Comparison: natural vs. synthetic fillings in duvets & pillows

In this blog article, we compare duvets and pillows with a natural filling – that is, down and feathers – with those made from synthetic, man-made fibres.

What are natural and synthetic fillings anyway?

Natural fillings:

As a rule, this means the down or feathers of animals. Down sits underneath the feathers and plays a key role in regulating temperature in winter and summer. It is very breathable and, thanks to its three-dimensional structure, retains warmth particularly well. Feathers are not quite as advanced in their properties, but they additionally protect the animal from external environmental influences. Usually, the down and feathers of ducks and geese are used. These, too, can differ in quality.

Synthetic fillings:

Synthetic fibres are made from coal, natural gas or crude oil. The raw material is first chemically synthesised into small plastic pellets and then processed so that fine threads can be drawn from it. These are then finished and made into various kinds of textile fabrics.

The best-known synthetic fabric is probably polyester. The smooth polyester threads are very thin and fine, yet very stable and tear-resistant. That is why they are often used in textiles, especially for the bedroom.

Heat retention & insulation

If you compare the thermal properties of natural and synthetic materials, natural materials win us over. If you like to be warm at night, a down duvet is a good choice.

The down clusters form small air pockets between them that retain warmth particularly well. They are also very flexible and drape closely around your body at night. As a result, hardly any warmth escapes, even if you move around a lot while asleep. The cosiness factor is therefore considerably higher with natural products.

Moisture absorption

Another property of the material is how well the filling of a duvet can absorb moisture and release it again.
As a natural material, down and feathers absorb moisture and release it again – usually more than synthetic fibres.

Weight

Animal feathers and down are lighter and airier than their synthetic counterparts. This means genuine down duvets are not as thick and heavy, which gives a light, pleasant feel – especially in winter, there is less weight resting on your body.
If you move a lot and often turn over during the night, a down duvet feels more flexible and comfortable, as it follows the movements of your body better.
Thanks to the lower weight of down duvets, air can also circulate better and faster.

So a one-sided matter?

Not entirely. Some people, for example, like a heavier duvet because they feel they can snuggle up better.

Synthetic material also insulates better when it gets very wet. That is why polyester is often used in outdoor jackets. As a rule, however, a bed at home is not exposed to much damp or wet, so this point can be disregarded.

Which material is easier to wash?

As natural down and feathers are a natural product, you need to make sure, especially after washing, that all the down and feathers in the pillow are dried as thoroughly as possible before the cover goes back on. If some feathers are still slightly damp, unpleasant odours can develop, which you will want to avoid. It is therefore advisable to dry duvets in a tumble dryer.

Both down duvets and synthetic duvets can usually be washed at up to 60 degrees.

Synthetic products also have the advantage that they dry faster after washing and hardly develop any unpleasant odours. At most, a pillow with a synthetic filling may smell slightly chemical when first unpacked. However, the smell disappears very quickly.

Value for money: what about the cost?

Synthetic duvets and pillows are considerably cheaper to buy than natural ones.

Our conclusion: for us, natural materials are the first choice. Their thermal properties and the soft, light feel speak in favour of down and feathers.