THERE’S nothing like the feeling of security provided by a cosy duvet.
It’s just not the same sleeping under a sheet, even in the middle of a heatwave.
Simba Hybrid Duvet, from £139
I’ve been testing out the Simba Hybrid Duvet, which contains space-inspired fabric technology designed to regulate your temperature as you sleep.
In short, it retains and releases your body’s heat depending on how hot you are.
Theoretically, that means you can kiss goodbye to sweaty summer evenings with the covers kicked off, or cooler nights wishing you had extra blankets.
With the Hybrid Duvet, Simba claims you’ll be at the perfect temperature all night long, with no need for a duvet (and tog) change between seasons.
While it’s one of the smartest duvets we’ve come across, all that space-age technology doesn’t come cheap, with a single costing £139 and a double coming in at £199.
Despite its lofty price, the Hybrid Duvet has currently racked up almost 15,000 reviews on the brand’s website, with an average rating of 4.8. Many customers praise its comfy, airy softness, with one shopper saying that it “feels like a cloud”.
But is it worth the money, and the consumer hype and can it truly keep me at the perfect temperature all night long? Read on for my Simba duvet review and find out if it lived up to its promises.
Pros
- Breathable
- Machine washable
- Works for all seasons
- Hypoallergenic
- Squashy, comfy feel
Cons
- Expensive
- Better at keeping you warm than keeping you cool
Rating: 7/10
How I tested the Simba Hybrid Duvet
Simba’s high-tech filling is stitched into pockets to prevent bunching[/caption]
Simba Hybrid Duvet, from £139
I’ve been sleeping under the Simba Hybrid Duvet for the past six months.
I’ve been nestled beneath it during the coldest months of the year, as well as the milder weather we’ve been experiencing this March.
To decide how good it is, I’ve been assessing its value for money, comfort and temperature-regulating properties.
Simba Hybrid Duvet review: Quickfire Q&A
How much is the Simba Hybrid Duvet? Prices start at £139 for a single and go up to £259 for a super king. A double, the size I’ve been using, is £199.
Who’s it best for? The majority of people who want to use the same duvet all year round.
What we loved: It truly does work all year round (in the UK’s comparably cool climate, at least), and it’s very comfortable to sleep beneath.
What we didn’t: It isn’t cheap, and I still found myself kicking it off on the warmest nights.
Simba Hybrid Duvet review: The Nitty Gritty
First impressions
Simba Hybrid Duvet, from £139
The Simba Hybrid Duvet arrives in a handy, breathable storage bag.
Pulling the duvet out to reveal its full scope, the first thing that struck me was its unusual, high-tech, slim appearance.
The grey and blue trim that wraps around the duvet and divides the Stratos-infused side from the plain cotton side is striking and stylish (for a duvet, that is).
So is the cubed pattern that’s printed on the Stratos side, which gives you a clear indication of where the heat-regulating properties are.
While my first impression was how slim and lightweight the duvet is (even the king-size only weighs around 2kg), I wrapped it around myself and instantly felt enveloped by squashy yet cool bouncy cotton, which alleviated my fear that it wouldn’t be cosy to sleep with.
Within a few minutes, I was also surprised at just how warm I felt — hello NASA science.
The texture of the duvet itself is slightly different to a conventional cotton or polyester duvet and it has come under fire in other reviews for feeling plasticky and crunchy, with one even likening it to the feel of a waterproof sheet.
As soon as I picked it up I did notice a different feel, especially on the Stratos side: it’s less soft than conventional duvets, although it still feels pleasant against the skin.
It’s also cool to the touch, which I assume is the temperature technology at work. Its squashy fibre-filled interior gives it a cosy vibe, though, and once it’s hidden inside a duvet cover, it feels much the same as any normal duvet.
Does it deliver?
The Hybrid Duvet feels lightweight and sumptuous[/caption]
Simba Hybrid Duvet, from £139
I tested Simba’s Hybrid Duvet through most of autumn, all of winter and the start of spring, so I had the chance to put its temperature-regulating claims through their paces — both for retaining heat on chilly nights and keeping me cool as temperatures slowly rose.
Put simply, it works. On cold nights, I was comfortable and cosy, without ever feeling too hot.
And during a particularly warm weekend in March, the Hybrid Duvet did a pretty good keeping my body at the perfect temperature; it’s certainly an upgrade on my previous duvet.
However, it does perhaps feel better at keeping me warm in the colder months than keeping me cool in the warmer ones.
Having said that, I tend to run hot, and it’d take nothing short of magic for a duvet to actually cool you down during a really warm night.
At the end of the day, if you wrap yourself up in something during a warm night, you’re rarely going to get less warm.
However the Simba Hybrid Duvet isn’t as heavy as most duvets (although its thermo-regulating properties mean it always feels warm when you’re snuggled underneath).
Its lighter weight also means that when the mercury rises, it has an airy, breathable quality to it that is more refreshing than most duvets.
I experimented with both sides of the duvet and while the plain cotton side did perform well, the difference between that and the Stratos-filled side is obvious enough that I now always make sure the temperature-regulating side is next to my skin.
It’s also well made, with robust stitching, it’s machine washable so it scores serious practicality points, and it feels squashy and sumptuous.
It works hard for its higher-than-average price tag and it delivers industry-pushing technology. I’m sold.
How to wash the Simba duvet
Yes – it’s machine washable up to 40°C and can be tumbled dried on a low heat.
This is another great practical feature of the duvet. I haven’t thrown mine in the washing machine yet, but many shopper reviews report that it washes well.
Which way does a Simba duvet go?
The Simba Hybrid Duvet is made up of three sections: the middle section is filled with Simba Renew Bio fibres (made from recycled PET bottle fibres), while the outside sections are white cotton on one side and cotton incorporating temperature regulating Stratos technology on the other.
The Stratos side is the one you want next to you while sleeping. It’s easily identifiable because of the grey cubed pattern on the fabric and blue trim around the outside, so you can see at a glance which way up it goes when you’re fitting your duvet cover.
There’s also a label at the foot of the duvet so you don’t end up with it upside down.
What tog is the Simba duvet?
The Simba duvet is lightweight and has a 10.5 tog rating. While that may not seem very high for the depths of winter, the Stratos heat control technology within it keeps your body at the optimum temperature to ensure a great night’s sleep, no matter how cold it is outside.
How much is the Simba Hybrid Duvet?
The Simba Hybrid Duvet starts from £139 and that’s for the single size. The double costs £199, the king size is £249 and the super king costs £259.
It’s worth keeping an eye on the Simba website though as there are sales several times each year.
Simba Hybrid Duvet, from £139
Where to buy the Simba Hybrid Duvet
The Simba website is the best place to buy the Simba Hybrid Duvet so you can keep up to date with special offers and discounts, however, the duvet is also available to buy on:
Simba Hybrid Duvet review: The Verdict
While it doesn’t possess the heft of some luxury synthetic or down duvets, the Hybrid Duvets still feels luxurious to snuggle up with.
What it lacks in weight, it makes up for in intelligence, boasting heat-regulating technology that will keep your body at the ideal temperature all year long.
For anyone who struggles to maintain their body temperature overnight – from people with high body temperatures to women going through menopause – the Simba Hybrid Duvet is an excellent buy that will justify its price tag from the very first night you use it.
