During the summer, the heat disrupts a good number of our nights. However, as long as you know how to choose the right comforter, it can greatly contribute to your bed’s thermal comfort. For those who can’t do without a comforter even in extreme heat—or who prefer it to traditional sheets paired with a blanket—all you need to do is choose a comforter suited to the season.
Before buying your summer comforter, it’s a good idea to compare the best models to find the one that suits you best. In addition to the comforter’s size, you should also consider its composition and weight.
Natural or Synthetic Filling: How to Choose?
Numerous tests have been conducted to determine whether there is a difference between natural and synthetic comforters in terms of thermal comfort. According to these tests, the materials used for both the filling and the comforter cover do not directly affect the sensation of thermal comfort. Your choice of summer comforter will therefore depend on your preferences and needs (ease of care, any allergies, sleeping habits, bed size, room temperature, personal beliefs, price, etc.).
Most synthetic fillings are made of polyester fibers. Manufacturers strongly prefer these synthetic fibers (whichare sometimes recycled) over natural fibers, both for bedding and ready-to-wear clothing. Made from chemicals, the synthetic fibers used to fill comforters make them more affordable, easier to care for, and lighter.
There are several types of fibers: microfibers, solid fibers, hollow fibers, and siliconized hollow fibers. Hollow polyester fibers are the most well-known because of their temperature-regulating technology and loft, properties that are ideal for summer comforters. However, synthetic fillings are neither the highest quality nor the most environmentally friendly.
Duvets with natural fillings have become increasingly popular in recent years. Natural fillings include:
- down (goose or duck feathers and down);
- silk, wool, linen, and bamboo fibers;
- lyocell (a fiber made from wood pulp, also known as Tencel).
Although lightweight, voluminous, and soft, down comforters tend to retain heat and are therefore better suited for winter. As for comforters made of silk, wool, linen, and bamboo fibers, they make up a very small portion of the comforter market.
Finally, Lyocell-filled comforters are the ideal alternative to synthetic comforters, since Lyocell is not derived from animals and contains no chemicals that could be harmful to health.
The summer comforter from Kipli is filled exclusively with lyocell, making it breathable and temperature-regulating, as well as naturally dust-mite-resistant and antibacterial, to provide you with ideal comfort and a good night's sleep during the summer.
What about the materials used to make the duvet cover?
The cover of a summer comforter should allow for good air circulation and wick away moisture caused by body sweat during hot summer nights.
The materials used for the duvet cover must be compatible with those used for the filling. In fact, the quilting on the cover helps keep the filling in place, especially if it is down.
Since the pillowcase is in direct contact with the body (not counting the fitted sheet and duvet cover), the fabric must be of the highest possible quality to prevent any allergic reactions and feel pleasant to the touch.
In addition to the choice of materials for the duvet cover and the quality of the quilting, the weave affects the quality of the cover and, therefore, the durability of the duvet. The tighter the weave, the more durable the duvet will be.
On the market, comforters are often made of 100% synthetic material: polyester. However, there are many natural alternatives, such as cotton—preferably organic. A 100% organic cotton cover (such as the one offered by Kipli) is healthy, breathable, soft, comfortable, and eco-friendly.
How Can You Best Understand the Weight of Summer Duvets?
While the materials used in a comforter do not affect thermal comfort, the key factor to consider is the weight per square meter.
The weight per square meter of a comforter, expressed in g/m², refers to the density of the filling: it has a direct impact on the comforter’s weight and its warmth rating. Generally speaking, the lightest comforters have a weight of around 150 g/m², while the warmest ones can reach 500 g/m².
The higher the weight per square meter, the heavier and warmer the comforter. In the summer, to sleep well despite the heat, you should choose a lightweight (about 200 g/m²) natural comforter. In fact, natural comforters are significantly lighter than synthetic ones while offering the same level of warmth.
When it comes to choosing the right size summer comforter, it should be tailored to your needs and sleeping habits. First and foremost, you should consider the dimensions of your bed, as well as how much you move around at night and your body type and height (and/or those of your partner). The choice of summer comforter size also depends on your preferences regarding how much the comforter hangs over the sides of the bed: in the summer, you should avoid comforters that are too large, as they may be too heavy.
How can you best adjust the rest of your bedding for summer?
To sleep well despite the summer heat, you'll need to adjust your entire set of bedding, as well as your mattress and box spring.
First, a mattress protector is essential to protect your mattress from moisture caused by sweat. As for the duvet cover, fitted sheet, and pillowcases, the ones you choose should offer comfort, softness, and breathability for a good night’s sleep. Additionally, if your mattress has two different sides, you should flip it when the seasons change to take advantage of the summer side.
To ensure your bed is hygienic and conducive to sleep, it is essential to regularly care for each item of bedding. Therefore, to properly care for your summer comforter, it is best to:
- shake out the comforter every time you change the bedding;
- air it out regularly, if possible directly outdoors;
- Wash it several times a year in the washing machine or take it to a professional.
In any case, given the wide variety of summer duvets available on the market, you'll easily find the perfect duvet to help you sleep well on hot nights.
We recommend these other pages:
- How to Wash a Duvet
- What size comforter should I choose?
- What size duvet should I choose for a single person?
- What size duvet should you choose for two people?
- How do you choose a comforter for a child?
- How do you choose a comforter for a baby?
- What kind of comforter should I choose for winter?
- Should you choose a 4-season comforter?