While most people associate down comforters with wintery weather, down can be a surprisingly favorable choice for warm weather as well. There are many different weights and fills available for down comforters, and down is a natural temperature regulator which means a more comfortable night’s sleep for you.

Today, many manufacturers offer down blankets or “summer weight” down comforters which have less fill and are made specifically for warmer temperatures. These products are a perfect choice for summer if you like to be covered even when it is warm out. Down has a very lightweight feel which lends itself perfectly to the summer months.

When shopping for down, you will probably want to protect your new comforter with a duvet cover, as constant washings will cause the down to lose some of its loft. A duvet cover will keep your new purchase free from stains, pet hair, and odors. However, most down comforters can be washed and dried. I recommend tossing a couple of tennis balls in the dryer with your comforter to help keep the fill from clumping together.

Some features you will want to look for in a down comforter are box-stitching and baffle. Box-stitching refers to stitching square pockets in the comforter which hold the fill in place. A baffle is a divider in the comforter which separates the fill into layers. These two attributes will ensure that the fill of a comforter reaches maximum loft while holding the fill in contained areas to prevent clumping.