7 Cool Products for Hot Sleepers
These top performers from our tests will keep you from waking up in a sweat
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Contrary to popular belief, gels and fancy fabrics do not necessarily provide a cooler sleep experience. Over the years, our technicians have tested more than 250 mattresses and mattress toppers, plus scores of pillows and sheets. And they’ve often found that products marketed as “cooling” don’t control temperatures any better than others, and they most certainly don’t guarantee a good night’s rest. Most of these products merely feel cool to the touch at first contact—only to warm up due to your body heat with every passing minute.
What actually keeps hot sleepers comfortable? Products that either actively change the temperature in your bed or bedroom—or, at the very least, those that won’t hinder airflow. Here are your best options, according to our tests. (Prices listed for the mattress, mattress pad, sheets, and duvet refer to queen-size options.)
All fans, by definition, promote air circulation, so they’re a smart purchase for hot sleepers. They generate a breeze that whisks away not only sweat but also the warm air that immediately surrounds us due to body heat. The MinkaAire is especially good at it, according to our tests. What’s more, it whirs quietly, on both high and low speeds, so it won’t keep you up at night.
For more options, see our article on the best ceiling fans.
If your home gets very hot and humid during the year, you probably already have an air conditioner—after all, a fan just won’t cool you when the mercury exceeds 98.6° F (body temperature). But if you need more localized cooling (because, say, you’re a hot sleeper and your partner isn’t), a portable air conditioner may do the trick. The Midea at the top of our portable AC ratings cools the room quickly, at least for a portable model; and our tests show it’s extremely capable at running under extreme heat and low voltage. While it can be somewhat noisy at high settings, it’s quiet when you turn the speed down.
For more options, see our article on the best portable ACs.
Mattress makers continue to come up with new ways to keep sleepers cool. But a more wallet-friendly option may be to choose one made with inherently more-breathable materials, such as coils and natural fibers. Among the models we tested that retained the least amount of heat in our labs is the Parachute Eco Comfort.
Combining two layers of coils with layers of natural-fiber padding and a cotton cover, it offers terrific support for all sleep positions and sizes, but especially for those who like dozing off on their back. (For a much more affordable—and only slightly less cooling—option, check out the Denver Mattress Doctor’s Choice Plush.)
For more options, see our article on the best mattresses for hot sleepers.
Chilipad Cube Sleep System
No gel shenanigans in this topper. The Chilipad actively cools (and, for those who are always cold, actively heats) your mattress by sending cold or warm water via a network of flat tubes from a reservoir that sits near your bed, or under it if your bed has the 8-inch clearance. You can program it to pre-cool your bed via a remote so that it’s nice and frosty by bedtime. In addition to king, California king, and queen sizes, it also comes in half-queen and half-king sizes so that you and your sleep partner can customize your own side of the bed.
For more options, see our article on the best cooling mattress toppers.
For sheets that won’t leave you in a sweat at night, choose those constructed from natural fibers. According to our tests, the L.L.Bean Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set—made with 100-percent long-staple Supima—fits well, won’t tear easily, and isn’t likely to shrink (though, as expected with many cotton fabrics, it can be prone to wrinkling). This set is among the more moderately priced options in our ratings, and it’s offered in an array of soothing pastel colors.
For more on bedsheets, see our article on the best sheets.
Whether you sleep hot or not, it’s always nice to rest your head on the cool side of the pillow. This Sleep Number pillow lets you do just that—and keeps sweat at bay throughout the night too. In our tests, it landed a top-notch score for breathability, while also providing excellent support for back and side sleepers. We especially like that it’s composed of three removable layers, so you can adjust the height to whatever feels comfortable to you.
For more on pillows, see our article on the best pillows.
Buffy Cloud Comforter
Even hot sleepers deserve something to snuggle in. That’s where the right duvet, like the Buffy Cloud Comforter, comes in. Although the filling consists of polyester (made from recycled plastic bottles), it’s layered uniformly into a breathable shell as opposed to stuffed into stitched boxes, so there’s no clumping, and the temperature feels consistent throughout. Our staffer, who tried it at home, described it as “the cuddliest thing I’ve ever slept with on my bed.”
For more on duvets, see our article on the best duvets.
Exclusive Offer: CR Digital and All Access members shopping at Buffy can get this duvet for $146.25 with the code SLEEPWEEKCLOUD25.
