Simba Hybrid Duvet – a lightweight yet sumptuous cover for a great night’s sleep, no matter what the outside temperature
THERE’S nothing like a cosy duvet for cocooning yourself away from the world and at this time of year, the winter weather.
The best duvet is one that warms you when you’re cold, but doesn’t suffocate you when you’re hot; it’s thick enough to snuggle under, but not so thick you can’t move; thin enough to keep you cool, but not so thin you freeze when the mercury plummets.
Does such a mythical duvet even exist? Well, yes it does – and it’s called the Simba Hybrid Duvet.
It contains space-inspired fabric technology and it’s 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 winter nights spent shivering under piles of extra blankets; with the Hybrid Duvet, the brand claims you'll be at the perfect temperature all night long, with no need for a duvet (and tog) change between seasons.
But while it might just be the smartest duvet we've come across, all that space-age technology doesn't come cheap, with a single costing £104.25 and a double coming in at £149.25.
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Despite its lofty price, the Hybrid Duvet has currently racked up almost 12,000 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? I put the space-age duvet to the test to see if it lived up to its promises.
- Simba Hybrid Duvet, £104.25 - buy here
Are you in the market for a new mattress too? Check out our Simba Original Hybrid mattress review, Simba Hybrid Kids mattress review and Simba Hybrid Pro mattress review to find out more.
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Tested: February to April 2022
Pros
- Temperature regulating
- Breathable
- Machine washable
- Works for all seasons
- Hypoallergenic
- Squashy, comfy feel
Cons
- Expensive
Simba duvet review: quick summary
The Simba Hybrid Duvet is a high-end product that's packed with smart technology, which delivers on its promises.
Made up of three layers (more on those shortly), it's incredibly lightweight and while this initially gives the impression it lacks the substance to be truly cosy during cold nights, I found its sumptuous fibres wrapped me up nicely throughout a frosty February.
While it doesn't possess the heft of some luxury synthetic or down duvets, it still feels luxurious to snuggle up with, and what it lacks in weight, the Hybrid Duvet makes up for in intelligence, boasting heat-regulating technology that will keep your body at the ideal temperature all year long.
It's constructed from three layers: the top and bottom layer are both made from sustainable, breathable cotton, but while one side is pure cotton, the other is injected with NASA-inspired Stratos technology, which regulates body temperature by drawing away heat and releasing it, depending on your needs.
You can tell which is the Stratos temperature-regulating side as it has a grey cubed pattern on it, while the regular cotton side is white. There's also a blue trim across the edge on the Stratos side to help guide you when you're stuffing it into a duvet cover.
Inside, the duvet is filled with Simba-Renew Fibres, which are also designed to dissipate heat. The filling is stitched well into pockets, so it's spread evenly with no lumps or bunching and I was impressed with the overall look and feel of it on my bed.
Simba recommends users sleep with the Stratos side next to them to reap the temperature-regulating benefits. I did this and found — like thousands of other happy reviewers — that Simba's Hybrid Duvet was undeniably good at keeping me at the right heat level throughout the night.
The Simba Hybrid Duvet is expensive, but if you struggle with staying warm or keeping cool while you sleep — and you don't want to switch duvets between seasons — it works.
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.
- Simba Hybrid Duvet, £104.25 - buy here
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Simba duvet review: full review
First impressions
The Simba Hybrid Duvet comes boxed up and rolled in recyclable plastic. Pulling the duvet out to reveal its full scope (I tested a king-size), the first thing that struck me was its unusual, high-tech, yet thin 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 looks good, as does 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 (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.
- Simba Hybrid Duvet, £104.25 - buy here
Performance
I tested Simba's Hybrid Duvet from the start of February until the middle of April, 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 winter nights, I was comfortable and cosy, without ever feeling too hot. During a particularly warm weekend in April, the Hybrid Duvet did a great job keeping my body at the perfect temperature, so I didn't need to throw out any clammy limbs.
The Simba Hybrid Duvet isn't as heavy as most duvets, but 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's particularly refreshing.
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.
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.
Simba duvet review: the verdict
The Simba Hybrid Duvet is a thoughtful, cleverly designed product that delivers on its promise to regulate body temperature.
It has a high-quality construction that's made to go the distance all year around – forget about swapping duvets as the seasons change, the Simba Hybrid Duvet offers a convenient, smart, albeit slightly pricey, solution that works whatever the weather.
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.
- Simba Hybrid Duvet, £104.25 - buy here
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:
How much is the Simba Hybrid Duvet?
Currently, all sizes of the Simba Hybrid Duvet are on special offer on Simba’s website, with 25% off the regular price. The single duvet is £104.24 (instead of £139), the double costs £149.25 (instead of £199), the king size is £186.75 (instead of £249) and the super king will set you back £194.25 (instead of £259).
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.
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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.
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