As hot sleepers seek new ways to increase their comfort and quality of rest, some bed manufacturers are responding with a range of materials and technologies designed to lower the temperature of your sleeping environment. But are these so-called cooling mattresses all they’re cracked up to be? 

The expert team at Dreamwool Beds is here to tell you all about how to stay cool and well-rested, no matter the climate or season.

What is a cooling mattress?

Some modern mattresses are manufactured with fans inside or underneath them, or with a grid-like top layer of what’s known as a Phase Change Material. This material, often a gel, is added to the surface of the mattress to absorb excess heat and help maintain a stable mattress temperature.

Do cooling mattresses work?

In principle, yes, cooling mattresses can help regulate the temperature of your bed, but in most cases, the cooling mechanisms are simply responding to problems created by flaws in the original mattress design. When mattresses retain heat, this is typically because they have been made with substandard materials and synthetic foams that fail to breathe, trapping heat and promoting night sweats. 

By adding fans or gels to these synthetic base materials, you’re masking the issue, rather than solving it. Unless air can move freely through the mattress – which is not possible in a closed-cell synthetic foam – you’ll never really be able to keep it cool. Simply put, cooling mattresses are more of a marketing angle than an actual improvement in comfort or functionality. And in the case of fan-powered cooling mechanisms, you are creating a noisy sleep environment which, for many sleepers, can actually worsen the quality of your rest.

Breathable Mattresses

The best cooling mattress for hot sleepers is one made from a combination of natural materials and generous, breathable comfort layers. Materials such as the all-natural latex and Merino wool used in Dreamwool’s second-to-none luxury mattresses are the product of thousands of years of evolution. They are naturally breathable, moisture-wicking, and temperature-neutral, unlike synthetic foams that lock in heat and don’t allow air to pass through. Using natural materials to absorb and disperse heat and moisture is the only way to truly maintain thermophysiological comfort.

Discover the Difference

When shopping for a temperature-regulating mattress, the most important thing to determine is exactly what it’s made of – it could be ticking the box but not actually doing the job. Don’t rely on computer-generated drawings; ask to see samples to learn exactly what’s inside and how much. These samples should clearly show you what the mattress is made of and exactly how those materials are working together to give you the best night’s sleep.

Here are the main things you should be looking for as you decide what to buy:

Natural Materials

You want locally made and sustainable natural materials including all-natural latex (not synthetic) and responsibly sourced wool. Merino wool is the best of the best as it will get warm but never hot, buffering the ambient temperature of your sleeping space even on a scorching summer night.

Quantity of Materials

Coolness comes from breathability; a big component of this is the volume of materials in your mattress. You should be looking for at least 25mm of all-natural latex as well as generous comfort layers of a natural product like Merino wool. 

Best Mattress for Night Sweats

Night sweats can be a hugely disruptive and unwelcome part of your sleep routine. We find that Dreamwool customers with night sweats benefit most from a mattress system with a layer of microcoils for added breathability. Microcoils support your mattress’ comfort layers by putting a buffer between them and allowing more air to pass through the bed.

Sleep Cooler Tonight

When figuring out how to sleep cooler at night, don’t be fooled by gimmicks and add-ons designed to distract you from poorer-quality materials and construction. The coolest, most comfortable night’s sleep you’ll ever have will come from handmade craftsmanship and the best quality and volume of all-natural materials. Book a consultation at Dreamwool today and discover the difference.

An introduction to Merino wool

Merino wool is a natural fibre made from the wool of Merino sheep. This unique breed originated in Spain and was introduced to New Zealand in the early 1800s. Merino sheep are well-suited to the New Zealand high country due to their ability to thrive in extreme climates. This makes their wool an excellent material choice for clothing and bedding due to its natural temperature regulation and breathability.

What makes Merino wool unique?

Merino wool is a natural, lightweight fibre known for its softness, temperature regulation, breathability, and moisture wicking. Its natural wool benefits include odour resistance and the anti-bacterial properties of lanolin, which prevents the build-up of odour-causing bacteria.

Is merino wool soft?

Merino wool is exceptionally soft due to its high fibre density, with fibres that grow in longer, thinner layers than traditional wool.

What is merino wool good for?

Merino wool is excellent for bedding and clothing due to its luxurious softness, odour resistance, longevity, and easy maintenance.

Why is Merino wool ideal for luxury bedding?

Luxury wool bedding has thermophysiological benefits including superior moisture control and temperature regulation, as well as antimicrobial properties that make it uniquely suited for a fresh, dry sleeping experience. It excels in terms of breathability, making it ideal for a range of ambient temperatures, sleep preferences, and seasons.

The origin of Merino wool

Highly prized Merino wool originated in Spain and found favour under Moorish rule in the Middle Ages. This breed was introduced to Australia and New Zealand in the 1800s. By the 1850s, New Zealand Merino wool had become one of our main agricultural industries.

Sourcing Merino wool from New Zealand’s South Island

Dreamwool’s Merino wool is sourced directly from select high-country farms. We have four central South Island growers who produce Merino for us in Tekapo, Hakataramea and Kurow.

The process of making Merino wool

Merino wool production begins with annual sheep shearing, where wool is carefully removed from the sheep, examined, and quality checked. It is then sorted and cleaned before the fibres are separated in a process called carding. From there it is needled into a batt form with graduated density for greater comfort and finished into final Merino products.

Sustainable practices in Merino wool production

Sustainable wool products offer a range of benefits for our local environment including renewability and biodegradability. Merino sheep are bred on land not suitable for agriculture and can be sheared for many seasons, making them a sustainable and renewable resource. Products made from Merino are durable and long-lasting, meaning that they will not need to be replaced often. Merino wool is also bio-degradable at the end of its lifecycle, unlike synthetic fibres which can contain toxins and microplastics.

Key characteristics of Merino wool fibers

Merino wool is supremely soft and luxurious due to its high fibre density, which also makes it especially strong and durable. Merino wool fibres are moisture- and odour-resistant, temperature-regulating, naturally elastic, and highly breathable.

Fine and soft texture

Merino wool has a naturally crimped texture and a very fine fibre diameter, yielding a high fibre density. This results in a soft and elastic texture ideal for clothing and bedding applications.

Natural temperature regulation and breathability

Due to the harsh climates experienced by Merino sheep, their wool naturally regulates temperature, moving the dial in comfort and delivering unparalleled microclimate control. These sheep have evolved to produce wool that keeps them warm during icy winters and cool during scorching summers.

Durability and resilience in luxury mattresses

Manufacturing quality is the number one factor that affects mattress durability and resilience. This includes the quality and quantity of all of the bed’s components, including its natural materials, latex, and spring system. Merino wool is naturally stain-resistant and long-lasting, making it an excellent choice for durability and resilience.

Why Merino wool is perfect for Dreamwool mattresses

Merino wool provides luxurious comfort with unparalleled microclimate control for a truly restful night’s sleep. By using thick, plush layers of Merino, Dreamwool mattresses effortlessly maintain your ideal sleep temperature and draw humidity away quickly, ensuring a dry, breathable bed environment throughout the night. It is also naturally hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and breathable, making it a healthier luxury option compared to synthetic alternatives. The outcome is a mattress that enhances the natural attributes of its materials, offering optimum comfort and well-being.

Caring for Merino wool latex mattresses

Rotating your mattress quarterly will help it maintain its shape and provide you with comfort and support for longer. The best way to clean a Merino wool latex mattress is to avoid using too much liquid and treat it like you would any other natural fibre. Dreamwool mattresses also feature a zip-off woollen overlay that can be hung in direct sunlight to eradicate dust mites.

What Defines a Luxury Mattress?

The word ‘luxury’ is overused by many manufacturers, regardless of the actual quality and craftsmanship of the mattresses they sell. A top-quality mattress is defined by what’s inside as opposed to the words that are used to describe it. And true luxury is an investment worth making. 

Materials used in luxury vs. standard mattresses

The quality and quantity of materials used in luxury mattresses far exceed what you will find in a standard mattress. A luxury mattress contains a high volume of natural materials that are breathable, durable, and sourced from reputable manufacturers with sustainable supply chains. Standard mattresses typically contain a smaller amount of synthetic fillings that are selected based on what is most cost-effective to produce.

Craftsmanship and design quality

Luxury mattresses typically include a number of handcrafted components. This hands-on craftsmanship, as opposed to the mass production of many standard mattresses, enables constant improvements to design quality to maintain an optimum sleep experience.

Advanced features in luxury mattresses

Dreamwool luxury mattresses, are designed based on benefits as opposed to features; our focus is on the joy of ownership. Luxury mattress benefits include better quality materials in higher volumes, higher manufacturing specifications, and second-to-none comfort and support.

Comfort and Support: Luxury vs. Standard Mattresses

When considering a high-end mattress vs. a regular mattress, the biggest difference is in manufacturing quality. Nothing is pared back in Dreamwool luxury mattresses, which offer more of everything and in the best quality available.

How do luxury mattresses improve comfort?

Luxury mattresses feature the highest volume of the best natural materials, offering more cushioning and optimum comfort for your body in a range of customisable options for different firmnesses and fillings. It is also worth noting that a premium bedding comparison quickly demonstrates the importance of using premium linens with your luxury mattress. Don’t decrease your comfort by using substandard bedding on a luxury bed!

Support differences between luxury and standard options

Standard mattresses typically offer the minimum you can get away with in terms of material volume and quality, whereas luxury is the other end of that scale. While they may feel comparable, at first, standard mattresses degrade and lose their comfort quickly because their material quality doesn’t stand the test of time.

Which mattress type offers better pressure relief?

A luxury mattress offers optimum pressure relief due to high manufacturing quality and the combination of products being used. Dreamwool luxury mattresses offer many customisable elements, such as spring gauge and density of fillings, to provide a truly personalised sleep experience. Both pocket spring and latex mattresses are excellent for pressure relief, depending on your body composition and individual sleep needs.

Durability and Lifespan

Luxury mattress durability is increased due to more and better quality fillings that will support and comfort your body for longer.

Why luxury mattresses last longer

Comfort differences in mattresses are the biggest consideration when looking at durability. While a standard mattress, in theory, could be used for as long as a luxury mattress, the experience of sleeping on it is vastly different over time. Ultimately, the time you spend in a luxury bed is far better.

Typical lifespan of standard vs. luxury mattresses

The optimum comfort period for a standard mattress might be 5-7 years, whereas for a luxury mattress, it is typically more like 10-12 years.

Factors that impact mattress durability

There are a number of factors that might impact the durability of your mattress over time, including manufacturing quality, body composition, and frequency of turning.

How luxury mattresses add long-term value

Being more rested and recovered for the day ahead adds long-term value to your life. 

Is a luxury mattress worth it? Absolutely. A good night’s sleep is the best investment you can make in tomorrow.