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Are weighted blankets hot?
Not necessarily, no.
A common misconception with weighted blankets is the association of weight with ‘hot’. Whilst weighted blankets are heavier than regular blankets, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re boiling hot.
How heating a blanket is depends largely on the fabric used. And the good news is that there are a variety of ‘cooling’ fabrics used to make weighted blankets that are suitable for hot sleepers and summer use.
These fabrics should help you to stay cool and dry, whilst still enjoying the benefits of a weighted blanket.
Are Weighted Blankets Good For Hot Sleepers?
If you sleep warm or get hot flashes, it’s important to consider what a weighted blanket is made from.
For example, many weighted blankets are made from Minky Dot fleece. These are often a great choice if you like warm, cosy fabrics, which are tactile to the touch. However, fleece doesn’t breath well and traps body heat inside the blanket. So if you sleep warm, fleece is likely to prove way too heating.
To experience the benefits of weighted blankets, whilst remaining cool and sweat free, look for natural or breathable fibres. These include cotton, cooling bamboo or weighted blankets that feature the COOLMAX mark.
Read on for 7 popular weighted blanket options designed to help you sleep soundly and stay cool.
1 – Opt For ‘COOLMAX’ Fibres
Originally developed to improve performance in athletes, COOLMAX™ fibres draw (or wick) moisture away from the skin. This means moisture can evaporate more easily, preventing feelings of dampness.
COOLMAX™ moisture wicking technology has fast been incorporated into a number of popular weighted blankets aimed specifically at hot sleepers or those who like to sleep cool.
COOLMAX™ weighted blankets are:
- breathable
- easy to clean (check individual product to be sure)
- quick drying
- soft and smooth due to a tufting process.
Two popular weighted blankets featuring COOLMAX™ include Mosaic Weighted Blankets and Degrees of Comfort. Mosaic blankets are hand-made in Texas and are considered one of the top weighted blankets in the US. Weighted Comforts offer great value, a wider choice of weight sizes and an extra cover for colder months.
2 – Consider ‘Cooling’ Bamboo
Did you know bamboo fabrics are naturally ‘cooling’?
One of the most effective fibres for ‘wicking’ moisture away from the skin, bamboo fabrics allow moisture to evaporate into the air more quickly than fabrics such as cotton.
This helps you to stay cool and dry.
Bamboo fabrics are also ‘thermo regulating’. This means they help your body to maintain its core internal body temperature.
Bamboo is also a highly self sufficient and sustainable plant. It requires less water to grow than other crops. plus it’s very fast growing. This makes it a highly renewable source.
Weighted blankets are generally made from Bamboo Viscose or Bamboo Lyocell. Bamboo Lyocell is usually considered the ‘greener’ option, as it undergoes a less intensive production process to make it.
Further benefits of bamboo fibres include silky softness, less ‘wrinkling’ and durability.
Try the Weighted Evolution Bamboo Weighted Blanket for a cooling blanket with an organic bamboo lyocell cover (you can usually get 20% OFF with your first order).
Or check out the affordable Wonap Bamboo Weighted Blanket for a wider choice of weight sizes.
3 – Get ‘Cool’ Under Eucalyptus
Like bamboo, eucalyptus fabrics are extremely breathable, again with moisture wicking properties that help keep you dry and sweat free.
The main difference between the two fabrics is that bamboo is a grass, whilst eucalyptus is a genus of shrubs and trees. Both are highly renewable and the benefits very similar.
Like bamboo, eucalyptus is natural in origin, but the finished fibres used in fabrics are technically man-made, so they don’t qualify as natural fibres.
Eucalyptus Lyocell (also known by the brand name TENCEL) is considered one of the most sustainable fabrics in the textile industry.
Eucalyptus weighted blankets are less common, but if you can stretch to the price, the Bearaby Tree Napper is a cooling chunky knit option. Or if you’re in the UK, check out the Mela Comforts eucalyptus range.
4 – Go For Breathable Cotton Fibres
Whilst it’s hard to beat bamboo and eucalyptus fabrics for their ‘moisture wicking’ abilities, it’s also hard to beat cotton as a natural fibre. The most widely used natural fibre in the world, cotton is soft, comfortable and naturally breathable.
In terms of ‘cooling abilities, cotton will soak up sweat and allow heat to escape from the body, helping you to stay cool. But it won’t ‘wick’ moisture away like bamboo can. So if you suffer from night sweats, cotton is still likely to end up damp.
However, if you simply prefer natural, breathable fibres to anything else, cotton is a fabric that will definitely help keep you cool. For extra luxury and a more sustainable option, go for organic cotton.
To help get the best out of a cotton weighted blanket, also consider using it in tandem with air conditioning or a fan. This helps to maintain a stable temperature in your bedroom. Around 16-18 degrees is considered an ideal bedroom temperature.
Try the best selling Luna ‘cooling’ cotton weighted blanket for an Oeko Tex Certified cotton weighted blanket popular with warm sleepers.
5 – Choose Glass Beads Over Poly Pellets
A few years ago, most weighted blankets were filled with plastic poly pellets. These days, however, micro glass beads have fast become the most common weighted filler.
Not only do glass beads lay more smoothly on the body, they’re also cooler to the touch than plastic poly pellets, which tend to retain heat if they get warm.
So if you tend to sleep hot, glass beads are likely the cooler option.
Whether you plan to buy a ready made blanket, or make your own, look out for glass beads that are listed as high quality, non toxic and hypoallergenic to ensure the best quality.
6 – Stay ‘Cool’ With A Chunky Knit
The image of a heavy, chunky weighted blanket may make you sweat at the very thought!
But chunky knit weighted blankets, (as well as being stylish) feature a big, open weave that allows air to flow freely through the yarn.
Whilst they don’t contain a weighted filler, as such, you’ll still receive the soothing benefits of a more traditional weighted blanket, due to the heavy yarn used to knit the blanket.
Chunky knit weighted blankets are fast becoming all the rage, as they look like a more traditional ‘old style’ blanket and tend to blend well into any room. They’re also popular with many hot sleepers due to the big open weaves that help facilitate a constant ‘cooling’ air flow.
If you suffer from serious night sweats or live in a really hot climate, a chunky knit may not quite fit the bill. But if you’re looking to relax (or sleep) without getting too warm, a chunky knit weighted blanket could well be worth a look.
Here are 5 chunky knit weighted blankets with big open weaves.
7 – Try a ‘Snuggle’ Sheet
A ‘snuggle’ or sensory compression sheet offers similar sensory input to a weighted blanket – but through tension, rather than weight. More lightweight than a blanket, weighted sheets don’t trap in warmth like many weighted blankets.
Usually made from a mix of breathable cotton and a more stretchable material such as spandex, sensory compression sheets fit snugly over your bed and wrap firmly around your body, creating gentle sensory pressure.
Sensory compression sheets can be a good option for sensory children, plus they don’t fall of like weighted blankets can. They may also be a good choice for people with restless leg syndrome, as you can use the sheet solely on the bottom part of the mattress.
For a child’s sensory compression sheet check out the breathable organic cotton (with spandex) Snuggle Sheet from Fun & Function.
Are Weighted Blankets Hot FAQS
Are Weighted Blankets Hot? Conclusion
Many people find weighted blankets an enormous help with sensory disorders, anxiety and sleeping issues.
But if you live in a hot climate or are sensitive to heat, it might leave you wondering if all weighted blankets are hot.
The good news is that there are some popular weighted blanket options available for hot sleepers. These include:
- COOLMAX™ weighted blankets
- bamboo or eucalyptus fibre weighted blankets
- 100% cotton weighted blankets
- chunky knit weighted blanket with big open weaves.
Thanks for this post. I have heard that weighted blankets are also helpful for people with Alzheimer’s dementia, who become agitated. Your article is timely because many people probably assume that a weighted blanket isn’t appropriate in the summer (or for people who are “hot sleepers”). You’ve provided some good tips on finding a weighted blanket that won’t make someone overheat.
Thanks Laurie.