Flannel is one of those materials that people already have strong opinions of. For most of us, owning a set of flannel sheets means you will get to enjoy years of warm winter nights. Flannel is notoriously cozy, but sometimes, that coziness can have a downside to it. It can, allegedly, make you sweat. But, is this really true about flannel? We researched this to find out the truth of the matter!
While many similar materials can trap heat and moisture inside, causing a sweat, flannel doesn't do that. Flannel is a surprisingly breathable material, making it a warm but acceptable year-round sheet material. However, if you are prone to sweating in bed, you might still find them to be a little too toasty for summer.
Choosing the right material for your sheets is vital to a good night's sleep. After all, no one enjoys having to wake up in the middle of the night due to a spate of the sweats. Wondering what you need to know? We have the full story below.
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Is Flannel Warmer Than Cotton?
This is a little bit of a strange question, simply because most modern flannel is currently made out of cotton. The major difference between most cotton sheets and flannel sheets is the way flannel is made. Flannel is a material made by "napping" the material, which is where it gets that nice, fuzzy texture. Cotton is woven rather than napped.
Does A Higher Thread Count Make Sheets Hotter?
Because you can't really count the threads on flannel, there is no "thread count" for flannel. This makes it different from most other types of sheets. Rather than the typical thread count you'd see on Egyptian cotton sheets, you will see that flannel is graded by weight. Heavier flannel is considered to be of higher quality, not to mention the warmer option.
With that said, most sheets that do have a thread count have a trend that suggests it does get hotter. Higher thread counts mean that the fabric of the sheet is going to be denser and softer. This, in turn, means that you can expect it to be warmer at night. While this is usually a good thing, it's worth noting that too much thread count can trap sweat inside.
What Is The Best Weight For Flannel Sheets?
The best weight for flannel sheets can vary from person to person, but on an industry level, 5-ounce or 160 GSM is considered a luxury build that'll be wonderful for winter settings. If you are worried about overheating or prefer a cooler type of bedsheet, you may want a slightly lighter density.
How Breathable Are Flannel Sheets?
Flannel might have a reputation for trapping warmth, but that doesn't mean that you should expect your sheets to turn you into a sweat machine. Unlike other thick materials, flannel is a fairly breathable material. You can expect most of the moisture that causes sweat to become an issue to stay out of your bed with flannel.
When it comes to sheets meant to keep people super warm, you can't beat flannel in terms of breathability. It's one of the reasons why this material remained popular for over 500 years.
Are Flannel Sheets Good For Summer?
It depends on the quality of the flannel as well as your personal preference. Because high-quality flannel is breathable while still warm, most people will find it a perfectly acceptable year-round sheet material. However, some people might find that flannel is too warm during hot summer months, simply because of how it can trap heat in.
If you are the type of person who can't stand too much warmth, you might want to choose a different kind of bedsheet for your summer months. It may be too hot for you, especially if you are prone to getting cranky in heat.
What Is The Best Material For Sheets To Keep You Cool?
While flannel is a great winter bedsheet and can even keep you cool during hotter months, there are other ways to get a better cooling sensation in your bed. Some of the more popular sheet materials considered to be great at keeping cool include the following:
Standard Cotton
Along with being one of the most popular sheet materials, standard cotton is considered the most breathable of mainstream fabrics. Think about it. It's one of those materials that people use in clothing, precisely because it breathes. If you are prone to sweating, opting for regular cotton sheets is a smart move.
Cotton sheets are great, simply because you can find them in almost any pattern for any bed size. You can even find these sheets for pillows on a king-size bed in a pinch.
Click here for an Egyptian cotton sheet set.
Linen
Linen might be one of the only materials more breathable than cotton. Linen's entire shtick is having a loose, thin threading style. This breezy material is a favorite of the tropics because it seems to stay cool no matter what. The issue some people have with linens is that they can be too cooling. In other words, linen might not retain heat as well as you want it to.
However, if you're a fan of ultra-cool sheets, you'll love linen. Pick up a pack to see if it suits your vibe.
Click here to get breezy linen sheets from Amazon.
Tencel
Tencel is one of those materials that most people don't know about but should. This is a silky material that scientists designed specifically to keep people cool and wick away sweat. This rayon-based synthetic fiber is an offshoot of lyocell and works wonderfully for people prone to night sweats. While it's pricey, most agree it's worth every penny.
Tencel is one of the only synthetic materials you'll find that has a reputation for having a cooling, moisture-wicking effect. If you aren't a fan of organic material, then this is a great choice for you.
Click here to get a Tencel sheet set from Amazon.
Cotton Percale
Are you a night sweater? Do you want to get a better set of sheets that offers a little bit of wicking and a lot of cooling power? Percale is probably the number that you want. This woven fabric provides a serious cooling property that makes it striking as a cooling bed sheet on hot summer nights. The crisp feeling of percale is the perfect pick for people who want to chill out.
While percale might be less commonly-mentioned than standard cotton sheets, you can still find them in almost every shade of the rainbow. Versatile, right?
Click here to get percale sheets for your bed from Amazon.
Conclusion
Flannel's warmth and softness made it a top choice for homes throughout the Northern hemisphere. It's almost synonymous with making a bed during winter. However, people often forget that flannel is still reasonably breathable. If you have a set of flannel sheets you adore, their breathable build will make it possible for you to enjoy them year-round without breaking into a sweat.
Of course, there's always a chance that you could live in an area that is super warm or that you may have a tendency to sweat at night. If either of these situations is the case, then you probably should consider a different sheet material. Thankfully, there are plenty of other options to choose from. Percale, cotton, and Tencel all have their perks. Happy sheet shopping!