Feather vs. Wool Mattress Pad

Feather

• Feather mattress pads are filled with duck or goose down, feathers or a combination of down and feathers. The feather pads provide a soft, fluffy and luxurious sleeping surface on top of your existing mattress, though they are not used for extra support. If you have an old sagging mattress, a feather mattress pad will not improve its support. Feathers have hard, pointy quills that can poke you through the fabric. Look for a mattress pad made with all or mostly down fill; down clusters do not have a quill to poke you.

Feather Considerations

• Feathers in mattress pads will shift repeatedly if not contained in a cover with baffle box construction. This type of cover is made with a top layer and bottom layer of fabric with separate narrow walls, or gussets, sewn vertically inside the cover, creating three-dimensional boxes that hold the feathers or down within each box. No matter how the pad is made, it will need to be removed from the bed and shaken regularly to fluff the feathers.

Wool

• Wool mattress pads are made with lamb or alpaca fleece or a combination of the two. Pads made with a blend of the two retain their fluffiness longer than those made from one type of wool. When it does flatten, shake it to refluff the wool to renew its softness. Wool is ideal for those who would like added softness, though like feathers, it does not provide support. The pads are not scratchy; they feel similar to a soft sheepskin rug. The natural material is hypoallergenic, resisting dust mites, mold and mildew.

Breathability

• Feathers and wool are both natural fibers and are, therefore, highly breathable materials. The feathers and down fluff up, or loft, creating thousands of air pockets that pull away your body heat in the summer and trap it in the winter. In addition to the breathability, wool also naturally absorbs moisture, so you don't feel clammy or sweaty. By keeping you dry, wool allows you to maintain a comfortable body temperature all year long.