Duvet Buying Guide

Duvet Buying Guide

What duvet filling should you get? What tog duvet do you need? What even is a tog? When choosing the right duvet for you there are many questions that will be thrown at you. Find out everything you need to know about buying the perfect duvet in our guide below! 

Duvet Fill

When choosing a duvet, examine details about the filling. If natural filling is important, consider feather and down, wool, cotton or silk duvets. If you’re looking for synthetic options, choose between a soft microfibre or lofty hollowfibre duvet.

What type of duvet fillings are available?

We have a large choice of duvet fillings for you to choose from:

Feather and Down

Feather & down duvets: These duvets include duck and goose feather & down. Puffy, lofty and super snug down duvets are ideal for cold weather as they are incredibly insulating. They're also very light thanks to the light, lofty clusters of down that trap in the air to keep you warm.

Microfibre filling

Synthetic fill duvets: These are made with either Microfibre or Hollowfibre and are a very practical choice. They are very easy to care for and an affordable alternative to other duvet fills. Microfibre feels soft and silky, while Hollowfibre feels loftier. Because synthetic duvets are so easy to wash and dry, they are a great choice for allergy sufferers.

Natural filling

Natural fill duvets: These are made with wool, silk or cotton fills and has wonderful temperature regulating properties to help prevent you from overheating in bed. They help wick away excess moisture and are great for warmer weather. They are less lofty than synthetic and feather & down duvets and are easy to care for.

What are the benefits of each fill?

Now we’re accustomed to the types of fill to look out for, let’s get into more details of each of the benefits.

What are the benefits of Microfibre and Hollowfibre duvets?

Microfibre feels soft and silky, it mimics the sensation of down for a lower price. Microfibre duvets are very easy to wash and care for, so they're ideal for allergy-sufferers and children.

Hollowfibre feels springy and lofty, which is perfect if you like to snuggle under thick covers that aren't too heavy. Hollowfibre duvets are easy to wash and care for so they're ideal for allergy-sufferers and children.

What are the benefits of feather and down duvets?

Lots of feathers add a satisfying weight to your duvet. Feathers help make your duvet feel nice and warm, but need the extra insulating properties of down for a really cosy duvet. Not only this, but feather duvets are more affordable.

Down-rich duvets are light, lofty and highly insulative, keeping you warm as you sleep. Unlike feathers, down creates clusters, which trap warm air and retain heat. It is the down clusters which make these duvets so light and warm. Our Hungarian goose down duvet is incredibly warm and renowned for its large, super-insulative clusters. And it's from one of the country's best producers; a family-run business who take enormous pride in the quality of their down. Washed in natural spring waters, this duvet retains its natural loft and quality. It also means that this naturally cleansed down is approved by Oeko-Tex, EDFA and No-mite, so you can be sure you're sleeping under real quality.

Typically, larger down clusters create greater loft, weigh less and trap larger pockets of air. A more mature bird and a colder environment result in large, better quality down clusters. Our Canadian Goose down duvet is one of our most insulating fills. 

If luxury is your thing, then you'll love our custom-made Eiderdown duvets. Filled only with handpicked down from fledged nests of the Eider duck, these Eiderdown duvets are incredibly light and superbly insulating.

Because down is such an efficient insulator, very little fill is needed for a warm tog. For that reason, feathers are sometimes added to create a heavier duvet. Take a look at the percentage mix of down and feather to get an idea of how light or heavy a duvet will feel. The provenance and quality of the fill affect the weight too.

Is our feather and down ethically sourced?

Here at Soak&Sleep, we are committed to our company values of being authentic, open, focused and engaged, whilst giving brilliant quality at unbeatable prices.

Therefore, throughout the buying process our expert team will never buy feather and down products from suppliers who condone the practice of live plucking, animal mistreatment, intensive rearing, or force feeding (foie gras).

All our feather and down is a by-product of the food industry.

Our strict policy is applicable to all feather and down products that we sell, and we pride ourselves on ensuring that the animals whose-by products we use have the best possible conditions.

Soak&Sleep do not tolerate any forms of animal cruelty and will continue to adhere to these standards during development, always keeping animal welfare at the front of our minds.

What are the benefits of a silk duvet?

A silk fill duvet is more than just a luxurious statement. It's also a very practical choice for anyone who gets too hot at night. Silk is naturally breathable and cooling, and wicks moisture away from your skin to help you stay fresh and cool all night.

Compared to our other low tog duvets, a silk duvet feels denser and drapes more easily, so you feel beautifully cocooned while you sleep.

Silk is a surprisingly strong fibre. This luxurious duvet can be machine washed and will last you for years.

What are the benefits of a cotton duvet?

Cotton fill duvets are perfect for warm weather. Just like a light cotton t-shirt on a summer day, cotton helps wick away excess moisture to help you keep your cool.

Our cotton duvets are only available in a 2.5 tog weight. They're also quilted and have a thinner, flatter feeling too, making them ideal for hot weather.

Cotton fill duvets are machine washable for easy care.

What are the benefits of a wool duvet?

A wool fill duvet has naturally occurring properties that help keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. It does this by absorbing and releasing moisture in the atmosphere so you'll always feel just right. 

It's the duvet filling we recommend for bed sharers who can't agree on the right temperature. It's such a good temperature regulator that it adapts to two different body temperatures in the same bed. It's also perfect if you're prone to hot flushes or you get too hot in bed.

Wool duvets are scientifically proven to help you sleep longer and deeper, with research showing an increase in REM sleep, making them a real boost to your health and wellbeing.

Because wool is super strong, hypoallergenic, and can be machine-washed, it's ideal for children and allergy sufferers.

We use pure New Zealand wool for our wool fill duvets.

Which duvet fillings & togs are best for each season?

Summer 

Natural fill duvets are especially comfortable during summer months. Cotton, wool and silk duvets will help you feel fresh all night. If you prefer feather & down or synthetic fills, look for a rating of between 3 and 4.5 togs.

Spring & Autumn 

If the weather's neither hot nor cold, go for a mid-tog duvet. We'd recommend a 9.0 tog duvet, although if you get hot in bed you may find a 4.5 tog more comfortable. Choose your duvet filling depending on what's important to you. If you feel the cold, you'll probably prefer a wool or feather & down fill duvet. If you're prone to allergies or want something that's easy to care for, opt for synthetic. If you tend to overheat at night, a wool fill duvet may be better for you.

Winter

Choose a higher tog for winter months. Depending on how much you feel the cold and how chilly your home is, we'd recommend a 9.0 tog, a 13.5 tog or for super warmth an 18.0 tog duvet. You can easily customise your duvet using the Soak & Sleep cufflink system to join two different duvets together to get a duvet tog that's perfect for you. Feather & down or wool have excellent insulation properties and will keep you warm during winter.  Moskus is an incredibly warm fill, like Eiderdown it's velcro-like clusters lock together and will keep you feeling cosy all night long. We would recommend a 13.5 tog for winter months.

Which duvet fillings are best for a baby, toddler and a child?

A Baby

Do not use a duvet on a baby under 12 months of age. Depending on your baby and their preferences you can use a specialist sleep bag, a combination of blankets and sheets or swaddle them.

A Toddler

The most important thing to remember is that younger children can't regulate their own body temperature and can easily overheat. So don't go higher than the recommended 4.0 tog. If the weather is cold, you can give them extra blankets or put them in some extra cosy pyjamas. Because of its excellent temperature regulating abilities, wool-filled duvets are a perfect choice for small children, helping keep them warm but preventing them from getting too hot.

Synthetic fill duvets are also a good choice for small children and are a great value alternative.

Wool and synthetic duvets are both machine washable, making them ideal for dealing with nighttime accidents. They're also hypoallergenic, and so helpful for children with allergies.

A Child

Children under four years old should have a light duvet. It is recommended to use a tog of 4.0 or less. They can't regulate their body temperature, so a warmer duvet could cause them to overheat, making them unwell.

Older children can have heavier tog duvets, but you should consider the warmth of their bedroom when choosing.

A wool fill duvet is a wonderful choice for children, it will keep them warm in winter and cooler in summer. It's also been proven to increase the amount of deep REM sleep by up to 25%. And better-rested children are happier children. Wool is also naturally hypoallergenic and machine washable, making it a very practical choice.

We'd recommend you use a duvet protector to guard against the risk of nighttime accidents and spilt drinks.

Synthetic fill duvets are a very practical choice for children. Depending on preference, you can choose a springy, lofty hollowfibre duvet, or a fluffy and soft microfibre duvet. Both are hypoallergenic and easily machine washable.

Be aware of the temperature of your child's room. 18°C is the ideal temperature. If their bedroom is warmer than 21°C, reduce the number of layers your child sleeps under. If the weather's chilly and your child's room is below 15°C, add blankets to keep them sleeping comfortably.

If you use a blanket with a duvet, remember that folding a blanket doubles its warmth.

And of course, you don't need us to tell you, only ever use a washable duvet.

A Teenager

Use a tog rating appropriate to the season and the warmth of your teenager's bedroom. A 13.5 all-seasons duvet would be a good investment. Use the 4.5 tog during warm summer months and the 9.0 tog duvet for spring and autumn. During winter, you can make a cosy 13.5 tog duvet by pairing up the 9.0 and 4.5 tog duvets. Teenagers sleeping in warmer homes may not need as warm a duvet, in which case, use a 9.0 tog duvet with extra blankets if necessary.

Don't forget to think about duvet fill. As so many teenagers like to sleep in at weekends, they may find themselves overheating when the central heating comes on in the morning. A wool fill duvet will help regulate their body temperature and prevent overheating.

Which duvet fillings are best for allergies?

Wool, cotton, silk and synthetic fills are naturally hypoallergenic. Choose natural or synthetic fills if you suffer from asthma. 

What is the construction of our duvets?

Our duvets are constructed in one of three ways. Box stitch, baffle box and quilted.

What is a box stitch duvet?

Box stitch duvets are also referred to as ‘sewn through’. The top and the bottom cover are sewn together in a box pattern to form boxes. Each box contains the same amount of filling inside, held in place by the stitching. The filling is evenly distributed across the duvet so you won't have any cold patches or lumpy bits in your duvet. Box stitching is best suited to lighter, lower tog duvets as less space is needed for the smaller amount of fill.

What is a baffle box duvet?

Baffle box duvets are made from lots of carefully constructed fabric boxes. These boxes are made from strips of fabric sewn between the top and the bottom cover. They keep the filling evenly spaced across the duvet to prevent cold patches and lumpy areas. A baffle box duvet gives the filling more space to circulate and aerate, making it better for heavier, higher tog duvets. A baffle box duvet is smoother than a box stitch duvet.

What is a quilted duvet?

Quilted duvets feel quite different to traditional duvets. The fill is worked into a thick fabric known as wadding. This wadding is laid inside the fabric casing and sewn into the characteristic diamond shape. This creates a flatter duvet; there are no pockets of fill to puff up. Quilted duvets don't need to be shaken out in the same way as traditional duvets. We use a quilted construction for our natural duvets filled with wool, silk and cotton.

What is the benefit of getting a feather & down duvet over a synthetic duvet?

Feather & down duvets are made with duck or goose feather & down. They're popular in the coldest climates for good reason - they're wonderfully insulative and will keep you feeling warm and cosy all night long, whilst still being breathable. Down clusters provide the insulation, while feathers add bulk and substance to the duvet. The higher the proportion of down, the lighter the duvet; a pure down duvet will feel incredibly light but very warm.

We use a lot of Hungarian and Scandinavian down because the conditions in these countries produce excellent down. The cold weather means native ducks and geese have extra-warm down, perfect for cosy duvets. We source some of our best down from Canada, where the very cold climate creates wonderfully warm down.

A feather & down duvet will last you many years with good treatment. We provide a reassuring 15-year guarantee but know a well-treated feather and down duvet can last much longer.

Synthetic duvets are designed to give you the softness and loft of a feather & down duvet at a lower price. They're made with polyester and so are easy to care for and a good choice for allergy sufferers. Synthetic duvets are a great choice if you feel the cold as they keep you very warm. However, much like clothes made with synthetic materials, they're not breathable. If you suffer from hot sweats or get very warm in bed you may prefer a different fill.

Synthetic fill duvets are less costly than feather & down duvets, but not as durable. We provide a five-year guarantee on our synthetic fills, although with good care your duvet may outlast this.

Can feather and down be hypoallergenic?

We require that our feather & down fillings meet the following minimum standards for cleanliness:

  • A turbidity rating of 300mm++ or above

  • An oxygen reading of 10 or below

These tests measure the cleanliness of the filling by looking at dust & particle content and fat & oil content respectively within the filling.

A feather & down filling is generally considered hypoallergenic or super-clean when the turbidity rating is 550mm++ or above and the oxygen reading is 10 or below. All of our ranges that meet both of these criteria have oxygen levels that exceed the requirement with a reading of 5 or below.

What is fill power and weight?

Fill power tells you about the fullness of the down in your duvet. Down with a high fill power is more lofty, more insulative and recovers its fullness more easily. Good quality down has a higher fill power rating and lasts longer. Shake out your duvet every morning to help revive those precious down clusters and keep them working hard for you.

Fill weight is simply the weight of the fill inside a duvet. If weight is referred to as "gsm", then it refers to the weight of the fill within a square metre.


Duvet Tog 

What is a duvet tog? 

A tog is a measurement of insulation. The higher the tog, the warmer the duvet. Many people find that different duvet togs are suited to different seasons and weathers. A low tog rating is ideal for warm weather while a higher tog duvet will keep you warm during chilly winter nights.

SEASON SPRING SUMMER AUTUMN WINTER
Duvet Togs 7-10.5 1-6 7-10.5 11-18

What tog ratings do we sell?

We sell a variety of tog ratings. Our lowest tog duvet is a light and cool 3.0 tog, and our warmest is a super cosy 13.5 tog. With our helpful build-a-tog system you can create the following tog sizes:

  • 18 tog (4.5 + 13.5 tog)
  • 15 tog (4.5 + 10.5 tog)
  • 13.5 tog (4.5 + 9.0 tog)
  • 7.5 tog (3.0 + 4.5 tog)

Use our all seasons page to find your perfect tog. Our new build-a-tog system helps you to build the perfect warmth for you using our 3, 4.5, 9, 10.5 and 13.5 tog duvets. You can mix and match different togs to customise your duvet.

What is an all seasons duvet?

An all seasons duvet is a convenient way to be sure you're at the right temperature in bed all year round. An all seasons duvet is a bundle of two different tog duvets. You join them together when you need extra warmth and use them separately when you want a lighter duvet. This gives you a duvet for summer, winter, spring and autumn or if you want to be extra warm.

All seasons duvets are more cost-effective when you buy them together and save you space. They also mean you have a spare duvet on-hand for extra house guests.

What is the best way to store a duvet?

Store your off-season duvet in a breathable storage bag. Either use the storage bag supplied with your all season duvet or invest in a breathable cotton storage bag for complete peace of mind. Give your duvet a thorough wash or airing beforehand. It's essential to ensure your duvet is completely dry before packing it away. Residual moisture encourages moulds and mites to spread throughout your duvet during storage.

Is tog rating the only thing to consider?

It's helpful to know that factors other than tog rating affect how warm you'll feel in bed, such as your choice of duvet filling and the temperature of the room.

How do you join an all seasons duvet together?

We offer 3 varieties of fastening systems. Cufflinks, ties and buttons. 

A cufflink system is a fastening similar to a cufflink you'd use on a shirt. It lets you join two duvets through the holes on the corners using a fastening similar to a "cufflink", creating an all seasons duvet. This way you can create a combination to suit your needs depending on the season and the warmth of your bedroom.

Some of our duvet ranges such as our wool duvets are finished with ties which enable you to tie together a variety of togs. 

Duvets such as our Duck Feather and Down range have buttons and buttonholes. Simply button on additional duvets to create extra warmth. 

For example, create an 18 tog duvet by joining 13.5 tog and 4.5 tog duvets together or a 13.5 tog duvet by joining a 9.0 tog and 4.5 tog duvet.

What factors can affect what tog you need?

A cold house

Is your house old or draughty? Choose a heavier tog such as 13.5 for sleeping in chillier houses. Customising your duvet by joining different tog duvets together will let you find the perfect tog duvet to keep you warm all night long. We offer a wide variety of togs in each range that can be easily joined together using our helpful linking systems. Some all seasons ranges can be built to up to 18 tog. Think about the duvet fill as well. A super-insulating down-rich duvet may be your best choice for staying warm all night long - take a look at our Canadian goose down or Moskus fill duvets.

A warm house

Modern, well-insulated homes stay warm at night, so you won't need a super-thick duvet, even in the depths of winter. A 4.5 tog duvet may be enough to keep you warm year-round, but you may be more comfortable with a 9.0 tog duvet during winter. Remember to think about duvet fill as well. A wool fill duvet will keep you warm but prevent you from overheating at night. And if you love the feeling of down, take a look at our Temprakon coated duvets. Filled with soft and lofty down, you get to enjoy the lightness of down, without overheating.

The temperature outside

The outside temperature is less relevant to your choice of tog than the temperature of your bedroom. It might be -5°C and blowing a gale outside, but if your heating is on full, you may not need anything warmer than a 9.0 tog duvet.

If you're concerned, invest in a simple thermometer to check the temperature of your bedroom. You should be aiming for a night-time temperature of between 16°C and 18°C. Anything warmer than 24°C will make you feel restless and unable to drop off. A temperature lower than 12°C will make it difficult to nod off.

Sharing a bed

Think about how comfortable you are with your current duvet. An extra person adds extra heat to your bed, so you may find a lower tog duvet more comfortable. Alternatively, think about choosing a different fill duvet. Wool fill duvets are especially good for partners who can't agree on the perfect temperature as it adapts to different temperatures in the same bed. If you're both hot sleepers, then a silk fill duvet may be a good choice as it's very cooling and breathable. Remember to think about duvet size as well as tog, especially if one of you hogs the duvet. Buying a duvet one size larger than your bed means there's plenty of duvet to go round.

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