Pillow Reviews & Ratings >>
Down
Pillow Reviews & Ratings -- Based on Data From Over 1,000
Actual Owners
Page last updated November 18, 2009
What
You Need To Know
82% of over 1,000 actual owners included
in our research are satisfied with their down pillow. Prices can
vary substantially usually based on the amount of fill content. Brands tend to
be similarly competitive.
Pros
Soft, cuddly, scrunchable, lightweight, durable, often especially
good for side sleepers
Cons
Can lack adequate firmness/support, initial odor possible, can
be pricey, may need to be fluffed/shaken regularly
Related information
Pillow ratings & reviews
-- summary and home
Pillow comparison grid
Owner data on pillow brands
What Is a Down Pillow?
“Down” refers to the insulating layer of soft plumage
under the feathers of waterfowl, namely geese and ducks. A pillow
is considered a down pillow if it is filled with at least 75
percent down and no more than 25 percent feather. (Feathers
are located on the wings and back of the birds.)
The surface of a down pillow is smooth with no lumps. Unlike
feather pillows, down will not poke you with quills. Down pillows
that contain feathers usually have the feathers make up the
core of the pillow and have the down surround the feathers to
ensure maximum surface softness.
About
Our Research
Our research findings are based on at least 1,020 actual down
pillow owner reviews / comments collected from diverse sources.
Click here for
more information on our research methodology.
Down Pillow Ratings
Sample size: over 1,000 owners of various brands and sizes.
82% |
|
|
Soft |
||
Fair-Poor |
||
Excellent |
||
Excellent |
||
Good |
||
Fair |
||
No |
||
Fair-Good |
||
Good |
||
Fair-Good |
||
Fair-Good |
||
Yes |
||
Good-Excellent |
||
Fair |
||
Good |
||
Poor-Fair |
||
Good-Excellent |
||
Fair |
||
Medium-High |
Firmness
Owners usually say that their down pillow has low firmness /
high softness. However, some of the more expensive pillows ($50+)
have high fill content which can give them medium firmness.
Similar to dandelion fluff, down has fluffy three dimensional
threads extending out from an inner quill point. This allows
air to be trapped in the down feathers. The result is that,
when the pillow is compressed, the air trapped in the down tends
to eventually escape, resulting in considerable give and softness.
Support
The general consensus among owners is that a down pillow provides
only average support at best. However, because the pillows contain
much air, down pillows are easily flexible in regard to their
shape, with the possible exception of those with the highest
fill content. This means that the pillow can be scrunched up
to provide good support especially for side sleepers. However,
this also means that you may find yourself needing to adjust
the pillow during the night because it has at least partially
flattened. And fluffing the pillow or shaking it may also be
necessary to return the pillow to its desired loft. Owners sometimes
say that as the down ages, increased fluffing and / or shaking
becomes necessary.
Durability / longevity
Durability / longevity for a down pillow is good, according
to our owner data. Expect a life span of at least a few years
in most cases. Reports of down feathers leaking from the case
are not common.
Sleeping positions
According to owner data, the majority of down pillow owners
are predominantly side sleepers. The pillows can also be good
for stomach sleepers given their usually low loft. Back sleeper
sometimes report not having enough support and loft.
Loft
The height or loft of the pillow can be deceiving. It may appear
plump and high, but when you lay your head on it, its loft will
usually sink significantly. The pillow, however, can be scrunched
up to increase it height and firmness, say owners. You cannot
add or remove down to a down pillow (not without fairly major
surgery).
Pain relief
Based on the owner data, down pillows provide about average
relief from pain, such as neck pain, compared to other pillow
types.
Sleep quality
About 4% of owners said that their sleep has improved since
using their down pillow.
Noise
A down pillow makes little or no noise, say owners, unlike feather
pillows which can rustle and crunch.
Air flow
Down feathers are used by ducks and geese to keep their eggs
warm. So it should be no surprise that down is an excellent
insulator. Down itself, of course, creates no heat. It
only captures body heat and then releases it back. Down pillow
owners typically find this insulation feature to be a positive
and not a negative. Only a handful of owners say that the pillows
causes them to be too warm or hot.
Weight
Even though they have a lot of mass, down pillows usually weigh
no more than a pound or two because they are largely filled
with air. Much of the weight of the pillow comes from the covering.
Odor
After a lack of firmness / supportiveness, the main complaint
by owners is that the product can give off an unpleasant odor,
especially when new. The smell may come from the feathers or
the chemicals used to clean them. About 7% of owners report
an odor issue, but most of these say that it goes away in a
matter of days or perhaps weeks.
Allergies
A down pillow can be allergy causing unless the down has been
thoroughly cleaned by having all dander and microbes removed
from it. Most brands that do this cleaning clearly state it
in some fashion. The down should also be encased in a high thread
count cover to prevent any down from escaping. In regard to
dust mites, they are certainly susceptible to large populations,
as are most types of pillows.
Maintenance
Owners often report that the product needs to be fluffed and
shaken occasionally to maintain even distribution of down and
increase the loft. Cleaning the pillow is possible but is often
a delicate procedure, say some owners.
Fill power and thread count
Fill power and thread count are often emphasized in the marketing
of down pillows. However, based on the owner data, high fill
power and thread count are not necessarily required to have
good owner satisfaction.
Price
Prices for down pillows can vary substantially. Those on the
cheaper end (less than $35) tend to not have much fill content,
while the pricier ones ($50+) generally have higher fill content.
In addition, goose down is more expensive than duck down.
Value
Although down pillows can be more expensive than many other
pillow types, their high customer satisfaction and good durability
/ longevity make them strong values.