Sponsored by Buffy
A Good Night’s Sleep Sets the Mood for the Whole Day.
If you wake up feeling rested and ready to tackle the day, then you definitely got up on the right side of the bed (as the saying goes). But if you start the day feeling tired, uncomfortable, or grumpy, you need to take a closer look at your sleep game.
In the (albeit premature) spirit of New Year’s resolutions, we decided to unlock the secret to getting great sleep this year… and we discovered that the first step toward waking up feeling restored every morning is simpler than you’d think: great bedding. Most importantly, a quality comforter. And let’s face it, yours is probably good, but not great.
Shopping for new bedding can be overwhelming because there are soooo many options on the market. With that in mind, we took the guesswork out of the equation by comparing three top-rated bedding brands head-to-head:
Brooklinen, Buffy, or Parachute?
All three brands are famous for their best-selling comforters, but we must admit there’s a particular one that kept popping up: Buffy’s Cloud Comforter, which has been featured everywhere from HGTV to Architectural Digest.
Brooklinen and Parachute offer different density options (we evaluated the top-seller for each brand), while Buffy focuses on a one-size-fits-all approach. We then broke our comparisons down into three essential categories to help you decide which option is the best fit:
- Comfort + Temperature Regulation
- Materials
- Shipping + Return Policies
- Quality for Price
Now, without further ado, let’s get into the battle of the bedding.
Editor’s Note: Side note about Buffy… their Holiday Sale (15%+ off sitewide) is here. 😉
Category #1: Comfort + Temperature Regulation
You spend 1/3 of your life in bed, so it should be the most comfortable place in your home. But, comfort involves a lot of personal preference. Whether you sleep hot or cool, these comforters are made with the finest materials and designed to support all sleep temperatures (although according to the Sleep Foundation, sleeping cool is key for better quality sleep).
The Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter falls on the warmer side since it’s packed with feather down—and the cotton shell is not the most breathable material out there. The hot sleepers on our team found that they woke up warm on occasion and had a hard time cooling off afterward. On the other hand, the cool sleepers said they appreciated the comforter’s warmth, especially during the winter months.
The Brooklinen option is soft, temperature-controlled, and fluffy. It’s designed for the “comfortable sleeper” and/or a moderate climate. Since this option is filled with feather down, it’s not the best for hot sleepers or the summertime. If you’re a cooler sleeper who loves a fluffy comforter and you don’t mind the luxury price tag (more on that later), this option may be right for you.
The Strategist describes Buffy’s internet-famous Cloud Comforter as “sleeping under a pile of cotton candy,” and after testing it out ourselves, we have to agree. It hits the sweet spot between soft and fluffy, but is cool to the touch, lightweight, and breathable enough for year-round comfort. If you’re looking for a comforter that does it all, this is the option for you.
Parachute is known for its sleek look and feel, and high-quality standards. The overall consensus on the Down Duvet Insert is that it’s light, yet warm and fluffy, comfortable, well-made, and doesn’t flatten down super easily. If you tend to sleep hot this may not be the best suited for you, but it’s great in the winter.
Our Final Temperature Regulation Ranking:
- Brooklinen: 8/10
- Buffy: 9.5/10
- Parachute: 7/10
The Winner: Buffy
Each comforter has its pros and cons, depending on the season and what type of sleeper you are. However, because of its year-round functionality and maximum breathability without sacrificing fluffiness, Buffy edges out the competition.
Category #2: Materials
All three of these brands have ethical manufacturing practices and responsibly source their materials, but each comforter is made with different materials inside and out.
Parachute’s Down Duvet Insert has a 100% sateen cotton shell and is made up of all natural down and feather fibers, which are Responsible Down Standard certified to ensure the supply comes from humanely treated ducks and geese.
Brooklinen’s Down Comforter is also made with an ultra-soft 100% cotton sateen shell and is filled with ethically and sustainably sourced duck and geese feathers to provide warmth and insulation. This comforter is treated with antimicrobials and is hypoallergenic.
Buffy’s Cloud Comforter features a shell woven from breathable Eucalyptus TENCEL™ Lyocell, which requires far less water to produce than conventional cotton and absorbs moisture more efficiently to keep you cool and dry. The proprietary fabric is antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, and grown without pesticides.
As for the fill, Buffy’s 100% vegan fill is made from recycled plastic bottles (~50 per comforter!), making it much lighter and fluffier than down-filled alternatives (plus, no feathers poking out).
Our Final Material Ranking:
- Brooklinen: 7/10
- Buffy: 10/10
- Parachute: 8/10
The Winner: Buffy
Brooklinen and Parachute are all made with cotton and animal feather down, while Buffy uses breathable eucalyptus and a vegan, earth-friendly down alternative. If you’re looking for an option that’s extremely fluffy, eco-friendly, and made without animal products, we’d suggest Buffy.
Category #3: Shipping + Return Policies
This was the category we were most surprised by. Each of the three brands has a wildly different policy for shipping and returns…
Parachute accepts returns within 60 days of delivery. They offer free returns in stores, but shipping and handling fees for mailed returns are nonrefundable.
Most (operative word) of Brooklinen’s core products can be returned or exchanged within 365 days, but they do charge a $9.95 fee.
Buffy, on the other hand, has an at-home trial that lets you experience their bedding free for a full week before you commit to buying. A temporary hold is placed on your card, but you’ll only be charged when the trial ends. On top of that, they offer a 50-night return policy and free shipping throughout the continental US.
Our Final Return Policy Ranking:
- Brooklinen: 9.5/10
- Buffy: 9/10
- Parachute: 8/10
The Winner: Brooklinen
As return policies go, Parachute leaves something to be desired with a brief 30-day return window. Although Buffy is the only brand that offers a trial period in addition to a return policy, it’s tough to beat Brooklinen’s year-long return policy.
Category #4: Quality for Price
When we’re talking about comfort, sometimes a splurge is worth it. Other times, you can get quality products at a reasonable price…and much like the shipping and returns policies, these three brands all have very different prices.
Conversely, with prices ranging from $145 to $235 depending on the size, Buffy’s Cloud Comforter is the most competitively priced option of the bunch—and from our experience, the quality is almost unreal for the price. Plus with the free 7-night trial, there’s no financial investment here unless you decide to keep it.
Brooklinen’s Down Duvet starts at $279 for a twin bed and goes up to $499 for the king. Brooklinen is the second most affordable option after Buffy. Although the quality you’re getting for the price is good, we’d argue that Buffy’s Cloud Comforter offers better quality for a lower price.
A twin-sized All-Season Down Duvet Insert from Parachute begins at $370 and goes up to a whopping $560 for a king-sized comforter. While the Parachute comforter is undeniably high-quality, we simply can’t justify spending that much money on a comforter.
Our Final Price Ranking:
- Brooklinen: 7.5/10
- Buffy: 9/10
- Parachute: 6/10
The Winner: Buffy
Just because something is more expensive doesn’t mean that it’s better. It only costs more. When it comes to quality for price, Buffy’s Cloud Comforter is by far the most affordable option—with their $195 queen-sized comforter stacking up at $184 less than Brooklinen’s and $275 less than Parachute’s.
And The Overall Winner Is (Drumroll, Please)…Buffy
Now that we’ve taken a closer look at all three bedding brands and their best-selling comforters, you hopefully have a better idea of which best suits your style and preferences.
Based on our testing and research, we’re naming Buffy’s Cloud Comforter the overall winner because it’s magically fluffy, lightweight, and cozy like a hug after a long day. The Cloud Comforter offers year-round comfort and it’s the perfect option for any type of sleeper because it’s engineered to work with any body temperature. Plus, it’s made with sustainable, planet-friendly materials and it’s available at an accessible price point.
Across the board, Buffy exceeded our expectations.
