Down Alternative Comforter by Cuddledown

Cuddledown has won several awards or has come up on top in many reviews of down alternative comforters, as well as its duvets and pillows. The internal fill is a polyester like other synthetics, but the company states that it's as lofty and light as down. Many people have found this to be true, and independent reviews and tests have shown that Cuddledown comes the closest to this claim.

Damask Design

The down alternative comforter itself comes in a damask stripe cotton cover. Damask is popular type of weaving that emerged in the early Middle Ages of the Byzantine and Islamic empires. The modern damasks may be made with evolved techniques, but the material still has the quality of iridescence when viewed from different angles. Some call this a "sheen". According to Cuddledown, this damask fabric is "Oeko Tex"-certified eco-friendly. The main features of this claim is that the fabric was tested by another independent agent which found that the material was free of a list of 100 common chemicals. For people who are irritated by additives in comforters, or who may have allergies, this will be a comforting quality to find in a comforter.

Cleaning and Care

Caring for the down alternative comforter is easier than caring for down. The company recommends using a front-loading commercial washer with the gentle setting. Washing a down comforter requires special detergents that don't damage the plumule fill. But polyesters are more robust. In independent tests, reviewers have found that the comforter doesn't change shape or appearance much after washing. One problem is that the filling will shift upon use or washing in general, but fortunately this hasn't surfaced in tests with the Cuddledown product.

Secrets of its Synthetic Fill

This down alternative comforter is one of the few synthetics which are as light as natural fill but can achieve the same warmth. Likely, it's proprietary technology has a warmth-to-weight ratio or fill-power that equals or is near that of natural bird feathers. Is this a good comforter for people with allergies or asthma? According to Cuddledown's own website it may very well be the lightest and warmest synthetic to be also hypoallergenic:

"Cuddledown's hypoallergenic and irritant free synthetic is the next best thing to down itself. Our Damask Stripe Synthetic Comforter is made with fibers that warm, cluster, and even look like 500 fill power down – without clumping or matting. Made with our popular 300 thread count 100% combed cotton, loved for its soft texture and attractive stripe."

Extending Useability

Some users have suggested protecting this product with a duvet (outer cover) which can potentially extend its useful life. Cuddledown sells its own brand of duvet covers.