Wool Duvets, Your Questions and Our Expert Answers

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At Devon Duvets, we are often asked a range of questions by our customers about wool and its use in duvets, we thought that it would be a great idea to answer a range of questions in one helpful guide.

Elegant wool duvet by Devon Duvets beautifully arranged in a serene bedroom setting.

Are wool duvets good?

Wool duvets are great for many reasons, everybody has a different reason for buying a wool duvet over a traditional polyester, feather or down duvet, but wool duvets really do make a difference in so many ways. Wool duvets are environmentally friendly, they help you to get a better night’s sleep and are a great solution if you suffer from allergies.

Wool duvets are the perfect choice for you if any of these apply to you:

• You care about the environment and want a 100% natural duvet.
• You suffer from allergies and need a naturally hypoallergenic duvet material.
• You need a duvet to regulate your temperature during the night.
• You need a duvet that gives you a much better night’s sleep.

Many duvets sold in the UK are made from polyester, this is a derivative of petroleum, that is right, petrol! They are highly environmentally unfriendly as you would expect, polyester duvets trap warm air in and they provide a breeding ground for mites so if you want to avoid those issues, wool duvets and bedding are a great choice for you!

Devon Duvet with detailed close-up of natural wool fibers used in Devon Duvets’ hypoallergenic and eco-friendly products.

What are the benefits of a wool duvet?

Wool duvets have many advantages over other duvets and the far more common polyester duvets, here are a few reasons why wool duvets are good for you, your health and the environment.

• Wool duvets are naturally temperature regulating.
• Wool duvets are a 100% natural material with a low carbon footprint.
• Wool duvets decompose naturally, polyester duvets derived from petroleum do not.
• Wool is a naturally hypoallergenic material, ideal for allergy sufferers and repels dust mites.
• Wool is available in abundance in the UK.
• Wool bedding is proven to help you sleep better by up to 25%.
• Better sleeping patterns helps your body fight infection and supports your immune system.

There are many more benefits from using a wool duvet, some are very personal such as improvement for menopausal hot flush management. The real benefits fall into three distinct overall benefits. Wool duvets are hugely better for the environment over polyester duvets and other materials, as this is a 100% natural material, there is a lot of it about and it has a low carbon footprint. Wool duvets significantly improve your sleep, especially the period of deep sleep where your body regenerates itself. Wool duvets naturally help to regulate your temperature, they keep you warm in winter and cool in the summer.

Range of Devon Duvets wool duvets in different bedroom settings, showcasing style and comfort.

Are wool duvets too warm?

Wool duvets are naturally temperature regulating, they keep you warm when it is cold and keep you cool when it is warm. Wool is a natural material that covers a sheep’s body in much the same way and has to act in this manner to keep a sheep’s body temperature regulated. All a wool duvet does is transfer the natural characteristics of a sheep’s coat into a duvet, it is as simple as that.

• Wool is naturally thermoregulating, it provides a cooling effect within a warm environment.
• Wool is hydrophobic, it can release moisture.
• Wool can absorb or release moisture up to 30 times more than polyester.

This means that wool is significantly better than standard man-made polyester duvets at temperature regulating. Wool is a natural insulator, when the temperature is cold, wool naturally creates a thermal barrier trapping in heat. Flip that around when the temperature is warm, wool naturally releases the heat through thermoregulation. Therefore, wool duvets are not too warm!

Naturally hypoallergenic wool filled duvet in a wardrobe.

What TOG is a wool duvet?

A tog rating is a measure of thermal insulation. Originally created for the clothing market, all duvets come with their own scale of warmth called a ‘tog rating’. This specifies warmth, not thickness.

With duvets, the higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet. Conversely, the lower the tog rating, the cooler the duvet. Most duvets have a fixed tog rating which reflects their insulation factor, and means that they are generally not able to temperature regulate, i.e. they are unable release heat if you need to cool down. Duvets made from synthetic fibres are not breathable and therefore unable to temperature regulate.

Duvets made from feather or feather and down are excellent insulators and can release some heat but the most efficient filling for temperature regulation is wool. Wool is naturally temperature regulating so this means it does not have a fixed tog rating but has a fluctuating tog equivalency instead. Wool works with your body temperature and the ambient temperature of your bedroom, so retains heat if you need to be warmer but can also release heat if you need to cool down. Wool is also dust mite resistant, which makes it more hygienic than other fillings.

Our medium weight wool duvets have a fluctuating tog equivalency of 8 – 14 togs, so will retain heat if you need it in the colder months but can also release heat and behave like a lower tog duvet, down to around 8 togs, in the warmer months. If you live in a cooler house, or are a naturally cold sleeper, then this duvet may well be suitable for you throughout the year.

All of our wool duvets work on this principle. So, if you are naturally a warm sleeper or have a well insulted bedroom in a flat or more modern property, then you may find that our lightweight wool duvet, which has a tog equivalency of 4 – 7 togs will be sufficient all year. It will trap heat up to approximately 7 togs but will also release heat if you need to cool down, by behaving like a 4 tog duvet.

British wool duvet with temperature regulating properties and machine washable.

What is a duvet fill power and fill weight?

A duvet fill power is a measure the fluffiness of your duvet, the technical term is the ‘loft’ of the duvet and the fill weight is the actual weight of the fill over a specific area. The fill power is important as it really measures the insulation of a duvet to a certain extent, the material of the duvet is also very important here. A higher fill power means that the duvet is more fluffy by volume, it therefore has more capability to trap warm air within the fill and therefore should be warmer than a lower fill power. However, the natural thermoregulating properties of wool over man made materials such as polyester means that with the same fill power, wool will always trap in more air when it is cold and release warm air when it is warmer.

Fill weight measure the actual weight of the duvet over a given volume. For example, a medium weight wool duvet is typically given as 600gsm where gsm is grams per square metre. The fill weight is therefore the weight of the duvet, the higher the value, the heavier the weight. This does not necessarily mean that the duvet will be warmer, the fill power and the material used determines how warm a duvet will keep you.

A duvet made with natural materials showcasing all the benefits of 100 british wool bedding.

What should I look for in a wool duvet?

A wool duvet is a great choice if you are looking for a natural material that is environmentally friendly, great for allergy sufferers and regulates temperature. There are quality differences though and differences in sustainability that you should be aware off when making a choice.

• If the environmental impact is important, look for the traceability of the wool and whether the wool is chemically treated. If wool is chemically treated it alters the natural properties of the fibres and is a pollutant.
• Look for the quality of the cotton. All of Devon Duvets cotton supports the BCI Initiative that supports and promotes better environmental and socio-economic farming practices.
• Check where and how the duvet is made and whether the company making it supports ethical treatment of their staff by opening their doors to independent audits, for example SEDEX.
• If the carbon footprint is important, look for wool that is locally sourced and whether it has official certification from British Wool.
• If you want reassurance, look for whether the duvet has a makers guarantee. All Devon Duvets wool duvets come with a 5 year makers guarantee.
• Reviews and testimonials from real customers through review feeds are a great guide.
• Find a wool duvet that suits your needs, if in doubt, ask a question.
• Price usually reflects quality in terms of the materials and the quality of the wool duvets.
• Choose the right size, weight and tog value for your needs.

Everybody has a different reason to choose a wool duvet as in every purchasing decision, choose the best duvet for your specific needs in terms of price, quality and reassurance through reviews and external marks of assurance.

Lightweight wool duvet on bed for those warm summer months.

What is the best tog wool duvet for all year round?

Firstly, you need to take into account the type of duvet you currently have. If it is a synthetic (hollowfibre or polyester) duvet in a polycotton casing, it is not thermoregulating so, for example, a synthetic duvet with a tog factor around 12 would probably be too hot in the summer months as the filling traps the hot air. Similarly, a synthetic duvet with a tog value of around 9 would be too cold in the winter as it would not trap enough hot air. The same would apply to a duvet made from feather and down, whilst having some element of temperature regulation, it will not vary much outside its fixed tog ratings.

We also have an All Seasons Set, which comprises one medium weight wool duvet and one lightweight wool duvet. This offers flexibility throughout the seasons, as each duvet can be used individually – or if you really need to top up the tog factor, then the two can be tied together (one on top of the other), using the ties provided, and put inside your duvet cover.

100 british sheep sourced locally to Devon and 100% traceable.

How long do wool duvets last?

Wool duvets can last for a very long time, although biodegradable, when used in a room temperature environment, the wool does not naturally degrade very quickly, and wool has been used to make cloth for clothing and blankets, for around 3500 years. A wool duvet will not need to be washed regularly at all as the natural properties of wool prevent dust mites from living in the material. To enhance your wool duvet, regular airings outside will allow any trapped moisture to be released. Wool duvets can be washed although this really never needs to happen unless the duvet becomes soiled. If you do wash a wool duvet, make sure you follow these three simple points.

• Wash with a special wool detergent.
• Use the 30°C wool cycle on your machine, never choose a hot cycle.
• Dry your duvet naturally, never use a tumble dryer.

There is no definitive life span for a wool duvet, with simple care and regular airing, they can last for many years and still be as good as new!

Elegant machine washable duvet featuring the summer months.

What is a tog rating?

A tog rating is a measure of thermal insulation used to determine the warmth of a duvet. A higher tog rating indicates a warmer duvet, while a lower tog rating indicates a lighter, cooler duvet. The most common tog ratings for duvets range from 4.5 to 15.5.

Wool duvets have natural thermo-regulating properties, so this means it does not have a fixed tog rating but has a fluctuating tog equivalency instead. Wool works with your body temperature and the ambient temperature of your bedroom, so retains heat if you need to be warmer but can also release heat if you need to cool down.

A thermometer in wool to compare tog ratings from synthetic materials.

Do wool duvets have a tog rating?

Wool duvets will have a tog rating like all other duvets but the natural variability of the wool that goes into a duvet means that the tog rating will usually be within a range, i.e. a fluctuating tog rating, rather than a specific number.

For example, a polyester duvet which is made from petroleum can be assigned a very specific tog rating as it is a man-made material and will trap heat up to a fixed tog. Feather/feather & down/ down duvets have an element of breathability but will not vary much outside their fixed tog rating.

However, a wool duvet that is made from 100% natural materials is breathable and temperature regulating. The range within which a tog will fluctuate in a wool duvet depends on the amount of wool in the duvet. For example, our medium weight wool duvets have a fluctuating tog equivalency of 8 – 14 togs, so will retain heat if you need it in the colder months but can also release heat and behave like a lower tog duvet, down to around 8 togs, in the warmer months. If you live in a cooler house, or are a naturally cold sleeper, then this duvet may well be suitable for you throughout the year.

So, what would you rather sleep under, a natural material that is designed to regulate heat and repel mites, or a synthetic material such as polyester, made from petroleum?

Devon Duvets 100% traceable british wool on a mattress topper.

Are wool duvets fluffy?

Wool duvets are more fluffy than a polyester equivalent but less fluffy than a duck down duvet. Wool duvets feel heavier than down duvets, and will also have a better drape, a feature that apparently improves the quality of sleep and reduces anxiety and stress. Wool duvets where the wool is needled and layered into sheets inside also have a more even fill than loose filled synthetic, wool, or feather and down duvets as the needled wool filling does not naturally move around much.

Make sure you purchase a wool duvet where the stitching in the body of the duvet is minimal as this will ensure a good drape. If too much stitching it used, wool duvets can feel too much like an old fashioned quilt. Good wool duvets will have a quality feel to them. If you have only ever slept in a polyester duvet, the difference is quite significant with a wool duvet having a higher quality feel in terms of weight and the material feels completely different. If you have ever spent the night in a nice hotel and thought that their duvets were great, they were probably using a wool duvet because they feel far more luxurious than a polyester duvet and that feel does not degrade over time.

Comparing the different types of natural duvets to combat night sweats.

Wool Duvets Compared to Other Materials

At Devon Duvets, we are often asked why we choose wool as the primary fill material for our duvets and how this compares to other materials. There are two types of materials, natural and man-made materials that are used to fill duvets. Natural materials include wool, down and feather duvets, a down duvet is made from the feathers that are beneath the outer feathers and are naturally more insulating than the outer feathers and are usually more expensive. Outer feathers are called feather duvets, they are cheaper than down duvets but the ends can stick out if the duvet covering is not thick enough. You can also have a mixture of both feather and down duvets. Wool duvets are made from wool, they are cheaper and heavier than down duvets but have better thermo-insulating properties.

Man-made materials include polyester, micro fibre and hollow fibre duvets, these are all primarily petroleum derived products and are not biodegradable and are not environmentally friendly. Polyester or polyester derived duvets are suitable if you have an allergy to wool or feather but we find that most people who say they have an allergy to wool, are actually allergic to the chemicals used on wool. They find that they are not allergic to Devon Duvets wool, as no chemicals are used. It is worth asking us for a wool swatch to test against your skin.

Comparing feather duvets with wool duvets to find out what's better.

Is feather or wool duvet better?

Both Feather and wool duvets are natural. Down is naturally lighter and fluffier than wool so you get a softer feel, they are also typically a bit more expensive than wool. Feather and down duvets are not naturally hypo allergenic but you can get treated duvets that prevent dust mites from growing within the duvets and this involves the use of chemicals. Down duvets tend to be more expensive than a mix of down and feather or pure feather duvets and are considered to be the most luxurious in terms of feel.

Wool is naturally heavier than down, is hypo allergenic and is more thermo-regulating than feather or down, it is also far more widely available as a natural by-product of shearing sheep and wool duvets tend to be slightly cheaper. Do check the sourcing of the wool to ensure it is shorn from live sheep and not a by-product of the slaughter house. At Devon Duvets we only use wool from live sheep shorn in the Spring and Summer when they are happy to lose their fleeces.

Wool duvets are better for those that want a duvet that regulates temperature, is hypo allergenic and relieves stress and anxiety. Wool is also a natural material, is easily accessible and traceable, therefore very environmentally friendly.

Comparing Wool duvets with silk duvets to compare comfort and heat.

Is silk or wool duvet better

Silk duvets are made from carded or needled silk. this means that the silk is a waste silk of made from imperfect cocoons. Silk duvets have the carded silk sewn into pockets within the case to ensure that the spread is even as possible and they are naturally flat and not fluffy. Silk is ideal if you want a flat duvet and is naturally temperature regulating with similar properties to wool.

Wool duvets are more fluffy than silk duvets and are not sewn into the outer sheet as the wool tends to retain its shape over time. Wool duvets share similar properties to silk duvets but tend to be thicker than silk duvets which suits some people more. Thicker and heavier duvets are thought to have properties that enhance high quality sleeping patterns and reduce stress and anxiety, it is really a personal choice though.

Both silk and wool are environmentally friendly products and are far better for the environment than man made polyester or micro fibre duvets that are not biodegradable.

Comparing wool duvets with goose down duvets to find out which is better.

Which is warmer goose down or wool?

Many people consider Down duvets to be the most luxurious duvets around and they are made from the inner feathers of a goose or a duck.

Wool duvets are far more thermo-regulating than down duvets and are better if you want a temperature regulating duvet, they keep you warmer when the outside temperature is cold and cooler when the outside temperature is warmer. Wool duvets are also more naturally hypo allergenic and repel dust mites and other mites and mould when moist and are better for allergy sufferers. Down duvets are typically bulkier and fluffier than wool duvets, which one is better than the other is a personal preference.

Comparing duck down duvets on texture and temperature regulating properties.

Is wool better than duck down?

There is no simple answer to this, it all comes down to a personal preference unless you have a specific reason for choosing the filling.

Both are naturally biodegradable unlike synthetic duvet fillings like polyester and micro fibres and will break down over time. Wool is the better filling if you suffer from allergies as it is hypoallergenic and prevents dust mites from growing within the duvet. Wool duvets are also heavier than down which for some is great as this theoretically relieves stress and anxiety, for others, the weightiness of wool may be less preferable than the more fluffy down duvet. Wool is also more thermo-regulating as down tends to trap heat more and can lead to over-heating.

Are wool duvets worth it?

Wool duvets are significantly more expensive than the cheapest polyester duvets found in supermarkets, high street shops and online retailers that sell polyester or polyester derivative duvets like micro fibre and hollow fibre duvets. As a result, you have to ask the question, are they worth it and here are some reasons why you might want to consider a wool duvet.

• Wool duvets are naturally biodegradable, they will break down naturally over time.
• Polyester duvets are made from petroleum, they are a type of plastic that is not biodegradable.
• Wool duvets are thermos-regulating, they release heat when hot and trap heat when cold.
• Polyester duvets trap heat and are not thermos-regulating, if you suffer from heat for example through the menopause, they are not ideal.
• Wool is a naturally occurring material that is available in plentiful supply and is sustainable
• Polyester is derived from oil, finite in supply and harmful to the environment in the production process.
• Wool has natural anti allergen properties that prevent dust mites from breeding and mould growing.
• Untreated polyester duvets are a haven for dust mites as they trap heat and moisture.
• Devon Duvets wool duvets are handmade rather than mass produced.

There are many other differences such as price, fluffiness, weight and sustainability but these are the major factors that may influence your purchasing decision.

Comparison of eco-friendly wool and synthetic materials in duvet production at Devon Duvets.

What are the best quality duvets?

The best quality duvets are made from natural materials as opposed to man-made synthetic materials that many duvets are made from. There are two simple reasons why, first, natural materials benefit the environment and you, through the natural characteristics of the material such as being thermo-regulating or natural hypoallergenic. The second is that man made materials such as polyester or micro fibre duvets are bad for the environment, they are not biodegradable, they are not sustainable or thermos-regulating and they are a haven for dust mites.

What natural material makes the best duvet though is really down to a personal choice and relates to the price and the characteristics of the natural material. These materials are typically silk, down or feather and wool although you may still find cotton and linen duvets but these are really only used in warmer countries. Down is the under feather or the fluffy feather from a bird and duck and geese down are the most commonly used. Silk used in duvets is i a natural by-product of the silk manufacturing process and wool is typically naturally occurring wool from sheep and sometimes alpacas.

Which is the best? Down duvets are considered to be the most luxurious, wool duvets are considered to be the best for thermos regulating and is more naturally hypo allergenic than down or a mixture of feathers and down. Wool is heavier than down which some may prefer and others prefer the fluffiness of down. Wool is slightly cheaper usually than down and down is preferred to feathers as you can get spikes from the quill end of feathers in feather duvets.

Satisfied customer relishing the comfort of a Devon Duvets wool duvet in a cozy bedroom.

Is a wool duvet breathable?

Wool is a very breathable material through a process called thermo-regulation. Wool is a natural by-product from shearing, naturally a sheep’s coat will want to keep it warm when the outside temperature is cold and cool when the outside temperature is hot. For this reason, wool is very breathable and keeps warm air trapped in when it is cold, it naturally releases the hot air from pockets when the air is hot to keep you cool. Wool duvets also benefit from a process called lofting which fluffs up the wool to enhance this natural process and therefore improves the levels of thermo-regulation.

Wool duvets also naturally release moisture which is really important as this prevents dust mites, other bugs and mould from growing in the duvet. If you suffer from allergies, a wool duvet is probably the perfect choice as the far more common polyester man made duvets actually trap moisture and hot air, thus providing a breeding ground for mites and moulds that can trigger allergies.