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When it comes to buying home items, the most important purchases are the ones you’ll use every day. Chances are, you already know what separates a good comforter from a great one. The best comforters have that special coziness—the kind that can make or break your sleep. The kind that pulls you back into bed, even after you’ve hit the snooze button seven times. And the kind that you’ve probably dragged to the couch more than once while you’re sick.
Because you’ll be using it for seven to nine hours every day, a bit of research and time might go into finding your Goldilocks comforter. To make that process easier, we’ve looked to studies and insight from Daniel Barone, MD, a New York City-based sleep medicine neurologist at Weill Cornell Medicine to help us break down what you should look for in this essential sleep product, plus our top picks at every price point.
What are the different kinds of fill in a comforter?
In general, there are two main types of fill—or stuffing—that can go inside your comforter: Down and down alternative.
Down: Down fill is made with actual fluffy goose down (and often blended with duck and goose feathers). These comforters are extraordinarily fluffy, cozy, and warm—all while staying relatively lightweight. When shopping for a down comforter, we recommend looking for one that’s made with Responsible Down Standard (RDS) down, which means the goose farms are held to a more humane standard than non-RDS farms. Down comforters can be especially nice if you’re living in a colder climate or like to sleep in an extra chilly room. Just be sure to read the care instructions on your down comforter, as some require special delicate detergent or dry cleaning. And if you’re worried about allergies, know this: According to one study, true feather allergies are actually fairly rare. If down comforters have made you sneeze in the past, it’s more likely due to mite allergens found in feathers—meaning you’ll need to be even more diligent about all that dry cleaning and special detergent so your comforter stays as clean as possible.
Down Alternative: Down alternative fill is typically made with microfiber polyester, lyocell, silk, or wool. They aren’t as fluffy as down comforters, but come in different levels of warmth. Silk and polyester fill are usually on the warmer end of the spectrum, whereas lyocell (which is made with plants like eucalyptus and wood pulp) is on the cooler end. These comforters are often less expensive than down options, starting at just $25. Plus, unlike their down counterparts, assuming you have a large enough washing machine, you can throw these right in and clean them at home.
What should you look for in a comforter?
Once you decide on a filling, think about how warm you like to be. “I prefer that my patients sleep on the cooler side, because data has shown that lower core body temperature promotes deep sleep,” Dr. Barone tells SELF.
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