THANK YOU FOR USING GOARTICLES.COM
The Articles Search Engine
Take A Moment To Visit Our Other Top Web Sites:
http://www.dropjack.com http://www.seo-news.com
http://www.sitepronews.com http://www.exactseek.com
http://www.blog-search.com http://www.smartwebgadgets.com
Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher
Guidelines at http://www.goarticles.com/publisher.html
================================================================
Title: Essential Steps to Finding Your Perfect Down Comforter, Part I
Author: Sean Rook
Article:
Finding the perfect <a href=http://www.thedownsource.com>down
comforters</a> shouldn't be a painful experience. The reality,
however, is that there is a host of information to gather and
understand before you can make a knowledgeable purchase of a
down comforter. Your choices are many and varied, given the wide
array of down comforters available. This article identifies and
explains three fundamental criteria to help you narrow down your
options and to make your search for the perfect down comforter
easier, quicker, and maybe even enjoyable. When purchasing a
down comforter, you want to know what size you need, what warmth
level is most appropriate for you, and which of the many
construction designs best suits your needs.
<b>SIZE</b>
The first step is the easiest. Know what size <a
href=http://www.thedownsource.com>down comforters</a> you are
looking to buy. This may seem common sensical, but there are
some considerations to ponder. Make sure you know the actual
dimensions of your bed, not just whether it is a twin, full,
queen, or king. Having this information will give you a better
idea of how well a particular comforter will fit your bed. For
instance, knowing the dimensions of your queen size mattress
will help you decide whether a 'full/queen' down comforter will
work for you. Some people opt to buy their comforter one size
larger than their mattress, either for appearance (to have a
fuller drop around their bed) or for practical reasons
(considering who will be sleeping under the down comforter).
<b>WARMTH</b>
The second step is to determine your sleeping warmth level. Are
you generally a hot or a cold sleeper? What is the average room
temperature when you are asleep? Determining this, you can now
consider two variables: fill weight, and fill power. Fill weight
is simply the amount, in ounces, of down fill inside the
comforter. The more down, the warmer the <a
href=http://www.thedownsource.com>down comforters</a>. Fill
power is a measure of the loft, or fluffiness, of the down.
Higher fill power means higher loft and greater insulating
properties. Therefore, a down comforter with a high fill power
requires less fill weight to retain warmth. Fill power has
further implications, but for now, just know that a down
comforter's insulating value is really a function of both fill
weight and fill power.
<b>DESIGN</b>
The third step in the process of finding your perfect <a
href=http://www.thedownsource.com>down comforters</a> concerns
the design, or construction, of the down comforter. There are
two main categories: baffle-box design, and sewn-through
stitching. Baffle-box construction can be further divided into
closed, open, and partially-open baffle-boxes. Each has its own
attributes; none is necessarily better than another. Only you
can know which will work best for you. Let's examine each one.
<i>SEWN-THROUGH BOX STITCHING</i>
Sewn-through box stitching indicates that the comforter cover,
or tick, has been divided into equally sized squares by sewing
the top and bottom layers directly together. Sewn-through box
stitching contains the down fill in individual compartments to
prevent shifting of the down and to minimize cold spots. This is
an effective and traditional technique that results in a typical
quilted appearance. It is also a cost-effective technique:
sewn-through stitched down comforters are generally less
expensive. However, sewn-through stitching can prevent the down
from attaining its highest loft; and the stitching lines
themselves are effectively cold areas.
<i>CLOSED and OPEN BAFFLE BOX</i>
Baffle-box construction is a more labor intensive and,
therefore, a usually more expensive option. Baffles are strips
of fabric, 1 to 1 1/2 inch wide, that are sewn into the inside
of the comforter and form vertical walls between the top and
bottom of the cover. Baffle walls allow the down fill to attain
higher loft, creating a fluffier appearance and optimizing the
down's natural properties. This is particularly relevant in
heavy fill weight, high fill power down comforters. If the
baffle boxes are 'closed,' this means that the down fill cannot
shift or be moved between individual baffle boxes. Closed, or
true, baffle box comforters, like the Deluxe Exclusive or
Thermostep, are particularly effective at preventing cold spots.
Open box designs, on the other hand, do allow the movement of
the down between compartments. These types of down comforters
are 'adjustable' in the sense that the down fill can be shifted
to cover certain areas more so than others. For instance, a
sleeper with cold feet would be able to position more down over
his feet and legs for added warmth where he needs it. For
co-sleepers with different warmth needs, an open box down
comforter can be adjusted to keep the colder sleeper warmer and
vice versa.
Open baffle box down comforters may be open along the vertical,
along the horizontal, or equally and each way. There are also
degrees to which a down comforter's baffles are open. Some, like
the Punktstep down comforter, are about as open as is possible.
Others, like the Rubinstep, are about halfway between open and
closed. Ideally, an image of the quilting pattern would be made
available as it is not always possible to determine these by
merely seeing the exterior of the comforter.
<b>SUMMARY</b>
At this point, you are now adequately equipped to determine the
size, warmth level, and design that will make your new down
comforter the right <a href=http://www.thedownsource.com>down
comforters</a> for you. You are able to choose to best size down
comforter for your bed and sleeping arrangements. You know that
the insulating properties of a down comforter are a function of
both fill weight and fill power. You also understand the
differences between sewn-through box stitching and baffle-box
construction, as well as the differences between closed and open
baffle box designs.
Of course, there is more to consider - and to learn. You will
want to know the source, type, and quality of a down comforter's
fill. You will also want to know the type, quality, and other
attributes of the comforter's cover, (or tick, or shell). My
next article will explore each of these criteria in greater
detail. Visit www.thedownsource.com for more valuable
information, customer support, and a wide vaiety of <a
href=http://www.thedownsource.com>down comforters</a>.
About the author:
Sean Rook's website, www.thedownsource.com, specializes in down
comforters. With so many options from which to choose, let The
Down Source help you find the perfect down comforter for you.
================================================================
FORGET EXPENSIVE PPC ADVERTISING
Give your Website Top 10 Exposure across 100's of Search
Engines and Web Directories delivering 150 Million+ Searches/Mo.
$3 - $4/Month - Quick Inclusion - World Wide Placement!
Your Keywords - No Bidding - No Click Fraud - Stats Tracking
< http://www.exactseek.com/featured_listings.html >
================================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment