For a Cooler Night's Sleep, Try SHEEX Sheets and Bedding

Founded by two former basketball coaches, this athletic gear-inspired bedding brand offers up soft, silky sheets, pillows and comforters that promote a cooler night's sleep. How's that for athleisure?

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Updated on May 22, 2023
Bedroom features neatly made bed with navy and gray bedding

I was first introduced to SHEEX while staying with a friend in Knoxville, Tennessee. “They were created by a Lady Vol!” she beamed, smoothing over her bed sheets. We’re both University of Tennessee alumnae, and we both can’t stand being hot. When Southern summers reach their peak, often with 95-degree weather for days, we retreat indoors (where we keep the thermostat below 70 year-round) until fall.


SHEEX was founded in 2007 by Michelle Marciniak and Susan Walvius (Virginia Tech alumnae), both former college basketball stars who were coaching basketball at the University of South Carolina. The founders say that on a hot summer day in August 25, 2007, Michelle (my fellow University of Tennessee alumna) turned to Susan and said she wished she could have bed sheets made out of the same performance fabric as the athletic gear they were wearing. Susan simply replied, “Let’s do it.” SHEEX was born.

SHEEX sells bedding, mattress pads, pillows and sleepwear that are cool to the touch and so soft that they made “Ridiculously Soft” a registered trademark. This is all thanks to the stretchy, breathable fabric, a blend of polyester and spandex reminiscent of that high-performance athletic wear. The moisture-wicking fabric helps regulate your temperature while you sleep, helping you get a deeper and much-less-sweaty sleep.

Brown cat lounging on and under white sheets

Cat Lounging on SHEEX Sheets

Peek under the SHEEX and you'll find another big fan of the cooling sheet sets: my friend's cat Butters.

Photo by: Jamie Vessell

Jamie Vessell

Peek under the SHEEX and you'll find another big fan of the cooling sheet sets: my friend's cat Butters.

If you’re a hot sleeper, SHEEX is a great alternative to standard sheets. They’re low-maintenance and wrinkle-free like jersey sheets, with a smooth, silky texture that feels luxurious to slip into at night. They do a good job of staying cool, especially if you have a tendency to blast the A/C during the summer – the cooler the room, the cooler the sheets tend to feel.

That being said, SHEEX sheets are not for everyone. One of the most common complaints I’ve seen is that the sheets are too silky, to the point of being “slippery.” I sleep in a satin bonnet with a satin pillowcase, so this doesn’t bother me, but if you don’t like that sensation, you might want to opt for another sheet set. (Check out The Best Sheets, Tested by HGTV Editors for our favorite recommendations). The sheets are also so smooth, they can catch on rough patches of skin – think dry heels or elbows. I’ll admit that this can be … upsetting, but for me, it’s worth the trade-off to have such cool, soft sheets.

Pricewise, SHEEX falls into a higher range. A queen-size Original Performance Sheet Set, which includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillowcases, retails for $250; however, they’re almost always having a 25 percent off sale, bringing the total down to just under $190. So keep in mind when you shop the products below that I’m listing their retail price, and you’re likely to find them on sale for much less. If you’re looking for a really good deal, check out their Final Sale section.

If you’re ready to switch up your bedding and get a cooler night’s sleep, explore SHEEX’s collection of bedding accessories below.

From $249

SHEEX’s original product, the Original Performance Sheet Set comes with a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillowcases. It also comes with a 60-night sleep trial; if you decide SHEEX isn’t for you, or would like to exchange them for another SHEEX product, you can return them. Hopefully, you won’t need to, though – the sheets are soft and luxuriously cool to the touch. They are naturally wrinkle-free, and the stretchy sheets have reinforced stitching at the corners so they stay put. I can also attest that my friend has had her SHEEX for years, and they have even held up to her two small burrowing dogs. If you’ve ever seen a chihuahua make its nest, you know they tend to scratch and dig at any soft surface. Human and pet hair can get snagged in the sheets, but it washes out easily.

PRICING: From $249 (5 sizes available in 11 colors)

CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Wash cold on a regular cycle with no bleach or fabric softener. Tumble dry low – do not use fabric dryer sheets. Do not iron.

From $439

This plush comforter was a major upgrade from my old, worn IKEA cooling comforter. It features the same cooling tech used in other SHEEX products and a hypoallergenic CoolX™ fiberfill. It has cross-shaped stitches that help keep the fiberfill from bunching up or moving around over the lifespan of the blanket, and extra stitching that runs down both sides of the blanket to help keep it in place and keep your bed looking tidy. It also has loops so you can add a duvet cover, though you can definitely use it without one. It’s the kind of blanket that makes you want to stop what you’re doing and snuggle up in it. Realistically, even the coolest of cooling blankets may still be a little warm if you are a very hot sleeper, especially in the heat of the summer. I never felt overly hot with this blanket, and in times where I felt myself getting warm (usually as the sun started to come up in the morning), I flipped the blanket over to the cool side and immediately dozed back off.
PRICING: From $439 (2 sizes available)
CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Machine wash cold separately on a gentle cycle; do not bleach. A high-capacity machine is recommended. Tumble dry low; do not iron.

From $269

The perfect pairing for the Original Performance Down Alternative Comforter, the duvet cover features a hidden zipper (no annoying buttons or snaps here!) and tie ribbons on the inside corners to keep your comforter in place while you sleep. Pillow shams come included with your purchase. If you’re already happy with your current sheets, the cooling duvet cover could be a great introduction to SHEEX products since it can fit your existing comforter.
PRICING: From $269 (2 sizes available)
CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Machine wash cold on a regular cycle; do not use bleach, fabric softener and also avoid fabric dryer sheets. Tumble dry low. SHEEX recommends zipping the duvet cover before drying. Do not iron.

$139

I tested a lot of cooling pillows over the summer, and this was one of the best. Where I questioned other pillows cooling factors, this one was cool right out of the box. I usually refuse to use any pillow without a pillowcase, but the Infinite Zen pillow has such a silky-smooth cover that I felt like I wouldn’t be getting the most out of the pillow if I covered it up with a regular cotton case. Heat doesn’t spread across the memory foam and cooling gel pillow – so not only could you flip the pillow to the cool side, but any part of the pillow that your head isn’t actively on stays cooler, too. This medium firmness pillow is rated for back and stomach sleepers. As a side sleeper and occasional stomach sleeper, I found myself wishing the Infinite Zen pillow was just a touch thicker. It’s a flexible pillow, so if you routinely change sleep positions or tend to bunch up your pillows in your sleep, the pillow isn’t overly firm and can adapt with you.

My only concern with the pillow is that after a few weeks I noticed some lint stuck in the individual fibers of the cover – I’m not sure what the pillow rubbed up against, but trying to remove the lint creates a spider web effect with the fibers. I’m hoping it’s something that will naturally come out in the wash.

PRICING: $139 (comes in standard/queen size)
CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Pillow insert: Spot clean with a mild detergent and water when necessary; do not attempt to wash the pillow in your machine – doing so could cause damage to the pillow, your machine and will void your warranty. Cover: Machine wash cold on a delicate cycle and line dry. Do not iron, dry clean or use bleach on the cover.

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