I have been asked recently about the keys to buying great goose down bedding. After a bit of thinking I came up with three. The three key elements are: Fill Power, Thread Count and Baffled.

Now, I know that if you are new to buying goose down bedding these phrases may be foreign to you. Let me explain them for you.

Fill power: This is the insulation amount. To test the filling power, one ounce of down is compressed with a pre-determined weight. When the weight is removed, the down expands and the volume of space it occupies is measured in cubic inches. The higher the fill the better the power will be lighter and fluffier, making the goose down bedding more cloud like. The suggested fill is between 500-800. The colder the climate the higher fill power you will need.

Thread count: This is the number of threads per square inch. A higher count provides a softer, more durable product. It also keeps dirt from getting in, and down from sneaking out of the bedding. The material will have a smoother and softer feel to it when it has a higher thread count.

Baffled: Baffling is simply a type of construction, specifically sewn in the cloth walls to keep the down from shifting and clumping. It has been tested and found that a 1.5″ baffle wall height works the most effectively with high quality goose down. Baffle walls allow your goose down to expand to its maximum loft with no restrictions whatsoever. Because the baffle walls are made to form this 3-D box, they hold the goose down precisely where it is meant to be. A “Baffle Box” is a style that allows maximum loft of the down filling material and eliminates the down from shifting. The baffle box comforter is by far the best style on the market today for goose down bedding filled products.