Duvet Tog Ratings Explained
Understanding how to choose the right duvet can mean the difference between an unrestful night and a restful, peaceful one. Many people interpret the tog rating as a measure of duvet thickness or weight, but it is actually a way to determine how well a duvet insulates.
What is a tog?
Duvets can be the most comfortable sleeping accessories that you have. They keep you warm and cozy and help you get a good night's sleep. It isn't easy to pick the right duvet because there are a myriad of options. The rating of the duvet is an important aspect to take into account because it determines the warmth of your duvet.
Tog ratings measure the thermal insulation of duvets by how well they retain heat. It doesn't necessarily relate to thickness, since the amount of warmth is contingent on the filling used. Natural fibers like feathers and down are warmer than synthetic materials. A duvet's tog rating will also depend on the season. A 4.5 tog summer duvet will allow you to avoid overheating on summer's hot nights, whereas the 15.0 tog WinterPlus duvet provides maximum warmth for colder autumn and winter evenings.
Traditionally, you'd select a duvet based on the season. A 4.5 tog duvet is suitable for hot summer nights and 9-13.5 tog duvets are warm throughout the year. In recent times thanks to central heating and better duvet technology, you're able to pick an all-season duvet that typically sits between 9-10.5 tog and can be joined or used in a different way depending on the season.
It is crucial to select the right tog rating when buying a duvet. If you are too warm, it could make you uncomfortable and cause to sleep through the night. If you're too cold you may wake up with a cold head and an uncomfortable neck. The right tog rating can make huge difference in making sure you sleep well every night.
What is the tog rating of a duvet?
The tog rating of duvets is a standard measure of how well it insulates heat, making it easier to choose the best one for your environment and preferences. The higher the tog rating the more warm the duvet. Tog ratings vary between 1 and 15 1 being the lightest and most cool and 15 being the warmest.
Duvets with a high tog rating tend to be thicker, and can help keep in more warmth. They are therefore suitable for colder climates since they help keep you warm during the night. Duvets with lower ratings for tog tend to be lighter and can aid you in sleeping better if you're a hot sleeper or tend to overheat at night.
It is important to keep it in mind that not all duvets are equipped with the same tog rating. The type of filling used determines the level of insulation offered by a duvet. Different fillings have distinct thermal properties. For instance, natural fibres like wool or down will have more tog than synthetic materials like polyester.
Tog rating is also impacted by the thickness of the fabric that the duvet is made from and the way it is sewn. 4.5 tog rating is the reason why duvets that have identical tog ratings may appear very different.
When choosing the right duvet for your child, you should consider their age, their climate, and whether they prefer a warm or light duvet. Children regulate their body temperature differently than adults. Any duvet that is too heavy could cause them to overheat during the night. For kids, a light duvet that has a low-tog rating is typically the best option.
What is the tog rating of the quilt?
If you are in the market for a new duvet (or quilt in Australia) you'll find the word 'tog' on the label. You might be tempted to purchase one that has a high rating - after all the higher the tog rating, the warmer it will be, right? The tog rating isn't an accurate indicator of the warmth of a duvet.
The tog of a duvet is related to its thermal insulating properties, not its weight. Many people confuse tog with weight however the two are totally different. A duvet with a lower tog will be lighter and better suited to warm weather. A duvet with a higher tog will be heavier and better for colder climates.
Another thing to think about is the kind of filling. Natural materials, such as goose or feathers are more effective at insulating and responding to body heat than synthetic materials. This is why you'll discover that a duvet that has less tog will be lighter than one with more tog, even though they may contain the same amount of filling.
It is also important to remember that we all regulate our body temperatures slightly differently and what is comfortable for one person might be too hot for someone else. With this in mind, it is generally a good idea to purchase a duvet that has a higher rating for tog and then layer it with the lighter quilt or scarf as an additional layer for those nights when you require more warmth.
What is the tog of a summer duvet?
A summer duvet's rating for tog will be lower than that of a winter duvet because you will require less warmth as temperatures increase. A 4.5 tog duvet is a good choice for comfort, since it comes with without the risk of overheating that could be caused by high tog ratings. If you live in a hotter environment but are still having trouble with overheating, you can choose a 1 tog lighter duvet. It will allow you to breathe the space you need.
Many people think that a higher tog rating implies that the duvet is more heavy, but this isn't always the case. It's based on the type of filling used in the duvet, and the amount of heat that can be retained. For instance synthetic materials like hollowfibre require more filling in order to provide the same amount of insulation as a natural fibre duvet. This can result in a heavier duvet even having a similar tog rating.
Another aspect to consider is how cold or hot you sleep. Everyone regulates their body temperature differently. Some prefer the cosy feel of a more substantial duvet, but others find it too hot or cumbersome. In such cases, you might want to opt for a slightly lighter duvet that can be coupled with blankets or quilts to add more warmth.
If you're unsure of the tog rating to choose it is always best to follow the lead of hotel guests. Hotels will typically use the same duvet throughout the year, which is why they typically go for a 10.5 tog, which is perfect for all climates. If you're prone to allergies, a hypoallergenic, allergy-friendly duvet could be the ideal choice for you.
What is the tog of a winter duvet?
Duvets are always measured in tog, which is a measure for thermal insulation. The more tog the higher the more warm the duvet. However, finding the right tog for your bed depends on a number of aspects, including your personal preference as well as how warm or cold your bedroom is, and the time of year it is. A duvet that is too high in temperature can cause you to sweat and feel hot when you wake up while one that is too low could make you feel cold.
For winter the standard is 13.5 tog is generally regarded as an all-seasons duvet, however, you can find cozy winter duvets with even more favourable ratings if you prefer to feel extra toasty at night. The warmth of a duvet is also dependent on the filling, and generally speaking, natural materials are more comfortable than synthetic ones.
If you're a sleeper who is hot and want to sleep cool, choose an summer duvet with an lower tog rating. This is because you're more likely to overheat with a thicker duvet which holds more heat. If you're looking to stay warm, add an extra blanket or quilt to your mattress.
Children should also be provided with duvets that are not rated as low in tog. Very young children may struggle to regulate their temperature and a duvet that is too hot could cause them to overheat. If you're purchasing for a child, look into a duvet with a dual rating like Gingerlily's silk half and half duvet that retails at PS350. It has one side of the duvet with the weight of 12.5 tog and the other side with a 4.5 tog, which means it can be put together according to season.