#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Ratings > Mattress Type Comparison Unbiased Comparison, Analysis Based on 22,584 Owner Experiences 1. About 8% of people report that their mattress significantly and regularly retains heat and, consequently, sleeps hot. About another 12% say that their mattress sleeps warm but usually not to an uncomfortable degree. 2. Mattress heat retention often results in excessive sweating, restlessness and poor sleep quality. 3. Main factors that affect heat retention include mattress firmness, sleeper weight, mattress type, and comfort layer composition. 4. To combat heat for your current mattress, see temperature control. Due to the fact that a person sinks significantly into a softer mattress, air flow around the sleeper is thereby restricted often resulting in greater heat trap potential. By contrast, a person tends to sleep on top of a firm mattress thereby having greater air flow. However, highly conforming firmer mattresses, such as certain Tempur-Pedic models, have above-average heat trap potential due in part to their ability to strongly contour to the curves of a sleeper's body thereby restricting airflow between the mattress and the sleeper.
Heavier people tend to have greater potential for sleeping hot. This appears to be due to the fact that a heavy person sinks farther into the mattress where there is less airflow. It may also be due to the fact that a heavier person expends more energy when moving compared to a lighter person and this expenditure often creates more body heat. Nearly all mattress types can sleep hot, but some do so more than others. Keep in mind that the following chart represents what is often, but not always, the case. model or individual mattress may go against these findings somewhat. About 9% of memory foam mattress owners report sleeping hot to an uncomfortable extent. An additional 15% report their bed being warm but at most times not uncomfortably so. In other words, the clear majority of memory foam mattress owners report no heat problems. Keep in mind, however, that these numbers may be affected by the fact that memory foam is often known to sleep hot for some people.
As a result, people who are naturally hot sleepers may avoid buying a memory foam mattress in the first place – making the rate somewhat lower than it otherwise would be. Owner experience data suggests that main factors affecting memory foam heat retention – as discussed below – are foam density, foam composition, and cover material. Memory foam used in memory foam mattresses can have low to high density. Mattresses with high foam density tend to have at least two times the number of reports for bothersome heat retention than do mattresses with low foam density. This appears to be mainly due to high density foam having less open space to allow for air flow. (Learn more about how density affects memory foam mattress characteristics in the memory foam density comparison.) For how specific memory foam mattresses compare in density, see the memory foam mattress reviews - summary. Many memory foam mattresses use memory foam infused with millions of gel beads. This gel-infused foam is designed to sleep cooler longer than regular memory foam.
Owner experience data shows it to reduce heat-trap complaints significantly for all memory foam densities – by as much as 30%. Nevertheless, about 6% of gel memory foam bed owners still find gel-infused foam to sleep hot. Several memory foam mattresses use a moisture-wicking cover such as a Coolmax® or Outlast® fabric. The material is designed to let perspiration quickly evaporate allowing for cooler sleep. Owner experience data suggests that such a cover is often at least somewhat effective at reducing heat problems. Memory foam hybrid mattresses are spring-based mattresses with at least two inches of memory foam in the comfort layer. About 12% of owners report sleeping hot – a higher than average rate due likely due to the presence of the memory foam. An additional 20% report above average warmth but not to a bothersome extent most of the time. Latex mattresses are second only to memory foam / hybrid mattresses for having the most complaints regarding heat buildup.
Most complaints, however, are for all-latex beds as opposed to latex-hybrids. Airbeds with a three-inch or thicker comfort layer have nearly twice the likelihood of retaining heat to a bothersome extent than those models with a less-thick layer. Three-inch thick or thicker comfort layers in some cases consist partly or entirely of memory foam. Innerspring mattresses – especially medium to firm models without memory foam or latex – have relatively few heat-related complaints. Waterbeds do not have a significant sleeping hot issue because the water inside keeps the temperature down. In fact, if the beds do not have a heater to warm the water, there may be a sleeping cold issue especially in cooler climates and during winter months. Sleeping hot does not tend to be a noteworthy problem for futon mattresses. Models with memory foam likely sleep hotter than those models without. Sleep Train Education Center With so many different models and types of mattresses, shopping for one can seem confusing.
The Sleep Train Education Center is a great place to start. Here we address this confusion by educating shoppers on common questions about mattress construction and mattress types. Now you can shop with confidence. How to Shop For a New Mattress It's easy to be a smart shopper when you have the right information. Here are a few tips: Come Prepared: Dress comfortably, you will be testing many mattresses... Know what you’re buying: Mattress manufacturers use different model names to identify each mattress... More Mattress Education ResourcesFinding the right bed sheets and buying a mattress that works for you are important to a good night's sleep. However, sometimes a well-appointed bed is not quite restful enough. Enter: The mattress pad. Also called mattress toppers, these can range from a thin padded protective sheet to thicker slabs that are almost like a small mattress. Moreover, mattress pads are great for providing extra cushion to a firm mattress and they can often help guard against dust mites.
The style, thickness and size of a mattress pad will depend on your personal sleeping habits and your bed. But, if you're looking for one in the market, here are some very general things you should keep in mind.Cotton, latex and wool are commonly used for mattress pads. Cotton ones are usually thinner and quilted, but they are machine washable. Latex and wool pads are dust mite and mold-resistant, which makes them more durable than cotton. Almost counterintuitively, wool pads can work for the warmer months -- since they're absorbant, which helps keep you cool. However, natural latex will stand up to the test of time (20 years or more!) because it's derived from rubber trees.Another alternative to materials for mattress pads is memory foam, which molds to your body. Although it's lightweight and comes thicker than the other options, this option absorbs heat and can sometimes get too hot during the night. However, because of memory foam's thickness, some thicker pads can actually be a good alternative to buying a completely new mattress when you need one.
Good to know: If you're often hot when you sleep, the perfect temperature to sleep in is about 65 degrees. In that case, a wool or cotton pad will definitely be a better option than memory foam. Keep featherbeds in mind. These are extremely soft and great alternatives to mattress pads if you're looking for something that's more lightweight and soft. Filled with down, they're great at regulating body heat when you're sleeping, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. If you're looking for one, go for one with about 200 thread counts, which makes it more durable but still soft. Go for the extra features. If your mattress is not hypoallergenic, a mattress pad that is can make for a simple, affordable add-on. More recently, odor-eliminating mattress pads that act as a protective layer between you and your mattress have also hit the market. Flip through the slideshow below to see some of our picks for mattress pads in the marketplace now. And, let us know in comments below what are other important things that you look for in mattress pads and featherbeds.