Duvets
Choosing The Right Duvet
Duvets are a great way of staying warm while we sleep, much lighter and thermically efficient than heavy traditional blankets. The ability to stay warm is all about the capability of the filling to trap warm air generated by our own body heat. Synthetic anti-allergy fillings achieve this having minute hollow tubes inside each fibre. Choosing a quality fibre will vastly improve the insulation and breathability so you need less filling to achieve the same warmth. This results in less weight needed to generate the same tog rating. Higher quality fibres are also softer due to the enhanced internal chambers.
Natural fillings such as goose down and goose feather and down fills take this one step further. The same principal applies, microscopic hollow chambers within the down or feathers provide the insulation. Pure down is considered the best filling, the less feathers the better. The best luxury down is sourced from harsher climates. Siberian or Hungarian and Canadian goose down has the very best insulating qualities as well as being softer and lighter.
So, what should we be looking out for when making our next purchase I hear you ask? Well, you do get what you pay for and buying a duvet is certainly no different to anything else. A cheap and cheerful duvet might seem like a good buy but ask yourself how are they doing it for that price when everyone else is selling them for so much more? This is why the vast majority of the products we sell are made right here in the UK so you know what you are getting, like the popular saying, it does exactly what it says on the tin. Duvets are designed to last for over 10 years, good quality products will easily last that long or even longer so invest in your sleep, you will not regret it, I promise!
When it comes 100% pure down it is all about the fillings. So what should I look out when choosing the perfect duvet for me? Our top of the range Siberian, Canadian and Hungarian fillings are all 100% down with no feathers guaranteed. They are ethically and environmentally farmed in their respective countries and they adhere to all the latest certified bodies to ensure that we have the welfare of the animals, the planet and you in mind. Be careful though, there are companies out there that are selling what seems to be the same quality but once again ask yourself, how can they do it for that price? If a product costs half the price of another on the market there is almost certainly a good reason for that, it is more than likely not a like for like product. Will the filling be as clean and as light, will the cotton cases be as robust and strong with cassette stitching and internal baffle walls to keep the filling firmly in place?
Another very popular natural down filling is the feather and down, this is predominantly more feathers and a small percentage of down. These duvets are a great option if you prefer a heavier weighted duvet as they drape over the body leaving no cold spots for the warm air to escape. Price is the main factor when choosing this filling as they are often a fraction of the cost of the more expensive pure down fills. Even though they may cost less we go to the exact same lengths of quality and manufacturing processes so you can be rest assured of a quality product.
When choosing a natural goose down duvet always look out for the fill power rating, the higher this is the cleaner and fluffier the down will be. This helps to regulate your body’s natural temperature, the lighter down will move when you get too hot and allow the hot air to rise though the top of the duvet making you cooler. So this is ideal if you get too hot at night and you find the need to kick off the duvet which will make you cold again. This cycle is one of the main reasons people do not get enough quality sleep at night.
So now what about the case, what should we be looking for when deciding the best quality? Cotton is the preferred choice as it is naturally breathable and allows heat to pass though the material quite easily. We recommend no more than a 300 thread count case for a pure down duvet and no more than a 223 thread count for a feather duvet. The lower thread count helps to keep the smaller feathers from poking through, if you have too high a thread count, the material is too soft so it lets the filling pass right through it. It may feel nicer to touch but the main function of the case is to keep the filling firmly in place. We predominantly choose cases that are made in the UK, they have cassette stitching which is very robust and super strong and internal baffle walls which help to keep the filling evenly distributed in the cells and stop the filling from spreading into the corners of the cell leaving cold spots in the middle. This is essential for lower tog summer duvets where there is not much filling in the first place.
When it comes to cleaning and washing your duvet, remember the best defence is to use a good quality duvet cover to protect your investment and wash it weekly. Most of our duvets can now be machine washed so there is no need to go to the dry cleaners anymore. Always read the wash care label and adhere to the best practises but make sure you follow one big rule, always ensure that fillings are completely dried out in a large capacity tumble drier like the one you will find at your local laundrette.
