Once autumn hits, I am a perpetually cold person – my nose is constantly running (because it’s cold, not because of some lurgy), and my feet and hands become seemingly incapable of heating themselves up.
When the weather dropped recently, and with our ancient radiators working sporadically, it got to the point where I was going to bed in a dressing gown and a couple of pairs of socks to stay warm – with my duvet over me, and then a blanket on top.
I even started scheduling the heating to come on in the wee hours in case that would help take the chill off the air.
So, when I swapped my summer duvet out for Panda’s 10.5 TOG ‘Cloud’ duvet, I was expecting to feel a bit warmer – maybe I’d get to finally ditch the socks? – but I didn’t have high hopes that I’d finally spend the entire night toasty-warm.
Well, I’m happy to report I was wrong.
Is this the best duvet for year-round?
Turns out the Cloud is a very appropriate name, as it’s heavy enough to keep in warmth but doesn’t make you particularly sweaty thanks to its breathable and moisture-wicking filling and cover.
As for the comfort levels? Positively cloud-like.
The 10.5 TOG is the perfect balance for me (a lizard woman) and my other half who consistently errs on the side of volcanic.
What I love about this duvet is that it warms up quickly (once you’re in, it takes about five minutes before you’re feeling truly toasty) and then it keeps you nice and warm all night long.
It also has a slightly heavy feel to it, which is very relaxing (in fact, it makes you feel as if you’re sleeping in a posh hotel) and means it’s unbelievably hard to stay awake once you’re lying down. I’m an avid reader in the evenings and frequently find myself drifting off earlier now because I’m so cosy (not mad about the early nights, tbh).
Another plus is that, despite the duvet being slightly more on the spenny end at £159.95 (for a super king duvet), I’m now saving on heating bills as I’m no longer firing up the boiler in the middle of the night – and I expect this to continue throughout winter.
The duvet comes in a bamboo drawstring bag (perfect for storing the duvet you swap it out for) and is made from a 50:50 blend of organic bamboo and Nano-Microfibre itself, so it’s great for vegans and those with allergies or sensitive skin (my partner and kids are allergy-prone and we’ve all got sensitive skin to varying degrees so that is very much welcomed).
The sewn-through pockets also help to keep the filling in place so there’s even distribution of warmth and cloud-like comfort.
It’s described as the “perfect year-round” option, so I’m excited to see how it fares next summer.
Any downsides?
I opted for the super king size duvet and it doesn’t quite fill the entirety of my duvet cover, which is a little bit annoying as sometimes you end up with unfilled corners after night-time fidgeting.
Also, since its arrival, my kids keep sneaking into our bed in the night – presumably because the comfort levels are now off the charts. We’re waking up like Charlie Bucket’s grandparents in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
It speaks volumes about the product, as they have their own winter TOG duvets on their beds, but it looks like I’m going to have to get them their very own Clouds if I want my own bed back…
