Breathable bedding and what it means
Short answer: Breathable means that air and moisture can pass through the fabric. Both the density of the weave and the ability of the fibre to absorb moisture decide how breathable bedding feels in practice.
Two things work together
The weave decides how much air can pass through the fabric. The fibre decides how much moisture is absorbed and passed on. Bedding can be good in one respect and less good in the other. It is the combination you feel when you lie under the duvet for a whole night.
Dense weaves
Very dense weaves feel smooth and soft but let less air through. Looser weaves let more air pass but can feel less smooth. There is no single right weave, it depends on what you prefer. Read more in the weave in bedding and what you can feel.
The fibre
Cellulose fibres such as bamboo viscose and cotton absorb moisture into the fibre itself. Synthetic fibres such as polyester hardly do. This means moisture from the skin has somewhere to go in a cellulose fabric. The term for this property is explained in what hygroscopic means about a fabric.
What you feel
A breathable set feels cooler in summer and less clammy in winter. You wake with a damp feeling less often, and the bed feels fresh for longer. The difference is greatest for people who sleep warm. See the range in bamboo bedding if you want to try bamboo viscose.
The duvet
A duvet with synthetic filling can make the whole bed clammy, whatever the cover. Moisture has to pass through both cover and duvet to get out, and if the duvet stops it, a breathable cover only helps partly. Think of duvet and cover as one system.
Washing
Fabric softener coats the fibres and reduces breathability. Wash at 40 degrees without softener and let the bedding air dry. Too much detergent can also stay in the fabric, so dose according to the instructions. More advice is in the washing guide.
In summer
In summer, breathability is what most people notice. A light cover and a thin duvet let heat escape, and a fibre that absorbs moisture makes the night less clammy. For more on choices for the warm months, read cooling bedding for summer.
In winter
Breathability also matters in winter, when moisture would otherwise gather under a heavy duvet. A cover that lets moisture through makes the bed less clammy, even when the duvet is warm. For choices for the cold season, read bedding for winter.
The bedroom
Bedding can only release moisture if the air in the room can take it. Air the room in the morning and fold back the duvet so the bed can dry before you make it. A cool bedroom with fresh air does more for a dry bed than any single product.
In short
Breathable bedding is about both weave and fibre. Choose a fabric that absorbs moisture, a weave you like the feel of and a duvet that does not trap moisture. Wash without fabric softener and air the room well. Then the bed feels fresh all year.
Frequently asked questions
What does breathable bedding mean?
That air and moisture can pass through the fabric. It depends on how densely the fabric is woven and how well the fibre absorbs moisture from the skin.
Is densely woven bedding less breathable?
Yes, a very dense weave lets less air through, but it feels smooth in return. The ability of the fibre to absorb moisture also matters a lot for how the bed feels.
What reduces breathability?
Fabric softener, which coats the fibres, and a duvet with synthetic filling, which traps moisture. Wash at 40 degrees without softener and air the room well.
See our range of Nordic Weaving bedding.
