What Does Tog Mean in Duvets?
You'll find most duvets come with a rating of tog, and you might have a vague idea that the higher the tog, the more warm the duvet will be. But, this isn't always the reality!
The best tog will depend on a number of factors, including the temperature in your bedroom and the seasonal changes. This article will explain what tog means and how to pick a duvet that matches your needs.
Material
It is crucial to consider the material your duvet is filled with before making a purchase. Typically, natural fillings are more efficient at insulating than synthetic ones - this is due to them being more likely to be more air-filled, which allows more heat to be trapped and therefore keeps you toasty warm.
You'll often see the tog rating of duvets alongside its fabric feel and weight. The tog rating is only an indication of how warm a duvet will be. It does not indicate its durability or the quality of the product. Tog ratings are determined in laboratories by testing the thermal resistance on the flat surface of a new quilt. This is not the identical to how duvets drape on your mattress.
Traditionally, you'd pick your duvets based on the season. Lighter 4.5 tog options in summer will help you avoid overheating during hot summer nights. Winter duvets have higher tog ratings so that you are warm and snug through the colder seasons. However, with normal duvet tog increasing use of central heating in homes and apartments, it is becoming more popular to select a duvet that is all-season. These can range between 7-10.5 tog and are great to keep you warm but not too hot.
A good alternative for those suffering from night sweats is to use a light duvet with a low-tog weight. This will keep you dry, cool and warm, while also keeping you cool.
If you're worried about allergies you could also opt for a hypoallergenic duvet that is made from materials that have been treated to decrease dust mites and other allergens. They are typically made of hollowfibre or microfibre and are usually covered with an anti-allergy coating. Some of these duvets also contain a breathable fabric, which is beneficial for those who have sensitive skin.
Filling
The type of filling used in a duvet can make an enormous difference in its warmth, and may also influence the way it drapes around you. Duvets with natural fillings like wool or feathers are lighter and more breathable, so are generally preferred by people who suffer from allergies. Synthetic fillings must be thicker to attain the same rating of a natural duvet. This is the reason they weigh more.
Hollow fibre and Microfibre duvets are both popular choices for fillings because they're hypoallergenic and soft, as well as they remove moisture. Hollowfibre bedding is durable and offer a value and microfibre is more luxurious and soft but still provides excellent insulation to ensure you rest comfortably through winter.
When selecting a duvet its construction is equally important. Box stitch is a typical method of construction for synthetic duvets. Strips of fabric are stitched in a box pattern to ensure that the filling is distributed evenly. Baffle box is a different method of construction that uses additional fabric strips that are sewn into the box pattern. This allows the filling to have more room to breathe, trap air and keep warmth.
The size and weight of a duvet are also important to take into consideration, as this will have a significant impact on the degree of warmth it will have. Larger duvets tend to be warmer than smaller ones, because they have a larger surface area to store heat, but it's not always the rule that bigger is better. Some people prefer the lightness of a summer duvet, while others prefer the warmth of winter duvets. If you feel that a particular duvet is too heavy and warm for your taste You can always put on an additional blanket or quilt to keep you cozy throughout the night. Keep in mind that every person regulates their body temperatures differently, so the tog rating of a duvet is likely to vary. That's why it's a good idea to try out a duvet before you buy, so that you can be sure it will be the right temperature for you.
Construction
A duvet (UK: /d v t/, US: /du v /)--also known as a comforter in American English, a doona in Australian English, or a quilt is a type of top layer bedding with a filling such as goose down, cotton, silk wool, synthetic fibres. It is usually protected by a removable similar to the pillowcase cover or quilt. It is often used instead of the topsheet.
Duvets are available in a variety of togs for each season. You can choose the one that is most suitable for your preferences and needs depending on the temperature of your room. The lower end, a 1-7 tog, is ideal for summer. You can then change to 7-10.5 tog for the cooler months in autumn and spring. If you want a versatile all-year-round duvet, go for 10.5 tog.
The design of a duvet can also affect its tog rating. Hollow fibres, such as those found in feather and down duvets are thicker than synthetic options, meaning they have a better ability to keep heat in. However, they are more expensive, so if want to save money synthetic options might be the best option for you. They are made of microfibres, which are finer and softer than natural fillings, so they feel more luxurious as well.
Synthetic duvets are also known to be more tolerant of allergies, since they are less likely than feather or down filled ones to trigger or worsen existing allergies. They're also lighter, and usually sewn using a box stitch that creates many small boxes that trap air. In contrast some feather and down duvets are sewed in a baffle box fashion, which ensures each section of the duvet has the same amount of filling, making it more uniform and comfortable.
In addition to a duvet's construction and tog rating it is crucial to consider how you regulate heat while you sleep. While some people find a heavier, warmer tog rating more cozy, it could be too warm for those who tend to feel cold in the night or suffer from hot flushes. Luckily, many brands of duvets are available in a range of thicknesses so that you can choose the one that is suitable for you.
Tog rating
The tog rating is an important element that can help you select the ideal duvet for your requirements. It's a measure of how cool or warm a duvet feels. The more high the tog, the warmer the duvet. Tog isn't the only aspect to consider when buying a duvet. Fabric feel, weight and durability are also crucial factors.
Tog ratings are difficult to judge by simply touching or looking at a duvet since they are a measure of thermal resistance and not thickness. A synthetic duvet can be thinner than a feather or down filled one, even though it has an increased rating. This is because synthetic materials are not as insulation, which means it will take more of them to get the same tog rating as natural fillings.
Tog ratings can also be used to compare duvets from various brands. They offer a benchmark for comparing the warmth. In general, higher tog ratings duvets are more efficient in keeping you warm. However, it's important to keep in mind that duvets with lighter weights tend to have lower tog ratings.
It is crucial to keep in mind that sleeping too hot could be a problem because your body produces excessive heat while you are asleep which makes it difficult to get a peaceful night's sleep. Likewise, sleeping too cold can lead to restless sleep and discomfort throughout the night.
The right duvet for every season is therefore essential and the best solution is often to purchase two duvets with varying tog ratings so that you always have the correct level of warmth in bed. A 10.5 tog is ideal for spring and fall and a duvet with a rating of 7-13.5 tog is perfect for winter. The ratings of children for tog are usually lower, ranging from 4 tog during summer and 9-13.5 for winter. This is due to children's tendency to generate more heat while they sleep, so they require a cooler and lighter duvet than adults.