Here's what to look for when buying a good duvet: The shell should be a high enough thread count to prevent noisy crunching. The softer the shell, the lighter and more breathable the duvet will be. The construction should be baffle box (not channels) to prevent clumping. Choose pure white goose...

If you have severe allergies or you want to be able to regularly wash your pillows, synthetic fill is your best option. The technology nowadays allows for clusters of synthetic fibres to be blown into the pillow like down, for a down-like feel.