I Had Given Up On Down Alternatives Until I Tried This Saatva Comforter – it Offers Lasting Coziness Without the Allergies

I love the feel of sinking into down, but my allergies prevent me from using down bedding. Given my longing for something that I can’t have, I have tried many, many of the best duvet inserts and comforters, claiming to be great down alternatives. My common complaints are that they trap heat, feel less malleable after a few washes, and don’t feel like down. While I test a lot of products (so much so that I'm on a first-name basis with all of our town’s delivery drivers), I was uniquely excited for the Saatva Down Alternative Comforter to arrive. I consider myself a bougie sleeper – while my partner can crash out anywhere, I require the perfect mix of ingredients for a good night’s sleep. I often joke that I wish I could take my best bedding on vacation with me. I love the feel of down, but my allergies do not, so I anxiously followed the tracking information for my new comforter and opened it the moment it landed on my doorstep.

The Saatva Down Alternative Comforter

The Saatva Down Alternative Comforter arrived after six days, which is a bit longer than some other products I've tested, but this didn't matter to me as I have rarely been in a time crunch, bedding-wise. The presentation of this comforter – in a canvas bag with an oversized satin bow – added to my excitement. It felt like receiving a beautifully wrapped present.

Upon opening the comforter, I was happy to see high-quality stitching and fabric. This comforter comes in three weights: lightweight, all-year, and heavyweight. Given that we live in Pittsburgh and get some chilly winters, I opted for heavyweight. I loved the heft of the comfortre right away.

I used it for half of the 30-day trial period without a duvet cover, and for the second half with one. I tested the comforter through the end of the summer and early autumn, when overnight temperatures ranged from 40-80°F. Despite the heft, it was breathable and not overly hot. One thing to note – I did find drying the comforter took several cycles on the recommended low tumble dryer setting, mostly due to said heft. Using a duvet cover eliminates the need to wash it often, though.

Saatva calls this product a duvet insert/comforter combo. While it features handy loops on each corner to connect it easily to the inside of a duvet cover, the percale fabric of the Saatva comforter is also designed to be used without a cover, so it’s up to you how you use it.

The Saatva Down Alternative Comforter Specs

Who Would the Saatva Down Alternative Comforter Suit?

If, like me, you have tried a bunch of comforters that just don’t measure up, you may be a bit picky, but that's okay. I found this comforter particularly great for:

• Hot sleepers: This comforter, which I tested at the highest weight, feels substantial. At the same time, the cover and fill are breathable and didn’t leave me feeling clammy in the morning.
• Those who like to feel cozy: One of my chief complaints with down alternatives that I've tried previously is that they can feel stiff or lumpy after a few washes. This one retained its luxe feel even after multiple wash cycles.
• Those who like to invest in quality: This comforter is not a bargain purchase –most folks these days don’t spend a few hundred bucks on a whim. I am a firm believer in investing in good products that last for years, though, and I think this is a smart buy that will still feel like a smart buy in five years.

What is the Saatva Down Alternative Comforter Like to Sleep Under?

I dragged this comforter out of the box and onto my bed immediately; I was excited to get my hands on it. At first touch, the Saatva Down Alternative Comforter feels like down. I’ve had this experience before, though, and it often fades after a few washes so I reserved judgement at this point. I tossed this comforter in the wash, followed by a tumble dry on low (which took three cycles due to the heft), and slept under it the first night.

I did not use a duvet cover for the first two weeks of the trial period, as I wanted to test Saatva’s claim that this comforter can be used with or without a duvet cover. I liked the feel of the organic cotton percale cover and had no issues using it without a cover. The corner loops made it simple to add a duvet cover halfway through the month, thought.

Sleeping under it is a dream. The 3D down alternative fibers are combined with lyocell fill, which, made from wood pulp, is known for its natural moisture-wicking and temperature-regulation properties. I loved the feel of being cozy under a substantial comforter, while still waking up cool and comfortable.

How Does the Saatva Down Alternative Comforter Rate Online?

Customers on the Saatva website aren’t shy – they love raving about this product. As noted by Saatva and confirmed by reading the reviews myself, 97.5% of Saatva customers report they would recommend the brand overall to a friend. For this comforter in particular, the Saatva website has 19 reviews which average a 4.8 star rating – a small but positive sample size.

Saatva does not sell this particular product via its Amazon storefront, though reviews for other Saatva products on Amazon consistently rank highly. On other sleep sites, independent reviewers generally came to the same conclusion as me – they love this product.

How Does the Saatva Down Alternative Comforter Compare to Similar Products?

Here at H&G, we’ve slept under a wide selection of bedding to find the best duvet inserts and comforters. Whether down or down alternative, we’ve taken a look at the fit and function of conforters and duvets at each end of the price spectrum. Overall, the Saatva Down Alternative Comforter stands out from the pack. While the price tag is not for bargain shoppers, the feel and performance of the product justifies the price in my opinion. That’s why I’ve given it a 4.5-star rating. Even after five washes, the seams and stitching are intact, and the fill remains evenly distributed and fluffy.

Should I Buy the Saatva Down Alternative Comforter?

If you are looking to invest in a down alternative comforter that you’ll still be using in a decade, it’s safe to place a bet on the Saatva Down Alternative Comforter. Given the excellent reviews, my own experiences, and the features Saatva has incorporated into its comforter, this feels like a smart buy. If you live in a warm climate or are an overly hot sleeper, a lighter-weight version might be a smart choice. Or, if you’re looking for a down alternative at a lower price point, the Buffy Cloud Comforter might suit your budget better.

How We Test Comforters and Duvet Inserts

When it comes to testing the products we spend hours with every night, we don’t mess around. Here at H&G, we take pride in providing robust reviews that allow you to make smart purchases online. How we test comforters across the team includes really living with the products. I didn’t just wrap myself up in this comforter a few times before typing up this review – I slept under it for a month straight. I took notes about how I felt upon waking up, how hot or cool I felt, and how the product coped with wear and tear. I washed the comforter several times to simulate a longer period of use, and I sought the opinions of other sleepers in my household for balance. I also read tons of online reviews (after completing my own review) to see if my experience with the product was similar to others'. We complete all of these steps with every comforter we test, so that you, as shoppers, can feel a little more confident before heading to the virtual checkout.