For the past few years, I haven't bothered switching my duvet between seasons, and tend to just make do with an old one that's filled with polyester. It's not the height of luxury, but I'm used to it. In this case, being used to it means that my bed is not the cosiest and I tend to feel cold in winter and too hot in summer.
However, earlier this year I decided that enough was enough and that I didn't want to simply ‘make do’ any longer. When staying in hotels, I like the fluffy, airy feel of the down duvets they often use, and thought that this would be a good route to go down. The White Company's Hungarian Goose Down duvet is a bestseller, filled with a luxurious combination of goose down and goose feather, encased in cotton percale jacquard. Their home products are often very good quality, so I had high hopes for the duvet.
I took the 4.5 tog for a spin as it was warmer weather when I started testing the mattress. It also comes in a 10.5 tog for all year use, and 13.5 tog for chilly nights, both of which would be better suited now that we are well into autumn.
The White Company Hungarian Goose Down Duvet: is it worth buying?
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When the duvet arrived, I had some concerns about feeling cold as it felt very thin–even compared to my budget duvet. However, I need not have been worried, as during both chilly nights and warmer ones the duvet has performed well, and I've been neither too hot nor too cold with the 4.5 tog duvet. A lovely feature is that there are buttonholes on the edge of the duvet, and it comes with cufflinks, so that you can attach another duvet of the same range to increase the tog rating in cooler weather. It's a brilliant way to get more use out of the duvet year-round, rather than doing a straight swap over.
The initial thinness seems to have been as a result of how tightly rolled up the duvet was when it arrived. After making up the bed with it, the filling fluffs up quite a bit. The Hungarian Goose Down Duvet has a pleasing crispness to it - there's a slight crunch to the touch that you don't get with polyester or microfibre duvets. I don't like to feel too weighed down and suffocated by my bedding, so the lightweight nature of it while still being effective in its temperature regulation, is just right for me.
Even though it gets covered up by bedding, the striped cotton jacquard cover with piped edge looks smart and is a nice design touch. The down and feather that they use are naturally white, so no bleaching is involved, and are a by-product of the food industry, with all suppliers being cruelty-free. Their 10-year manufacture's guarantee shows The White Company's confidence that the duvet will stand the test of time.
The White Company Hungarian Goose Down Duvet, six months on:
During the hotter weather over the summer, the Hungarian Goose Down Duvet was so much more breathable than my old duvet, and made sleeping during the warmer nights far more bearable. Now that the cooler weather has kicked in, I'd be interested to customise my 4.5 tog one with a buttoned-on 10.5 tog version, to maximise this duvet's potential. Although, so far I haven't felt the need to upgrade to a higher tog, so even the 4.5 alone is very good at insulating. It has gone through the washing machine with no issues and fluffed back up nicely in the dryer. I certainly won't be going back to my old duvet any time soon.
Fact file
| Fact file | Hungarian Goose Down Duvet |
|---|---|
| Filling | 90% Hungarian goose down, 10% Hungarian goose feather |
| Cover | 329-thread-count cotton jacquard |
| Tog | 4.5, 10.5 or 13.5 (I tested 4.5) |
| Machine washable? | Machine-washable, but for best results, professional laundering is recommended |
| Country of manufacture | Denmark |
| Sizes available | Single, double, king, super king |
| Guarantee | 10-year manufacturer’s guarantee |
How much does The White Company Hungarian Goose Down Duvet cost?
For the 4.5 tog, it costs £200 for a single, £250 for a double (the size that I tested), £290 for a king, and £330 for super king size. The cost goes up further for the higher tog editions of this product. The 10.5 tog, on the other hand, is £330 for a double, and the 13.5 tog is £370.
Delivery
The duvet arrived in a fairly large, The White Company-branded cardboard box, which can be broken down and easily recycled. As the product is over £50, it qualifies for free delivery, and it arrived quickly. Inside, the duvet is packaged in a smart, reusable cotton carry bag which I have now stored my old duvet in. Also inside the carry bag were the cufflinks, which came in a small plastic bag (it would be great if this could also be a cotton pouch!), and a warranty and care card.
The White Company Hungarian Goose Down Duvet verdict
So far, I've found this duvet very breathable and lightweight, yet it still keeps you as warm as you need. As I tested the 4.5 tog, I will likely need to use a higher tog duvet once the temperature really drops. For those who have a preference for a very plush, puffy duvet with a weightier feel, it might not be the right choice, as this range is very light and airy.
