Apr 21, 2022
How to Choose a Weighted Blanket for Summer
As much as we love the sleep-inducing benefits of weighted blankets, we can admit that they’re not always the most practical choice for warm summer nights. Most weighted blankets are made with thick materials and insulating filler materials that trap body heat. These heat-retaining properties, while ideal for sleeping in cold weather, can quickly lead to overheating if you’re a hot sleeper or live in a warmer climate.
While you could always offset the heat of your weighted blanket by lowering the AC temp, a better option exists: a weighted blanket for summer. Many companies, including Gravity Blankets, now offer special cooling weighted blankets designed to keep you cool, calm and comfortable on those sweltering summer evenings.
Interested? Yep, we thought so. Read on for a simple guide on how to choose a weighted blanket for summer. We’ll also provide a few of our favorite tips to help you sleep soundly in the heat.
Try Our Cooling Weighted Blanket
1. Seek Out Breathable Fabrics
Many people mistakenly believe that weighted blankets are warm because they’re heavy. But in fact, it has more to do with the type of fabric covering the blanket than anything else. As with regular blankets, weighted blankets are available in a range of fabric options: cotton, flannel, fleece, polyester and more. And not all of them are suitable for hot sleepers.
If staying cool and dry while you sleep is a top priority, consider looking for a weighted blanket made with the following fabrics:
Cotton: There’s a reason why many people prefer to sleep under a cotton weighted blanket in the warmer months. Known for their breathability and softness, cotton weighted blankets allow for maximum airflow to ensure you stay comfortable on balmy summer nights. They also come with the added bonus of being durable, soft and easy to clean!
Bamboo: Weighted blankets made from bamboo typically consist of rayon, modal or lyocell, a fabric derived from “cellulosic fibers,” or fibers structured from the esters of cellulose. This material is super breathable, moisture-wicking and highly sustainable, making it a great choice for summer bedding.
Linen: When it comes to choosing a weighted blanket for the summer, linen is a no-brainer. For one, it has thermoregulatory properties, which means it adapts to the temperature of your skin. This is important since our sleep quality is closely tied to our body’s natural heat regulation. Linen also wicks away moisture, keeping you cool and dry all night long.
2. Don’t Overlook the Filler for Your Weighted Blanket
Another important factor to consider when choosing a weighted blanket for summer is the material used to fill your weighted blanket. The two most common weighted blanket fillers are plastic poly pellets and glass beads.
Plastic poly pellets are one of the most popular weighted blanket fillers because they’re inexpensive, durable and easy to clean. However, they come with a major downside — they’re excellent insulators, which means they retain heat.
If you’re looking for a cooler option, try a weighted blanket containing glass beads. Unlike plastic, glass is an excellent conductor of heat, which means it can speedily transfer heat and help you stay cool.
3. Use a Lightweight Duvet
A duvet cover is a must-have for your weighted blanket, especially during the hot and humid months when your sweat glands are working overtime to keep you cool. Most experts recommend washing your bedding more often in the summertime to combat the additional moisture, dust mites and bacteria — and a duvet cover can make this unpleasant chore much simpler. When choosing a duvet cover, follow the same fabric advice mentioned above. Linen and cotton duvets are great choices for the summer because they’re lightweight and breathable.
4. Embrace Lighter Colors
This one ultimately comes down to personal preference, but if you want to give your bedroom some seasonal flair, consider choosing a weighted blanket in a lighter hue for the summer. White is a great color for summertime bedding. It’s clean, refreshing and timeless. If you prefer to have more color in your bedroom, consider choosing a weighted blanket duvet cover in light blue or green.
Other Tricks to Stay Cool
Looking for more ways to beat the heat at night? We’ve got you covered with these tips.
- Try the ‘one foot out’ method. The next time you’re overheating in bed, try sticking one foot out from under your weighted blanket. According to the experts, this neat little hack supports our bodies’ natural pre-sleep cooling, making it easier to fall into a restful slumber.
- Instead of blasting the AC, use a cooling eye mask instead. In addition to helping you stay cool, our cooling eye mask distributes weighted pressure to key pressure points on the face for a calming effect.
- Get naked. Sleeping naked is a great way to stay cool on hot nights. Not only does sleeping in the buff help you cool down more quickly, but it also improves your overall sleep quality.
- Invest in a rotating fan. Also known as an oscillating fan, a rotating fan blows air in all directions, creating an evenly distributed airflow to keep you cool all night long.
You don’t have to stow your weighted blanket away when warm weather arrives. With these tips, you can find a high-quality weighted blanket that keeps you calm and cool all summer long!
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