Comment from Heather
Time: October 16, 2007, 12:16 pm

My favorite comforters are from the company store. They have lots of sales throughout the year. They also come in several weights which is great for me because I am always hot at night. My husband hates covers so I don’t know about that. I would say thread count is just for softness. I have had ours for 5 or more years.

Comment from Tessie
Time: October 16, 2007, 12:50 pm

We have one of those ones with the squares sewn in and it does seem to keep the down from shifting. Also, the last time we bought one we switched from the “real” down to the “down alternative” and I like that a lot better. It seems just as soft to me, but without the little feathers poking out. Don’t ask me what the “alternative” to down feathers is though. Probably kitten pelts or something. Oh well.

Comment from Quiana
Time: October 16, 2007, 12:52 pm

I have one filled with the Primaloft from Eddie Bauer. The advantage of which is washable and hypo-allergenic. It has the sewn squares and everything is still evenly distributed 3 years later. It feels the same as down to me but doesn’t smell like water fowl if I get it wet.
I use a cover so that I can wash the cover frequently and the actual comforter less frequently.

Comment from shygirl
Time: October 16, 2007, 12:52 pm

I second the Company Store recommendation. We’ve had two of their comforters for about 8 years now, with the sewn-in squares, and they’re still in great shape. I don’t care about thread count, because I do use a cover with them– reason being, it’s easier and cheaper to pull off the cover and throw it in the wash than to take an entire down comforter to the dry cleaners. Who’s got the time? So I say get one from The Company Store, get a cover for it, and don’t bother about thread count!

Comment from Gwen
Time: October 16, 2007, 12:54 pm

The Company Store is awesome, and I also recommend the down alternative (down can make me sneeze). The square stitching really does keep the filling well-distributed. One tip — buy your blanket by the actual measurements, not by what bed size they give. I think they’ve changed the sizing since I last bought a comforter, but I had to get a king in order to cover the sides of our queen mattress.

Comment from Sarah
Time: October 16, 2007, 12:56 pm

I don’t know that much about fill and density etc. but I very much recommend the sewn in squares. It solves the un-even fill problem. We put a cover on ours so I don’t think thread count really matters. If you’re going to leave it “naked” then that would matter more, I guess? I know that using a cover makes it last longer because you don’t have to wash it as much. I’ve gotten a couple of nice comforters from Overstock.com. Let us know what you decide.

Comment from Gaby
Time: October 16, 2007, 1:01 pm

I wonder if a higher thread count prevents the feathers from sticking through/falling out, thus extending the life of the comforter?

I’m interested to see what you decide. Our’s is in about the same shape as yours is.

Comment from Gaby
Time: October 16, 2007, 1:01 pm

I wonder if a higher thread count prevents the feathers from sticking through/falling out, thus extending the life of the comforter?

I’m interested to see what you decide. Ours is in about the same shape as yours is.

Comment from laughing mommy
Time: October 16, 2007, 1:15 pm

It is eerie that you posted this today… when I just got done reading about down comforters and looking at the one they sell at Costco. We need a new one but are like you… don’t want another one that will be flat on one side and full on the other.

Comment from jonna
Time: October 16, 2007, 1:20 pm

After trying what seems like a frillion, I gave up and instead buy quilts and bedspreads (EW, does that not seem like a gross word? Anything with ’spread’ in it is horrid). And honestly, my life changed for the better once I gave up on down. I have no feathers, no duvet covers (HATE putting those on) and it’s so easy to make the bed now.

I will say it was a bit of a challenge finding a quilt-like thing that wasn’t made by underage workers in Ecuadorian sweatshops, but we finally did. And oh no, we never looked back.

Comment from Ashley
Time: October 16, 2007, 1:21 pm

I have had nothing but great success with LLBeans bedding. On the whole I am not an LLBean advocate, but their bedding is really good AND if you don’t like it 5-60 years from now they will STILL take it back for any reason under the sun. That is the kind of return policy I like. They have a whole guide to down here:
http://www.llbean.com/shop/guidePages/downComforters/index.html?page=down-comforter-guide

Comment from angela
Time: October 16, 2007, 4:35 pm

When it’s time for comforter shopping, I must drive every textiles floor manager nuts because I will open up every single comforter in the store to feel it. The squares thing helps, as well as thread count. I generally like to put a duvet cover on it mostly because it’s easier to wash and I change my mind a lot when it comes to the design and color scheme. Also if it makes some sort of mention about no “escaping” feathers, I’d invest in that too.

Comment from ML
Time: October 16, 2007, 5:07 pm

The sewn into squares thing didn’t do the trick for us seven years into owning it (but that could be due to the many pack them up, inter-Continent moves we’ve made, too) but I recommend The Company Store for the quality, too.

Also definitely get a cover! Pretty… and easy to clean! In Europe (where my husband and I were both raised) they use the cover on the duvet in lieu of a top sheet. So you wake up shake it out, cover your bed with it and it’s made! I now have them on both our kids beds and it’s cozy and easy for all.

Comment from lara
Time: October 16, 2007, 6:44 pm

Darnit, what you should have done is post this before your trip up here to Vancouver and I would have given you my brand new daniadown duvet that I discovered I am allergic too. It’s a king, it is top of the line and it’s awesome…and makes me sneeze.

For what it’s worth, the daniadown salesperson told me there is less feather shifting in the ummm “tunnel”? style than the square style. She said that in the squares, once the down leaves the (sewn in) square, it is very difficult for it to get back in the square, but in the (why can’t I think of the right word here?) tunnel style there aren’t those sewn areas and the down is free to float around and a good shaking will set things right again. She said it’s next to impossible to shake down back into a square. I have no idea if I explained that correctly.

I’m not pro or anti-square since I don’t have any significant personal experience with either. I’ve moved to a wool one, which is lovely and doesn’t shift. It’s definitely living up to it’s “warm in the winter, cool in the summer” reputation as well.

Good luck.

Comment from marta
Time: October 17, 2007, 6:05 am

Squares are great for preventing the flat and lumpies. Higher thread count does prevent pokey feathers and a really high thread count will make it warm too (kind of like a tight knit sweater) The higher the fill power the warmer it will be. I would go the middle ground on both, not too low on thread count and not too much fill, or If you find one with a high thread count you can get away with less fill although when I was looking most of the higher thread count comforters had a really high fill power which doesn’t work for the weather here so I ended up getting a down quilt. I love down comforters but I hate being too hot under there. Post if you find a good one!

Comment from KJ
Time: October 17, 2007, 8:09 am

Okay, now HERE is something I’m totally crazy about, because I grew up with a down comforter and had to give it up for the sake of the main-squeeze’s respiratory health. He’s got a bad allergy to feathers so we had to figure out another means of staying both warm AND cozy. And I have it my dear, the answer to your problems with snuggliness to spare! (Not to mention no more pokey feathers needling me in the middle of the night)

It’s expensive, but SO worth it! It’s from Silkqueen.com, and it’s a comforter stuffed with silk… not silk robes and ties, but the fluffed-up silk cocoons that would have otherwise become silk ties. Pure silk. Doesn’t get eaten by bugs, doesn’t “keep” human dander or dustmites, doesn’t lump up (after 5 years mine is still just like new) and the best part is that it is airy, light and soft enough to conform to my sleeping figure without that “10 pounds per square inch” kinda feel that I got from the stack of 8 wool blankets I used to sleep under. Also - no loose feathers, no midnight needlings, and YE GODS it’s just the most awesomest awesome that ever awesomed in the world of bedcoverings. Aw Yeah.

Silk. It makes great jammies and AWESOME comforters. Do consider it - it’s a real opulence that I swear I’ll NEVER go without again!

kj

Comment from Kerry
Time: October 17, 2007, 10:09 am

One word: Ikea. They have very high-quality down comforters in all different thicknesses and each one is rated as to what type of weather you can use it in. We have had ours for 4 years and it’s still as springy and puffy as the day we bought it. I definitely recommend using a cover, just cause it’s a lot easier to wash the cover than the comforter itself.

Comment from gabby
Time: October 17, 2007, 10:22 am

I also vote for the sewn-in squares. As for covers…we just bought a cute one from IKEA & I’m so in love with it. My MIL bought the comforter for us, but it was mint green, so I got a brown & white cover and it’s perfect!

Comment from leanne
Time: October 17, 2007, 10:31 am

Sewn in squares or baffled chambers will help with your shifting.

I have a full/queen comforter on a queen bed - comforter on top of sheets, light king-sized blanket on top of the comforter. I hate putting duvet covers back on (what a pain!), so I just throw a big blanket over it to make the bed look pretty. Having sheets between us and the comforter means it doesn’t get dirty.

If you’re going with the duvet cover, get one size larger than your bed so there’s enough room to hang over the sides. Also, with a duvet cover (or my method), thread count isn’t as important, but I’d still try for the highest thread count anyway.

I’ve bought a comforter from Bed, Bath, & Beyond during a sale and with the 20% coupon, but I’ve also bought one from Overstock. All good. My down pillow is from Ikea, and I love it. We also sleep on a down mattress cover, which is like sleeping on a cloud. It’s very hard to get out of bed in the morning.

Comment from Anyabeth
Time: October 17, 2007, 11:19 am

I bought the one from Costco, which has a fairly decent threadcount, is a box style and a good fill weight for Northwest weather (can be used year round). We’ve had it two years and it still looks nearly new.

The reason to use covers is to reduce washings which allows the down to last longer in better condition. If you will wash it frequently anyway then the cover serves no purpose.

Comment from Carrie
Time: October 18, 2007, 11:40 am

Squee! This is one of my most favorite subjects. I have loved down comforters (And featherbeds, have you tried those? They go under you, over the mattress. It’s even more like sleeping on a cloud, so wonderful! ) Okay, you definitely want it box-style baffled. With the squares instead of the long channels because it keeps the down in place better and not all in one corner of the comforter. Since you are in a cold climate, you want a high fill power (fuller, puffier!) and a heavy weight. I’m in Texas, so I get summer weight. Get the heaviest you can find if you are an always cold type of person. You must keep it in a duvet cover so you can just take that off and throw it in the washing machine and keep it nice and clean and away from bodily oils and fluids. (Ugh, sorry.) The thread count isn’t AS important since you’re going to put it in a high thread count duvet, but it should still be at least a 220 thread count cover or you will have down getting thru and flying around every time you shake it and are changing out the duvet. Also, if you go to Bed, Bath & Beyond and buy one of the higher quality ones, they usually come with a lifetime warranty. Which is stupid of them because they do NOT last forever no matter what good care you take of them. They wear down and they just eventually die. But, Bed Bath & Beyond will still honor the lifetime warranty years after purchase if you just keep the packaging and the receipt. I go return ours every few years when they get worn out with the receipt and bring home a brand new one. I felt bad at first, but then I realized that they SAY lifetime warranty and they shouldn’t say that if they don’t mean it. That was fun!

Comment from Mary
Time: October 18, 2007, 1:43 pm

I would only buy a down comforter from LL Bean. I have the lowest end one of theirs from like 10 years ago (maybe longer), and it is still in great shape. In fact, my sister has it on her guest bed at her house. And the LL Bean catalog has some information about what the different weights and stuff mean too. I really recommend them!

Comment from ren
Time: October 18, 2007, 2:54 pm

i have had down comforters from the company store and ikea. i preferred the company store, it had better baffles and it lasted me at least 8 years, in fact, i got a bigger bed before i got a bigger comforter. a duvet cover is great and i use it in lieu of a top sheet because it allows the comforter to settle around your body and trap the heat better. they can be a pain to put on but you’ll find a method quick enough. but the duvet certianly makes it easy to make the bed in the morning.

Comment from Crystal- aka Suzie ;)
Time: October 18, 2007, 10:53 pm

I just bought a new comforter a couple of months ago and it begin to rip within a month. I will be looking for a very high quality one next time.

Comment from Emily
Time: October 19, 2007, 7:23 am

I vote Company store as well, I have both real and fake feathers and am happy with both. I highly recommend a duvet cover…however, since I find most of the duvet options to be fugly, I just find 2 sheets in a pattern/color I like in the same size (ie queen flat sheets for a queen duvet) and sew ‘em together for a custom duvet. Seriously takes a good 30 minutes to whip it together (use 5 or 6 velcro pieces at the end to close it up) and is much more satisfying.

The other thing I’ve learned is to have 2 seperate comforters for you and your honey if you have differing body temps. I did this last winter with my man, and WOW what a difference in sleep satisfaction! Added bonus: no more blanket-stealing (the dreaded gator roll), which may have something to do with the whole better-sleep thing.

Comment from chelsea
Time: October 19, 2007, 1:02 pm

This is going to sound weird, but the Northern Nights line of down goodies from QVC (yes, that QVC) is hands-down the best place to get said down goodies.

The quality is amazing, and the prices are great - even when you figure in shipping. We got our new king-size baffled comforter a few months ago, and it is holding up ridiculously well. The twin comforter I’ve had for 7 years is still doing great, even after numerous washings at the laundromat and general abuse. (Hello, NW camping trips.) It still fluffs up like it used to and doesn’t smell or poke me too much.

The sheets from Northern Nights are also spectacular. Boyfriend did NOT believe me on this one, but after sleeping on the sheets for a few months now, he’s a firm believer.

The comforter we have is Item #: H137923
Sheets are: H94031 (I cannot express my love for these sheets enough.)

Comment from Mary
Time: October 19, 2007, 10:23 pm

I used to work for Eddie Bauer 17 years ago, and bought my down comforter from them then. It is STILL on my bed, working perfectly and very cozy. Highly recommended. They will tell you to get the baffles, they’re warmer, but the squares actually do a better job keeping the down on top of you. Fill power means how warm it keeps you — the higher the number, the warmer. Here in the Northwest, we don’t need that high a number, it doesn’t get that cold. I have two duvets, one cotton for fall and spring and one flannel for winter. They keep the thing clean, I have only had to take it to the cleaners a couple of times in all these years. LOVE my down comforter, I would never ever be without one (well, except for a couple nights in the summer).

Comment from Sally
Time: October 20, 2007, 8:24 am

Since I’m in England (good luck tonight in the World Cup!) it’s a duvet rather than a comforter, but the advice is the same!

Buy the very best you can, which I think, after years of experimentation, is undoubtedly Hungarian goose down so it is really light and soft with lots of loft and no sticky-outty feather bits.

Sewn-in square construction is a must and you must also then buy a pure cotton or silk interliner which is basically a plain white or off-white cover which you put on the duvet between it and the decorative pure cotton cover. This sounds like a bit of a faff but it means that the whole process is much more hygienic and you should not need to launder the actual duvet itself nearly as often. I wash the decorative cover at least weekly and the interliner monthly or so.

Comment from Sarah
Time: October 24, 2007, 7:15 am

I have two from Ikea - about 10 years old, still looking good. I’ve had covers from Ikea, and our current cover is from Target. I don’t get why people wouldn’t use a cover - much prettier and a heck of a lot easier to keep clean!
Good luck!

Comment from C
Time: October 25, 2007, 1:13 am

I currently have a down alternative comforter and duvet from Ikea, and its working just fine. A few years ago I had a down alternative comforter I bought at Marshall Fields and I LOVED it (my ex did too - and ended up stealing it upon breakup). I always go with “alternative” due to allergies, and to me there’s no difference with regards to feel, comfort, etc.., I have an IKEA store about 5 minutes from me, and their prices are sooo amazing - I got a queen size comforter AND cover for $60!

Comment from Becka
Time: November 5, 2007, 12:31 pm

I have one from Ikea as well, and I love it. I don’t use a duvet cover, because I rarely make my bed anyways, so all the scrunching and pushing around of the comforter just means that it ends up all twisted inside, which annoyed the crap out of me. Most real down comforters are actually made with aome percentage of down, and some feathers. The more down you get, the more expensive, but they are also more fluffy, and have less pokey-outy bits (since those are mostly on the feathers). I think that they are also warmer.
I do recommend at least making a trip to Ikea, if you have one nearby, to check out the selection. Even if you don’t buy one there, its nice to be able to feel them out of the package without feeling guilty about taking it out of the package, (which it will probably never fit back into correctly) so you can at least get an idea of the different weights/fills etc.

If you do plan on getting a real down comforter from Ikea, go early in the season, as they only get a limited number per year. (there are only so many geese) Obviously, they have the down alternative year-round

Comment from Shannon
Time: November 11, 2007, 9:32 am

I am not sure if you have found your perfect down comforter yet, however I recommend ScandiaDown. They have a shop in Bellevue and Seattle. My mom got me my still wonderful condidition down comforter for me in high school. I am 31. It’s at least 15 years old. No shifting. No feathers poking through. Cozy as heck. They also will clean and restuff your comforter if needed. www.scandiadown.com I do rotate it out with a lighter Ikea comforter for the summer time.