The Best Duvet for Hot Summer Nights
Most duvets are supposed to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, but some duvet fillers are better at this than others.
17/11/2021
Having a duvet on the bed makes life easier when it comes to rushing out of bed in the morning to get ready for work. Being able to quickly make the bed by fluffing up the duvet takes far less effort than stripping and remaking the bed with sheets and a comforter. The only downside of a duvet inner is finding the right one to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, especially when load shedding hits and you cannot even put the ceiling fan or air conditioner on to keep the bedroom cool.
With so many options to choose from, how do you know which is the best duvet inner for both seasons or do you need a duvet inner for winter and one for summer?
Nothing beats the convenience of a duvet set for comfort and convenience. There are plenty of different fillers for duvet inners, some that don't keep you cool or warm and others that make you sweat. Unless you are a person that cannot sleep without a weight over your body, you will want a duvet inner that is as light as a cloud but keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer, so let's take a look at different filler materials and the best bets for a good night's sleep.
Feather and Down Duvet Inner
Arguably one of the more expensive options for a duvet inner but undoubtedly one of the best, a 100% down duvet is a luxury that is worth the cost but out of reach of most of us. A combination of down and feather comes a close second but is far more affordable for the average person. The only thing to bear in mind when shopping for a feather-down duvet inner is quality. Yes, there are cheaper versions on the market, some nearly half the price of others, but the difference in the cost comes at a price.
• Don't buy cheap knock-offs
So, what difference will quality make when buying a feather and down or feather duvet inner? The number one fault when buying a cheaper duvet inner is the fact that the feathers tend to be stiffer due to be taken from different parts of the body than softer feathers, and this means that the spine of the feathers can poke and prick you through the thin lining. And that also looks at the second fault when purchasing a cheaper option, that the covering is not 100% cotton or percale and not only be too thin but also of a synthetic material that is not always conducive to comfort.
For complete comfort in both summer and winter, a tog rating of 3 to 4.5 is ideal for summer while a rating of 10 and above is preferable for winter, so it is far better to have a duvet inner for both.
Fibre-Fill Duvet Inners
In order to provide the correct amount of insulation in both winter and summer, a synthetic duvet inner needs to be filled and divided into small sections to prevent the filling from bunching up or moving around. The ideal fibre-fill duvet will be divided into equal sewn segments that will hold the filling firmly in place where it needs to be.
Over and above the filler and fabric cover, a quality duvet inner should list the thermal overall grade or 'tog' rating. This rating indicates the insulation effectiveness of the synthetic filler ranging from a low rate of 1.5 tog for a cool and lightweight duvet up to a 15 tog rating for extra insulation and warmth-factor. If you use the tog rating when you next buy a duvet inner, it makes more sense to buy one for winter and one for summer, unless you buy one that is has a tog rating of 8 to 10, which would be ideal for all seasons. If you tend to overheat while you sleep or suffer from night sweats, allow for this by purchasing a duvet inner with a lower tog rating.
If you are buying bedding for a toddler or infant, keep in mind that young children are not able to regulate their body temperature and for this reason is it safer to purchase a duvet inner with a tog rating of about 4. Anything above this and the child will overheat.
The tog rating refers to thermal overall grade or the heat retention capacity of a duvet filler.
