Help me find the lightest-weight slightly poofy summer comforter/duvet

April 25, 2022 9:50 AM

I live in the southeast US, where muggy nights are the norm for much of the year. We do have central air but don't turn it super low; overnight temps in the house tend to remain in the low 70s with the AC on. Our current "winter" comforter is too hot for spring and summer, but sleeping with just a sheet and a thin blanket always feels disappointing. What is a truly lightweight/cool duvet for someone like me?

I've been researching this for days, and have seen older questions here about the topic, but I am wondering if anyone's bought anything in the last couple years that meets the need for a truly lightweight and not-hot but still somewhat cozy duvet/comforter.

Things that have not worked:

* A "lightweight" wool comforter. After seeing a few recommendations for a light wool comforter in various forums where someone else has asked this question, I bought this comforter from The Wool Room, which they recommend for temperatures over 72 degrees. Turns out that comforter is not only heavy (over 5 pounds for the Full/Queen size), but it is quite hot. I did not detect any of the temperature regulating benefits they say wool has and quickly became overheated. While it was a cozy and very warm comforter that I'd probably enjoy in the winter, I would not be willing to try any other wool comforter for summer use after that experience.

* Using a thin cotton duvet cover on top of a sheet. I bought a lightweight cotton duvet cover, which is definitely breathable and cool - actually too breathable and too cool - but it's not enough without a duvet in it. However, used in conjunction with that light wool comforter, the whole combination was SUPER HOT and too heavy.

* A simple thin blanket. I've been using that plus a sheet for years, and the temperature is fine, but I would like more of a cozy feel.

So I'm looking for a full/queen duvet - ideally something with ties that would work inside my duvet cover - that has some poof to it but is very lightweight and cool enough to use in low 70 degree temperatures. I'm not opposed to down, and I know that can be very lightweight, but I've read conflicting opinions on how hot it sleeps, and it's generally so expensive that I don't want to buy anything that's not definitely going to work for me.

Any specific product recommendations or guidance?

posted by bananana to Home & Garden (13 answers total)

I use the IKEA Stjarnstarr for this. Living in LA, where nighttime temperatures are usually pretty mild in winter and mild-to-warm in spring, this is the comforter that's most comfortable for me year round. On the coldest nights, I add a layer, and on the hottest nights, I switch to a thin flat sheet, but for most of the year, this one does the trick. It might sleep even cooler without a duvet cover, though I haven't tried that. At any rate, it's reasonably cheap, so you're not out much money either way.
posted by yasaman at 10:05 AM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]

I wonder if the cotton Baloo Weighted Blanket might work for this?
posted by praemunire at 10:10 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]

You might look at Chinese silk duvets. I don't have a link for you, and perhaps you are better off going to a local Asian store, as I did. I had one when I lived in the US, and I loved it and brought it back to Europe. I don't remember what happened to it, but now you have inspired me to go look for a new one.
posted by mumimor at 10:16 AM on April 25, 2022

I have two comforters that I adore and probably make other people angry because they are so lightly-stuffed, but I really like to layer so I have a lot of control over my sleep temperatures. They're both Amazon Basics: bog standard reversible comforter, and some more attractive options (the coral one is what I have).

I have another one from Target but I got it on clearance and can't find it on the site anymore.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:40 AM on April 25, 2022

Our summer duvet has a filling that is made from bamboo. Maybe that can be useful as a pointer.
posted by Too-Ticky at 10:41 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]

My husband and I felt comfiest in our years in New Orleans under a lightweight down duvet inside a cotton cover. We switched to down-alternative when our down duvet finally gave up and it was much warmer and less breathable. IKEA sells inexpensive lightweight down duvet inserts which could be a good way to trial down before investing in something nicer- or you might find the cheap one is perfect! Expensive down duvets usually seem to be going for “so warm you could sleep under this while camping in the subarctic” which is not quite right for summer in the south.
posted by MadamM at 10:44 AM on April 25, 2022

Highly recommend either a silk or rayon comforter. IKEA has examples of both (silk, 10% rayon), as does Costco (silk, 60% tencel, 100% viscose). They're the only fill types that let me sleep comfortably in warm, humid weather.
posted by givennamesurname at 11:43 AM on April 25, 2022

Best answer: I have a pieced quilt, made in China, cotton on both sides with a small amount of poly fill. I leave the flannel top sheet on and the combination is a pleasant weight/ warmth for late Spring/ early Fall. You could try a cotton blanket in the duvet cover; cotton doesn't provide much warmth, and just enough weight to feel comfortable.
posted by theora55 at 11:52 AM on April 25, 2022

I am constantly broiling hot, but also love a cozy, substantial blanket - my BUFFY comforter has been a DREAM throughout all 4 seasons in the Pacific Northwest! Warm enough, cool enough, it's absolutely wonderful.

I love this thing, it's so soft and comfy but also has just enough weight to it to satisfy me. (Just looked at their site for the link - I do not know which of the 2 comforter styles I have; I got it from a freecycle.)
posted by tristeza at 1:34 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]

Silk fill for sure. I have a silk batting filled duvet from Gingerlily, it's about 10 years old and still amazing but their prices have gone through the roof so I am going to second givennamesurname's suggestion of the Ikea silk filled duvet.
posted by ananci at 7:31 PM on April 25, 2022

Crate & Barrel has cotton quilts with cotton fill. It’s the only way we can handle the heat trap that is the bedroom. It’s not poofy though. Has a bit of weight to it, which is actually pleasant (really just a touch!). But we call it the magic blanket because it offers *perfect* temperature control.

(Ah, I just tried to find it, couldn’t find the exact one we have. Looks like they’ve got linen as well. Natural fibres 100% though!)
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:23 PM on April 25, 2022

I use Slumber Cloud's light comforter - it has temp regulating qualities that maybe will help you not overheat (I went from having night sweats to no night sweats, though we also use their sheets and we keep it cooler in the bedroom).
posted by evening at 12:17 PM on April 26, 2022

Response by poster: After reading theora55's suggestion to put a cotton blanket in the duvet cover, last night I went ahead and put the non-cotton blanket I've been using as a summer bed covering inside my new duvet cover to see how it felt. Turns out... it feels pretty good. It adds just enough "poof" to the bed covering to add coziness, and warmth-wise the blanket/thin-cotton-duvet combo just feels like I put an additional sheet on the bed. It's warmer than it had been, but not too much.

For reference, the blanket is a Berkshire Blanket Polartec Softec Microfleece Blanket, which is 100% polyester and is very lightweight and breathable.

I've never owned a duvet cover until this week, and I thought it would be weird to put something in there that didn't have ties, but it wasn't too bad putting a plain old blanket in there.

Thank you for all of your suggestions! If I end up deciding I do want a lightweight comforter after all, I will investigate these options. For now, I'm happy if this works without having to buy anything else.
posted by bananana at 5:51 PM on April 26, 2022 [2 favorites]