Superior Down Alternative All-Season Comforter Review

Despite the popularity of goose down comforters, feathers have their downsides (pun intended). Compared to synthetic fill, down is expensive, requires dry cleaning, and you can forget about it if you have allergies. There are a range of down alternative comforters on the market, but finding one with all the virtues of the real deal isn’t easy.

We tested Superior’s Down Alternative All-Season Comforter to see if a synthetic polyester fill could really deliver the same cozy, comfortable night of sleep as down, at a much lower price point. See what our sleep tests turned up.

Although we like natural fibers for bedding due to their breathability, this microfiber shell was both soft and breathable enough to allow airflow, which helped keep us from overheating. OEKO-TEX certifications mean no harmful chemicals were used in manufacturing this comforter, which is the next best thing to a natural material like cotton.

With 100 ounces (or 6.25 pounds) of hypoallergenic polyester fill inside, this is a medium weight comforter that’s suitable for all seasons. It’s light and fluffy enough for spring evenings, but substantial enough to feel snuggly on cold nights.

Another thing that sets apart the Superior Down Alternative All-Season Comforter is the baffle box stitching, which helps keep the fill evenly distributed (even after washing) and allows it to loft fully. Loft refers to how much the filling expands to fill a space, which equates to fluffiness—but more importantly to insulation. More loft means more air trapped inside, which is better at holding the heat your body generates. This allows for a warm covering that can still release heat as needed.

Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best comforters.

The manufacturer’s claim that you can “cuddle with comfort” rings true, since the shell of this comforter is ultra-smooth and won’t snag on your skin. It also doesn’t venture into slippery territory, which a lot of manmade fabrics can do. The finish of the fabric is matte, not shiny, which helps with that cool-to-the-touch feeling.

After washing according to label directions (machine wash cold on delicate, tumble dry on low), we found no evidence of pilling, fraying, discoloration, or other defects. It’s worth pointing out too that the fill inside wasn’t all bunched up after being machine-washed. Wrinkling was minimal and disappeared after the comforter was spread out and fluffed.

The queen size retails for around $50, but the quality is what you’d expect from much pricier bedding. The soft, matte microfiber shell is a joy to sleep on, and the polyester fill emulates everything we love about down in a hypoallergenic package.

See more reviews of our favorite comforter sets available for purchase.

There is an abundance of down alternative comforters available to buy, including the popular and slightly cheaper Linenspa Down Alternative Microfiber Comforter. The Linenspa comforter has the advantage of offering more colors, patterns, and sizes (like a Twin XL, Oversized Queen and King, and California King). If color coordination or fun bedspread patterns are important to you, then the variety offered by Linenspa might catch your eye. However, we preferred the quality and functionality of Superior—even if their comforter only comes in white.

We found that Superior’s Down Alternative All-Season Comforter offered better temperature regulation due to higher breathability. The baffle box stitching also kept the polyester filling in place better than Linenspa’s simple box stitch. Perhaps the biggest difference, however, was the sheen and texture of the microfiber shells; Superior’s was soft without being slick, while Linenspa’s has a slight sheen that tends to wrinkle more. For our money, we’d take Superior, which lives up to its name.

Check out our other reviews of the best mattress toppers available on the market today.