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.