Did you know that the original down pillows were used mainly by kings, queens, and the aristocracy? That’s because they were filled with goose feathers, a very expensive filling which only the very rich could afford. Today, of course, things have changed a little, and down pillows are now a luxury more people can enjoy. But which one should you choose out of the possibly hundreds of models offered on the market? Luckily for you we’ve reviewed the best down pillows in 2019 and have the answer!
Down pillows are everyone’s favorite choice so there were plenty to review. But the one thing that truly made the difference for us was the quality. And that should also be the criterion you go by. A good down pillow is crucial for a perfect night’s sleep, which is why we have only chosen the best on the market. We have also divided them into five categories, for your convenience, so you can find the one that fits your needs best.
But, since we know you are super curious to find out which down pillows are the best, let’s cut straight to it. Out of all the products we reviewed, the Puredown Natural Goose Down Feather Pillow and the Downlite Extra Soft Down Pillow won our hearts because of their high ratings and above than average quality. Read on to find out more details in the comparison table and reviews below.
Best Down Feather Pillows: Comparison Table
WINNER  |
Puredown Natural Goose Down Feather Pillow
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RUNNER UP  |
DOWNLITE Extra Soft Down Pillow
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BEST LUXURY  |
Continental Bedding Hungarian White Goose Down Pillow
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| BEST FOR SIDE SLEEPERS |
PEACE NEST-Soft White Down Feather Pillows
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BEST BUDGET OPTION  |
JA COMFORTS Duck Feather and Down Pillow
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Feather vs Down: Are they the same? What’s the difference?
Before we delve into the actual reviews, let’s shed some light on a very important fact. The difference between feather and down. The idea is that the more you know on the topic, the easier it will be for you to buy the perfect pillow for your needs.
The first thing you need to know in the feather vs. down battle is that they are both natural fillings and that they both come from the same birds – geese and ducks. So you’re safe there!
However, no, they are not the same thing. Let’s explain! Feathers are the most common and traditional filling in pillows since times immemorial. People have always been filling their pillows with feathers, especially the ones from geese and ducks because they are larger and softer.
Feathers are the outside layer covering the bird. The middle of the feather is hard and it’s called a quill. Feathers can also repel water and a bird will usually employ them to remain airborne.
When it comes to down, the story is a little different. Down is a layer you can find underneath the covering and mostly on the bird’s belly.
It uses it to keep warm or for insulation. As opposed to feathers which have quills in the middle, down clusters will have a center called plumule. The plumule is soft, airy and rounded and has thousands of fibers coming out of it.
Feathers have always been considered the more luxurious option for filling pillows and mattresses. However, one should be very careful about their size. If they are too big, the feathers’ quills can actually pierce the cover and hurt you.
Best Down Pillows in 2019: Reviews
#1 Puredown Natural Goose Down Feather Pillow
Best overall – winner
There is no possible way you can come across the puredown Natural Feather Pillow and not fall in love with it!
The first impression is everything, as we all know and these are some of the most beautiful pillows on the market.
The cover has a gorgeous double diamond quilted pattern on a white background with brown piping. It’s perfect for any bedroom design!
The pillow is made of 95% goose feathers. The rest is grey goose down. This means it will provide medium support. Therefore, the pillow will fit perfectly any type of sleeper out there, whether you prefer to sleep on your back, side or face.
The puredown pillow is also hypoallergenic, so you can rest assured you will get a good night’s sleep even if you have allergies or asthma.
When you order, you will get a set of two pillows which come vacuumed in a sealed bag. When you unwrap them, make sure you shake them out to get the pillows to return to their original shape and state.
Also, please allow them to sit in the sun for two to three hours on a regular basis so that the feathers inside can continue to be healthy to use.
Pros
- perfect for every type of sleeper
- two per pack
- beautiful design
Cons
- have sit before they come back to original shape
#2 DOWNLITE Extra Soft Down Pillow
Runner-up
Not only is this our runner-up, but it’s also the perfect choice if you happen to be a stomach sleeper.
The pillow is extremely soft and flat, making sleeping on your face a real pleasure.
But that doesn’t mean everyone else can’t use it as well. They would be missing out!
The Downlite Extra Soft Pillow is fantastic for all users who suffer from neck problems and simply cannot stand pillows that are too hard or that elevate their necks too much.
This will be the answer to all your dreams!
This down pillow is made in the USA and it’s hypoallergenic. Which means you can also use it if you have asthma or suffer from any other respiratory issues.
It’s made of white duck down and you can easily both wash and dry it in the washing machine without any problems. This makes taking care of it a walk in the park!
Pros
- Very soft
- Extra flat
- Perfect for stomach sleepers
- Made in the USA
Cons
- It does not come with a removable case
#3 Continental Bedding Hungarian White Goose Down Pillow
Best luxury down pillow 2019
Welcome to the best sleeping experience of your life.
If you were wondering what celebrities must be sleeping on, this has to be it!
Meet the Continental Bedding Hungarian Goose Down Pillow.
That’s right, this little luxury item is made with white goose down brought all the way from Hungary, but it’s assembled right here in the USA.
This is a pack of two grey pillows whose softness supersedes anything you’ve felt before. They have a 700 fill power which means that every pillow has inside precisely 26 oz. of Hungarian grey goose down.
The geese themselves have been raised in a respectful manner, as the company does not use animals that have been mistreated. The down pillows are also RDS certified, RDS standing for Responsible Down Standard. This ensures their superior quality.
As you might have already suspected, the pillows are hypoallergenic and come with an ultra-luxurious outer cover made of 100% cotton. The cover itself is high end, having a 300 thread count. The Egyptian cotton feels more like silk than anything else and will have you dreaming of fluffy clouds while you sleep.
So why isn’t this our top choice? Because, as we mentioned, it’s our luxury choice. A pack of two pillows comes at a whopping $240, which means they cannot be accommodated by every budget, like the others can.
Pros
- Egyptian cotton cover
- RDS certified
- 700 fill power
- 26 oz. of down grey goose filling
- Pillows use Hungarian down
Cons
- The price is very high
#4 PEACE NEST-Soft White Down and Feather Fiber Pillows
Best option for side sleepers
Side sleepers rejoice because this is the perfect down pillow for you!
The Peace Nest down pillow is simply a cloud you can rest your head on every night knowing you will still get the support you need for you neck and spine.
They come in a pack of two and are made of 70% down fiber and 30% down.
The cover is made of cotton and the entire pillow is hypoallergenic. Apart from that, it’s super breathable, meaning you won’t be bothered by sweat or allergies.
Peace Nest pride themselves in having created the perfect pillow for side sleepers who need extra comfort and support. In other terms, this means that their beautiful, white pillows have been stuffed with the exact amount of down to provide that support.
Therefore, you will never wake up with a bad back or neck pains.
Please do not wash this pillow in your washing machine. It can only be spot cleaned or dry cleaned.
The company will offer you a 30-day return policy as well as the option to replace your pillow for another one in the same slot of time if you want.
Pros
- Perfect for side sleepers
- Comes in pack of two
- Cover made of 100% cotton
Cons
- Cannot be cleaned in the washing machine
#5 JA COMFORTS Duck Feather and Down Pillow
Best budget down feather option
All the pillows we’ve seen so far are great, but nothing beats the thrill of buying a great product that is also a bargain, does it?
And that is exactly what the JA Comforts down pillow brings to the table.
Or rather to the bed.
It’s just about the cheapest pillow you can find but it still has all the amazing qualities you need in a down pillow.
The Ja Comforts down pillow has a cover made from 100% cotton with a strong weave that will keep all the feathers inside. Speaking of which, the pillow is filled with 95% duck feathers and duck down for the remaining 5%.
One of the things this pillow prides itself in the most is its fabric technology that has four layers. This means that inside the pillow you will find two layers of polyester holding the feathers together.
On the outside you have two layers of cotton making the fabric feel smooth against the skin.
The pillow comes with a 90-day period in which you can try it out, after which you can return it no questions asked. Plus, the company offers three years warranty.
Pros
- Very low price
- Four layer fabric technology
- Cover made of 100% cotton
- Long warranty period
Cons
- Might appear concave when you take it out of the bag the first time
How to Buy the Best Feather Pillow
We could easily say that there are as many down pillows out there as there are stars in the sky. And as poetic as that sounds, it does lead to one conclusion.
That it can be very difficult to choose the perfect one suitable for your needs.
After all, people are very different, and we all have distinct requirements and preferences when it comes to our beauty sleep. So here are some criteria you need to take into account when shopping for a down pillow.
Feather vs. down
We’ve already discussed the differences between the two types of fillings above, so just scroll up for more info! It suffices to say that when comparing the two, you will find that pillows stuffed only with down are of superior quality than those stuffed with feathers.
They are also a lot fluffier and softer. The reason is that down itself is softer than feathers, as we explained above.
Pillows stuffed with down also last for years, a lot longer than the ones stuffed with feathers, so you might want to take this into account as well when buying a pillow.
Filling power
You could also call this fluffiness. Fill power means how much space inside the pillow can an ounce of feather or down fill. In simple terms, if the fill power is high, than the down or feathers came from a mature bird. Apart from that, if your fill has more down than feathers, then they came from younger birds.
If the down is bigger than the feathers, that means the pillow will be higher and loftier. You should also know that pillows with a higher fill power will last longer and won’t wear out as fast. This essentially means they are a good investment.
Thread Count
This criterion refers to how tight the fabric is. Let’s put it in simple terms – if the thread count is high, then the fabric is very tightly knit.
And this is definitely the option you want to go for, especially when it comes to down pillows. The reason is that a high thread count cover will not allow the feathers inside to slip through any holes in the fabric.
It will also mean that the quills of the feathers can’t poke you in the face while you sleep. If you go for a cheaper, lower thread count fabric, the quills could come through it and scratch your face during the night.
Allergies
If you know you suffer from hay fever, allergies or any other kind of respiratory issues, than you need to purchase hypoallergenic down pillows. Find the ones that specifically say on the label they have hypoallergenic feathers or down inside.
This means that the filling has been specially treated so as to remove any animal dander, dust or bacteria coming from the birds and which might have otherwise triggered your allergies or asthma.
Firmness
This is one of the main criteria you want to consider before buying a down pillow. Remember that not all are the same and you are a unique sleeper with distinct needs.
How firm a down pillow will be is determined by how many feathers have been stuffed inside it. As a result, the more ounces of filling it has, the firmer it will be.
If you like to sleep on your side, then you might want to go for a firm pillow that can support your head and neck.
However, if you sleep on your back, go for a softer one that will align your spine rather than hold it up. The same goes for stomach sleepers who need very soft pillows that are almost flat.
How to Care for Feather Pillow?
Let’s talk about pillow hygiene! Yes, it’s a crucial topic since we all know that not caring for your down or feather pillow can cause them to get damaged, leak feathers or even become infested with mold and mites.
This, in turn, means allergies for you! So what do you have to do?
- Always use a pillow protector to cover your pillows. This will help keep the feathers or down in and the dust mites out. As simple as that!
- Place a pillow case above the pillow protector. Remember – the more layers you add, the better it will be.
- Wash your covers and protectors once a week using the hot water cycle of your washing machine. This will ensure all dust mites and germs die.
- Always buy more than one down pillow. Keep them on your bed and rotate them so as not to over use them.
- Fluff your feather pillows every day. You can do this by hand outside the window or in your dryer using the setting called ‘air only.’ This will aerate the feathers inside and keep them from going moldy or stale.
- If you want to store them, make sure it’s in an absolutely dry place. Otherwise, the feathers or down will mold immediately.
- Do not put down pillows in plastic bags. They have to have contact with air because they are made or organic material.
Duck Down or Goose Down?
This is a great question that many of you should ask yourselves before buying a down pillow. Should I get one filled with goose down or one filled with duck down? Is there even a difference between the two?
Yes, there is! Geese and ducks are two very different birds. Therefore, their feathers and down will be different as well. It all starts with size.
Seeing as geese are larger birds, their down clusters will be larger as well. This means that they have the capability of trapping more air and insulate a lot better than the duck ones.
So, let’s lay down a general rule. The bigger the cluster of down will be, the fluffier your pillow will become. It will also be a lot sturdier and last longer over time.
This means that it’s a better investment overall. But be careful, because it could also mean these pillows are more expensive.
Conclusion
So, what’s the best down pillow in 2019?
After reviewing all these amazing down pillows and seeing their different but marvelous qualities, we have come to the conclusion that the Puredown Natural Goose Down Feather pillow and the Downlite Extra Soft Down pillow win the race.
The Puredown pillow and its grey goose feather stuffing is thick yet comfortable and is absolutely perfect for any type of sleeper out there. While the Dowlite Extra Soft will make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud thanks to its light filling that makes it almost flat.
But that doesn’t mean you should neglect our other choices, especially if you’re on a budget, love to sleep on your side or are in a mood for a really luxurious experience. Down, down, down to sleepy town!
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