Although a good mattress and a good comforter are essential for a comfortable night’s sleep, the addition of another soft, insulating layer beneath the occupant of the bed can substantially improve comfort, as well as insulate when the ambient temperature is very low.

The fiberbed is such a product which sits between the bed and the sleeper. It’s a cross between a thin portable mattress and a comforter. It has the softness of a comforter, but is laid upon the bed beneath the sleeper. Generally, it’s a bit stiffer than a down comforter because of the addition of top feathers.

Even though many consumers would consider using fiberbeds, the problem lies in the fact that they are allergic to substances from the fill or substances that accumulate in the fill. The allergy-causing substances can arise from the down itself, or from house-hold dust-mites. Dust mites are well-known to secrete a protein which causes allergies.

The solution to such issues lies in the use of down alternative fiberbeds. Down fill actually has a surprising number of substitutes or similar substances. Good down alternatives must have three of the unique properties of down: great insulating power, light-weight, and high loft (or softness). In the case of synthetic fills, polyester is the favored material. In the case of natural fills, silk is likely to be the favorite. A famous example of a synthetic is Primaloft, which comes quite close to down in terms of its weight-to-loft ratio.

In addition to the possibility of reducing allergens, down alternative fiberbeds are also priced lower than down. This is because synthetics can be manufactured in greater volume and at lower cost. Harvesting down from water fowl is labor intensive, as well as time intensive. For example, raising water fowl takes months at least, whereas culling wild ones requires seeking them out. The prices of down alternatives are not fixed either. There are low cost varieties and premium varieties which vary in their closeness to reproducing the properties of down.

When purchasing a down alternative fiberbed, be aware that there are different kinds of stitching designs that have an impact on how the long-term loftiness of the fill. A box-type stitching creates small compartments that keep the fill separated, preventing it from bunching up. Shaking out the fiberbed once a week will also help keep the fill evenly distributed.

The last point to keep in mind when trying to choose between down alternatives and traditional down fiberbeds is that maintenance is much easier in the case of synthetics. Household detergents and appliances will suffice. Dry cleaning is a permissible alternative but not absolutely required.

Find out more about down alternative comforters by directly reading our site. Readers wishing to know more can head over to learn about hypoallergenic pillows.