Well, winter is nearly upon us, and if you listen to the weathermen, sooner than we think. Gone are those lazy summer days when a sheet would suffice. It’s time to start looking for a decent duvet.

Although it’s tempting to opt for the thickest, warmest duvet to see you through the winter months, and ward off coughs and colds, you may be wiser to consider the options when it comes to winter covers.  Being too stuffy and too warm in the middle of the night, may mean you throw off all the covers whilst you’re half asleep and may catch a chill from the resulting lack of coverage.

Another thing to consider is if you’re intending on having the heating on this winter. If your house is well insulated enough to hold in the days heat, you may not need a duvet with a tog so high you’ll think you’re wrapped in bearskin!

Ah, that word…. tog. Many people notice the tog rating on duvets but few actually know the system. In order to help you understand, we’ve put together a guide below that might just help you through it.

What is tog?

The tog of a duvet is decided by the weight, softness and warmth of it. Tog measures the ability of the duvet to trap air (and therefore heat) within the fibres, and natural fillings tend to do this best. Duvets which contain natural fillings, such as down or feathers are usually measured with an additional fill rating which goes toward the eventual tog rating. 

What tog for which season?

Everyone is different which is why we can’t give a definitive guide as to what will make YOU feel warm enough. However, a general guide should be sufficient. If you’re one of those people who feels the cold very keenly, opt for the higher tog out of the range detailed below. If you’re always feeling warm, then go for the lower tog.

 Spring – 7-10.5 tog

Summer – 3-4.5 tog

Autumn – 7-10.5 tog

Winter – 12- 13.5 tog

(Please note that if you’re buying a duvet for a child, then it’s imperative to choose a lower tog, as a high one can contribute to overheating.

Whatever type of duvet you opt for this winter, making sure your bedroom is warm enough without the central heating on overnight is best, as it can ensure you’re not going to wake up with cold toes in the morning!