Feathers and down

Until comparatively recently, feathers and down were the traditional filling of most pillows in the western world, however, they can also be used in a mattress.

As a complete mattress filler feathers and down are not practical, firstly because of cost, secondly because they cannot be constructed or organised into a mattress base, and finally because they require fluffing up.

Fluffing up a pillow that you can lift up, hold and shake is one thing, however doing the same thing with a mattress would be impossible.

Feathers and down in a mattress

Despite the impracticality of having a mattress that is completely filled with feathers, feathers and down can be used within a mattress as a cushioning top layer.

When this is the case they work in a similar way to any other top layer, e.g. memory foam or latex. This normally means that the main construction of the bed is pocket springs or a block of foam with the addition of what is almost a blanket layer of feathers and down.

This type of mattress is very unusual and only made by a small number of independent low production manufacturers, however it does have an appeal to some people. It would not ordinarily be considered to be an orthopedic bed.

Because feathers compress and flatten very easily, and this is compounded by the fact that they do not recover or bounce back, any mattress top layer should be detachable. When this is the case it can be treated like a feather and down quilt and shaken to regain the fluffiness that characterises feathers and down.

Where to get this kind of mattress

None of the brand name mattress manufacturers make mattresses that have a feather and down layer although some may use feathers as wadding and padding in order to retain these traditional bedding materials in the process.

There are however some very small mattress makers who produce some unusual and often diverse mattress types. Some of these cottage industry mattress makers will even make a mattress using grains (dried grasses) and these are the types of producer who may make or combine a feather and down mattress.

In terms of orthopedic support, a mattress made from feathers and down will not comply with the modern view of reactive foams and pocket spring systems that contour and shape to the bodies profile. Even so, every mattress has its place and the feal of feathers and down is something that some people still prefer.