Last year I had a suite of allergy testing done. Some of the results I half expected—cat dander, pollen, and mold—but when I learned feathers were on the list, honestly, I was devastated. If I wanted to breathe again, it would mean getting rid of my duvet, pillows, winter coat, and sofa. Some of these, admittedly, I ignored (the sofa isn’t going anywhere), while others, like the coat and bedding, were more practical to swap. Still, I lamented the idea of a flimsy poly-fill comforter in place of my feather cocoon. But when I began looking, I found many shredded microfiber, wool, and updated poly-fill designed to mimic down.
With allergies on the rise (more than 50 million American suffer from allergies), and responsible animal farming on the decline, more brands are offering hypoallergenic comforters as downy as their feather-filled counterparts. Here are 10 that made our list.
Above: Parachute’s Down Alternative Duvet Insert is made with hypoallergenic microfiber that insulates and feels like down; $119 to $329 at Parachute. Above: Coyuchi’s Climate Beneficial Wool Duvet Insert is made with wool batting and an organic cotton cover with tufts to hold the wool in place (a critical feature). Wool, a natural insulator, keeps the bed warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It’s also naturally non-allergenic and dust-mite proof; $348 to $498 at Coyuchi. Above: The Snowe Down Alternative Comforter is made with allergen-free OEKO-TEX certified microfiber. Available in lightweight ($98 to $128) and all-season ($128 to $168) at Snowe. Above: IKEA offers three versions of down alternative inserts, the Grusbald Warmer Comforter (shown) is made with a cotton and polyester blend that is ultra-affordable ($19.99 to $35.99). Also at IKEA are the Rödtoppa Comforter ($47.99) and the Glansvide Comforter ($79). Above: The Brooklinen Down Alternative Comforter, though poly-fill, is made with shaved microfibers to mimic the feeling of down available in lightweight ($179 to $269) and all-season ($199 to $299) at Brooklinen. Above: The Boll & Branch Down Alternative Duvet Insert is made up of fluffy clusters that trap air for a similar loft to that of real down. Made with standard 100 polyester OEKO-TEX certified, a certification for responsible textile production. $300 to $350 at Boll & Branch. Above: The Garnet Hill Signature Down-Alternative All-Season Comforter is $179 to $279. Above: Crane & Canopy’s Luxe Down Alternative Comforter is a 300 thread-count insert with hypoallergenic premium down alternative filling. Available in three weights starting at $129. Above: From Tuft & Needle, the Down Alternative Duvet Insert is made with high-quality polyester that, the company says, “won’t clump or stick together.” Made with standard 100 polyester OEKO-TEX certified, a certification for responsible textile production. Available in light ($155 to $195) and medium ($165 to $255) weights at Tuft & Needle. Above: West Elm makes a version: their Down Alternative Duvet Cover Insert is made with polyester and tencel fibers with a cambric cotton cover; $129 to $179 at West Elm.
In the market for beds and bedding? See our posts for an edited selection:
10 Easy Pieces: Organic Bed Pillows 10 Easy Pieces: Simple White Sheets 10 Easy Pieces: Hotel Sheets 10 Easy Pieces: Editors’ Favorite Mattresses Sleep Disrupters: 14 Upstart Mattress Companies #10EasyPieces #ProductDiscoveries #Bedding #Blankets&Throws
