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When it comes to bedding, due to its poor cooling properties, I’ve broken up with cotton. But I still love its feel against my skin…

Although synthetics are perfectly acceptable, my bias is towards natural fibers, the closer to a cotton-feel the better.

My favorite fiber for sheets (at present) is Lyocell, which is derived from wood cellulose. It is usually marketed under the brand name Tencel™ from a company called Lenzing located in Austria. If the wood is described as “sustainably grown in Austria” the fabric most likely came from this company.

Both branded and unbranded Lyocell uses wood that is sustainably grown, such as eucalyptus or bamboo. Lyocell is manufactured using a “closed-loop” process to re-use the solvents.

The reason I love Lyocell is that it feels like a “blend” of cotton and silk, but wicks moisture away from you, cooling you down via evaporation. You don’t get that clingy wet feel that you can get with cotton.

Fabrics made of Modal, viscose, or viscose bamboo have a similar feel and cooling properties.

SHEEX Artic Aire Max bed sheets review ↓

Interestingly, they have a pronounced cool feel. They are noticeably cooler to the touch than other Lyocell sheets. Is this from the “CoolX™ Technology”? (Whatever that is…)

They feel light and have a “silky feel” halfway between cotton and real silk.

I am currently combining these with either a comforter or blanket made from either Lyocell or wool, respectively.

They are fully washable using my aggressive “everything-in-hot” laundry protocol.

• Furry friend alert. Tiny claws poke holes in this fabric. (They like this fabric too!) Fortunately, there hasn’t been any permanent damage (yet). Simply rubbing the hole with my fingernail will realign the fibers and make the hole go away.

Sheets & Giggles bed sheets review ↓

As I need several Lyocell sheet sets I’ve also purchased these:

These sheets are slightly thicker and more “cottony” in feel than the Sheex above. This lyocell is from sustainably managed Eucalyptus sourced from around the world.

As advertised, these sheets are cool and comfortable.

So far, the Sheet & Giggles sheets are more resistant to cat claws.

Eli & Elm bed sheets review ↓

I unboxed my new Eli and Elm bed sheets and immediately noticed something odd. They’re actually labeled as sheets from Brooklyn Bedding.

(The two companies describe themselves as “sister companies” located at the same warehouse and production facility.)

Good news! I paid less. But if you’re interested, first check the price on both sites. (Note that Brooklyn Bedding has a 30-day return policy vs Eli & Elm’s 45-day return policy.)

These sheets come in multiple colors but I went with Champagne. They are shiny, smooth, and cool to the touch. (Due to their silk-like shininess, they are branded as “sateen” even though that term is usually associated with a particular weave of cotton sheets.)

They are similar to the Sheex (above) in terms of subjective “weight”. In other words, they feel very light.

Highly recommended!

These particular sheets came in “chocolate brown”. Because of the shininess, they resemble a metallic color, more like dark bronze. It’s a lovely color.

Bamboo sheets are very similar to Lyocell (TENCEL™), but there were a few subtle differences with this set. Out of the box, these sheets were a bit shinier, silkier, and very cool to the touch. And slippier.

However, I expect they will lose some of these properties, and become softer and have a more cotton-like feel with use and multiple washes.

It’s unknown at this time whether these will hold up as well as the Lyocell sheets…. stay tuned…

Buffy Eucalyptus duvet cover review ↓

For some reason, I have plenty of sheet sets. To be different, I purchased the Buffy Eucalyptus duvet cover instead.

Out of the box, the cover feels more on the hefty side and slightly less shiny than some of the other Lyocell brands. Very nice.

Stitching is of high quality, with ties in the inside corners to attach to a comforter (“duvet”). The bottom closes using buttons.

At present, I have yet to put a comforter inside this cover (it’s July). Instead, I am using it as a top sheet.

More specifically, I’m using it to replace a BedJet Cloud Sheet.

And yes, it works great for my unorthodox use.

Other Eucalyptus, Tencel™, and Bamboo options to try

If you insist on sticking with cotton, try using cotton sheets with an added phase change material (PCM). Originally developed by NASA, this material captures and holds excess body heat, then releases it back to you when needed.

Similar to your workout/outdoor wear, these high-tech synthetic fabrics are designed to cool you. 

SHEEX Midnight Label sheet + duvet review ↓

Despite their synthetic feel, these sheets are incredibly soft. Made of 26% spandex, 37% nylon, and 37% brrrº Nylon, the latter makes these sheets 1) quick-drying, 2) actively wick moisture, and 3) cool to the touch.

Very cool.

I had to throw on a heavier comforter!

Yes, even cooler than all the other sheets described above and below! (I was surprised too…)

But beware: don’t throw on too heavy a comforter, as your body heat will eventually counteract the initial “cool touch”. Some experimentation with different bedding may be in order…

The high amount of spandex also makes these sheets easy to stretch over a mattress. Or dislodge yourself if you become tangled in the sheets.

The duvet cover has a hidden zipper closure.

Synthetic sheets vary in price. Check these out…

The PeachSkinSheets website will send you free fabric swatches. The fabric is extremely lightweight, but will never be confused for a natural fiber.

For more about silk, and my attempts to machine-wash it, see my post HERE. For that experiment I purchased two of the following pillowcases:

I did observe shrinkage, but the cases still easily fit my standard-sized pillows.

Momme is like thread count. Look for a momme of 19-25.

Most silk is made from the Mulberry silkworm. Double-check that you are purchasing silk and not polyester “satin” falsely marketed as silk.

I’ve since purchased the cases below. I don’t notice any difference in the feel between 19 and 21 momme.

There is some evidence that silk will benefit your hair and skin.

The best value may be to purchase silk pillowcases and a different fabric for the rest of your bedding. As mentioned above, Eucalyptus, Bamboo, and other Lyocell products look and feel very silky.

Linen is much tougher than cotton and has much better cooling (and warming) properties. Sheets made of linen are truly an “investment” in bedding. Sure, linen-cotton blends are available, but that’s cheating…

If the price scares you, remember that linen will last far longer than cotton. In theory, linen can last for generations.

Like cotton, linen becomes much softer with multiple washes. Many sheet sets will already come “stone-washed” or similar so they are soft right out of the package.

Brooklinen bed sheets review ↓

If you want something close to the soft feel of cotton go with linen. These sheets feel cozy, without the temperature issues of cotton.

These sheets also have a loose weave. This is both good and bad. Good: these sheets BREATHE.

However, I’m a big BedJet user. My BedJet blows either cool or warm air under the covers. But in order to enjoy that air, your bedding needs to hold it in. I was combining my Brooklinen linen sheets with the loose-knitted Bearaby weighted blanket.

It took me a while to figure out where all my air was going…

If you choose to combine your linen sheets with a BedJet, you’ll need to add an additional “solid” layer, such as a blanket or comforter. Or a sheet with a tighter weave, such as the Lyocell examples above.

Although linen is more resistant to cat claw damage than Lyocell or silk, it is not immune. I’ve already noticed a few (fixable) tiny holes and one pulled thread…

Despite the issues, overall, I’m enjoying the soft, cool feel of these sheets.

And I plan to purchase more linen to try out…

  SIJO Linen sheet + duvet review ↓

Like the Brooklinen sheets above, SIJO sheets are high quality, and soft, due to stone-washing. They will only get softer with time…

The weave appears tighter, but still “breathes” a tad too much with the BedJet… I feel a bit of air leaking through at my feet.

Like any linen, they are prone to wrinkling… but I prefer the relaxed look.

Another excellent option to stay cool, however, you may prefer linen in cooler months as it lacks the “cool touch” of other fibers, such as synthetics or lyocell.

Warning: the bottom sheet and duvet cover are sold separately, so you may encounter slightly different dye lots. (Note the shade of the pillows vs the duvet cover in the picture above.)

Highly recommended.

MORE linen!

Come back for a future review… In the meantime, check out the (EXCEPTIONAL) prices.

If you like linen, consider sheets made of hemp. Whereas linen comes from the fibers of the flax plant, hemp comes from fibers from the plant Cannabis sativa.

Cannabis represents a group of different plant strains that produce cannabinoids, including CBD and THC.

CBD is used to treat epilepsy and is being studied for a wide range of medical issues, including pain, anxiety, and inflammation.

THC is the marijuana drug that gives you a high.

Cannabis grown for hemp produces a large amount of CBD, but very little THC. Indeed, in some places only strains with negligible THC are legally allowed to be grown.

No, hemp bed sheets do not contain THC.

Like linen, hemp is durable, long-lasting, and a cooling fabric that efficiently wicks away moisture. And it gets softer with wear and laundering.

Unlike flax, hemp is much easier to grow. In fact, it grows like a weed, outcompeting other plants. . . little to no chemicals required.

Although processed like flax, because it’s easier to grow, in theory, hemp should be comparably less expensive than linen.

But as hemp cultivation has only recently been legalized in most places, it is harder to find.

Buffy Hemp duvet cover review ↓

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