Many mattress brands claim that they offer cool mattresses that can keep your body cool while you sleep. However, many mattresses that claim to have cooling technology do not live up to the expectations. Is it too good to be true?
It can certainly be frustrating when you buy a mattress in the hope that it will provide cooling relief, only to be disappointed that it doesn’t work. the good news is that there is Are A handful of beds that live up to their cooling claims. Read on to learn the ingredients you should look out for, red flags to avoid, and the best cooling mattresses I’ve seen so far.
The Truth About Cooling Mattresses
As a mattress tester, I’ve personally experienced over 100 different beds, and only a few of them have been able to last. Let’s say you have 10 mattresses in front of you. Six of these claim to be cooling, but only two will be effective in doing so.
However, this is not to say that the mattress brands that manufacture these beds are lying to you. While the wording is confusing, brands add materials to mattresses that help them regulate temperature better than traditional bedding. So, while they are not cooling, they do, in fact, sleep much cooler than your mom and dad’s bed when they were little. Unfortunately, temperature-regulating materials don’t quite work when you’re a hot sleeper.
best cooling material
phase change material
Beds like Cocoon Chill have phase-change materials that are surprisingly effective at absorbing your body heat and making you feel less hot. In my experience test beds, phase-change materials work better than cooling gels or foams filled with graphite (more on that below).
Exclusive Proprietary Content
Some of the beds that stand out the most are the ones in the Purple catalog – the Original Purple and the Purple Hybrid mattress. The brand came up with a revolutionary mattress material, which you have never seen before. The material resembles a jelly play toy or a Dr. Sholes insole. Paired with the purple grid design, it’s great at preventing heat retention and promoting airflow.
coolant cover
Beds like the Ghostbed Luxe have cooling fibers in the “Ghost Ice” fabric and cover, which makes the bed feel cool to the touch. It’s great technology (no pun intended), and a feature you don’t find on many mattresses. I have found these cooling beds to be incredibly effective and provide instant relief to help promote a more restful sleep environment.
Read more: best cooling toppers
temperature regulating material
I define temperature-regulating material as material that helps prevent the mattress from heating up but doesn’t actively cool you down. Often, if a bed has only one type of temperature-regulating material and no cooling cover, it will sleep temp-neutral.
infected foamSome mattresses, such as the Layla mattress, include foam filled with special materials that absorb heat from your body and disperse it throughout the bed. This often includes copper-infused, graphite-infused, or gel-infused foam.
Open-Cell Foam: Tuft and Needle and Casper mattresses are made from open-cell foam that contains tiny air bubbles. This allows for better airflow than dense memory foam, making it cooler than a traditional foam mattress.
perforated foam: Beds like the Avocado Green mattress are made of latex foam that has holes throughout the layer. The latex foam promotes increased airflow, preventing the bed from retaining heat and sleeping more temp-neutral than hot.
moisture wicking material: Pay special attention to the cooling cover made of “moisture-absorbing” material. While these help regulate temperature and wick away your sweat during the night, it won’t make the bed a truly cooling mattress.
Do Cooling Pillows and Toppers Work?
Yes and no The same logic behind cooling down a mattress also applies to pillows and toppers. There are many bedding products that claim to promote a cool feel, but you really need to keep an eye out for the specific ingredients that are mentioned above for a true cooling product. I’ve seen several cooling pillows that are effective, including the GhostPillow and Purple Harmony and some cooling toppers such as the GhostPillow or Temperpedic models. So, they’re out there — you just have to do some research to find the products that will really work for you.
Tips to Sleep Cooler at Night
In addition to a cooling mattress, topper, and pillow, there are other tips and tricks you can use to get a better night’s sleep (without buying anything).
- Freeze your pillowcases and sheets before going to bed. They won’t stay cold all night, but they’ll stay icy long enough for you to fall asleep.
- Stop heat at its source and use blackout curtains during the day to prevent your bedroom from getting too warm.
- Take advantage of fans and create cross-drafts in your bedroom.
- Use moisture-wicking pajamas that are lightweight so they wick away sweat and promote air flow.
- Remember that warm air rises — if you have a two-story home, try sleeping on the first floor.
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