FOAM MATTRESS TOPPER - feather and down toppers

The alternative mattress topper filling to one of the newer foam materials is the original topper filling of duck feather and down.

These feather and down toppers come in a range of specifications and may be made up from goose or duck feathers.

Feather and down mattress toppers use the most natural and organic of materials to produce a soft but comfortably resistant sleeping surface and their ability to recover gives them a long life expectancy.

What to look for in a feather and down topper

Most feather and down mattress toppers are double stitched and piped and they should have a channel like composition to ensure the even distribution of the down and feather filling.

The filling mix is usually specified as a percentage or ratio of down to small feathers and the percentage of down should be at least 10 percent.

Duck and goose feather mattress toppers are available in all of the standard mattress sizes and an indication of their build quality and down and feather density can be obtained by reviewing their "fill weight".

A good fill weight for a single size feather and down topper 2,700 grams whilst and equivalent fill weight for a double size is about 4,000 grams.

Feather and down toppers versus modern foam toppers

There is no best option when it comes to selecting a mattress topper. Some people prefer a natural material like down and feathers whilst others favour visco elastic memory foam or Latex.

Feather and down toppers, just like feather and down quilts, are good at retaining heat and offer a warm sleeping environment. they also work best on a good quality mattress, but do not require a very firm mattress as is ideally the case with modern foams.

Modern thinking probably suggests that the newer foam based toppers offer superior supportive properties to the organic toppers, but ultimately it comes down to what each individual has as a sleeping preference.