Duvet Buying Guide

 Duvet Tog Guide

Choosing the right tog on your duvet is essential for a good night's sleep. This is especially true (and all the more difficult!) in Ireland due to our ever changing and unpredictable weather. Whether on the West Coast in Galway or in the Sunny South East in Wexford, we'll often get four seasons in one day (and sometimes through the night!). Tog indicates the insulating ability on a duvet, and so of course the higher togs are typically recommended for cooler weather. 

Tog Ratings

• Lower Tog - From 1 to 4.5 Tog (typically most Irish duvets start at 4.5 Tog)
• Medium Tog - From 7 to 10.5 Tog. This range may be suitable if you'd prefer to just have one duvet.
• Higher Tog - 13.5 or 15 Tog. (Higher togs than this can be produced but most manufacturers don't produce them regularly)

Which Tog Should I choose?

As with many things.. it depends! Primarily, three factors should come into play - your own personal preferences for how warm/cool you'd like to be, the temperature of your room and of course the season. Generally for summer a lightweight 4.5 Tog Duvet. For Spring and Autum a 10.5 Tog Duvet and for Winter a 13.5 Tog or 15 Tog Duvet.

Duvet Size Guide

Choosing the Size of Your Duvet of course depends mainly on what size bed you have, but also on how much extra width you'd like, or whether you're sharing with a Duvet Hogger! Generally people will choose the size Duvet Corresponding to their bed/ mattress size. So, if you have a Double (4ft 6") Mattress, most people will buy a Double Size Duvet (200 x 200cm). However, many people decide to opt for a Duvet larger than their bed size (e.g. King or Superking) to keep themselves extra snug!

Just bear in mind, you will of course need to buy the same Duvet Cover size as your duvet, and you need to buy the same Fitted Sheet Size as your Mattress (e.g. you must buy a King Size Fitted Sheet for a King Size Mattress, otherwise it just won't fit properly). For a Full Size Guide to all Bedding Sizes (e.g. Duvet Covers, Fitted Sheets etc..), visit our Bedding Buying Guide

Natural or Synthetic Duvet?

Tog is measured independent of the filling (e.g. Feather Vs Polyester). Some materials will weigh heavier than others but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll have a higher Tog Rating. For example, a 13.5 Tog Goose Feather Duvet should keep you just as warm as a 13.5 Tog Microfibre Duvet. So, once you've decided on what Tog is right for you, the material fill (Feather or Synthetic) is up to you and often comes down to personal preference for the feel and/or allergy considerations.

Feather Duvets

The most well known naturally filled duvets are Feather and Down duvets which generally have a higher warmth to weight ratio compared to synthetic duvets. Goose down, coming from a larger bird, has a feather and down quality that is warmer than the ducks and generally more expensive. 

With a higher percentage of down (the fluffier bits!) your duvet will be softer, warmer and more comfortable. The standard ratio, and where most natural feather and down duvets start at, is 15% down 85% feather. The higher the percentage of down, the softer and warmer (and more expensive) the duvet, with some going up as high as 100% down.

Synthetic Duvets (Hollowfibre & Microfibre)

Hollowfibre filling is made up of strands of polyester that make the duvet light and breathable. These duvets have a flatter and more lightweight feel that do a great job of trapping heat. Additionally, hollowfibre duvets are generally more easy to care for, as they are machine washable and dryer safe which isn't always the case with natural duvets.

Another synthetic option are Microfibre duvets which are filled with super fine denier of polyester fibre which can mimic the feel of real goose down giving your duvet a silky-like softness and plumpness.

Both synthetic options provide a more affordable and easy care option when it comes to buying a duvet, as well as being more suitable for allergy sufferers

Some of Our Best Selling Duvets for Each Season