Summer is a wonderful time, but as the temperatures rise, getting a good night’s sleep can sometimes become a challenge. Especially when you don’t have air conditioning and the heat is slowly creeping into your bedroom as well.
We’ve all probably had nights where we’ve tossed and turned, searching for that perfect cool spot in bed. The right duvet, however, can make a huge difference. In this blog, you’ll discover what makes a good duvet for summer and what to look for when buying one.
Why is a summer comforter important?
During the hot summer months, the temperature in your bedroom can be considerably higher than you are used to. Using a heavy or overly warm duvet can lead to excessive sweating and uncomfortable nights.
A summer comforter, on the other hand, is specially designed to be light and breathable, which helps regulate your body temperature and makes you sleep more comfortably. But what really makes a duvet suitable for summer?
What is the coolest duvet in summer?
The filling and fill weight of a summer duvet plays a crucial role in how warm or cool the duvet feels. There are several types of fillings that are popular for summer comforters, each with their own advantages and disadvantages:
- Cotton: Cotton absorbs moisture well and feels cool on the skin. Cotton duvets are ideal for people who get hot easily or perspire a lot at night.
- Tencel® (LenzingTM) or Lyocell: This material, made from pulp of eucalyptus, is a relatively new player on the market, but is becoming increasingly popular. Lyocell is known for its excellent moisture management properties. It feels silky soft, adds a little more weight to the duvet and is particularly suitable for warm nights.
- Silk: Specifically silk derived from the caterpillars that live off the leaves of the white mulberry plant (morus alba) is one of the most powerful options for a summer comforter. Silk is lightweight, breathable, moisture-absorbent and naturally has temperature-regulating properties. In addition, silk is hypoallergenic, making it a very good choice for people with allergies. Note! Do not confuse silk with satin, satin is weaving method. The weaving method can be used with a lot of materials, both cotton and polyester for example.
- Bamboo: Bamboo fibers are another excellent choice for a summer comforter. Like cotton and Tencel, bamboo is ventilating and moisture regulating. It is also antibacterial and environmentally friendly, making it a sustainable choice.
- Natural hair: duvets made of natural hair, such as sheep’s wool, cashmere or camel wool are very suitable for use even during the summer months. They excel in moisture regulation and insulate superbly. However, the fill weight should be adapted to summer, so the duvet feels much lighter. Like Tencel, natural hair or wool summer comforters are slightly heavier than, say, bamboo or satin, however, if you like to feel something on you, an added advantage!
- Down: the insulating value of down is excellent. However, it is important to choose a very low fill weight and a good and moisture-regulating ticking. The higher the percentage of down, the better for the summer months. Down feels light and insulates enough to keep your body comfortable.
- Polyester: basic polyester duvets are often too warm. Choose at least hollow fiber or look for specifically designed fibers to have excellent moisture management and ventilation. Lightly filled and best with a cotton ticking. ThinsulateTM is a forerunner in state-of-the-art fibers.
- Reuse: don’t throw away your old duvet too soon! Often it has become so light that you can use it as a thin summer comforter. Again, saves a lot of waste and money in your wallet.
Choose the right fill weight for a cool summer comforter
The weight of a duvet is often referred to as “fill weight,” expressed in grams per square meter. For summer, you want a duvet with a low fill weight, usually between 150 and 350 grams per square meter. A lower fill weight often means less weight on your body, which is perfect for warm nights. It doesn’t say everything about insulation; that’s in the filling. A 100% down insulates powerfully even in small amounts, for example.
Some people don’t like light; they like to feel the security of a duvet. And at the same time, they don’t want to be too warm. In that case, Lyocell, ThinsulateTM or natural hair variants are a great solution.
Heat Class
Duvets are often classified into different heat classes, ranging from 1 to 4. For summer, a duvet with heat class 4 is ideal. These are the lightest duvets that retain minimal heat and won’t let you overheat on hot nights.
Advantages of a summer comforter
A good summer comforter offers several benefits that contribute to a better night’s sleep:
- Cooling: A summer comforter is designed to circulate air and keep your body sufficiently warm without making you too hot. This prevents you from overheating at night.
- Lightweight: Most summer comforters are lightweight, so they don’t feel heavy on your body, contributing to a restful sleep.
- Moisture management: Because you sweat more in the summer, a duvet that wicks away moisture is essential. This helps you stay dry and comfortable while sleeping.
How much tog is a summer comforter?
In the UK, for example, people pay more attention to the Tog value when choosing a summer comforter. This is a unit of thermal resistance that indicates how well a duvet retains heat. In the blog “which duvet is the warmest,” we gave the explanation for Tog. During the summer months, a Tog value between 3 and 4.5 is ideal.
This means the duvet is light enough to keep you cool without retaining too much heat. A duvet with a Tog value of 4.5 still offers some insulation for cooler summer nights, while a duvet with a Tog value of 3 is perfect for warmer nights or for people who get hot in bed quickly.
It is best to choose a duvet with a Tog value that suits your personal temperature needs and the summer conditions in your bedroom. This will allow you to enjoy a refreshing and comfortable night’s sleep.
Conclusion
A good duvet for summer is light, breathable and has excellent moisture-regulating properties. Whether you choose cotton, wool, Tencel, silk or bamboo, it is important that the duvet suits your personal preferences and sleeping conditions. By investing in a quality summer comforter, you can enjoy a cool and comfortable night’s sleep even during the hottest nights. Choose wisely and sleep well!
