Whether you’re a hot sleeper or live in a hot climate, there are nights when a regular blanket just won’t do. Any extra weight or fabric on top of you suddenly becomes unbearable. That is, unless it’s a cooling blanket, those made from fabrics like breathable linen and moisture-wicking Tencel that make snuggling up without sweating actually possible.
We went on a search for cooling blankets that can keep you bundled up but not sweaty. After testing them over a period of weeks throughout July — and in places like Florida, Nevada and New York City — these are our favorites.
Linen cooling blanket
Every night this summer I’ve slept on cooling sheets and a cooling mattress cover and used a cooling pillow. So, really, the final step in my cool-as-possible sleep setup was a cooling quilt, and I can say this one is just magic. Apart from being impossibly light and easy to bundle yourself in during even the muggiest of nights, it looks fantastic against any sheet color I’ve paired it with. I love the diamond stitching and can even see using it year-round under my heavier comforter. — Rachel Lubitz, former senior lifestyle editor
Weighted cooling blankets
We’ve written extensively about how much we love Bearaby’s woven weighted blankets, and the Tree Napper is no different. In fact, for those who run hot, the Tree Napper is probably your best bet when it comes to the brand’s beloved offerings. None of the Bearaby blankets are particularly warming, per se, but the Tree Napper is especially cooling, as it’s made from moisture-wicking Tencel that uses eucalyptus fiber, a material that’s naturally even cooler than linen, not to mention super soft. In fact, it’s so cool to the touch that sometimes I find myself layering it with another blanket because I’m too chilly — not a sensation I’m used to in July! It’s the ideal summer option for weighted blanket aficionados who appreciate a chunky knit. — Chelsea Stone, editorial director
The Gravity Cooling Weighted Blanket is the first weighted blanket I’ve tried. The king/queen size of the blanket weighs in at 35 pounds — which is definitely on the heavy side for a weighted blanket. I tried sleeping with this as my main blanket for a few nights, and while I felt like the blanket was ultimately too heavy for my liking, I never felt overheated or particularly warm while using it. If you are looking for a heavily weighted cooling comforter option, the Gravity Cooling Weighted Blanket comes with a beautifully soft hotel-quality cover too. — Rosanne Salvatore, former deputy editor
The Luna Cooling Bamboo Weighted Blanket is, in fact, a cool-to-touch blanket, and you’ll notice it right away when you unbox it. Because I’m not a fan of heavily weighted blankets, I opted to try out the king-size comforter with 20 pounds of weight. I felt that 20 pounds was a weight I could comfortably sleep with every night, especially since this one continues to feel cool on your skin all night. I’m a big fan of the fact that you can choose which weight you want for the blanket, no matter how small or large you want your blanket to be. — Rosanne Salvatore, former deputy editor
Weighted blankets in particular tend to be very, very hot, and for a hot sleeper like me, I’ve honestly never been able to sleep under one all night long. That is, before I tried this one from Tranquility. Since there’s microplush on one side and a truly cool-to-the-touch material on the other, I made [my bed] so the cooler material was against my skin and I soundly slept for a solid 10 hours. I never once kicked it off me in the middle of the night. — Rachel Lubitz, former senior lifestyle editor
Cooling duvet
Despite this being the first duvet I’ve owned, I know for sure that I won’t ever revert back to anything else. The Casper Humidity Fighting Duvet is that good. My NYC apartment can get quite hot at night in the summer, even though I have my AC going, but I sleep better with a blanket of some sort over me. Sleeping under this number by Casper, though, has been a dream. It’s meant to wick away moisture and prevent you from overheating as you sleep, and just feels super fluffy. It’s lightweight and easy to care for too. — Kiana Murden, former associate lifestyle editor
Cotton cooling blanket
I have high expectations when it comes to Brooklinen because I haven’t met a product I haven’t liked — and the Lightweight Quilt is no different. The 100% cotton quilt is super soft and light, which has made for a no-brainer replacement for the comforters of my past. I lay it on top of my duvet to cozy up under while I work or watch Netflix. I’m also obsessed with the Black Lorimer shade that adds a stylish touch to my bedding. — Kiana Murden, former associate lifestyle editor
Other cooling blankets
I never knew I needed a cooling blanket until I tried this one by Dangtop. With other blankets, I go between really hot or really cold at night, unable to find a solution that works for my full sleep cycle. However, when I slept under the Dangtop Cooling Blanket, I slept with my AC off and was cool the entire night. It’s practically a miracle. The blanket is made from a cool-to-the-touch bamboo fabric that’s incredibly lightweight. I like to fold it up and place it on top of my duvet for a pop of color and decorative layering. — Kiana Murden, former associate lifestyle editor
Since I received my Elegear Cooling Blanket, it’s been my go-to blanket for naps and lounging on my couch. The temperature in my apartment gravitates between extremes — it’s either way too cold with the AC on or slightly muggy with the AC off — and this blanket is comfortable in either situation. Because one side of the blanket is made with a more silky, cooling Japanese Q-Max fabric that wicks away moisture and the other side is made with 100% cotton that is better at insulating heat, you have options based on how you’re feeling. If you’re too hot, simply relax with the cooling material in toward you, and if you need an extra bit of warmth, swap sides to the cotton exterior. Even my husband, who always runs hot, says this is the best blanket we have in the house. — Kristin Magaldi, former associate editor
Sleep Number’s True Temp Blanket isn’t really a cooling blanket. Instead, it magically adapts to ensure you’re neither too hot nor too cold. In summer, that means moving heat and humidity away from you via active particle technology, but the blanket is definitely snuggly enough to keep you cozy in winter too — no need to find space to store it at the end of the season. I especially appreciated that it’s available in queen and king sizes, making it a truly luxe option for those with beds on the bigger side. — Chelsea Stone, editorial director