Build the ultimate cooling bed with these products

If you've ever tossed and turned all night in attempt to find the cold side of the pillow to no avail, or woken from sleep drenched in sweat thanks to the endless (heat of) summer, this cooling bed guide is for you.

I am one of the hottest sleepers there is, and I've tried a lot of products in search of a comfortable night's sleep. While some have been duds, others are absolutely worth the hype. I'm here to tell you which products actually deserve your attention.

"In my experience, a cool bedroom is a curated system, not a single product," says Dr. Jessica Meers, a licensed clinical psychologist, diplomate in behavioral sleep medicine (DBSM), and the founder of Rhythm Wellness, where she specializes in insomnia treatment and sleep health. Your ideal sleep set up needs to work together for it to work, just one item might not do it.

Let's build a bed for cooler sleep from the ground up, starting with the best cooling mattress and ending with cooling accessories that turn your bed into an oasis to survive this hot summer.

Quick checklist: how to make your bed cooler tonight

Just because a product says "cooling" doesn't mean it actually takes the heat out of your night's rest.

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"Some people assume that just because a product says "cooling" on the packaging, they will have a noticeable cooler nights sleep," says Guillaume Drew, a textile and bedding expert at Or & Zon. "While many cooling features may provide a cool-to-the-skin feeling while lying down initially, the key feature that determines whether a mattress will be cooler is how well it allows for heat dissipation throughout the night."

To make your sleep set-up cooler now, this is what you need to do:

· Set your budget: A cooling bed system can quickly get expensive, and your budget may determine.

· Start with the easiest fix and work your way up: Start with affordable cooling sheets and a pillow and see if that helps you sleep cooler. If you're still up tossing and turning, try more expensive options like a new mattress or topper.

· Choose breathable materials: Look for natural fibers such as cotton, linen, bamboo-derived fabrics, or wool, which generally allow for better airflow and moisture management than synthetic alternatives.

· Swap out heavy bedding: Thick comforters or duvets and dense mattress protectors can trap heat. Consider using a lightweight comforter or cooling blanket during warmer months.

· Improve airflow in the bedroom: Bedding can't fix a stuffy room. A fan, open window or lower thermostat setting can help heat dissipate more effectively and support the cooling features of your bedding.

· Check your mattress: If your mattress is more than seven to 10 years old or consistently traps heat, it may be time to consider replacing it with a model designed for better airflow and temperature regulation.

· Remember that everyone sleeps differently: Your body temperature, sleep position, climate and bedding preferences all play a role in how cool you feel at night, so what works for one person may not work for another. Don't forget to include your partner in your hunt for a cooler sleep set up, as they may also have preferences to consider.

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What makes a bed sleep cooler

"A cooling mattress is done in one of two ways - passive regulation or active cooling," says Jason Wingate, a founder and product developer of Zlumber, best selling sleep tech brand. Passive cooling is exactly that; it's a design that allows air to flow through the mattress and stop heat from getting trapped. For example, "coils and open-cell foam do this well," he adds.

Active cooling uses more advanced technology to cool the bed, such as the use of a ventilation system or built-in tubes with water or forced air to change the bed's temperature. Although more expensive, these systems are effective at actually keeping you cool at night.

"Another [way a bed cools] would be materials that are heat conductive," says Wingate. "While this sounds counterintuitive, it's not." A foam mattress is infused with a material such as graphite or copper to absorb your body heat and pull it away from you. Hybrid beds have coils that all air to move instead of getting trapped.

Start with the foundation: the best cooling mattresses

Every bed begins with the mattress, which is the best place to start when designing your ideal sleep set up. But, there are things to look out for.

"A cooling mattress is designed to keep heat from building up around your body while you sleep," says Dr. Angela Holliday Bell, board certified physician, Certified Sleep Specialist and founder of the Solution is Sleep LLC. "Mattresses with coils, breathable covers and lighter, more open materials usually allow more airflow, which can help you feel less hot overnight."

Many types of mattresses can be cooling, but some perform better than others. "For hot sleepers, hybrid and innerspring mattresses are often good choices because the coils allow more air to move through the mattress," says Bell. Latex and foam can offer cooler sleep, but do your research before buying. "If you prefer a foam mattress, I recommend looking for one with breathable layers and avoiding very thick foam that makes you sink deeply into the bed," she says.

Gels might be the easiest mistake shoppers can make when it comes to choosing a new mattress. "Many mattresses claim to have 'gel-infused foams.' but for the most part - it's over-hyped at best, and a marketing gimmick at worst," says Wingate. "It is cool to touch for the first 10 minutes when you're in the store. But it soon reaches the same temperature as your body, and even worse - could potentially trap heat."

The type of mattress matters, and hybrid mattress designs with breathable coil systems are top tier when it comes to cooling, but not the only option. Foam can be cooling, but it depends on the type. "Natural latex is one of the top choices for hot sleepers because it's naturally open celled and aerated, says Wingate. "In short, it doesn't retain body heat the way other foams may."

What to look for:

· Hybrid mattresses with coils that allow for airflow

· Natural latex mattresses over gel mattresses

· Thermal tech like copper infusions or phase change covers

· Breathable fabrics like cotton, Tencel or bamboo

Some cooling mattresses to consider:

· Saatva Classic mattress

· Amerisleep AS3 Hybrid

· Casper Snow or Snow Max

· Cocoon Chill by Sealy

Cooling mattress toppers to upgrade your current mattress

If your have a lower budget or have a newer mattress, a mattress topper might be the first thing you try. Similar to mattresses, the best type of cooling mattress topper is made from material that draws or absorbs heat away from your body.

Some mattress toppers feature active cooling technology, which moves air or water around your mattress to transfer heat out and prevent it from getting stuck.

What to look for:

· Phase change material (PCM)

· Copper or graphite infusion

· Natural latex over gel infusions

· Active cooling systems, like Orion or Chilipad

Mattress toppers to try:

· Orion Sleep System

· Chilipad water based mattress topper

· Mattress topper by Tuft & Needle

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Cooling pillows to stop heat buildup at your head and neck

One of the more affordable options that made a real difference for my sleep set-up was swapping my cheap pillows for quality cooling pillows; I was constantly flipping my pillow over in an endless search of the the coldest side. Your head and neck are major sources of heat retention, and cooling pillows are designed to pull that heat away so that it doesn't get trapped.

Materials like gel-infused foam, ventilated or shredded fill, and matching cooling pillow cases are what you should look for, as these features improve airflow and slow down heat build up.

I'm a side sleeper so the pillows I have tried also benefit my sleep style, but these brands also have pillows for other sleep styles. Here are a few of my favorite cooling pillows:

· Scrumptious Side Sleeper Pillow by Honeydew

· Eli & Elm Cooling Side Sleeper Pillow

· QUTOOL Cooling Pillow for Sleeping

Cooling sheets that actually keep you from overheating

Your bedding choice might be the reason why you can't keep cool at night. This quick fix could be the change you need, it was for me. I tested a few different cooling sheets, like Honeydew Sleep Sheets, and loved the comfortable weight that kept us cool all night.

"Sometimes sleeping cool is as simple as choosing lightweight natural fiber, breathable bedding," says Kendra Cosenza a brand manager at Mulberry Park Silks, a luxury bedding company. "While cotton is a natural fiber, it is quite absorbent (think cotton towel) leading to a clammy, wet environment upon waking."

Some of the most common fabrics used for bedding might be doing you more harm than good.  "Synthetic comforters, polyester sheets (yes, most satin fabric is made of petroleum based fibers known as polyester) can trap heat and prevent proper air flow, leading to overheating and night sweats," Cosenza says.

"Bedding weight is also a contributing factor," says Cosenza. Lightweight covers and tops sheets are a quick fix for hot sleepers.

What to look for instead:

· Linen, because it has the best airflow and moisture release

· Cotton percale with its crisp and breathable qualities

· Bamboo for its moisture-wicking fabric and super soft feel

Some cooling products to consider:

· Honeydew Sleep Sheets

· Harbor House Living - Cooling Stretch Jersey Sheet Set

· Organic Cotton Sheets from Lull

· Luxome Luxury Sheet bamboo set

Cooling bedding extras that make a big difference

Other quick fixes to make your sleep set up better at beating the heat include:

· Cooling mattress protectors

· Lightweight blankets, or even a fuzzy one like Cocoon

· Cooling comforters, like a Harbor House Living - Cooling Reversible Tencel Comforter Blanket

· Silk pillowcases, like those from Honeydew Sleep

The best cooling bed setups for every budget

"My favorite cooling products are actually lightweight 100% cotton percale sheets, a breathable mattress protector, and a lightweight 100% cotton blanket or coverlet because cotton is breathable, helps move moisture away from the skin, and feels more comfortable throughout the night without trapping as much heat," says Bell. These products come at nearly every range of budget, so choose the ones that are the best fit for you.

Have a budget in mind? You can still build the best cooling bed set up to make your night sleep less sweaty. Here are some options for lower, mid and high budget cooling bed set ups:

Budget	Products to focus on
Lower	Cooling mattress topper, percale sheets, basic cooling pillow
Middle	Hybrid mattress, bamboo sheets, gel pillows
High	Smart cooling mattress pad, linen sheets, hybrid mattress

 

Frequently asked questions

Do cooling mattresses actually work?

It depends on the core problem you're experiencing. If your room is cool enough and your bed the problem, then a true cooling mattress can make a drastic difference.

"The design of a well-made cooling mattress provides better airflow and reduces heat retention making it easier for the body to control its temperature throughout the night; however, it does not actively cool the room nor will it mitigate warmer room temperatures," says Drew.

Are bamboo sheets cooler than cotton?

Bamboo derived fabrics might feel soft and are capable of absorbing moisture, it doesn't always make it best choice for hot sleepers. "There are many bamboo fabrics that can be just as soft as cotton but less breathable," says Drew. "High quality long staple cotton percale sheets are generally considered to be crisper and breathe better than many of the bamboo fabrics."

Is a topper enough, or do you need a new mattress?

Sometimes, a topper can be enough to move the needle. But that isn't always the case. If your mattress is older and needs to be replaced, then a topper may not be enough to make your current mattress more comfortable.