Cooling Blanket Buying Guide
Many of us have issues getting a good night’s sleep, and often those issues are related to temperature.
Although the feeling of a heavy blanket can feel comforting, many top covers trap in heat and moisture leaving you in a sweaty mess.
This will cause you to wake up in the middle of the night throwing off the soaked through covers, only to wake an hour later chilled to the bone after the sweat has evaporated.
This is where a cooling blanket can help. Or take our quiz below to find the best comforter for you.
The Lightweight Alternative
Many people prefer the weight of a relatively heavy top layer on their bed. This visceral feeling has both physical and psychological origins, and some believe that a heavy top layer of bedding (such as a comforter, duvet or quilt) mimics the feeling of being inside the womb. Studies actually show that weighted blankets can be extremely effective when used as a tool for calming individuals with autism and sensory issues.
But for many sleepers these types of covers are just not practical. A lightweight alternative can be a much more comfortable option for people whose body temperature get too high during their sleep.
What to look for in a cooling blanket
When you are looking for a high quality cooling blanket, you must focus on a few key characteristics that affect temperature performance. This includes the fiber type, cooling technology, and weave or knit.
Fiber Type
The use of various materials in the creation of cooling blankets has created a diverse market of products, but it can also make it hard to know exactly what you are looking for. That’s why we have created these handy tables showing the pros and cons of using specific fibers in the manufacturing of cooling blankets.
Cotton Pros:
- The most common natural fiber
- Extremely breathable
- Soft
Cotton Cons:
- Not the easiest to care for
- Absorbent
- Can shrink and wrinkle with washes
Cotton is one of the most popular fibers in blankets due to its softness and breathability. If you decided to go with a cotton blanket, try to choose one that has a thread count in the 300 – 500 range which generally means the blanket will not trap in heat, and is made of higher quality fibers.
Wool Pros:
- A natural temperature regulator
- Great insulator
- Can be soft (despite popular belief)
- Can be breathable (despite popular belief)
- Not absorbent
- Durable
Wool Cons:
- Not always great on its own
- Can trap heat
- Washability can be difficult
- Can be heavy (depending on construction)
- More expensive
- Wool (lanolin) allergies aren’t uncommon
Wool blankets have always been popular, because their insulating capabilities can help bring extreme warmth. Many people don’t know that wool can also be very breathable and soft if knit or woven the right way.
Merino wool is known as the softest and highest quality and originally came from a breed of sheep in Spain. A big drawback can be price.
Synthetic Pros:
- A versatile addition
- Durable
- Good in blends with natural fibers
- Doesn’t retain moisture
- Great for moisture wicking
Synthetic Cons:
- Avoided by many
- Not breathable
- Environmental impact
- Not known for softness
There are many synthetic fibers used in the creation of blankets, but polyester and acrylic are the two most common. Polyester is used to create polar fleece which is a great insulator, but doesn’t regulate temperature very well. Polyester and other synthetic fibers are the most common materials used in moisture wicking fabrics.
Viscose Pros:
- Sensible choice
- Breathable
- Soft
- Cool to the touch
- Can infuse with Temp. Regulating Technology
- Hypo-allergenic
Viscose Cons:
- Low public familiarity
- Absorbent
Viscose is created when wood pulp is chemically processed to create an extremely uniform fiber that is soft, hypo-allergenic, and breathable. This puts viscose in a strange middle ground between natural and synthetic. The most commonly known type of viscose is Rayon, though there are many others on the market now, like Tencel.
Another type of Viscose that is gaining popularity, but hasn’t really shown any difference from the rest, is bamboo sourced Viscose. There is a lot of controversy surrounding bamboo, because of false marketing claims and mislabeled products.
Performance Cotton Comforter
Your new everyday comforter. Ideal for keeping your nights cooler, but still warm enough for cozy winters. With NASA-approved temperature regulating technology this is perfect for those want a blend of classic cotton with advanced fiberfill.
Technology
In the cooling bedding market there are really only two widely used technologies implemented to achieve heat reduction. These technologies each have their own qualities that make them unique in the use of bedding materials.
- Proactive
- Works through Thermal Conduction
- Multiple implementations
Temperature regulating technology implements a number of methods to help fabrics absorb and disperse heat to keep you from having to push and pull at the covers all night.
- Reactive
- Works through evaporation
- Fiber and weave/knit exclusive
Another popular technology employs the use of moisture wicking fabrics. These fabrics work by wicking moisture away from skin through the fabric itself, in order to evaporate more easily, thereby lowering body temperatures.
UltraCool Comforter
Introducing the UltraCool Comforter for a cool, comfortable sleep. Featuring cooling nylon/spandex and NASA-engineered fiberfill for year-round comfort. Comes in two-weights: Lightweight for the hottest sleepers and All-Season for those who prefer a little more weight.
Knit vs Weave
Most lightweight blankets are manufactured using fabrics constructed using a knit pattern. While there are many different knit patterns and weaves, these two categories have general characteristics that differ in substantial ways.
- Looping pattern
- Stretchy in all direction
- Very Breathable
- Many decorative patterns
- Parallel/perpendicular pattern
- Stretchy in only one direction (if at all)
- Less Breathable
- Less number of decorative patterns
Woven Throw Blanket
This cozy, ultra soft, woven throw blanket utilizes NASA-engineered temperature regulating fibers for ultimate comfort. The elegant mix of checkered, herringbone, and diamond patterns adds a touch of sophistication to your home décor.
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Every layer utilizes Outlast®, the world’s only textile temperature regulation technology to have received the Certified Space Technology™ quality mark by the renowned Space Foundation.
