what exactly we're talking about

Down is the light, fluffy layer that waterfowl have beneath their outer feathers. Unlike a regular feather, it has no rigid shaft (or quill), but small filaments that spread out in different directions and create spaces where air gets trapped. A feather, on the other hand, does have that central shaft and usually offers less loft and insulation relative to its weight than good-quality down.

That's why, when comparing natural fillings, it's worth looking at their composition: the proportion of down to feather has a direct influence on the weight, loft, insulation and also the price of the product.

Siliconised hollow fibre is a synthetic polyester fibre with tiny air spaces inside it. Its siliconised finish reduces friction between the fibres, helping them slide over one another and helping to keep the filling even, soft and with good recovery.

It's the material we use in our duvets, combined with a 100% polyester microfibre outer.

Both keep you warm with air, not weight. The difference lies in how they trap it and how they behave afterwards.

Both materials work on the same physical principle: what insulates is still air, not the fibre itself. The difference is in how much air each one holds per gram and, above all, in how they behave with use, moisture and washing.

down and fibre, head to head

Five criteria that make the difference in a product you use every night.

Warmth: an advantage for down, with nuances

Gram for gram, down insulates better. The nuance is that what matters isn't the grams, but the temperature the bed reaches: if a 450 g fibre duvet keeps you at the temperature you want, its slightly greater weight compared with a down equivalent is barely noticeable while you sleep.

Price: a considerable difference

A good-quality down duvet (with a high percentage of real down, not feather) costs several times more than an equivalent fibre duvet. In the cheaper ranges, the product is usually a blend with a high proportion of feather: more weight, less warmth and the same washing demands. In that price range, fibre performs better.

washing: the difference you notice most

Of all the aspects to consider, care is one of those that most affects everyday use. Warmth is essential during the cold months, but how easy it is to wash, dry and look after ends up being just as important in the long run.

Down can't be washed at home. It needs professional cleaning or, at the very least, an industrial washing machine and a very long, controlled drying process: if the down stays damp inside, it clumps and loses its warmth permanently. In practice, that means a yearly trip to the dry cleaner's, with all the cost and hassle involved.

Siliconised hollow fibre can go in your washing machine, on a gentle programme at a moderate temperature. The silicone treatment is exactly what allows it to regain its loft as it dries instead of staying compacted. That changes your relationship with the product: you wash it when it needs washing, not when the calendar allows.

Gentle programme

Moderate temperature and a low spin. Check that the duvet can move freely in the drum.

Never use fabric softener

It coats the fibre and makes it clump, reducing its warmth. It's the most common mistake.

Shake it while drying

While it dries, give it a shake now and then so the filling regains its original loft.

A practical note: with the all-seasons duvet, the two pieces are washed separately and each one is thinner, so they fit more easily in a domestic washing machine. It's an extra advantage that rarely gets mentioned.

allergies: why fibre has it easier

It's worth being precise here, because there's quite a lot of confusion around. The allergy is rarely to down itself: it's usually to dust mites, which find a natural filling a more favourable place to settle. On top of that, people who are sensitive to animal proteins can indeed react to the material.

Synthetic fibre contains no animal protein and, because it can be washed at home at temperature, it allows frequent washing, one of the usual measures for keeping dust mites under control. Even so, we can't guarantee that a fabric won't cause allergies, because it depends on each person.

why we work with fibre

With all the factors on the table, this is our choice and the reasoning behind it. It's based on how duvets are really used in a home: years of use, frequent washing, children, pets and real-world budgets.

When down stands out

If your priority is maximum warmth with the least possible weight (for example, if you find any feeling of weight on your body uncomfortable), down does that job better than any fibre. And if, on top of that, there are no allergies in the household, your budget stretches to high-percentage down and a yearly professional clean isn't a problem, it's an option worth considering.

One word of warning, though: when quality down is beyond your budget and the alternative is a budget range, the decision becomes simpler. Those blends with a high proportion of feather give less warmth than an equivalent fibre and keep all the demands of the natural material. In that range, fibre is the more advisable option.