What is the Best Material for Bedding in the Summer?

Summer.  Either love it or hate it, it will come once a year.  While I don't hate Summer, I dread the heat.  I am one of those people who is always hot, and I am even hotter in the summer.

When you think about it, if you sleep 8 hours a night, you are spending 1/3 of your time in your bed.  That is why it is important to keep your bedding clean and fresh, and pick the proper bedding for each season.

If you live in a warm climate all year round, you have still come to the right place.

Now, let's take a closer look at bedding material, and which ones are the best for the Summer and other warm or hot climates.

What is the Best Material for Bedding in Summer?

Several years ago, I went on a quest to find the best material for bedding in Summer.

Why?  Simple.  I was sick of being hot all of the time, and waking up to soaked bed sheets.

When we think about the best material for bedding, it is important to really take a look at a number of factors such as:

• Comfort
• Weight
• Feel
• Cost

Of course, first and foremost, we want our sheets to be comfortable to sleep in.

In the Summer, we don't want them to be too heavy feeling.

While we are talking about feel, we want them to feel nice on our skin - not scratchy!

Finally, is of course cost.  It is very helpful to have multiple sets of sheets, so you do not have to worry about washing them, drying them, and putting them back on your bed in the same day.

Finding the Best Bedding for Summer

The best bedding for summer starts with the material, so let's take a look at some common bedding materials, and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Cotton Bedding for Summer

Cotton is one of the most common types of bedding all year round, not just in the Summer.  With Cotton, you really can't go wrong, however there are a couple of caveats.

First of all, we want our cotton to feel nice.  You will commonly see something called thread count when you are looking at sheets.

Thread count is the number of both horizontal and vertical threads per square inch, according to HGTV.

Generally speaking, the higher the thread count, the nicer the bedding feels.  Higher thread counts also have a couple of drawbacks:

• Higher thread counts are more expensive, since it takes more cotton to produce the bedding
• Higher thread counts can also be heavier

There are also many types of cotton out there, so it is important to pay attention to which one your sheets are made out of.

A popular cotton sheet option is Jersey Knit.  It feels like a nice soft t-shirt, and is produced the same way.  It is also nice and light, and very cost effective due to the way it is produced.  You do not need to pay as much attention to the thread count in this case.

Another cotton sheet option is Egyptian cotton.  This is the gold standard in cotton, and the higher the thread count the nicer it feels.  The cost also reflects this.

Bamboo Sheets for Summer

Bamboo sheets have become increasingly popular in recent years.  Bamboo is a very eco friendly material, as it naturally replenishes itself and does not take much water to grow.

It is also naturally resistant to nasty things like bacteria and microbes, and is generally a softer material than cotton.

Because it is so eco friendly, and naturally soft, you can purchase a lower thread count with a Bamboo sheet than a cotton one, and still maintain a great level of comfort.

Because of bamboo's natural ability to absorb water, it will wick the moisture away from your body on those hot nights, leaving you feeling cool and fresh.

All in all bamboo is a great material.

Microfiber Sheets for Summer

Unlike its cotton and bamboo counterparts, microfiber is a man made material, usually made from polyester.  Because it is man made, it can be manufactured in a number of different ways to create a different end product.

Because the threads are so fine, it is all about how they are woven together.  They can be soft to the tough, or rougher to the touch.

Microfiber can also be manufactured to wick away moisture, and since it is a synthetic fiber, dust mites are generally not attracted to it, making it a great choice for allergy sufferers.

They often wear better than their natural counterparts, and microfiber items can be washed over and over again with little visible aging.

Picking the Best Bedding for Summer

Each of these materials has its own number of unique attributes.  They all come in a variety of costs and qualities, like any other bedding you purchase.

It is important to balance what you are looking for quality wise with your budget.

All around, Bamboo is an excellent choice for sheets for summer.  It is eco friendly, and will naturally wick away moisture.

If you are seeking a natural alternative, the next best choice would be cotton sheets.  If you do not mind man made materials, then microfiber is the next best choice for your summer bedding.