What is Loft?
The Lowdown On Loft
What is 'Loft'?
Loft (also known as fill power) is a measure of the fluffiness of down. Down is the soft and fluffy undercoating beneath the feathers of geese and ducks.
What Does Down Look Like?
Canadian
Penny
850
Loft Down
700
Loft Down
550
Loft Down
Feathers are the outer growth of birds that have fibers extending from a central quill. Loft does not apply to feather - Only to down!
What Is Considered to Be A "Good Loft"?
Generally speaking, loft can range from 300-1000 cubic inches per ounce
Loft that is considered to be of good quality starts at around 550
The higher the loft of down, the higher it's insulating properties are per ounce. This is beacuse larger down clusters can trap more heat!
How Is Loft Measured
850
Loft
700
Loft
550
Loft
400
Loft
Measuring the loft of down consists of a test that takes places in plexiglass cylinders. The test will tell us how many cubic inches that one ounce of down will fill. The test is conducted under precise conditions of exact temperature and humidity. This allows the down to loft up to it's full potential.
How Does Loft Affect My Duvet?
25oz
850
Loft
35oz
575
Loft
All Season Warmth Rating
Weight: When it comes to high loft down, less is more! The higher the loft, the more insulating it is per ounce.
These duvets are equally warm. They both have an 'All Season' warmth rating. The 850 loft duvet only weighs 25oz, whereas the 575 loft weighs 35oz. This is because 850 loft down is more insulating so we need less down to achieve the 'All Season' warmth rating! Conversley, 575 Loft is less insulating per ounce, so we need more down to achieve the 'All Season' warmth rating.
Think of it like washing detergent.
High loft down is like concentrated detergent. Lower loft down is like regular detergent.
We only need 4L of the concentrated detergent for 160 washes, but we need 8L of the regular detergent for the same number of washes. This is because the 4L detergent is more powerful, so less of it is needed to do the same number of washes.
4L
8L
160 Washes
Price: Down quality is the most significant factor in determining the price of your duvet. The higher the loft, the more expensive your duvet will be.
Please never machine-wash your down duvets as this will cause the down to clump and cluster together!
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6 comments
I’m confused
I’m wanting a down pillow but which one
I’m a back Sleeper with a sore neck
An need a pillow to hug my neck an head
Soft or med..an which one you have so many
Lorie day
Hi Lorie, As far as the support level you need, I can't say for sure. That is highly subjective and varies based on personal preference, body size and shape, mattress support level, etc. Back sleepers tend to need some moderate support that provides cushioning for the head without propping the head up too much. I would guess that a Medium down pillow will work best for you, but unfortunately it's not an exact science. Whichever option you try, you can send it back to us to have fill added or removed to change the support level if it's not quite right.
As far as the various down pillow options, it just depends how much you're looking to spend on down quality (loft) and fabric softness (thread count), and if you want to pay a premium for goose down. I would recommend a lower loft, lower thread count pillow. Most people don't need to splurge on a top-of-the-line pillow to get the comfort and performance they need. Things like loft and thread count don't matter as much in pillows as they do in duvets. A pillow shell doesn't move around as much as a duvet shell, so a starchier, crisper pillow shell should not be very noticeable. Loft doesn't really affect the support level of a pillow, but it does affect the weight of a duvet. I hope this helps!
Canadian Down & Feather Company
Could you tell me how the Canadian loft value compares to the UK tog value.
Bodile Streeten
Hi Bodile, Tog is a warmth rating. You can compare tog ratings to our warmth ratings of Summer, Regular, All Season and Winter.
Loft is a measure of the insulating properties of down, but loft alone doesn’t tell you the warmth of a product. You have to look at both loft and fill weight to determine that. For example, a low loft down may not be super warm per ounce, but if you put lots of it into a duvet, you can create a very warm product! Tog ratings and our warmth ratings take into account both loft and fill weight.
Canadian Down & Feather Company
I’m glad to read that last comment on the same duvet I bought. Mostly because it was so light, and I haven’t used it yet so I’m worried it won’t be warm enough. But when I wrap it around me just because it’s light doesn’t mean it’s not warm! It’s nice and warm.
So I think I’m going to put it on my bed now instead of waiting till fall!
But I’ve had a great night sleep every night since I got my 850 loft pillow! That was money well spent. I’m thinking I’m gonna buy another one but at 550 loft for a pillow that way it’s a little firmer.
Chris Boxer
I love my pillow! Been having great sleeps ever since I got it. Haven’t used my duvet yet. Waiting till fall. Still using my old duvet. Getting my moneys worth out of it. Lol
Chris Boxer
This is such an amazing article. I loved reading this.
Loft Boarding Specialist
We purchased a Hutterite 850 loft-500 duvet(all season) . I was worried realizing it was so light.
We purposely sleep in a cool room temperature.
It was fantastic. The bedroom was at 15c or 59F. The duvet kept us warm the entire night.
We don’t even wear Chanel no 5 to sleep.
Thank you.
Francois Hummell
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