Tog ratings: Advice from Sophie
What do duvet tog ratings mean?
Traditional synthetic and down duvets work by retaining heat, and tog ratings exist in varying weights to offer a guide on how much warmth it will offer. When you look at man-made fibres or feathers then the higher tog ratings will mean a thicker, warmer duvet.
If you look at wool duvets you’ll see that they aren’t officially tog tested; a tog rating tells us how well the duvet insulates but the natural properties of wool allow it to both insulate and release heat to keep sleepers at a comfortable temperature. We offer a tog range with our duvets as we want to help people in their buying choices, but the tog ratings on our wool duvets are a guide on what to expect from the thickness and weight. The reality is that wool will keep you perfectly temperature regulated – hot or cold – regardless of the weight.
What tog duvet is warm enough for winter?
The tog or weight of duvet required is a very personal thing – are you a hot sleeper or a cool sleeper? Wool will balance either preference and keep you perfectly comfortable as you sleep, leaving a simple decision of how heavy you like your duvet to feel. But if you are looking at man-made fibres or down then a higher tog rating will usually be required for a colder sleeper or in a colder home.
What tog duvet is cool enough for summer?
Generally a lower tog will offer a cooler sleep in the warmer months. But sometimes even the lightest synthetic tog duvet will be too hot and some may turn to a flat sheet in a heatwave. Our summer wool duvet is ideal for those who want to keep cool but still want to feel the weight of a duvet rather than a thin sheet. Natural wool fibres will stop you from overheating, and if the night turns a little chilly, it will trap the heat you need to stay warm. A wool duvet creates the perfect micro-climate for your bed.
What’s the best tog if you’re buying one to use all year round?
Wool is a wonderful choice for a year-round duvet as it will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Wool is a clever fibre which can trap and release heat to react to individual body temperatures. Investing in a wool duvet will mean that you can buy one duvet for all seasons and always stay a comfortable temperature. Wool duvets aren’t officially tog tested; a tog rating tells us how well the duvet insulates but the natural properties of wool allow it to both insulate and release heat to keep sleepers at a comfortable temperature. We offer a tog range with our duvets as we want to help people in their buying choices, and the tog ratings on our wool duvets are a guide on the thickness and weight.
Can you go too high with your tog?
Man-made fibres can feel stifling if you have a duvet that is too high on the tog rating; they will only trap the heat and therefore it can build up to uncomfortable degree. You won’t overheat in even a thick wool duvet due to the natural thermoregulating properties. The natural fibres react to your body temperature; storing and releasing heat as needed. It’s basically nature’s air conditioning.