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The best mattress for side sleepers that also has cooling properties is made from highly breathable materials. These mattresses allow side sleepers to sleep cool by allowing air to flow. As a side sleeper, it is also important to find a mattress that provides adequate support for your hips and shoulders.
Without the proper mattress, you might end up either sweating throughout the night or wake up with aches and pains. Finding the best mattress, such as a hybrid mattress for side sleepers, is crucial to a good night’s sleep!
As a hot side sleeper, the ideal mattress needs to have two, crucial features:
Breathability
When you wake up sweating, you might wonder “why do I get so hot while sleeping?” The answer usually comes down to how breathable your mattress is.
The main thing that dictates whether a mattress will keep you cool at night or not boils down to the material it is made from. Some materials breathe better than others, such as latex and Airfoam™. This means they allow for better air circulation which in turn results in a cooler sleep.
On the other hand, materials like traditional memory foam tend to trap heat and do not breathe as easily - resulting in an uncomfortable hot sleep for many people.
If you are a hot side sleeper you should find a mattress that does not trap body heat but also allows for superior pressure relief and support. This will allow for a cool sleep while reducing pressure on the hips and shoulders when sleeping on one’s side.
Adequate Support
As a side sleeper, it is important to find a mattress that offers adequate support for your hips and mitigates side sleeper shoulder pain. A mattress that is too firm does not absorb your body weight, shifting that pressure directly into your hips and shoulders instead. This can result in pain and your body being misaligned when you sleep.
Side sleepers tend to prefer softer mattresses as this provides them with the pressure relief that they need. However, a mattress that is too soft can cause your body to sink resulting in bad posture. The best mattress for side sleepers should be a happy middle ground, not too firm and not too soft. This is key to how to sleep on your side without hurting shoulder.
Let’s break down the main materials used for bedding to find the best mattress for hot side sleepers.
Mattresses are made from a variety of materials, each with their own pros and cons. Let’s start with the most common mattress types;
Hot Sleepers |
Side Sleepers |
❌ |
❌ |
The viscoelastic materials trap heat, making it tough for hot side sleepers to stay cool. |
Memory foam mattresses do not provide adequate pressure relief for the hips and shoulders. |
Memory foam mattresses are popular and are widely available. Most memory foam mattresses are quite firm meaning that they’re not a good choice for side sleepers.
While having a soft memory foam mattress can be an OK choice for side sleepers as they provide average support for your shoulders and hips, they are notorious for retaining heat. The viscoelastic chemicals used in memory foam make it hard to get a cool, night’s sleep as they envelop the sleeper and trap their heat inside.
Hot Sleepers |
Side Sleepers |
✅ |
❌ |
Well-ventilated, making them good for hot sleepers. |
They wear out quickly, resulting in lumps and dents, especially for individuals that sleep on their side. This can lead to hip and shoulder pain while sleeping. |
Innerspring mattresses have been a staple in the industry for the past 200 years. While they might not be the best mattress for hot sleepers, they are quite breathable. What's more, innerspring mattresses range from being soft to firm so you can easily find the right mattress for you.
That being said, innerspring mattresses have a relatively short life as the springs can wear out, which can cause lumps and dents. In fact, an old inner-spring mattress can be the cause of a host of night aches and pains.
Hot Sleepers |
Side Sleepers |
✅ |
✅ |
Very resistant to heat changes helping the sleeper to stay cool at night. |
Pressure relieving on pain points like shoulders, hips, and knees. |
Latex mattresses can be a great choice for those looking to stay cool at night. As a material latex is effective at dissipating body heat, it also contours around the body which helps to keep the sleeper’s spine aligned. They tend to be springy and bounce back once pressure has been lifted making it a good choice for those who toss and turn during the night.
Hot Sleepers |
Side Sleepers |
✅ |
✅ |
Temperature-neutral which leads to a cool night’s sleep, making it the best mattress for hot sleepers. |
Designed especially for side sleepers and they provide pressure relief around the hips and shoulders. |
AirFoam™ mattresses are made from a newer material called AirFoam™. Airfoam™ is a fast, responsive, temperature-neutral cooling pressure relief foam with the bounce of latex. It doesn’t use any heat-trapping viscoelastic chemicals found in normal memory foam making it the best mattress for cool sleeping. The lack of heat-trapping chemicals and its innovative design helps air to flow through the mattress keeping it temperate neutral.
Airfoam™ mattresses are designed especially for side and back sleepers. They sit on the softer side of the firmness scale without being too soft and without lacking support for the back and spine. This makes them ideal for side and back sleepers looking for a comfortable night. They provide pressure relief around your hips and shoulders helping you get a relaxing night’s sleep. It is an excellent choice for those looking for targeted support on a cool and durable mattress.
The best mattress for hot sleepers is one that doesn’t trap air. This usually depends on the materials used to make the mattress. Certain materials, such as memory foam, use viscoelastic chemicals and these retain heat within the mattress. The best mattress for hot sleepers would be an AirFoam™ mattress. Other types of mattresses, such as Latex or innerspring also do a pretty adequate job of keeping the sleeper cool.
While innerspring mattresses tend to sleep cooler than other mattresses (such as memory foam), their short life span means that they are more of a quick fix rather than a solution. Memory foam mattresses, on the other hand, retain too much heat to allow a restful sleep for hot sleepers.
Airfoam™ mattresses hit the sweet spot between well-ventilated and the proper support that a side sleeper needs - making them the best mattress for hot side sleepers. However, as with all mattresses, it is important to test your mattress for yourself to find the right mattress for your body!
When trying to find the best mattress for hot side sleepers there are two points to keep in mind
Usually, the best mattress for side sleepers is one that is soft and provides adequate support for your body. To avoid overheating during the night find a mattress that allows hot air to escape the mattress.
If you want to find the best mattress for cool sleeping, consider the materials that your mattress is made from. Some materials are better than others at resisting temperature changes. And above all, find a mattress that is comfortable for you!
Nolah's foam mattresses are made from cooling, pressure-relieving AirFoam™ which is not only a breathable material (meaning that you’ll stay cool throughout the night) but it is also designed to provide the support that side and back sleepers need for a healthy night’s rest. Also important is ensuring you have the right accessories and finding the best pillow for side sleepers with the right structure and loft to support the head and neck.
If you’re looking for the best mattress for hot side sleepers, consider giving Nolah Mattress a try. You can have a full 120 nights to try it out for yourself from the comfort of your own home! The best part is that if you find out that a Nolah mattress doesn’t work out for you, you can return or exchange it easily. Try one out for yourself and fall in love with falling asleep!