No matter what they are filled with, comforters provide more warmth with less weight than most blankets. Here are your options.

Silk

Silk naturally adjusts to your body's temperature, so a silk comforter is good all year long. Like down, raw silk is lightweight, but it has less loft, so it looks more sleek on the bed. Silk comforter, $225 for double/queen, Garnet Hill, 800-622-6216.

Cotton

You get more weight and less insulation, which makes it right for people who tend to get warm during the night and who like something heavy on top of them, whatever the weather outside. Comforter made of untreated natural-cotton batting covered in 260-thread-count natural cotton, $149 for full/queen, Gaiam, www.gaiam.com.

Synthetic Down

If you're allergic to down but want the feel of it, there are several alternatives. At its best, a synthetic-down comforter is comparable to a 550-fill-power down one. Primaloft comforter in warm, $135 for queen, Lands' End, www.landsend.com.

Wool

Wool has temperature-regulating properties that keep you warm on winter nights and cool when the temperature rises in the spring. Organic-wool comforter, $289 for full/queen, Gaiam, www.gaiam.com.

Goose Down

Choose one with a fill power of 550 or higher and a cotton shell with a thread count of at least 230. The higher the fill number is (it ranges from 450 to 800), the loftier, softer, and warmer the comforter. A high thread count ensures the down won't escape through the shell. To avoid late-night tussles with your sleeping partner, your comforter should be at least 18 inches wider than the bed. La Crosse medium-warmth down comforter, $98 for queen, the Company Store, www.thecompanystore.com.