Duvets are a bedroom staple because they provide warmth, comfort, and just the right amount of snug appeal. Some people swear they get a better night’s sleep when they have a cuddly duvet on the bed.
But deciding which type of cooling duvet to get can be a daunting duty. Let’s look at two options that top many people’s list -- down duvets and eucalyptus duvets. Whether you’re looking for the best comforter for hot sleepers or the best lightweight comforter, these are two of the types of duvets you’ll see on the market.
What Is a Down Duvet?
A down duvet is basically a soft quilt people use on their bed for added warmth or comfort. Duvets can be stuffed with many types of fill. Down duvets are filled with the fine feathers that are found underneath the bigger, tougher feathers on a bird.
What Is a Eucalyptus Duvet?
This is a duvet filled with eucalyptus lyocell. Eucalyptus has become much more popular in recent years for bedding sheets, duvets, and pillowcases. There are many reasons it has become such a hot commodity in the bedding industry, particularly with sweaty sleepers. It’s a cooling comforter for hot sleepers, it’s comfortable, soft, and it’s an eco-friendly fabric.
Comparing Down and Eucalyptus Duvets
A down duvet and a eucalyptus comforter both have their fans, but when you’re going to spend the money to buy one, you need insight on how they stack up against each other. We looked at key categories many consumers are interested in. This will give you all the key information you’ll need to make an informed choice.
Eco-Friendliness
In this day and age, it’s not enough just to be a good product. Many people want to make sure their purchases aren’t negatively impacting the world, people, and animals around them.
When it comes to being eco-friendly, down may seem like a clear-cut winner. After all, the feathers have a low carbon footprint. But here’s where things take a sinister turn.
Many down duvets are constructed by using feathers from live-plucked birds. These birds are left with bloody wounds and often die from shock. It’s hard for some people to imagine getting a good night of sleep when they are covered up with a duvet many animals had to needlessly suffer for.
By comparison, eucalyptus is an eco-friendly material because it grows rapidly and doesn’t use harmful chemicals in its production.
Warmth and Breathability
Both down and eucalyptus are warm while still managing to allow for a lot of cooling airflow that will keep you comfortable all night long. If you’re looking for the best blanket for hot sleepers, though, down may be too warm. It depends upon the fill power of the duvet. If you tend to get the night sweats, look for a down duvet with fill power no higher than 600.
Cutting back a bit on the thread count can make bedding more breathable, which leads to cooler nights of sleeping.
While eucalyptus fibers are cooling to the touch, they still provide warmth. The fabric is naturally breathable while being temperature regulating.
Keep in mind that if you use a duvet cover, you might be adding extra unwanted heat. Any cover you use should be breathable as well. Otherwise, you might be creating a less hospitable environment for sleep.
Durability
When treated properly, down is incredibly durable. But so is eucalyptus if handled well. You can expect years of comfort from either of these types of duvets.
The key to making your duvet last is following the care instructions faithfully. Some down and eucalyptus duvets are machine washable, while others aren’t.
Your duvet may require dry cleaning or special care instructions that you won’t be able to do at home. If that’s the case, you may want to purchase a duvet cover, which will allow you to wash the actual duvet as infrequently as possible.
Allergies
Eucalyptus is a hypoallergenic choice for bedding. This fabric won’t aggravate allergies and is naturally resistant to other allergy-aggravating things like dust mites.
Down duvets, however, can be bad news for allergy sufferers. Some people have allergies to down itself, while others have reactions to the dust mites that love to set up shop in the bedding. Either way, down can be downright uncomfortable for allergy sufferers.
Having a comforter filled with down can lead to all kinds of aggravated allergy symptoms, like sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and more. If you’re prone to allergies, eucalyptus bedding is a much better option. Or, you can buy a duvet with alternative fill.
Cost
The cost of duvets can vary widely. You can find reasonable ones, or ones that would take a big bite out of your budget. While paying for quality when you can find a cheaper alternative isn’t fun, it may be smart to do. You’ll get a long-lasting, comfortable duvet that will last you for years.
Eucalyptus duvets can be pricey, but so can down. Many eucalyptus duvets are in the same ballpark when it comes to the amount on the price tag. But there can be a huge difference in the price tags on different down duvets. You can find affordable ones, but you can also find down duvets that can cost more than a mortgage payment.
The best advice is to set a budget you can comfortably live with. Then look around for the type of duvet that you’d most like to get. You might decide to stretch your budget a bit if you find one that checks all the important things you’re looking for in a duvet.
Who’s the Winner?
Both choices -- down and eucalyptus -- are popular for duvets. If you’re concerned about animal rights and want a cruelty-free option, you should go for eucalyptus. But some people prefer the more traditional down duvet.
There’s no right or wrong answer. Which one you select depends upon what’s most important for you and what features you want.