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5 of the best duvets for summer and winter 2020
The main choice when you're buying a new duvet is whether you want a ‘natural duvet’ (such as standard duck down, posh goose down or ultra-posh eiderdown) or whether you want a cheaper ‘synthetic duvet’ made from polyester (either a plump hollowfibre duvet or a denser microfibre duvet).
Personally, I look for a duvet which:
However, there are plenty of other duvet types worth a look, depending on what you like in a duvet. We’ve picked out five outstanding duvets, ranging from £20 to £4000 (Ed: really?!) based on price, reviews and awards.
Prices are for double size duvet covers and are correct at time of writing.
Personally, I look for a duvet which:
- has a Canadian goose down filling (Hungarian is also very good)
- has a high 'fill power' rating
- has a cotton outer cover with a high thread count
However, there are plenty of other duvet types worth a look, depending on what you like in a duvet. We’ve picked out five outstanding duvets, ranging from £20 to £4000 (Ed: really?!) based on price, reviews and awards.
Prices are for double size duvet covers and are correct at time of writing.
1. Slumberdown All Seasons Hollowfibre 3-in-1 15 Tog Combi Duvet - £27
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If you want a cheap duvet which gets great reviews, I’d consider a synthetic hollowfibre duvet such as the Slumberdown All Seasons Hollowfibre 3-in-1 15 Tog Combi Duvet.
A synthetic duvet won’t impress your dinner party friends but they usually feel lighter than a natural fibre duvet (such as a duck down duvet). This one is ‘Hollowfibre’, which means it is made from big chunks of polyester. The duvet will look squidgy and plusher than a microfiber duvet which uses smaller pieces of polyester. The main complaint about synthetic duvets is that they aren't as breathable as natural materials, but it seems to be less of an issue with hollowfibre than microfibre from what I can tell. |
A hollowfibre duvet looks plump and squidgy
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Reviews are very positive (4.6 out of 5 from about 2000 reviews at the time of writing) with most reviewers saying it feels very light and warm. It’s an ‘all-seasons duvet’, so you’ve got three different options of thickness.
Slumberdown came about half way down a customer survey of the UK’s best duvet companies – John Lewis & Partners, M&S and Soak and Sleep came in the top 3.
Slumberdown came about half way down a customer survey of the UK’s best duvet companies – John Lewis & Partners, M&S and Soak and Sleep came in the top 3.
2. John Lewis & PArtners Hungarian Goose Down Duvet - £210 (10.5 tog) or £160 (4.5 tog)
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If you can afford it, I’d get a goose feather and down duvet such as the John Lewis Hungarian Goose Down Duvet. A natural filling like this usually costs more than synthetic 'microfibre' or 'hollowfibre' but it should be more breathable.
This duvet has something called high ‘fill power’. I won’t bore you with the details, but a higher score means it will be fluffier and warmer. The very best luxury duvets have a score of 800, according to most guides I've read. This one is 600, so not far behind. It’s also got a cotton outer cover with a high ‘thread count’ (that means it is tightly woven, so should wear well). This one is 90% goose down, so it's exceedingly soft - if you want a bit more structure, get a duvet with 20% goose feather mixed in. |
This posh John Lewis duvet uses high quality natural materials - but it's not cheap
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Personally I look for Hungarian or Canadian down. I'd avoid ‘Siberian Goose down’ as it's often a marketing con and could well be from China (in the same way that your ‘French Windows’ aren’t from Paris).
This John Lewis & Partners duvet is available in 2.5 tog, 4.5 tog (spring/summer) and 10.5 tog (autumn/winter). This duvet can be machine washed, which is a real bonus in my view.
John Lewis & Partners came top in a 2017 customer survey of duvet retailers by independent experts
This John Lewis & Partners duvet is available in 2.5 tog, 4.5 tog (spring/summer) and 10.5 tog (autumn/winter). This duvet can be machine washed, which is a real bonus in my view.
John Lewis & Partners came top in a 2017 customer survey of duvet retailers by independent experts
3. Snuggledown Goose Feather and Down All Seasons Duvet - £95
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If you want a soft and warm natural duvet but can’t quite stretch to luxury prices, then I’d look at this Snuggledown Goose Feather and Down All Seasons Duvet.
This one is 15% down and 85% feather. The 'down' bit on a goose is the softer layer under the top feathers. The top layer of feathers adds a bit of structure to the duvet so most posh duvets have a mix. This one's a bit cheaper because it is mostly feathers. In this bundle you get two duvets (4.5 tog and 9 tog). That means you’ve got a 4.5 tog for summer, a 9 tog for autumn/spring and you can combine them into a 13.5 tog for winter. Or you can have one each and argue over who gets the warmer half in winter. Customers give it outstanding reviews on Amazon (4.7/5 from 1000+ reviews) |
This natural duvet has had 1000+ customer reviews
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4. Marks & Spencer Supremely Washable 13.5 All Season Tog Duvet - £55
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A high quality synthetic microfiber duvet like this Marks & Spencer Supremely Washable 13.5 Tog All Season Duvet is a good alternative to goose down or duck down.
As you might assume, M&S make excellent quality duvets. They’re in the top three UK brands according to customers. It doesn’t have the middle-class bragging credentials of a goose down duvet, but it gets outstanding reviews. Various guides I've read say that synthetic duvets are better for allergies and won’t get overrun with dust mites. However, lots of good quality goose and duck down duvets describe themselves as 'hypoallergenic'. |
This duvet is synthetic but it's good value and can be used all year
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After reading multiple guides, my conclusion is that the main downside with microfibre duvets is that they aren't as breathable as other fillings, so you might wake up too hot.
You may have gathered that I’m a fan of all season duvets, which means you get two duvets of varying thicknesses for your money and a third thickness by sticking them together. It saves you a bit of money and it avoids having to store a massive winter duvet during the warmer months.
You may have gathered that I’m a fan of all season duvets, which means you get two duvets of varying thicknesses for your money and a third thickness by sticking them together. It saves you a bit of money and it avoids having to store a massive winter duvet during the warmer months.
5. Soak and Sleep Supreme 100% Eiderdown Duvet (£4350)
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If you’ve recently won the lottery or sold your shares in Apple and are looking for things to spend your money on, I’d get an eiderdown duvet, such as the Soak and Sleep Supreme 100% Eiderdown Duvet.
I don’t imagine they sell many at £4000+ but they come with an evocative story about the down being ‘hand-picked from fledged Eider nests in Iceland’ (the country, rather than the supermarket). The general idea is that the Eider duck produces exceedingly warm down, but that it’s very rare and expensive to collect, hence the eyewatering price tag. Soak and Sleep have been named as one of the top three duvet brands a couple of times, and they also get excellent customer reviews. |
An Eiderdown duvet is the ultimate posh option...but it costs more than a used car
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Which is the best duvet brand?
According to a customer satisfaction survey, the best duvet brands are John Lewis & Partners, Soak and Sleep (formerly called the Duvet and Pillow Warehouse) and Marks & Spencer.
That’s not terribly surprising, since they are three of the more expensive brands of duvet on the market.
High scorers at the cheaper end of the market included IKEA and Aldi.
That’s not terribly surprising, since they are three of the more expensive brands of duvet on the market.
High scorers at the cheaper end of the market included IKEA and Aldi.
Which tog duvet should I buy?
Duvets usually come in 4.5 tog, 10.5 tog or 13.5 tog but I’ve also seen 7.5 and 9 tog duvets.
The higher the tog, the warmer it will be.
One economical option is to buy an all-seasons duvet, where you stick two duvets together to make a thick winter duvet. For example, you get a 4.5 tog and a 9 tog which together makes a 13.5 tog and gives you three different thickness options.
The higher the tog, the warmer it will be.
One economical option is to buy an all-seasons duvet, where you stick two duvets together to make a thick winter duvet. For example, you get a 4.5 tog and a 9 tog which together makes a 13.5 tog and gives you three different thickness options.
What other types of duvet are there?
Other less common types of duvet not mentioned so far include:
For those who prefer a summary, the five types of duvet covered in our top five guide above are:
- Natural silk duvets (posh breathable option for those who want a natural duvet. Good for allergies, some can be washed at home) £100+
- Natural wool duvets - (quite expensive, breathable. Bit of a niche choice and they don't use the usual 'tog' rating) £100+
For those who prefer a summary, the five types of duvet covered in our top five guide above are:
- Synthetic hollowfibre duvets (made from chunky bits of polyester to create a thick duvet. Good for allergies, easy to wash at home) - £20+
- Synthetic microfibre duvets (made from tiny bits of polyester, supposedly feels like feather and down. Good for allergies, easy to wash at home) - £20+
- Natural duck feather and down duvets (feels warm and soft. Down is very soft, feather is a bit more solid so most duvets combine the two. Bad for allergies and usually needs professional cleaning). £100+
- Natural goose feather and down duvets (similar to duck down, but warmer and more expensive) £200+
- Natural eiderdown duvets (ludicrously luxurious, because they come from the Eider duck, which is supposedly warmer) £2000+
