BACKGROUND -- Our high quality latex mattress is too firm. We needed something to provide a bit of a pillowtop feel. 1st tried a higher quality 2" gusseted faux down which did help, but our 50 year old hip/shoulder bones were still hitting too firmly on the mattress. So, ordered this one and are very happy. Read on for specific characteristics that might help you decide if this product is right for you.
COMPRESSION?? -- It compresses to about 2.5" during the night in the heavier portions of the torso area, but still has some give to it, and I don't touch the actual mattress.
EASY DAILY FLUFFING TRICK!! -- You probably don't need to fluff daily, but I figured out a really easy trick that takes 5 seconds total. The trick is to put the sheets on your featherbed rather than your mattress as follows: Cover your bare mattress with a fitted sheet to protect it (ya, I'm picky). Put the 5" Super Snooze (in its 100% cotton cover) on top of the fitted sheet. Put your mattress pad on the featherbed [as extra protection for the dry-clean-only featherbed] but wrap the "fitted part" of the mattress pad around only the featherbed rather than the whole mattress. Then put your fitted sheet on, wrapping it only around the mattress pad and featherbed, but not the mattress itself. For the flat sheet, I tucked it in at the bottom between the featherbed and the mattress, but I think you could tuck it in between the mattress and the box spring and be just fine. Place duvet on top of the top sheet. All has stayed very nicely in place even though my husband is known for tossing/turning (which I think he's doing much less of with the Super Snooze!). Every day it takes about 2 seconds on each side to fluff it in any areas that have flattened out, because I can easily get my hands between the mattress and the featherbed and then lift and shake a couple of times. Some days I don't fluff just like I don't always fluff my down pillow everyday. So basically, I'm putting sheets on the featherbed rather on the mattress. The bed looks perfectly normal when made, but when you pull the covers back, you'll notice that the featherbed and sheets are sitting on top of the mattress, rather than enveloping the mattress. So, while it may be a bit unorthodox, it works like a charm :-).
SMELL?? -- We don't notice anything. If I unzip the cover and put my nose directly on it, I smell nothing other than natural fibers of the product -- nothing objectionable at all. A friend with asthma and severe allergies just bought last week and no issues (and they like it a lot). I wouldn't get it wet though. I do live in the foothills of northern California which is a low-humidity area, which might make a difference.
CRUNCHINESS?? -- I maybe did notice a bit the first night or two. But nothing objectionable and nothing more than the normal rustle of fabrics (and I might have just been over-anticipating that I would hear crunchiness based on some of the other reviews). I don't notice anything now.
CLOUD LIKE FEELING?? -- I wouldn't characterize it as that. It would have to be like my super soft 100% goose down pillow to call it that. But it is very cushy and comfy, and I do wonderfully sink into it. I definitely don't want to get out of bed in the morning and enjoy the feeling of laying on it for a few minutes before I get up. I imagine it's a bit like having a very small full length body pillow next to you to curl up into. Luckily, it doesn't put my body into a "boat position" if I'm on my back. I do feel that my weight is evenly distributed. I sleep on my back, side, and stomach. My husband sleeps on his back and side.
GETTING IN AND OUT DIFFICULT?? It does make my bed a bit high because my mattress is already fairly tall, but it's fine. Getting out is definitely different than rolling off a rock hard bed. It took about a day to get used to, and it's not a biggie. But if someone had a disability of some type which made getting out of a normal bed difficult, this featherbed might not be a good option for you. I definitely would NOT put an infant on his stomach on top this featherbed (or any other featherbed) by the way!!
TOO HOT?? I do think it is warmer than the mattress on its own . But that may be more from the fact that my mattress has no give to it which allows for gaps of air in between the small of my back plus the fact that my latex bed is a cool material. We haven't had any super hot weather since we got this, but I think it will be just fine even in mid summer. I use a 100% goose down pillow year round, so I think this won't be much different than that.
FEATHER TYPE?? It is 100% duck feathers. Not down. Per the manufacturer (I called them), they source the feathers from all over the world. The product is made in the USA of imported materials per the label on mine. The manufacturer told they do NOT cut or chop their feathers, and I would agree based on what I can see of the insides (per my internet research, whole feather is better quality than cut/chopped). While I have read that duck feathers aren't generally considered the best option (typically because they can sometimes smell due to a non-vegetarian diet of ducks versus a vegetarian diet of geese), the company said they wash the feathers multiple times, and I agree there isn't a smell to it. I've also read that duck feathers don't have as much bend as a goose feather and can "align" quicker with each other which causes them to lose loft -- time will tell, but I think as long as I fluff regularly it will be fine. I've also read that a higher quality duck feather/down is better than a lower quality goose feather. I suspect that these duck feathers are of a higher quality based on the comfortable feel of the featherbed.
POKEY??? -- The feathers are very tiny. We've had absolutely NO poking of quills or escaping of individual feathers (we do have the cover that came with it on it). I have been unable to isolate the feel of an individual feather while laying on it (a good thing).
SIZING?? -- I found the sizing true. I read some reviews that said it was too small. I suspect that those reviewers are fluffing it up like a giant pillow, but not "pulling" it back to it's designated shape at the corners/sides.
SAYS IN PLACE?? -- Yes, stays in place very well. I have not noticed any skootching or creeping.
WEIGHT?? -- The Queen size weighs 19# as described. I don't find it too heavy to fluff daily or turn when I change the sheets. I read a few reviews that talked about the featherbed being too heavy on top of them (FYI: you are supposed to lay on top of it, not under it).
LOOK?? -- If you use a lightweight duvet and like a bed that when looks like you could pop a coin off of it when made, this featherbed may not be for you. This featherbed gives a bed more billowy cozy cottage look. QUALITY FOR PRICE?? -- I think it is an excellent quality for the price.
WOULD I BUY AGAIN?? Yes, and I may soon for a different bed.