Goose Down or Duck Down which is better?
When comparing goose down and duck down of similar quality, i.e. the same fill power (loft), there is little physical difference between the two. They both provide similar levels of insulation and maintain their loft and warmth for years when properly cared for. However, there are still a couple of differences to consider.
Goose Down vs Duck Down
The first difference, which could potentially affect the user experience, is the possibility of lingering odor from duck down. Duck down is inherently more odorous than goose down. Even though the down treatment and sanitizing processes remove most of this odor, people who have an acute olfactory sense may still be able to notice the difference. For most of us though, including us at Linens Delight, the smell is not noticeable.
The second difference is the availability of high fill power down. To achieve a high fill power (usually >750 loft), a high percentage of large down clusters (also known as plumules) is required. Since geese are in general physically larger than ducks, it is only possible to harvest a sufficient quantity of large down clusters from geese to produce high-end down at scale. Therefore, high-end down products are mostly dependent on goose down, resulting in goose down being more premium and expensive than duck down. You can find low-grade goose down and high-grade duck down, but on average, goose down clusters are larger and loftier.
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Duck down duvets at Linens Delight range from 600 to 800 loft.
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Goose down duvets at Linens Delight range from 600 to 950 loft, offering loftier and larger clusters for maximum warmth.
For more tips on selecting the best down for your comfort, check out our Down Comforter Guide to understand why fill powers and materials matter.