Finally, even if the pillow is quite comfortable, the kind of fill can become a repository for allergy-inducing irritants. These irritants lead to red, itchy eyes and congested passageways that take away from our sleep.

One of the major causes of allergies is the dust mite which inhabits the fill of down pillows and comforters. These mites are so small they’re invisible to the eye. They survive in the feather fill by feeding off our tiny skin flakes that have settled into the down. The problem arises when the dust mite excretes a biological molecule that sets off the immune systems of many people. The “phantom” symptoms are not in response to a disease, but rather the perception of one caused by down alternatives.

Fortunately, people with such sensitivities can opt for a non-down or down alternative pillow. These pillows can conceivably control the severity of an allergy, and are also cheaper than their down counterparts. The non-down pillows are broadly divided into three categories, each typed by three kinds of fill. The first kind is made from natural down alternatives, such as silk from the silkworm. The second kind is a synthetic fill, which is sometimes called gel fiber fill. The third kind is known as memory-foam, oftentimes attributed to the fruits of space research.

The silk natural down alternatives have an enthusiastic following due to its natural hypoallergenic properties, light weight but high warmth rating. In fact, silk is the fill of choice for many on the Asian continent. The drawback is that the price point of silk is quite high, comparable to down or more expensive.

Synthetic down alternatives in pillows are a close second behind down pillows. Inevitably, technological evolution has meant that synthetics can almost achieve the same level of warmth-to-weight rating as down products. If you’ve ever slept in a Primaloft sleeping bag, you know how “lofty” and comfortable it is. However, the average buyer will find these high quality synthetics to be close in price to down, and the low quality synthetics are considerably less comfortable.

Rather than stuffing a fabric cloth with down to make a pillow, some manufacturers have created pillows out of a single piece of foam. The special properties of memory foam is such that it can deform and mold exactly to the outline of your head. The next morning the memory foam will return to its original shape when you stop exerting weight on it. Memory foam was originally developed by NASA research for its space program. One problem with memory foam is that many people report being sensitive to strange chemical smells coming from the foam.

You can find more ideas on down alternative. Still have inquiries ? It might be worth it to check out our research about the comforter down alternatives industry.