Do you often wake up hot, sticky, or sweaty, especially in the hot summer months? If you're desperate to find balanced comfort and achieve deeper sleep patterns because you overheat most nights, then your mattress could be contributing to this unwanted issue. With the surplus of mattress types and styles to shop for in today's progressive mattress marketplace, the sky is the limit when it comes to your options to help manage the issue of becoming overheated at night.

Suppose you're constantly waking up because you're feeling too hot to sleep on your current mattress. In that case, your mattress is likely trapping excess body heat. It may even be the culprit of unnecessary overheating, sweating, and unwanted sleep disruptions. If you feel hot, sticky, or sweaty due to what feels like humidity, the mattress may also be failing to wick away moisture effectively.

With these undesirable symptoms, not conducive to getting a good night's sleep, you'll find yourself in a "world of heat," leaving you struggling to sleep well due to an imbalanced sleep environment and an uncomfortable sleeping climate.

So, what's next? Specific types of cooling mattresses are indeed effective and work well, making them a good starting point to consider.

Are you just beginning to research mattresses because you're tired of sleeping hot and waking up throughout the night? Or are you currently filtering through different types, styles, and mattress cooling technologies? Have you yet stumbled upon The Purple Hybrid GelFlex Grid? 

Perhaps not, if you're just starting to explore breathable and cooling mattress styles and technologies. Still, you may come to find that differentiating between various types of gel, cooling, and temperature-balancing features can become more challenging than you initially thought.

While various mattress cooling technologies offer relatively comparable advantages, each type of cooling or temperature-balancing mattress technology, such as gel-infused foam and phase-change infused material, addresses excess body heat and moisture, like sweat, in distinctly different ways.

Continue reading for more expert insights from sleep specialists on the best cooling mattress technology and which ones can really work for you.

Key Points Related to Cooling Mattress Technology

The following are the main points to keep in mind as you shop for an effective cooling mattress for a loved one or yourself:

• Types of Cooling - Different brands of cooling mattresses utilize various technologies, including infused gel-foams, phase-change materials, and fabrics that enhance airflow and wick moisture. Some types may be more effective than others, so research and choose one that best suits your specific needs.
• Mattress Composition - The overall structure, for instance, a hybrid mattress, including whether it utilizes a coil system and an upgraded airflow design, can impact its ability to dissipate heat, keep your body cool, and maintain a balanced sleep environment.
• Your Personal Preferences for Comfort - Some individuals may find that cooling mattresses are instrumental in the ability to sleep deeply, while others may not notice a significant difference. Noticing an improvement also depends on the quality of your bedding and the type of cooling technology used in the mattress. It's important to consider your personal preference for temperature in conjunction with your sleep habits when choosing a cooling mattress.
• Price Range - Cooling mattresses can range drastically in price; hence, their effectiveness will also vary. Next, consider whether your budget is flexible as you weigh the cost of the mattress against its cooling properties or other sleep-supporting benefits.

The Original Cooling Gel Mattress

Gel-infused mattresses were first developed in 2006 by Charles Yost, who, in the 1970s, also developed memory foam mattresses for NASA. Before gel mattress technology arrived, this type of mattress was only available with "first-generation" traditional synthetic foam materials. Later, plant-based foam options, such as those made from soy, also became available. These plant-based materials would be considered the alternative to memory foam and latex rubber; the second following "generation" of traditional foam.

Fast forward to today, and you will now find "third-generation" foam materials featuring gel layers, as well as some with even more modern innovations, such as gel, gel-bead, and copper-infused foams.

The Rise in Gel Mattress Market Popularity

It wasn't until 2011 that gel-infused mattresses began gaining popularity when Serta introduced its infamous iComfort mattress line. Still, to this day, Serta iComfort utilizes cooling technology in the form of its graphite-infused mattress layers alongside the CoolFeel™ Pro Cooling System.

Serta iComfortPro mattresses feature an independent coil system that allows the mattress to breathe and dissipate heat, paired with advanced, cool-to-the-touch, and breathable fabrics, making for a perfect match for hot sleepers.

Cooling Gel Layer or Gel Infusion: What's the Difference?

The distinction between a cooling gel layer and a gel infusion foam lies in their ability to dissipate heat, whether they provide initial or consistent cooling. A gel layer is a more solid layer, often adhered to another layer inside, near the top of the mattress. This mattress layer may feel cold or cool to the touch. Gel mattress layers can be effective, but they may have limited breathability and inconsistent cooling. 

In contrast, a gel-infusion foam contains gel fluid or encapsulated gel—often in the form of beads—mixed throughout the material during its manufacturing process. Gel infusion or bead particles enhance the foam's innate ability to disperse air and dissipate heat, producing a cooler and more breathable surface without being a solid layer. 

The addition of gel in this form to nearly any mattress material will help absorb heat, improve overall breathability, and provide more consistently cool and even heat distribution from within the mattress.

To sum it up, gel infusion foam is typically considered a more advanced and effective technique for sleeping cooler overall, as it incorporates cooling effects throughout the foam without hindering airflow. In contrast, a mere gel layer is an element that may offer only surface-level cooling.

Micro-Diamond, Graphite, and Copper-Infused Mattress Materials

Mattresses today incorporate quite impressive additions for cooling. Some brands integrate active cooling carbons, such as micro-diamonds and graphite-infused foams. At the same time, some hybrid mattresses feature cooling copper-infused layers. Due to the latest advancements in cooling technology, gel has become incredibly mainstream in recent years, and it is now the least "savvy" of cooling mattress materials.

Don't miss these effective and ultra-savvy cooling mattresses available at Mattress World Northwest:

• Beautyrest Black Series Four Plush Summit Pillowtop
• Tempur-Pedic® LuxeBreeze Medium Hybrid
• Sealy Posturepedic® Elite
• Serta iComfort Pro Mattresses
• Purple RestorePremier™ Hybrid Mattress
• Aireloom Abstract Hues Luxetop™ M2+

The primary benefits of graphite and micro-diamonds in a mattress are enhanced cooling, improved pressure relief, and increased durability. Graphite is a highly conductive material that draws heat away from the body, preventing overheating and allowing for a more comfortable and restful sleep. Graphite naturally dissipates heat away from your body, helping to avoid the heat-trapping properties associated with high-density memory foam. Graphite-infusion foams in Serta iComfort and micro-diamond foams in Beautyrest Black mattresses help regulate your body temperature and keep you cool throughout the night.

Cooling Versus Temperature Balancing Properties: What's in Your Mattress?

Now, this is where some mattress shoppers become baffled about what is the most effective form of "cooling" inside a mattress. Often, the most effective mattresses that help you sleep better by managing body temperature and sleep climate will feature temperature-balancing materials, such as mattress layers or fabrics that incorporate phase change technology (PCM). Graphite and micro-diamond infusions can also be very effective.

Although temperature balancing may sound like it's the same thing as cooling, the difference is significant. Still, comparing mattresses with cooling gel and those featuring temperature-balancing materials can be straightforward if you know what to look out for.

Mattress cooling—such as gel layers or infusions— is a broad term referring to materials used to keep you and your mattress cooler initially as you climb into bed. Phase Change Material (PCM) is a specific and advanced type of cooling technology used in mattresses. Its primary duty is to release thermal energy, helping to regulate the surrounding temperature.

Phase change is integrated into various everyday products on the market today, including bedding, sportswear, and footwear. PCM is so effective, in fact, that it is even used in building construction materials, such as roofing and insulation, as well as within protective gear worn by athletes, industrial workers, and firefighters. PCM provides active and effective temperature regulation.

Phase change material inside your mattress will absorb excess body heat when warm and release it when the temperature drops. The science behind PCM: it absorbs and releases heat as it changes between solid and liquid states, helping to regulate excessive temperatures. 

Depending on the brand and quality, any given mattress may incorporate thermal cooling gel, which initially feels cool to the touch. On the other hand, many materials, such as latex rubber and memory foam, can be infused with PCM, often found in high-quality cooling mattresses and all TEMPUR-Breeze mattresses.

The effect of this collaboration is that the mattress can now actively store, absorb, and release body heat to maintain a more consistent and comfortable sleep temperature, all night long. PCM technology helps prevent heat from being trapped in the mattress, as well as unwanted sleep disruptions caused by an uncomfortable or hot environment.

The Cherry on Top: Cooling Mattress Fabrics

For all sleepers alike, the advantage of cooling mattress fabrics is that they "up the breathability factor" when it comes to your sleeping surface, while helping to balance body and sleep climate temperature.

For example, cooling fabrics help keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer because they are breathable, keeping you neither too hot nor too cold. Different methods of achieving improved breathability and cooling, such as choosing a mattress with advanced fabrics, can help reduce excess heat and sweat, as well as minimize sleep disruptions. Likewise, reducing sleep disturbances by resting on a mattress with cooling fabric, alongside cooling sheets—such as BedGear Vertex or moisture-wicking DriTec Sheets— will give you the best potential to achieve noticeably profound, restorative sleep

 Often, breathable textiles today consist of wood-pulp-based fibers, such as Tencel™ fabrics, also referred to as Lyocell and Modal fibers. These particular regenerated cellulosic fibers work in mattress fabrics by actively pulling heat away from the body and wicking away moisture. The advantage is that these fabrics create a cooler and more comfortable sleeping atmosphere.

The Benefits of Mattresses With Cooling Technology

A mattress with effective cooling technology can be a worthwhile asset for people who tend to run hot while sleeping or those with a personal preference for a cool sleeping environment. Anyone who prefers a warm environment should opt for temperature-balancing technology, or phase change material (PCM), as it can help keep a warmer sleeper cool and a cooler sleeper warm.

Cooling mattresses, like Nectar's Ultra Hybrid and DreamCloud's Premier Rest, along with breathable mattress toppers, help you effortlessly manage temperature fluctuations while enhancing breathability. Cooling mattress technology can also help reduce night sweats, guiding you toward more restful nights and less disrupted sleep patterns.

 Still, whether mattress cooling technology is worth it for you depends on your individual needs and preferences, but the potential benefits, especially regarding PCM in mattress materials, are significant.

• Reduced Moisture and Humidity: Sleeping on a mattress with cooling properties can help you feel less sticky by reducing overheating, which causes sweat. For anyone who experiences sleep disruptions due to night sweats, mattress cooling technology will also help wick away moisture and control humidity within your sleep environment—between your sheets, you, and the mattress. By regulating moisture and humidity, you can minimize discomfort, allowing for cooler and less disrupted sleep overall.

Bonus: By overheating less often while you sleep, you'll gain the option to change your bedding less frequently, if you prefer. You can wash your blankets and sheets less due to the decrease in sweat that contaminates your bedding and mattress without the use of a high-quality mattress protector, also referred to as a mattress cover.

Pro Tip: Whether you tend to get really sweaty at night or not, experts highly recommend using a breathable and waterproof mattress protector or a water-resistant mattress protector to maintain healthy sleep hygiene.

• Improved Temperature Regulation - Cooling mattresses can help preserve a balanced sleep environment in terms of temperature and body heat, ensuring a more comfortable climate between you, your mattress, and your sheets. Cooling sleep products, such as sheets, bedding, and mattresses, deliver the benefits of a more consistent, comfortable, and personalized sleep temperature. Cooling sleep products are particularly beneficial in areas with warm or tropical climates or in places with high temperatures during the summer months.
• Enhanced Comfort - By preventing intense fluctuations in body temperature, such as overheating, while promoting airflow, mattresses with cooling technology like phase change material (PCM) can help reduce tossing and turning to allow excess heat to escape. Overall, PCM can help you achieve improved overall comfort and sleep patterns.
• Improved Sleep Quality - By being mindful of how well you sleep each night while intentionally using products that help balance temperature and prevent overheating, you, too, can kick the 'sleep debt' and finally catch up on lost sleep by improving your sleep quality.

The final answer: Yes. Cooling mattresses can lead to more restful and consistently comfortable sleep experiences.

Intrigued by Cooling Mattress Technology? Check out the Best Selection of Innovative+Cooling Sleep Products at Mattress World Northwest!

The local and family-owned sleep shop with 25 locations—Mattress World Northwest—showcases the best cooling mattresses and other cooling sleep products, like pillows and sheets, from reliable brands and manufacturers, including:

• Beautyrest Black
• Serta iComfort
• Purple
• Tempur-Pedic
• Posh+Lavish
• Sealy Posturepedic
• Stearns & Foster
• Nectar
• DreamCloud
• King Koil
• Instant Comfort
• Avocado
• DreamFit
• BedGear

Click here to go to the Mattress World Northwest online mattress shop.

Mattress World Northwest has the professional insight and "expert inside scoop" to reveal the best mattress brands with cooling technology, such as Aireloom Luxetop, featuring a seriously high-quality, impressive handmade design with phase change material technology.

The even better news is that Mattress World Northwest displays a comprehensive assortment of cooling mattresses within a full range of prices. Easy-Pay and Financing options are also available. So, even if you're on a relatively inflexible budget, Mattress World Northwest offers many excellent choices for those pursuing an affordable yet impressive new cooling mattress to help you sleep better for many years to come.

You can count on Mattress World Northwest's sleep specialists and professional support staff to simplify the mattress-shopping and delivery process of your new cooling mattress. Or, come down and check out a new cooling pillow, cooling mattress protector, or try out a massage chair to help you release muscle tension, relax, and get the mattress shopping process started.

Regardless of what aspects of your mattress purchase are most important to you—such as cooling technology—Mattress World Northwest gladly furnishes free white glove delivery, with setup included. This family-owned company also offers a no-credit-needed, lease-to-own option and other financing choices, along with a low price promise to make it easy and convenient to get your new cooling mattress. 

You can accomplish it all, without exacerbating mental stress or worsening aches, pains, back problems, or fatigue from not getting the proper sleep you need. Now, is this sounding like you? Don't hesitate to visit your local Mattress World Northwest showroom and discover the best cooling mattress of your dreams today!