What Should You Sleep In? Naked, Cotton or Bamboo

Short answer: What you should sleep in depends on how warm you get at night: most people sleep best in light, loose nightwear made from a breathable material such as bamboo viscose. Sleeping naked sounds cool, but it leaves the sweat in the sheet – and cotton turns heavy and clammy if you sweat.

Naked: the freedom has a downside

Without nightwear all the sweat goes straight into the sheet and the duvet, which turn damp and have to be washed more often. Skin against the duvet can also feel sticky on warm nights. If you sleep completely dry and cool it works fine – but many people do not.

Cotton: solid, but clammy with sweat

Cotton is soft and hard-wearing, but it holds on to moisture. If you sweat, the fabric turns heavy and cold, and you can wake up clammy. The difference between the materials is described in the comparison of bamboo and cotton.

Bamboo: the evenly warm choice

Bamboo viscose wicks the sweat away from the skin and dries quickly, so you neither get cold nor lie in the damp. Choose loose nightwear from bamboo nightwear for women or bamboo nightwear for men, and let bamboo bedding finish off the bed. Read more in the post about sleeping better with bamboo.

Frequently asked questions

Is it healthiest to sleep naked?

There is no clear-cut health answer. In practice what matters most is that without nightwear the sweat ends up in the bedding, which then has to be washed more often. Light, breathable nightwear keeps both you and the bed drier.

Why do I wake up clammy when I sleep in cotton?

Cotton soaks up sweat but releases it slowly. So the fabric turns damp and cool against the skin once you have been sweating during the night.

What is best to sleep in during the summer?

Loose, light nightwear in bamboo viscose – for example shorts and a thin top or a light nightdress. The material moves the sweat away and helps the body get rid of heat.