Although mattresses come in all shapes, sizes and styles, one thing remains fairly consistent: Cool Sleeping technology.
With the introduction of Memory Foam and all of its touted benefits, one problem stood out with the new technology. The mattresses were hot. Heat would well up underneath the sleeper only to cause discomfort and disturb one’s sleep. As time passed, incremental changes were made to existing technologies and new technologies were researched. Today, we see the benefits of that research.
There are a variety of materials available now to savvy sleepers, either built into the mattress or as an accessory. Although the differing materials are called different names, they all add up to a more comfortable sleep. Let’s go over some of the newest types of cooling technology.
Cool Action™ Dual Effects® Gel Memory Foam from Serta
Serta has been using its cooling Gel Memory Foam for about 5 years now and it’s been very successful. While not as cool-to-the-touch as other, newer technologies, it does its work under the sheet and mattress surface. As body heat sinks into the foam, the gel beads work to push the heat out from underneath you and can give you a light, airy sleep surface. Available in the iSeries and iComfort lines and is one of the highest selling consumer mattresses in the world.
Outlast from PranaSleep
Outlast boasts that its material was “Tested in space and right here on earth” and has the distinction of being developed by NASA for their space suits. Tempur-Pedic’s Breeze line utilizes a spray that coats the outer sleep surface. PranaSleep uses it in a different way as it’s woven in with the top layer’s fabric. As seen in the diagram to the left, the Outlast material actually stores body heat AND distributes it away from the body, as needed. Indeed, it is a “smart” fabric that relies on your body to tell it what to do.
Dri-Tec from BedGear
Used in their mattress protectors and pillows, the Dri-Tec material performs in concert with other technologies to provide a ventilated, moisture wicking and airy product. The days of searching for the “cool side of the pillow” are over, as BedGear’s products cool from day one. It’s quite a wonderful product and is available at Gardner’s.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a natural way to get that cool feel and is usually found in sheets. A Bamboo sheet set is well ventilated and durable. Many people have come to prefer Bamboo sheets over cotton due to the similarities in feel, with the added benefits of temperature control. Our Bamboo DreamFit sheets are a popular seller, as they should be– they’re fantastic!
Cotton & Wool
Keeping with the natural material concept, some mattress companies use cotton and wool on the top mattress surface for cooling and moisture control. Cotton gives the traditional, soft feel and wool actually works in the same fashion as other cooling materials. Great for temperature control and all natural, these two materials have been around for thousands of years for a reason. They just feel right.
Tencel
Tencel is another natural fiber. It is derived from the Eucalyptus tree and is ground down to a pulp and converted into a thread. Textiles of tencel are more absorbent than cotton, softer than silk and cooler than linen. You may have heard of Tencel as it’s traditionally found in finer women’s garments. In the past few years, however, it has made its way into the mattress world. It can be found in Serta’s “Profiles” and “Directions” lines and in our popular Tencel Sheet set from Malouf.
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At the end of the day, you may need a lot of help controlling your temperature or just a little. Even if you don’t sleep warm at all, these materials can help you feel more comfortable in bed and promote a great night’s sleep. If you have questions, or would like to feel samples of any of the materials listed in this post, feel free to stop by and talk with one of our Sleep Consultants. We’re here to help you wake up happy and pain free, and have been doing so for the past 25 years!
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