Thursday, October 15, 2015

What is the difference between goose down and duck down?


Q: What is the difference between goose down and duck down?

A: Obviously, goose down comes from a goose and duck down comes from a duck. Other than that, they are very similar. High quality down can be found with both geese and ducks. However, geese are usually larger birds and, therefore, have larger down clusters. The size of the down clusters is a factor of both the size of the bird and the climate. A bird living in a colder climate has larger down clusters than the same size bird living in a warmer climate. The larger the down clusters, the higher the fill power. The effectiveness of the down depends on the fill power (size of the down clusters), the quality (ratio of down to feathers), and the processing (cleaning).

Generally, duck down is less expensive because the supply is much greater than goose down. The down is a by-product of the meat and egg industry and there is a much greater demand for duck food products. From a marketing standpoint, goose down has a better image. Yet, a higher quality duck down can be better than a lower quality goose down.

South Beach Linens offers offers SFERRA goose and duck down comforters and pillows, as follows:
  • Dover (European white duck down / 600+ fill power)
  • Buxton (European white goose down / 600+ fill power)
  • Somerset (Polish white goose down / 700+ fill power)
  • Cardigan (Siberian white goose down / 800+ fill power)
  • Snowdon (Canadian white goose down / 900+ fill power, with a silk jacquard ticking)
  • Utopia (Eider duck down, with a silk jacquard ticking)
Tilney down blankets and Monmouth down mattress pads are also available with European white goose down / 600+ fill power.
For Fall 2015, SFERRA is introducing Cornwall, which will contain the Canadian white goose down / 900+ fill power found in Snowdon, but feature the cotton batiste ticking utilized with Cardigan.



No comments:

Post a Comment