There are people who can fall asleep anywhere – in the back seat of an Uber, propped up against the window in an airplane, or face down on a beach towel. I am not one of those people.
I need pitch darkness. Not just blackout curtains, but also blackout stickers over each pesky glowing LED light that every appliance seems to come with. I need my bed to feel just so: I have a super-plush-yet-firm mattress that’s topped with an Eight Sleep, a high-tech device that adjusts the temperature of my bed throughout the night, and of course only the softest Tencel sheets will do. After six rounds of trial and error, I’ve finally landed on a pillow that’s not too high, not too low, not too firm and not too squishy. Basically, I’ve all but perfected my Goldilocks sleep setup… except for my doona.
A doona is surprisingly hard to get right. The perfect doona needs to be fluffy, of course, but have enough heft to feel substantial. Too much weight though, and it can quickly become suffocating. I love down – it’s warm, breathable and natural – but the wrong kind will rustle like a bag of chips every time you roll over. A doona’s job is to make your bed feel like the best place on earth (no pressure).
After weeks of testing, I found one that gets it right. Here’s my take on the Bonny doona.
Our verdict
- Our rating: 8.5 out of 10
- Why we rated it a 8.5: The Bonny doona is marshmallowy soft and manages to be warm without feeling suffocating. The 90% down, high fill power and thoughtful details, like vertical quilting and zero rustling, set it apart from other duvets at a similar price point. We took off points only because the price is on the higher side for duck down. But if you’re looking to upgrade your current doona, we think this one is absolutely worth it.
Pros
- Super soft and cuddly
- Substantial, without feeling heavy
- Silent – no rustling or crackling
- 90% down (higher than most at this price point)
- 800 fill power, which makes it light but warm
- Fluffs up fast and holds its loft for a visually pleasing bed
- Warm without overheating
- Responsibly sourced down, certified by the Responsible Down Standard
- Machine washable
- 14-day return policy
Cons
- Price – not outrageous but definitely an investment
- Duck down vs goose (more on this later)
First impressions
When I pulled the Bonny doona out of its all-cotton packaging (bonus points for no plastic!), it fluffed up impressively fast. They say that it can take up to a week to fully plump up, but within a couple of days, my bed was giving serious hotel-bed energy – the kind we all try to recreate at home.
The vertical baffle box stitching (i.e. the puffy quilted lines that run from head to toe) made it easy to orient correctly, which means no more accidentally putting it on the bed sideways and realising only when your feet are cold in the middle of the night. The design also prevents the down inside from moving around, as is often the case with lower-quality duvets.
I tend to run warm, so I chose the all-rounder weight, but if you run cold, you might prefer the winter version.
What I liked
The Bonny doona passed the sleep test from night one, and I didn’t wake up once to throw it off in a sweaty huff. That might not sound like much, but to a sensitive sleeper like me, this is a pretty big deal. It had noticeable weight (which I like), but without making me feel overheated, or like I’m pinned underneath (both actual experiences I’ve had with other duvets). Some warmer doonas, especially wool ones, feel nice when you first get into bed, but end up feeling suffocating. The Bonny kept my temperature steady throughout the night, which is exactly what I was looking for.
It’s quiet
Thankfully, it also didn’t make a single sound. I’ve stayed in hotels where the duvet rustled so loudly it kept me up! But this one was completely silent – a small but extremely underrated fact, because when you notice the sound, you really notice.
It feels great
The Bonny is filled with 90% down, which is more than what some “premium” duvets offer at a similar (or even higher) price point. It has an 800 fill power, which gives it a pillowy feel and plenty of warmth, without the weight. And while goose down tends to be the top choice in the world of luxury bedding, in my opinion, a lot of that comes down to perception rather than performance. I didn’t notice a difference between this and my 15+ year old goose down duvet, and I found that this did the job just as well – at a lower price point. All the things I was told to worry about with duck down – a weird smell, clumping, how it felt – weren’t actually true. Importantly, the down is ethically sourced and certified under the Responsible Down Standard, meaning that the ducks weren’t harmed in the making of the doona.
It has a good return policy
I liked that Bonny offers a 14-day change of mind return policy, which isn’t very common with bedding in Australia. If you don’t like it, you can get your money back – no questions asked. Plus, the company will clean and donate the returned doona to someone in need.
What I didn’t like
Let’s talk about the price. At $549 for a queen doona, it’s definitely not outrageous for what you’re getting (especially when comparing with goose down!), but if you’re used to $120 doonas from IKEA, the price of the Bonny will feel like a leap. That said, it’s one of those leaps that pays off, especially if, like me, you prefer to use the same doona all year round. If you’ve already invested in a good mattress and high-quality sheets, this is the logical next step (not to mention, the one you’ll feel the most night after night.)
The verdict: it’s worth the hype
The Bonny doona delivers on its promises: it’s warm but never suffocating, soft with just the right amount of heft, and blissfully silent. It’s the closest I’ve come to feeling like I’m sleeping under a marshmallow. It’s now officially part of my bedding setup, joining a host of other perfectly curated items in my quest for a great night’s sleep.
If you’re someone who wakes up sweaty, kicks off the covers and readjusts your blanket fourteen times a night, the Bonny duvet is well worth considering. You’ll wake up feeling like you spent the night at a really good hotel, except you don’t have to check out.
Where to buy the Bonny doona
- All Rounder (Queen), $549
- Winter weight (Queen), $649
