Hungary is known for many things. Art, history, pastries - and if you’re talking bedding - one of the world’s best producers of high-quality goose down.
Granted, it may not be the first thing you think of when picturing the European country, but for luxurious, natural bedding, it doesn’t get much better than goose down.
From duvets to pillows, the sumptuous climate-controlling filling adds warmth and squashy loft without heaviness. For those trying to achieve cloud-like comfort, it’s the gold standard.
We have the Romans and Greeks to thank for inventing animal feather-filled pillows. Millennia ago, they plumped pillows with feathers, cotton, straw and wool, paving the way for goose feathers and goose down later down the line.
What's the difference between down and feather?
While feathers are fairly self-explanatory, down refers to the soft, fluffy undercoating that you'd find under the tougher quilled plumes around the breast or belly.
Down clusters are preferable for pillow stuffing since it's light, airy and compressible while giving the same insulating effect - plus you'd need more feathers than you would down for the same plumped fill effect.
This, paired with the fact that down lasts longer, makes the material more expensive than feathers, but you can ease the cost by opting for a mix of down and feather.
If you’re looking to upgrade your sleep space, we’ve rounded up the best goose-down pillows to splash out on. We’ve included mixed fill as well as pure down so that you’ll see a wider price range - and hopefully, a pillow that fits the bill.
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Soho Home House Goose Down Pillow, Medium
Regular guests of Soho House will already know the deep and cosy comfort that comes with laying on the members club's goose down pillows - and now, thanks to Soho Home, you can sleep on it every night. Available in standard and king-size dimensions, the medium-firm pillow is packed with a mix of European goose down and feathers.
Buy now £200.00, Soho Home
DUSK Pair of Supreme Goose Down Pillows
When only pure goose down will do, head to DUSK where you can pick up this pair of luxury pillows for just £30 each. Available in standard and super king sizes, the pillows come in various support levels - soft, medium and firm - to best suit your sleep style. Paired with a matching goose-down duvet, you'll have a tough time getting out of bed - for all the right reasons.
Buy now £60.00, DUSK
John Lewis Natural Collection Hungarian Goose Down Standard Pillow
Firm yet soft to the touch, this cosy pillow will do wonders in elevating your bedroom setting. The medium support pillow is packed with Hungarian goose down and feathers, creating a headrest that plumps back into shape with a little gentle coaxing. The ethically sourced filling (labelled with a Downpass guarantee) is bound by a tight cotton cover to stop it from escaping. The all-natural pillow is perfect for stopping reactions to dust mites.
Sold with a five-year guarantee.
Buy now £90.00, John Lewis
Die Zudecke 100% Canadian Goose Down Pillow
Hungary doesn't have the monopoly on producing down-filled pillows: Canada does it too. Available in standard and super king sizes, this soft and cosy pillow is perfect for nuzzling into on cold nights. The fluffy fibres provide decent support for the head and neck, bouncing back into its original shape with a little shake.
Was: £161.99
Buy now £139.99, Wayfair
Cuddledown Hungarian Goose Down Pillow
Settle down for bed on cloud-like comfort courtesy of Cuddledown. Filled with down from Hungarian geese and encased in a breathable cotton cover, it’s available in standard, king, square and large square sizes. Available in soft and medium densities.
Buy now £78.40, Cuddledown
Silentnight Hungarian Goose Down Pillows 2 Pack
Swap mangy, unsupportive pillows for Silentnight's twin pack of goose-down pillows sourced from Hungarian birds. The combination of feather and down filling offers excellent loft while keeping air flowing so you won't wake up with a sweaty half of the head. It's a medium firmness, but if you have wide shoulders and sleep on your side you may want to stack these to keep your spine well aligned.
Buy now £54.99, Amazon
Hotel Collection Luxury Goose Feather & Down Pillow Pair
Sleep is so important to our mental and physical health, so it pays to invest in trimmings that will help you get high-quality shut-eye. Wake up feeling refreshed every morning with the help of this pair of goose feather and down pillows, wrapped in a cotton percale cover with a 233 thread count. Keeping them clean is simple too; simply sling in your washing machine to revive them.
Buy now £45.00, Very
M&S Goose Down Medium Surround Pillow
This bona fide bedtime essential from M&S is a fabulous choice for anyone seeking a feather pillow, offering ample medium support as you snooze. The super soft pillow can be machine washed at 40 degrees, plumps up beautifully and helps regulate temperature year round so you’re snug in winter and cool in the summer.
Buy now £45.00, M&S
DUSK Pair of Duck Feather & Down Pillows - Firm
Whether you sleep alone or you’re refreshing your pillows for both you and your partner, DUSK’s pair of duck feather and down pillows offer fantastic value while keeping quality at a premium.
The filling is a mix of 90 per cent duck feather with the rest luxury duck down. Everything comes wrapped in a 100 per cent cotton percale cover which feels cool against the skin. They are offered in soft, medium and firm support and you can buy them in super king size too.
Buy now £32.00, DUSK
