Bamboo stays about 3 degrees cooler than cotton on average. It's breathable enough to allow your body heat to easily escape. You can also make your bedding even more breathable with a sleep hot solution like a cooling memory foam mattress. Learn more about how to stay cool at night with these tips to beat the heat.
Bamboo sheets are usually cooler than cotton because they're naturally breathable and wick moisture from your skin. Bamboo's structure allows for better air circulation, helping to regulate body temperature and keep you cooler. Cotton is also breathable but might not keep you as cool as bamboo will.
Recap: best sheets for hot sleepers
Bamboo sheets are breathable and will wick moisture away from your skin – best for hot sleepers in humid climates. Linen sheets are light and breathable – great for hot sleepers in dry heat. Cotton sheets are your versatile all-rounders – classics for a reason.
Cotton absorbs moisture, rather than wicking it away, because of this, it may not be the best choice if the temperatures are calling for high heat. Instead of absorbing the moisture, bamboo wicks it away, meaning it keeps the body temperature regulated and less sweaty.
Tips for Choosing the Right Cooling Sheets
In my experience, natural fibers like cotton and linen are the most breathable and tend to gently slope over the skin so that air can move underneath. Cotton is my preferred choice as it's softer and generally more affordable than linen.
What material is the best for cooling sheets? Generally, the best fabrics for host sleepers are cotton percale, linen and Tencel/lyocell, especially if they have added cooling technologies.
Use Cotton or Linen Bedding
This means that it lets the cool air pass through; this makes it comfortable and durable. It feels light on your skin and during summer it's the material that will keep you at your coolest. 100% linen bedding is possibly the best option when it comes to keeping cool on hot summer nights.
While it may be harder to come by, bamboo linen, also known as bast bamboo fiber, uses a chemical-free mechanical process that may appeal more to eco-conscious shoppers. However, the resulting fabric tends to be somewhat coarse and prone to wrinkling.
Like any other fabric, bamboo fabric has its drawbacks. Some notable disadvantage includes the potential for hazardous emissions, being prone to shrinkage, and high cost.
The natural fibers of bamboo possess excellent moisture-wicking properties, effectively absorbing and evaporating sweat away from the skin. This feature helps to keep the wearer feeling dry and comfortable, unlike cotton, which tends to retain moisture and can become heavy and uncomfortable when damp.
Yes, bamboo is a very breathable fabric. In most cases, you'll find that bamboo sheets keep you cooler throughout the night. Bamboo stays about 3 degrees cooler than cotton on average. It's breathable enough to allow your body heat to easily escape.
Linen is a popular choice and is quite breathable, whereas other materials have moisture-wicking and temperature-regulation properties. After sleeping on nearly every sheet there is for weeks, I've concluded that linen and cotton percale make some of the best cooling sheets.
Bamboo viscose fabric can absorb and evaporate sweat faster than cotton. This helps to keep the skin dry and cool, making it an ideal fabric for night sweats or kids that sleep hot.
Bamboo is a highly breathable fabric, making it ideal for athletes or activewear and athletic apparel. The hollow structure of bamboo fibers allows air to circulate more freely through the fabric, which helps to regulate body temperature by wicking away moisture and keeping you cool.
Because bamboo sheets are delicate and soft, it's advised that you air dry them, to avoid damaging the fibres and maintain elasticity and colour. However, it is possible to machine dry bamboo sheets, so long as you choose a low heat and remove your bedding from the dryer as soon as the cycle is finished.
Is bamboo cooler than cotton? Yes, bamboo sheets generally sleep cooler than cotton sheets due to their moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating properties, providing a comfortable sleeping environment, particularly in the hot Australian weather.
Bamboo's greatest weakness is its poor durability in its natural state. The material attracts insects and fungus, which cause decay, and untreated bamboo structures don't last more than a few years.
Additionally, the tight weave of bamboo fabric acts as a barrier against dust mites, ensuring they have less access to their favourite food - our dead skin cells.
Aesthetically speaking, bamboo bed sheets are generally more prone to wrinkling, & they lack the “crisp” sheet feeling. On the flip side, TENCEL™ is less prone to wrinkling and tends to have a lustrous and less matte look. TENCEL™ sheets are also notably softer and more drapey than bamboo.
A proposed class action lawsuit alleges LuxClub has falsely advertised its purportedly eco-friendly bamboo bed sheets in that the products are neither environmentally friendly nor contain bamboo by the time they're sold to consumers.
Percale cotton is lightweight and provides a lot of breathability for sleepers. Bamboo is already known for its moisture-wicking abilities, so combining it with this sheet style will provide you with a cooler sleep environment.
Ultimately, the thread count and weave you choose will depend on your personal preferences. If you prefer a silky feel and high thread count, Egyptian cotton sheets may be the way to go. But if you prefer a more breathable and moisture-wicking sheet, bamboo sheets might be the better choice for you.
Ultimately, the best non toxic bedding is anything made using natural, organic fabric like cotton and linen. Avoid using anything made of materials such as acrylic, nylon, or polyester that can contain plastic and other chemicals. These chemicals can absorb into your skin over time.
As with bedding sets, natural fibres such as wool and bamboo are a great choice for temperature-regulating duvets and pillows. They're naturally breathable with moisture wicking properties.
As a natural material, cotton fares better in the breathability and heat conductivity stakes. It's not that durable, however—cotton strands are only one cell thick, so they may not stand up to the long-term demands of summer sleeping.