Down is the fluffy soft undercoating that grows next to the body of the goose, underneath the protective layer of feathers, that insulates it against the cold. Have you ever seen the puffball of a dandelion flower? A down cluster looks very similar, only with thousands of silky, soft fibers radiating out from a barely visible core.
The three-dimensional structure of down gives it the ability to loft – that is to form a light, cushiony mass. And every cluster of down attaches itself to the next to form a complex web trapping a large volume of air. It isn’t the down itself that does the insulating, it’s actually the pockets of air trapped by the down fibers.
The clusters of down allows our natural body heat to keep us warm, while at the same time allowing moisture to escape. So you can understand why the level of comfort is totally unsurpassed.
Geese that are allowed to grow to full size are where the best down comes from. In the molting season, when the down has reached it’s full size and full potential to hold air, is when the down is gathered. Do you wonder why? The reason is because the larger and more mature the down clusters are, the more air is retained between the fibers, thus keeping you warmer. Small clusters of down have poor filling power and after a few years tend to collapse due to the fragility of the filaments.
We’re very well aware that a comfortable sleeping environment is essential to a proper night’s rest. And there isn’t much that feels better than cuddling up with a goose down comforter. |
