Affordable and hypoallergenic: The best fibre bedding, from pillows to mattress toppers

Score: 96/100

For our winning microfibre duvet, the clue to its standout quality is in the name – it’s as soft as a luxurious, down-filled duvet, minus the price tag. Something our testers vouched for, with one praising the "fluffy" filling, which they said had "a down feather feel to it”. What’s more, the fibre filling makes it an indulgent option for allergy sufferers.

We tested the 10.5 tog duvet as well as a 3-in-1 option as part of our best all seasons duvet roundup, which comes with two layers – a summer-ready 4.5 tog, and a thicker 9 tog duvet that can be joined for a cosy 13.5 togs. Whatever the weight, all our testers agreed that this duvet was well-made and soft to the touch, saying they would buy it themselves after the trial period.

Score: 91/100

This summer duvet from ASDA impressed our panel of testers with its lightweight design, which still kept them warm and snuggly all night. And we don’t mean too warm, as one tester who often overheats at night found it just right.

It fared well in our wash test; there was minimal shrinkage, it took less than an hour to dry, and the filling remained even. It's also very affordable. So, if you do need something cosier come winter, you should have some spare change.

Score: 90/100

This 4.5 tog duvet is filled with lightweight, soft hollow fibre that’s specifically designed to keep you cool through the summer months, but may also suit particularly hot sleepers all year round.

Testers liked its breathability and breezy feel – perfect for keeping those disruptive night sweats at bay. It's also available in a 7.5 tog version if you prefer.

Score: 89/100

With a not too warm/not too cool tog count of 6.7, this microfibre duvet kept our panel just right. “It helped me maintain a regular body temp through warmer nights,” said one happy tester.

The brand describes this duvet as having a cloud-like feel, which is designed to provide ultimate cosiness and comfort at night. This was felt (quite literally) by most testers, with the majority agreeing it was lightweight, comfy and soft to sleep under.

Score: 88/100

This anti-allergy topper from Slumberdown will have you sleeping soundly, minus any sniffles – and it's easy on your bank balance, too.

Despite being a budget pick, testers scored it well for the quality and level of comfort it delivered. Its only downside is that it doesn’t have any straps to secure it to the mattress, but a good fitted sheet should do the job.

Score: 86/100

Snuggledown set out to bring that luxurious five-star hotel finish to your bedroom with this topper, and it scored highly for comfort thanks to its plush hollow fibre filling.

It also got near-perfect marks for its secure fit – even with lots of tossing and turning – thanks to the sturdy elastic straps. It adds s a soft, bouncy layer to your mattress without costing a fortune.

Score: 86/100

This topper’s two layers of microfibre provide double the amount of support, earning it full marks for comfort. Testers liked its smooth finish and said they couldn't feel any of the stitching. Some did note that it was slightly smaller than their mattress (but only by a mere 1cm, which won’t make a world of difference).

When it’s time to wash, the two layers can be unzipped to separate, ensuring ultimate freshness and helping them fit inside a 9kg drum washing machine with no bother on test. And it was easy putting this topper back on the bed too – even for one tester who said it can often be tricky with their bad back.

Score: 76/100

Our testers loved Snuggledown’s original luxurious hotel topper, so we had to try this extra-deep version. The cosy padding added “a nice level of softness,” according to one tester. Note, you may just need deeper sheets to accommodate the extra layers. But overall, it’s a great option for a relatively well-used mattress in need of a boost.

In fact, it can add a hotel-level of comfort to any sleep space, as one tester also used it on their sofa bed and said it made the sleeping experience far more comfortable.

Score: 92/100

Like their winning duvet counterpart, these microfibre pillows from Soak and Sleep provided a luxurious, down-like feel, at a budget-friendly price.

They scored highly for retaining their shape and bounce night after night, rather than flattening out (which no one wants). They also kept their shape during washing, with its filling distribution and stitching staying like new.

“The nicest pillow I’ve ever used,” said one tester – quite the statement!

Score: 87/100

These climate control pillows from Slumberdown are filled with a Dacron filling, a specially developed synthetic polyester fibre that’s designed to keep you cool by driving excess moisture away from your body and regulating your temperature all night long. When put to the test, one panel member praised the pillow's ability to keep them cool, which they said was a “real bonus” in the summer months.

If you prefer a firmer pillow, you’d be better opting for one of our best memory foam pillows, as one of our testers likened these ones to “a big marshmallow” due to their softness. We don’t think that’s a bad thing, though.

Score: 86/100

This hybrid pillow is a versatile solution for all types of sleepers, as it’s soft on one side and firm on the other. One layer is made from a firm memory foam while the other uses an ultra-soft hollowfibre filling, providing the perfect Goldilocks balance.

Some testers did find it slightly too firm, though, but thankfully the dual-sided design also has a removable Visco memory foam layer for you to customise its height and plumpness. All the layers are held together with a washable cover, too, so cleaning is easy.

Comfortable and cooling, testers also praised this design’s temperature-regulating properties.

Score: 84/100

These pillows are stuffed with an anti-allergy filling to help reduce the build-up of bacteria and dust mites. One tester praised how they kept them cool at night, making them a great option for when hay fever peaks and heatwaves hit.

Though billed as a firmer pillow, testers found it on the softer side. But the filling stayed in place after washing and helped deliver a good night's sleep for our panel.

Score: 83/100

This sturdy yet comfortable pillow is ideal for those who prefer a firmer finish. It also worked wonders for side sleepers in our tests, with panellists saying it supported the neck and helped minimise any shoulder discomfort.

This one lost some marks because it didn’t fit very well in our pillowcase – it came up a little large – so be sure to check the sizing first. However, everyone agreed they enjoyed a good night’s sleep with this and would continue to use it after the trial.