Why cooling sheets are the best thing you'll buy all summer

Linen is widely regarded as one of the best fabrics for cool sleep: It's natural, it's breathable, and because it facilitates airflow, it's a great option for sweaty sleepers and people who are prone to body breakouts.

If you're choosing between linen and cotton, you'll want to keep a few key differences in mind. High-quality linen will likely get softer and more comfortable with each wash, but may feel slightly stiff out of the box, while cotton will probably be softer from the get-go. (Also, cotton percale tends to be crisper than cotton sateen.) 

High-quality linen sheets will be more expensive than cotton, generally speaking, but you'll see value in their longevity and how gracefully they age. (Like a fine wine, some would say.) 

These sheets from Brooklinen start at $259 for a full-size set, which is admittedly pricey, but reviewers report that the sheets are ultra-comfortable and soften up nicely with use. They also come in a wide array of soft, dreamy, and (sorry) Instagram-friendly colors, including a delicate petal pink and a deep, velvety shade of (limited edition!) green.

"If you miss the cool crisp sheets you had at your Grandma's house growing up, these are for you. After purchasing several other brands and returning all of them I decided to do the research. Percale is what I was looking for."

A good-quality cotton percale will provide a cool, crisp sleeping experience — they're the kind of sheets that will get you really into folding perfect corners. This set from Trident seems to deliver the goods for a relatively low price. In fact, considering their cost, they're exceptionally well reviewed. Here's an excerpt from one review:

When selecting cotton percale sheets, keep in mind that "higher thread count" doesn't necessarily mean "better" — especially if your top priority is staying cool. In fact, the optimal thread count range for cotton percale is no lower than 200 and no higher than 500, according to Wirecutter as well as Apartment Therapy. This sheet set, at 300, falls neatly within that range.

Those looking for a more luxurious cotton percale should consider the Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set, which also appears on this list. If you're searching in a lower price range, though, the Trident sheets are a reliable budget pick.

This cotton percale sheet set from Brooklinen is a little fancier and more durable than the Trident option on this list. The two are similar in thread count — the Brooklinen set is 270 and the Trident is 300 — but the Brooklinen set is made of long-staple cotton, which is generally softer and more long-lasting than the more basic short-staple version. 

These particular sheets are a favorite of SleepFoundation.org founder and certified sleep science coach Bill Fish, who has been using them for over a year. "I find them incredible," he told Mashable in an email. "The cotton keeps me cool, and they frankly don’t feel too thick."

Another tiny bonus: The sides are labeled "long" and "short," which will make putting the sheets on your bed (which is difficult, please don't @ us) a bit easier.

Like the Brooklinen linen sheet set, this set comes in a wide array of pleasant, soft colors. Several good prints are also available, including  a muted grid pattern and cheery green polka dots.

The Classic Core set does appear to go out of stock more often than the linen set, though, so if you see a color you like be sure to scoop it up fast. If it's your first time buying from Brooklinen, you'll also get 10% off your order. Never a bad thing!

Sleep Number's cooling sheet set is made primarily of cotton sateen, a silkier-feeling cotton with a slightly different weave than percale. In general, sateen is softer, shinier, and less likely to wrinkle than percale, but it also tends to be heavier — making many cotton sateen options more suited to cold rooms.

However, this particular set also includes 37.5 cooling polyester, a moisture-wicking fabric that's used frequently in athletic clothing and bedding, including the popular Buffy comforter. It's named after the body's "optimal core temperature" (though that's really more of a range) and is designed to pull moisture from the body, then release it away from the fabric.

Sheets that use 37.5 technology aren't universally well-reviewed — some people prefer the natural breathability of 100% cotton and linen — but reviewers praise this set for its long-lasting coolness and ability to maintain its color, even after lots of washes. The sheets are also a little stretchy, thanks to a tiny bit of Spandex, so keep that in mind. (It can make it easier to get that fitted sheet on board!)

Note: These sheets are not available in full size, so we've included the price of a queen set here, a size which should still accommodate a full bed.

First thing's first: What is Tencel? Tencel is a type of lyocell, which is a type of rayon. It's made from wood pulp in a closed-loop system, which refers to, according to the sustainable fashion publication Common Objective, "one in which products are designed, manufactured, used and handled so as to circulate within society for as long as possible, with maximum usability, minimum adverse environmental impacts, minimum waste generation, and with the most efficient use of water, energy and other resources throughout their lifecycles." This makes it a particularly sound choice for those looking to minimize their environmental impact, especially because not all rayon is equally environmentally friendly.

These Tencel sheets from Nest Bedding are also moisture-wicking, which means you're less likely to wake up sweating. (The company recommends them specifically for "people who tend to sleep hot.") Reviewers like them for their exceptional softness and lightweight feel, though quite a few people also noted that they're prone to wrinkling — be sure to take them out of the dryer fast if wrinkled sheets bother you.

The color options here, while all lovely, are limited: white, gray ("slate"), and beige ("sandstone"). If you want something more vivid, you may prefer the Brooklinen options on this list.

This sheet set from Slumber Cloud is named after the stratus cloud, which resembles a thin blanket in the sky. Almost like ... a sheet? Anyway, these sheets will not rain or snow on you (thank goodness!), but they do provide a notably soft and weightless sleep experience. 

They're made with both cotton and Outlast fiber, the latter of which is a phase change material originally developed for NASA. It works not by wicking moisture as 37.5 does, but instead by absorbing heat, which then cools the fabric around it. (The Outlast website compares it to ice in a glass of water, which we found to be a useful image.)

The Stratus sheets have been an internet favorite since they were released, with endorsements from The Sleep Judge, The Strategist, Good Housekeeping, and more. More importantly, though, dozens of reviewers attest to their softness (even with lots of washing) and cooling powers — though some reviewers say they feel slightly less cool to the touch than they expected.

One small downside: The Stratus sheets come in a limited range of colors. If you like blue, white, and gray, though, you're all set.

If there is such a thing as a "trendy" set of sheets, the Buffy Eucalyptus sheets fit the bill. (Perhaps you, like us, have been served ads for them on Instagram.) Luckily, these sheets live up to the hype — they're silky, soft, and extremely gentle on sensitive skin.

Like the brand's hallmark comforter (which we loved, by the way), Buffy's sheets are sewn with recycled thread and made of 100% eucalyptus fabric. Like Tencel, this is also a type of lyocell. This means they're very breathable, notably soft — not crisp like cotton percale nor textured like linen — and especially silky to the touch. The sheets' dye is also all natural.

Buffy also has a refreshingly eco-conscious return policy. The company offers a seven-day trial period for their sheets, so you can give them a whirl before you commit. If you decide that you don't like them, you won't need to send the sheets back to Buffy. Instead, Buffy encourages customers to donate their sheets (and yes, they'll still refund you). 

In the future, they hope to repurpose returned materials. "Our roadmap to a closed loop supply chain includes plans for a return take back program that will allow us to turn worn Buffy products into new, comfy essentials," reads a notice on their website.