Duvets, also known as doonas or quilts, are one of the biggest investments you can make in your bedlinen to ensure total cosiness at night, even in the middle of winter. When looking for options for a duck-down duvet, one question that lingers is: what is duck-down? And, more importantly, how is it made? Duck-down, known for its superior insulating properties, is often found in winter essentials such as puffer jackets or a cosy duvet. And, contrary to popular opinion, down and feathers are actually different. A duvet made of duck feathers will feature plumage, from the fluffy part of the feather to the hard quill. Meanwhile duck-down is the softer undercoating of these birds. Duck-down is comprised of fluffy filaments, growing out from a central quill point. As such, duck-down duvets are superior in terms of insulation and provide more warmth than feather duvets.
Is duck-down ethical?
The question on everyone’s lips: is duck-down ethical? Or further, is ethical duck-down available? In short, yes, ethical duck-down is available, and eiderdown takes the crown in this regard. Sourced from the Eider species of duck, eiderdown is hand-collected from nests. This collection of down feathers that have already fallen off a duck is the most ethically sourced from an animal welfare point of view. However, due to its labour-intensive process, duvets filled with eiderdown are expensive and hard to come by.
The good thing is, even a small percentage of duck down will improve the insulation of your duvet. Many duvet fillings are made from a blend of duck-down and duck feathers. The higher the percentage of feathers, the more budget-friendly the blanket is likely to be. Meanwhile, the higher the percentage of duck-down, the warmer (and often more expensive) the result.
8 of the best duck-down duvets
Dreamaker lightweight duck-down summer quilt
from $109, Temple & Webster
Best for: A lightweight option
Do you run hot, or share a bed with someone who does? This lightweight option is perfect for you. It has all the insulation of duck-down, but in a breathable and lightweight design that will prevent you from overheating.
Sizes: Single, King Single, Double, Queen, King and Super King
Colour: White
Materials: 50% duck-down, 50% duck feather, cotton cover
Key features:
- Machine washable on wool cycle
- 120gsm
- Quilted with a square pattern
- Lightweight design
- Fluffy, breathable and cool to the touch
Shaynna Blaze 85/15 white duck-down quilt
from $649.99, Myer
Best for: High percentage of duck-down
Australian interior designer and TV personality Shaynna Blaze has released a range of quilts, including this 85% duck-down duvet. The high percentage of duck-down provides you with medium to high levels of warmth, perfect for the depths of winter. Box stitching ensures the warmth is distributed evenly.
Sizes: Queen, King and Super King
Colour: White
Materials: 85% white duck-down, 15% small feather and down fibre, cotton cover
Key features:
- High percentage of duck-down
- Box stitching
- Available in three sizes
- Even warmth distribution
Giselle Bedding duck-down and feather quilt
from $113.95 (usually $123.95), Myer
Best for: Down-proof cotton cover
This duck-down duvet has all the benefits of a super warm filling while still managing to be lightweight and breathable. This is due to the soft 100% cotton cover, which has been doubled hemmed, as well as the baffle box construction of the duvet. Baffle box construction is when the top covers of a duvet have a thin piece of fabric sewn between them, resulting in an extremely even distribution of duck-down.
Size: Super King
Colour: White
Materials: 5% duck-down, 95% duck feather, pure cotton cover
Key features:
- 1 year warranty
- Pure cotton cover
- 500gsm
- Double hems
- Non-live-plucked down and feather
Royal Comfort plus duck feather down quilt in White
from $49.95 (usually $109), Myer
Best for: Quality thread count
You won’t want to leave your bed with this duck-down duvet, designed by Royal Comfort. With 500gsm and a cover that has a thread count of 233, this quality duvet has a medium weight with excellent temperature control. With double-edged stitching along the hem and a baffle box construction, you can rest assured all your warmth will be locked in.
Sizes: Single, King Single, Double, Queen and King
Colour: White
Materials: 95% duck feather, 5% duck-down
Key features:
- 233 thread count cover
- Baffle box construction
- 500gsm
- Medium-weight
Soren 75/25 duck-down & feather quilt in White
from $379.99, Harris Scarfe
Best for: Machine washable convenience
With a 75% duck-down filling, the Soren duvet is a high quality and warm option for cold winter nights. The cover is made from cotton and the blanket is machine washable, although using a wool cycle is recommended for this product.
Sizes: Single, Double, Queen and King
Colour: White
Materials: 75% duck-down, 25% duck feather, cotton cover
Key features:
- 75% duck-down
- Machine washable on wool cycle
- Cotton cover
All seasons down and feather quilt
from $279.99 (usually #399.99), Adairs
Best for: Three-year guarantee
As the name suggests, Adairs all seasons duck-down duvet is suitably warm for winter while also being lightweight and breathable enough to keep you comfortable in summer. This light and lofty design benefits from a 275gsm and is available in three sizes.
Sizes: Queen, King and Super King
Colour: White
Materials: 50% duck-down, 50% duck feather, cotton cover
Key features:
- Three-year guarantee
- Machine washable
- 275gsm
Downia ‘white collection’ 85/15 duck-down and feather quilt
from $449, Myer
Best for: Asthma and allergy-friendly
The Downia ‘white collection’ duck-down duvet is one of the more expensive quilts on this list, but the high percentage of duck down justifies the price tag. The cover is also made from 100% cotton, with a 280 thread count, offering protection from dust mites and making this blanket ideal for those who struggle with asthma and allergies.
Sizes: Single, Double, Queen, King and Super King
Colour: White
Materials: 85% duck-down, 15% duck feathers, cotton cover
Key features:
- 280 thread count
- 85% duck-down
- Asthma and allergy friendly
- Machine washable (on a warm and gentle cycle)
Laura Hill duck-down feather 700gsm duvet in White
$105, Myer
Best for: High gsm
At a lofty 700gsm, the Laura Hill duck-down duvet is exactly what you need to brace against harsh winter nights. This blanket is packed with a blend of duck-down and duck feathers, and lined with a double-stitched hem. The cover is hypoallergenic and breathable, so you won’t wake up in a hot sweat.
Size: Queen
Colour: White
Material: Duck-down, duck feather, cotton cover
Key features:
- Duck-down and duck feather blend
- Hypoallergenic
- 700gsm
- Double-stitched hems
- Pure cotton cover
This article originally appeared on Home Beautiful and is republished here with permission.
