There is a large variance in price in the market place and for a product like a pillow, you truly get what you pay for. Fill, construction, hygiene and sourced filling are all crucial components to consider when making your purchase. Although some pillows are expensive, there will always be a reason as to why and it is more than likely that the initial investment will pay off. The most premium pillow pillow on the market is down and feather due to their warmth yet lightness, allowing for a peaceful and restful sleep all year round.
Products discussed are Baksana's Hungarian Goose Down & Feather ranges in 95/5, 80/20 and Double Chamber Pillows.
Loft, otherwise known as ‘fill power’, is the number of cubic centimeters one ounce (28.34 grams) of down will fill under specific conditions and determines the level of insulation. The larger, more mature the bird, the higher the loft of it’s down. A pillow made from mature down will be lighter and puffier. It will last a lot longer than one made with young down. The loft comes from the down cluster continuously wanting to return to its natural spherical shape.
The image below shows loft of different grades of down. Each tube is the same size and filled with exactly one ounce of down. It is easy to see that a higher quality and more mature down fills more space for the same weight. It takes much less of a high lofting down to fill a product, which explains why a high quality down product will be much lighter and puffier than a lower quality product.
Fill power is a very important feature of the quality of the down used for filling bedding products. The high quality down has millions of fluffy filaments that interlock and overlap to form a protective layer of non-circulating air that acts as a thermo-isolation agent to keep warm air in and cold air out. A fill power, or loft, of 800 is considered the finest available in the world. It is extremely light, warm, puffy and scarce. The fill power in our 95/5 pillows are exceptionally high at 600g (soft) 700g (medium) and 800g (firm), while the fill power in our 80/20 products is a generous and very comfortable 550g (soft), 650g (medium) and 750g (firm).
Another important aspect to consider for down and feather pillows are where the fill originates and if the geese are treated humanely. We only use Hungarian goose down and feather for our down products, the most important reason is the consistency of fill power and quality associated with Hungarian geese is incomparable. The finest down comes from the oldest and largest Hungarian geese in the gaggle, and due to the cold climate Hungarian geese tend to grow very large. Compare this to the Orient, where majority of the worlds down comes from, which produces poor to medium grades of down as oriental geese farmers do not raise their geese to this stage of maturity.
Additionally, Hungarian geese farmers take pride in knowing their goose down is considered the finest and most luxurious in the world, and they want to keep it that way. Hungarian geese farmers put an emphasis on the ethical treatment and sustainability of Hungarian geese. Hungarian geese roam in green pastures with free grazing and no down or feather is plucked from live geese, unlike some Oriental geese, so you can be rest assured your product aligns with your personal and environmental values.
All of our down is sterilised using only soap and water, ensuring no chemical damage to the down. In addition to being extensively washed, repeatedly rinsed and tested, goose down only becomes sterile and hypoallergenic when that washing is combined with a thorough heated drying process. Many other companies spray a chemical sanitiser on their down products so they can claim their products as being ‘sanitised’. Be very careful obtaining products that have been ‘sanitised’ or ‘chemically treated’, as this will affect the quality of the down.
We stand by the exceptional hygiene of our Hungarian down products, and we are proud to be chemical free.
Construction is just as important as fill. All covers on our Hungarian down products are made from Egyptian cotton, which has had high pressure treatment to fuse the fibers tightly together. This ensures no down fibers will poke through the cover, making it a down-proof cover.
So, what pillow is best for me?
It is important to make sure your pillow gives your neck and spine the support it needs in conjunction with your desired comfort. Sleeping on the wrong pillow can result in headaches or a strained neck. Finding a pillow that not only supports your head but also your neck is crucial for a good night's sleep and your overall well-being.
Do you sleep on your back or stomach?
You'll need one soft or medium pillow that will offer support by gently molding to the shape of your head and neck.
We recommend:
Do you sleep on your side?
You'll need one firmer pillow (or two pillows, depending on how broad your shoulders are) to keep your head supported and aligned with your spine. A firm bottom pillow and a soft top pillow could be an ideal option.
We recommend:
95/5 Pillow – Firm (with or without additional Soft pillow)
80/20 Pillow – Firm (with or without additional Soft pillow)
Double Chamber Pillows
Double Chamber pillows offer the best of both worlds. They're ideal if you like a soft feel but need extra support. Double Chamber pillows are made with an outer layer of lofty filling for softness and an inner core of firmer filling for support.
We recommend: Double Chamber – Soft, Medium or Firm, depending on your personal preference.
If you're unsure whether you need Soft, Medium or Firm pillow support, visit one of our stores where we can help you try out all our pillows for yourself.