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. 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 ResourcesSleeping hot is becoming a growing concern among mattress shoppers. I think this is in large part because more mattresses on the market are incorporating foam into their construction. Most inner spring systems nowadays have a layer of foam for comfort. There’s no doubt that memory foam is one of the best materials for pressure relief which is why it is everywhere. However the drawback is that it also functions as an insulator. There’s a reason that spray foam insulation is being used in houses. So, what are your options for a good mattress for hot sleepers? I created the list below of some great mattresses for hot sleepers. Hands down the Purple mattress is the best mattress for addressing heat retention.
That’s because the Purple grid allows body heat to pass right through it. This mattress is a little on firmer end of the spectrum and in my opinion is best for back or stomach sleepers. Side sleepers should look for more contouring mattress. To get the most out of your purple mattress, it’s best to buy a purple mattress protector and either purple sheets or stretchy sheets like Sheex or Bedgear sheets. The base layer of the Purple mattress is made of foam but the contouring and pressure relief comes from the purple grid. Get the full Purple Mattress Review. The Active X mattress from Nest Bedding gives you a classic memory foam feel with some of the most advanced cooling technology available. Nest has a reputation for constantly improving upon their existing models and bringing new mattresses to market that help fill a need. The Active X mattress is the best mattress for pressure relief and sleeping cool. Because it has dense foam, it will sleep warmer than the Purple but if your primary concern is pressure relief, and you also tend to sleep hot, this is the mattress for you.
The mattress will feel firm at first then slowly start cradling you. The foam is not as responsive as many of the other online mattress brands but the trade off is excellent pressure relief. Get the full Active X Review A traditional inner spring mattress will almost always sleep cooler than a memory foam mattress. That’s because the coils create space for the mattress to breathe. But, once you get the feel for foam, it’s hard to go back to an inner spring. The Winkbed gives you all the benefits of a spring mattress along with the contouring and coziness that foam provides. Their top layer of very light foam is very responsive and breathable. The cover is made of Tencel fiber which is more breathable than cotton. This mattress is also on the firmer end of the spectrum but offers excellent lumbar support. Get the full Winkbed Review Brentwood home is a vertically integrated mattress company. They own the factory where they make there mattresses which allows them to create luxury mattresses at extremely competitive prices.