Best duvet for winter 2021: Thick goose down, feather and high tog quilts

Best: Overall

• Tog: 13.5 (4.5 + 9)
• Filling: Hungarian goose down and feather
• Rating: 9/10

This duvet is so fluffy, it felt like we were snuggling down in a freshly made hotel bed. It’s made using sustainable and ethically sourced materials with 90 per cent Hungarian goose down and 10 per cent small Hungarian goose feather for an ultra-comfy feel. All the down is washed using natural thermal water so no chemicals or plastics were used in the manufacturing process.

The duvet also has natural temperature and moisture regulating properties which prevent dust mites and means it comes with the anti-allergen Nomite standard. Our allergic co-tester was staggered to find this didn’t trigger a reaction like many naturally-filled duvets do.

It’s machine-washable, has a 10-year guarantee and is super-soft too, with a 100 per cent 300 thread count sateen cotton cover that slips easily into bedding when changing the sheets. Small pockets trap the down to ensure the filling stays wonderfully even and the fluff factor remains night after night. We especially liked the fact the all-seasons duvet comes in a range of options, so you can match 2.5 and 4.5 tog duvets or 2.5 and 9 tog ones if you prefer something a little lighter, though our mix of 4.5 and 9 togs felt like the perfect cuddly combination for chilly winter nights. You can even try it out first for 60 nights to make sure you love it or you’ll get a full refund.

Best: For allergy sufferers

• Tog: 10.5
• Filling: Smartfil + modal
• Rating: 7/10

This is a fantastically-priced duvet for anyone with allergies who needs to avoid down and feathers and wants bedding that will work year-round. It’s filled with Nectar’s own Smartfil technology with 20 per cent modal, which is derived from natural wood pulp, wicks moisture away from the body and is extremely breathable. This means you won’t wake up in a sweaty mess, even when the weather warms up or if the heating kicks in overnight.

We were staggered by just how soft this duvet was, making us feel like we were all wrapped up in candy floss, and it never seemed to get lumpy. It was slightly thinner than some of the other duvets we tested though this makes it a good year-round choice and we didn’t feel at all chilly despite this. Allergy-sufferers will also love the fact it can be machine washed up to 60 degrees to keep it in perfect hygienic condition.

Best: Wool duvet

• Tog: n/a
• Filling: Merino wool
• Rating: 9/10

Forget all you know about tog ratings because wool duvets have their own rules. Merino wool doesn’t have a rating but steadily maintains body temperature all year, however cold it gets outside. It also draws moisture away from the body which is a godsend for any night-sweaters.

We thought this naturally hypoallergenic duvet sounded too good to be true when we gave it a go but were wowed by its smooth organic cotton cover and soft feel. Made from humanely sourced wool from free-range flocks, it did smell a little when we first pulled it from the included storage case but this dispersed after a short airing before we put it on the bed. Similarly, though the duvet can be washed in the machine, Piglet advise to only do this if strictly necessary and instead air on the washing line four times a year to naturally expand the wool and revitalise the duvet. Though the medium duvet is not bulky, it really did keep us warm all night yet our co-tester didn’t feel it was too hot for him either. A year-round winner.

Best: For all-seasons

• Tog: 13.5 (4.5 + 9)
• Filling: Duck feather and down
• Rating: 8/10

This is a fantastic option if you crave the snuggle factor of down but don’t fancy the price tag. This UK-made duvet is filled with 85 per cent duck feather and 15 per cent down and feels wonderfully luxurious, with a breathable 233 thread count cotton cover. The piped edge finish with individually filled box-wall baffle design ensures the filling is spread evenly throughout so you don’t end up with a cold spot by morning too. It’s also Nomite and Downafresh certified for allergy sufferers.

The duvet has a one-year guarantee and is available in 4.5, 9, 10.5 and 13.5 tog, but we went for all-out cosiness with the all-seasons version, where 4.5 and 9 tog duvets are fastened together for winter. This means we could easily use one on its own once the weather warmed up while the unused duvet would come in handy for visitors the rest of the year. The whole thing is also machine washable and we loved the extra weightiness from the feathers that gave us one of the best sleeps we’ve had in ages.

Best: For unusual bed sizes

• Tog: 10.5
• Filling: Coolmax fill
• Rating: 9/10

If your bed’s not a standard size, this is the duvet for you. Available in a huge range of unusual sizes including UK emperor, EU long single and UK small double plus custom-made sizes, this 100 per cent British-made duvet is a good value option for every bed.

It has a synthetic hypoallergenic filling designed to match the feeling of down and it certainly felt plush to sleep under, with a crisp lightweight feeling we wouldn’t expect from synthetic filling. We were impressed just how well it kept its shape too, looking nice and plump each morning even when we’d hastily pulled up the duvet rather than making the bed properly (don’t judge us). It also went down a treat with our allergy suffering tester who slept a dream under this. It’s all wrapped up in a soft 233 thread count cotton case that is completely machine washable and is available in 9 or 13.5 tog versions so you can find exactly the right duvet for you.

Best: For couples

• Tog: 10.5 + 13.5
• Filling: Hollowfibre
• Rating: 7/10

Say goodnight to bedtime arguments for good with this ingenious duvet-slash-relationship-saver. Though it looks like an ordinary duvet with a silky microfibre cover and soft hollowfibre filling, it combines two different togs in one duvet. One half has a higher 10.5 tog for those who sweat year-round, the other is a warmer 13.5 tog for anyone who wants to keep the cold at bay. For warmer nights, it’s also available in a combination of 4.5 and 7.5 togs too and needless to say, it only comes in double or king size.

We were cynical this duvet could really be as good as it promised but were duly impressed. It looked no different from any other duvet when on the bed, but there was none of the usual moaning from our permanently sweltering other half about being too warm. Yet we still felt as snug as a bug all night. Though it wasn’t quite as fluffy as some of the other duvets we tested, it’s definitely a winner for bedroom harmony.

Best: For hotel luxe

• Tog: 10.5
• Filling: Hungarian goose down
• Rating: 9/10

We can’t guarantee you’ll ever get out of bed again if you splurge on this duvet. Firstly, it’s so pillowy soft, it feels like you’re sleeping under a cloud and secondly, it’s so wallet-wincingly expensive, you’ll want to make sure you get your money’s worth.

If you can afford it, you won’t regret it though. Brooke + Wilde already make some of the best mattresses around and this duvet is just as luxurious. It’s stuffed with evenly-distributed and ethically sourced Hungarian goose down and covered in 100 per cent 305-thread count Egyptian cotton for a lovely, plump feel that is made for hunkering down under. Best of all, it’s blissfully breathable so will keep you cosy when the nights draw in but won’t leave you a sweaty mess during summer. That means you won’t need to faff around changing your duvet every season but can keep this 10.5 tog one on your bed year-round and feel like you’ve moved into a five-star hotel.

Best: For year round use

• Tog: 10.5
• Filling: Goose feather and down
• Rating: 8/10

No need to find space to store spare duvets with this well-priced option, which will work all year yet definitely keep you snuggly enough on chilly nights. With a 10.5 tog, it won’t be too steamy come summer yet we were surprised by just how warm it felt when the temperature dropped too.

Available in single, double, king and super king size, the duvet is filled with 90 per cent goose feathers and 10 per cent down so it’s a little more weighty than other duvets but we thought this upped the cushy factor. We loved the crisp 100 per cent cotton cover and the whole thing can also be machine washed and even tumble dried on a low heat setting. We found an occasional shake to redistribute the filling and kept it in top-notch condition the rest of the time.