Finding the best cooling mattresses for men who run hot doesn’t have to be a drag — we’ve done all the research for you, and put it together in this handy guide.
Guys, if you’ve ever found yourself kicking off the sheets at night, waking up frequently to flip your pillow, or soaking the sheets with sweat, the right choice of mattress can be a game changer. With even a small investment, a cooling memory foam mattress can let you sleep better, longer, and more comfortably.
In this guide, we’ll be covering everything you need to know about finding the best cooling mattress, including:
- Our overall #1 pick for the best cooling mattress for men who run hot
- What to look for when buying a mattress for hot sleepers
- The best places to buy cooling mattresses
So when you’re ready for a better night’s sleep, let’s get started!
Quick Take
Too sleepy to read the full article? We understand. Here’s the abbreviated version of our top picks in each category:
- Best Overall: Zinus 12 Inch Gel Memory Foam Pocket Spring Hybrid Mattress
- Also Great: 10 Inch Iyee Nature Cooling-Gel Memory Foam Mattress Bed in a Box
- Budget Pick: Olee Sleep 10 inch Omega Hybrid Gel Infused Memory Foam and Pocket Spring Mattress
- The Upgrade: Classic Brands Cool Gel Chill Memory Foam 14-Inch Mattress with 2 BONUS Pillows
Each one of those mattresses deserves to be in someone’s bedroom. But which one is right for you?
Before we get into the details though, let’s address the elephant in the room: why should you buy a cooling mattress, anyway? Are they the best way to get a better night’s sleep?
A Brief Overview of Cooling Mattresses for Men Who Run Hot
Mattresses sure have come a long way from their origins, where they might have been nothing more than a large sack stuffed with hay, feathers, or horse hair. But once cotton filling came along, mattress innovation stalled for nearly 100 years — until the introduction of foam mattresses.
Every cooling mattress uses foam to some degree. You’ll find mattresses made entirely of memory foam that cater to soft sleepers, or hybrid models that incorporate inner springs and cater to firm sleepers. Latex foams and high density foams make for even firmer sleeping experiences, but tend to be too dense and heat retaining for men who run hot.
What to Look for When Buying A Cooling Gel Mattress
There’s a huge market for cooling mattresses online, and each product is definitely not of equal quality. To get the best value for your money, we recommend keeping these things in mind while you search for the best mattress for your bedroom:
Consideration #1: Size Matters
It might sound silly to say, but confirming the final price for the size of your mattress can be the biggest point of variance between brands. Where one brand might offer a great deal for a twin, another could be overcharging for a queen. Don’t take the first price you see at face value; do a little digging and adjust the options to fit your bed size.
Consideration #2: What Type of Sleeper Are You?
Even though everyone who’s looking for a cooling mattress runs hot, that’s often where their sleep style similarities end. What sort of firmness are you looking for? Do you prefer box springs, memory foam, or a hybrid? If you know what level of firmness you’re looking for, it’s much easier to choose the best deal.
Consideration #3: Warranty and Return Policy
Each mattress will break in differently depending on the people who sleep in it as well as the specifics of its design and construction — which means that what might be super comfortable for one person, could be terrible for another. Look for mattresses that offer a significant warranty, and/or a money back guarantee within a certain time frame, and you’ll be able to test and determine for yourself whether it’s right for you.
Top 5 Best Cooling Mattresses Right Now
All five of the cooling mattresses listed here offer something special, and we’re confident that one of them will fit perfectly in your bedroom. For the sake of fair comparison, we’ve chosen queen size mattresses from each brand.
1. Zinus 12 Inch Gel Memory Foam Pocket Spring Hybrid Mattress
To receive our top recommendation, a mattress has to do three things: Keep you cool all night long, provide comfortable sleeping arrangements for one or two people, and come with a great warranty. Zinus’s Hybrid Memory Foam/Pocket Spring Mattress does all of that and more, at a price that’s far better than you’ll find in almost any brick and mortar mattress store.
Combining gel memory foam and pocketed springs, this Zinus mattress minimizes motion transference and maximizes heat absorbing potential, leaving you cool and dry all night long.
It’s boxed and ready to ship, but keep in mind that you’ll need to allow 72 hours for it to decompress to its full size. Combine all of these traits with a 10-year warranty, and it’s easy to see why this hybrid mattress receives our top recommendation.
Is Zinus’s 12 Inch Gel Memory Foam Pocket Spring Hybrid Mattress right for you? Here are the pros and cons:
PROS
- Incredible cooling potential
- Near-perfect blend of padding and support
- Fantastic warranty
CONS
- On the upper end of Amazon mattress prices
- May be too firm for soft sleepers
Here’s the bottom line: The Zinus Hybrid Mattress is every hot sleeper’s dream, and works great for couples or singles. It’s backed by a long warranty, and covered with Prime shipping for maximum savings and security.
2. 10 Inch Iyee Nature Cooling-Gel Memory Foam Mattress Bed in a Box
If our top recommendation seems a little too firm for your tastes, Iyee’s Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress will almost certainly be to your tastes. It foregoes the hybrid spring design for a solid 10 inches of memory foam, making it completely soft and squishable.
Like the Zinus, Iyee’s memory foam mattress is bed-in-a-box style that will need time to expand. It’s covered by a 10-year warranty, and topped with a generous portion of cooling gel for maximum heat reduction.
Is the Iyee Nature Cooling-Gel Memory Foam Mattress Bed in a Box right for you? Here are the pros and cons:
PROS
- Softer alternative to our top pick
- Solid memory foam construction vents heat admirably
- Affordable and covered by free Prime shipping
CONS
- Transfers a fair bit of movement if you sleep with a partner
- Sometimes takes more than 72 hours to expand to full height
Here’s the bottom line: Iyee’s Memory Foam Mattress is an affordable alternative to our top choice, and a better pick for sleepers who prefer a fairly soft mattress.
3. Olee Sleep 10 inch Omega Hybrid Gel Infused Memory Foam and Pocket Spring Mattress
Exceptionally affordable and right in the middle between soft and firm, Olee Sleep’s Hybrid Memory Foam and Pocket Spring Mattress is an incredible bargain for the hot sleeper on a budget. If you need to buy a mattress fast to start sleeping better, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more accessible start than the Olee Sleep.
Let’s be frank, here: Is the Olee Sleep the best mattress you’ll ever sleep on? No. But it is the best mattress you’ll sleep on for this price, especially if you usually run hot while sleeping. It only needs 48 hours to decompress, and can be set up in no time for a new apartment or bedroom. If it weren’t for the lack of a specified warranty, the Olee might have ranked much higher on our list.
Is product 1 right for you? Here are the pros and cons:
PROS
- Most affordable mattress on this list
- Sets up in no time
- Excellent balance between softness and firmness
CONS
- No mention of warranty from manufacturer
- Likely to wear out faster than our top pick
Here’s the bottom line: Olee Sleep’s 10 inch Omega Hybrid Gel Infused Memory Foam and Pocket Spring Mattress is a crazy bargain for a solidly built bed. It’s great in a pinch if the mattress you’re currently sleeping on is driving you crazy, but don’t expect it to last forever.
4. Classic Brands Cool Gel Chill Memory Foam 14-Inch Mattress with 2 BONUS Pillows
Offering 14 inches of pure memory foam layers, Classic Brands’ mattress and pillow set is our choice for the best upgrade that a guy who runs hot could hope for. With multiple layers of foam and gel combinations to dissipate heat, it’s the coolest mattress of any we’ve reviewed here.
Firm sleepers need not apply for this mattress, though; it’s a dedicated medium-plush, and has quite a bit of loft to it. The added memory foam pillows are a nice bonus for hot sleepers, as they’re cooler than standard cotton — but the real icing on the cake here is the long 10-year warranty.
Is the Classic Brands Cool Gel Chill Memory Foam Mattress right for you? Here are the pros and cons:
PROS
- Best in class heat dispersion
- Super soft memory foam and gel construction
- Excellent warranty
CONS
- Not suitable for sleepers who prefer firm mattresses
- Fairly pricey
Here’s the bottom line: The Classic Brands Cool Gel Chill Memory Foam 14-Inch Mattress is an entirely worthwhile upgrade for sleepers who prefer their beds on the soft and plush side, and the best disperser of heat of any mattress on this list.
5. Linenspa 3 Inch Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper
What if your current mattress isn’t worn out, but you’re still sleeping too hot in it? Or if you’re only running too hot during the summer, but sleep comfortably in winter? The solution: Go for a cooling mattress topper, like Linenspa’s 3 inch gel-infused memory foam topper.
Available for a fraction of the price of a complete mattress, Linenspa’s mattress topper is great for men who aren’t sure whether a cooling gel mattress is right for them, or who just need a little extra support to sleep well. Be warned, though: Once you feel how comfortable this topper is, you’ll probably be tempted to get a full memory foam mattress!
PROS
- Affordable alternative to a mattress
- Gel infusion leads to excellent cooling potential
- Surprisingly robust 3 year warranty
CONS
- Not a complete mattress
- May only be a temporary solution to your problems
Here’s the bottom line: Linenspa’s Memory Foam Mattress Topper is a great way to dip your toes in the water for cooling mattresses, or a useful addition to a bed that you already enjoy but want to sleep cooler in.
Parting Thoughts: Invest In the Quality of Your Sleep
As long-time procrastinators for buying a higher-quality mattress, your authors can attest to the value of finally investing in a pricier mattress. But once you’ve been sleeping like a baby for a few months, the value of a good night’s sleep will become a cherished investment.
So here’s hoping that one of these cooling gel mattresses will be your Goldilocks bed — not too hot, not too cold, and just right to get a great night’s sleep.
