HOW MANY TOGS IS YOUR DUVET THIS WINTER? WE HAVE BEEN SLEEPING WITH 2 DUVETS

Duvets are measured in togs. The tog is a measure of thermal resistance, commonly used in the textile industry, and often seen quoted on, for example, duvets and carpet underlay. The word may come from toga, a Roman garment from which the English slang togs (meaning clothes) is probably derived.

According to British retailer John Lewis, tog guidelines for duvets are as follows:

Lightweight summer duvet:	4.5 tog
Spring/Autumn weight duvet:	9.0 - 10.5 tog
Winter weight duvet:	12.0 - 13.5 tog

When we arrived in the dam, Mr Washy already had a down duvet. We are not sure how many togs it is according to the above but it should well be about 12? It certainly isn't sufficient for the freak weather now of minus zero at night. What sort of duvets can counter that? We do not even think that a winter weight duvet is ultimately that effective against the cold.

We reckoned we had to buy another duvet to counter the cold. It really does not make sense to keep the heating on when you are sleeping because you are under the sheets. The sheets should keep the warmth in for you and not so much of half covering yourself in a heated room.

We decided not to get a winter weight duvet. We already have a down duvet which doesn't quite serve its purpose. We did lack a spring, summer and light autumn duvet. We proceeded to purchase a duvet, probably of 9 or 10 tog? Seriously, the tog chart does not make sense. What ever happened to 5, 6, 7 or 8?

Nonetheless, we have been layering our sheets/duvets and this has proved to be effective. Instead of buying a heavy winter duvet, we now have a 2 in 1, and no need to get a light weathered duvet. Perfect.