Cooling sheets are largely determined by the type of material used. Natural materials tend to be cooler than synthetic materials due to their open cell structure which allows free flow of air. Some commonly used cooling sheet materials include:
Bamboo:
Fabrics made from Bamboo fibers are super soft, smooth, and cool. Bamboo is softer and 40% cooler than cotton fabrics because of its moisture-wicking abilities. Apart from this, bamboo fabrics are hypoallergenic, eco-friendly, and highly durable. Making bamboo one of the best if not the best cooling sheet material.
Tencel:
Tencel is a patented fabric from Lenzing, made from lyocell and modal cellulosic fibers of the bamboo tree. It is softer than cotton and more moisture-wicking than bamboo. It’s a great cooling material preferable for people who live in warm climate zones.
This is because it cannot regulate temperature. This recyclable and eco-friendly material works well as a cooling sheet. Albeit more expensive than the rest of the fabrics listed here.
Cotton:
Cotton has been used to make bed sheets for centuries. Its open-cell structure makes it a very breathable material. In addition to this, cotton has great moisture-wicking abilities.
It absorbs excess moisture and dissipates it. These characteristics make cotton a good cooling material. Though not as cool as Tencel or Bamboo.
Cotton is also soft to touch, it stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Silk:
Silk is not a cooling material though some manufacturers tote it as so. Silk is just cool to touch but quickly traps heat as one sleeps. Avoid silk cooling sheets if you can.
Micro-Fiber:
Micro-fiber is a manmade fiber that is thinner than a strand of hair. This fiber has a lot of applications including making clothing or bedding materials.
The silky feel of this fabric makes it comfortable on the skin and its moisture-wicking abilities help keep you dry at night. If you suffer regular night sweats and are on a tight budget, you can go for micro fiber sheets.
However, keep in mind that synthetic materials tend to warm up as you lie on them and that can be a problem if you usually sleep hot.