper, especially during shaking / fluffing. The product will lose at least some of its loft and softness over time. Heavier featherbeds tend to be thicker (and softer) than lighter ones. Sleepers will sink in and be surrounded more by a thicker topper. About 20% of owners with back pain report their featherbed helps to reduce it.
Feathers poking through the cover may cause discomfort and even pain. Featherbeds provide limited conforming-to-the-body support especially without regular shaking and fluffing. Unlike memory foam and latex toppers, featherbeds do not reduce your motion from reaching and disturbing your partner. No lumpiness / clumping Lumpiness and clumping of the feathers is possible without regular shaking and fluffing. Easy to move on Featherbeds tend to provide little resistance to changing positions, getting up off the bed. While better than memory foam and latex, odor is still a problem for about 6% of owners. Bothersome heat retention is reported by no more than 3% of owners. Featherbeds tend to sleep warm in winter and cooler in summer. The feathers or lining inside may make a soft crunching / crackling noise when compressed. Mostly well suited, aside from the occasional poking feather. Easy to lift, handle, move Weight is often 14-18 lbs (queen) which is about average for mattress topper.
Proper fit / secure Most featherbeds simply lie on top of a mattress without corner straps or elastic skirts to fasten them. If placed between the mattress and a fitted sheet, featherbeds tend to stay mostly in place. Shaking / fluffing is needed to maintain loft and comfort – from every day to every few weeks depending on owner preference. Product may cause bed to appear somewhat lumpy and uneven. Dry cleaning is often recommended. The following table compares featherbeds that have at least 80% owner satisfaction based on 200 or more consumer experiences. Natural Baffle- channel Featherbed Cluster Top Baffle Box White Goose Feather & Down Contains down (for added softness) twin, full, queen, king, CA king twin, full, queen, king * Heavier featherbeds tend to be thicker (and softer) than lighter ones. Sensation of Lying on a Featherbed Owners often compare sleeping on their featherbed to "sleeping on a cloud," and the words "cozy," "soft"
and "fluffy" are often used to describe the topper. who say that the product makes no difference in comfort often described the product as "too thin" and that it flattensThose who say the product reduces comfort often say it causes pain due to feather poking or lumpiness. Featherbed manufacturers often tout that they use baffled channels in their products. designed to keep the feathers in place and therefore prevent clumping and the formation of peaks and valleys. Owner experience data, however, shows that baffling has limited effectiveness in many cases, and that you should expect some feather clumping whether the product is baffled or not. Thread count is the number of threads per square inch of fabric. Owner experience data shows little to no correlation between the thread count and owner satisfaction. However, a higher thread count may be somewhat more likely to prevent feathers from escaping. At Amazon: A Top-Rated Featherbed About our featherbed topper review and research