If you sleep hot but love the feel of an all-foam bed, some elements to look for are ventilated foam, foam infused with gel or copper (which can help break up heat retention), and covers woven with breathable fibers or phase change materials.
A hybrid mattress combines the best of both worlds by using a coil support system under a foam, latex, or polyfoam comfort top. Hybrid mattresses tend to retain less heat than all-foam mattresses because they have a layer or two of springs to help dissipate heat.
Linen is a popular choice and is quite breathable, whereas other materials have moisture-wicking and temperature-regulation properties.
Generally, you'll also find that spring mattresses are a better option than memory foam mattresses for managing body temperature because they're less dense and allow for more airflow.
Hybrid mattresses and innerspring mattresses tend to sleep the coolest at night because they contain pocketed coils or springs, which allows air to flow more freely.
Linen: Linen has a soft and comfortable feel, making it the best sheet fabric for hot sleepers. As cool as a cucumber, linen bedsheets boast exceptional moisture absorption abilities, making them an ideal choice for those who tend to overheat during the night.
Natural fibers like cotton and linen reign supreme in hot weather because they are masters of breathability. These environmentally friendly fibers allow air to circulate freely, which helps to release trapped heat and maintain a cool feeling against the skin.
Cotton percale, linen, and bamboo are all great choices. Cotton percale is light and crisp, linen allows for excellent airflow, and bamboo is soft and regulates temperature well, especially in humid conditions. These materials can help hot sleepers stay cool and comfortable.
Memory foam mattresses provide a marshmallowy feel that hugs your body. While this level of contouring is great for pressure relief, it often leaves sleepers feeling hot since the material retains heat.
Cooling mattress pads made of materials like cotton, silk, and wool are noteworthy for being highly breathable. That's one reason why we selected the Birch Organic Mattress Pad for this list. It's made entirely of cotton fibers for maximum breathability.
Hotels often use hybrid mattresses that combine foam and coils because they support all body types and are longer-lasting. High-end hotels typically furnish their rooms with pillow-top mattresses that add an extra layer of comfort and luxury.
Your bedding can add an extra layer between your mattress and your body to keep both parties cool. Choosing breathable mattress covers, sheets, blankets, pillows, and even cooling mattress pads and toppers can help you get a better night of sleep.
Foam mattresses offer a cuddling feel as well as high stabilization scores, which means you're less likely to wake up your partner when you shift positions. Like the foam or fiber layers in innerspring mattresses, all-foam mattresses provide pressure relief for a side sleeper's shoulders and hips.
The material in a memory foam mattress can actually make you heat up, leaving you feeling sweaty and increasingly uncomfortable. If you own a memory foam mattress and are concerned about what to do, then we've got some tips to help you keep cool at night.
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.
If you are a hot sleeper, Egyptian cotton, Pima cotton, bamboo, linen, and Percale cotton are some of the best cooling sheets for a duvet cover, pillowcases, fitted sheet or flat sheet. These materials aid body temperature regulation. Let's take a look at these cooling bedding materials in greater detail.
If you sleep with a foot hanging out of bed, or are often hot at night, you're a prime candidate for the cool and crisp percale weave. Sateen on the other hand, uses a three over (or more) and one under weave (see image) which traps more heat, making it an excellent choice for cooler seasons or cold sleepers.
Fabrics to avoid in hot weather
As a general rule, we recommend you stay away from synthetic fabrics like polyester, acrylic, and nylon in hot and humid weather conditions since these materials tend to trap odors and bacteria.
Researchers have discovered that tantalum carbide and hafnium carbide materials can withstand scorching temperatures of nearly 4000 degrees Celsius. In particular, the team from Imperial College London discovered that the melting point of hafnium carbide is the highest ever recorded for a material.
When selecting bed sheets for summer, stick to lightweight, breathable fabrics and natural fibres. This will help regulate your temperature and keep you cool overnight, drawing heat away from your body. Materials such as cotton, linen, and bamboo are perfect for this, and all have their own unique benefits.