The 8 best pairs of cooling pajamas, as tested by a hot sleeper

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The 8 best pairs of cooling pajamas, as tested by a hot sleeper

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  • Cooling pajamas are just one way that hot sleepers can find relief.
  • We tested several pairs made from cooling fabrics to see which ones actually helped keep us from waking up in a puddle of perspiration.

If you wake up hot and sticky from perspiration, as if your body cranked up its internal temperature to sauna status, you're not alone. Over the last year or so, I've become a hot — and, admittedly, a very sweaty — sleeper. I wake up warm almost every morning, sometimes even in the middle of the night, regardless of how cool my husband and I keep our bedroom or how light our bed sheets are. But just when I thought I'd exhausted all my resources, a loved one recommended swapping out my sleepwear for cooling pajamas. Now, thanks to this simple switch, beauty sleep has meaning again.

What to look for in a pair of cooling pajamas, according to a sleep psychologist

A fresh pair of cooling pajamas might just be your saving grace if you're also someone who constantly wakes up hot and sweaty. When shopping for new sleepwear, health and sleep psychologist Joshua Tal, PhD tells INSIDER that shoppers should look for fabrics like cotton, linen, bamboo, and rayon, as these materials "allow your body to release moisture, but [are] loose enough to let air in to cool you down and wick away the moisture." Eucalyptus fibers are also great, as they're ultra-lightweight, hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking, and cool to the touch, adds Elle Liu, founder of cooling sheets brand, Eucalypso.

It's also worth noting that, while the term "cooling pajamas" doesn't have the sexiest connotation, you can rest assured these sleep garments come in an array of styles. From tank tops and shorts to flowing nightgowns and form-fitting garments, read on to find out which cooling pajamas we've tested and loved.

How we tested these cooling pajamas:

I slept in nearly a dozen pairs of cooling pajamas for this test, but in order to determine the best, I had a few criteria that needed to be met. First, they had to be lightweight; I didn't want to feel like I was swimming in material or being weighed down. Secondly was the sweat factor: Was I still waking up in a pool of perspiration with my clothes sticking to my skin? And, finally, were the pajamas cooling enough that I slept through the night? This list only include the ones that were most comfortable, fit properly, and prevented my nightly hot flashes from becoming puddles of sweat.

These are the best cooling pajamas:Table of Contents: Static
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Dagsmejan Sleep Dress

Dagsmejan Sleep Dress
Dagsmajen
With sizes ranging from S to 2 XL, the Dagsmejan Sleep Dress lays nicely over the curvature of your body without being too fitted. It's cool-to-the-touch, lightweight, and made with a silky and breathable eucalyptus fabric.

Trust me when I say this is not your mother's signature nightie. Dagsmejan's sleep dress is constructed from the brand's "Natcool" fabric, which is 92% microlyocell, a natural microfiber from eucalyptus that is widely considered cooler than linen and trumps cotton at moisture management. It also feels like silk — cool to the touch and smooth. Plus, the remaining 8% of the garment is made with elastane, so it's super stretchy and non-constricting.

I love how the slip dress feels like a second skin and looks beautiful on. Waking up in a pool of sweat isn't sexy, but Dagsmejan's cooling sleep dress is.

Become Anti-Flush Night Dress

Become Anti-Flush Night Dress
Become
Originally designed to prevent menopausal hot flashes and night sweats, the Become Anti-Flush Night Dress is the barely-there, second-skin sleep gown that hot sleepers of every age can appreciate.

You don't have to be experiencing menopausal hot flashes to reap the benefits of the Become nightdress (but if you are, keep reading). The brand's exclusive Anti-Flush technology is a serious game-changer for hot and sweaty sleepers of all ages and walks of life.

Here's how it works: The sleepwear's nylon fabric is made with a flat thread and knitted cross-section, and features a unique coating that works rapidly to transfer heat elsewhere, bring your temperature down, and evaporate moisture away from the body. A second coating then stores said heat and releases it back into the body during the chill that follows. This way, your body temperature remains stable through heat and chill. It also fights odors, so your sweat doesn't stink through your clothes.

It's worth noting that I'm as passionate about how this dress makes me feel as I am about how it looks on. This nightgown is gorgeous and wears like a second skin, almost like a slip dress. It's seam-free, lightweight, and comes in three colors: black, navy blue, and white.

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Pact Lightweight Sleep Set

Pact Lightweight Sleep Set
Pact
Pact's Lightweight Sleep Set is the ideal balance of fitted and roomy, with adjustable shoulder straps and waistband for the perfect fit that's neither clingy nor totally oversized.

Pact's sleep set has been, by far, my favorite bottom and top combo in terms of fit. The lightweight set strikes the perfect balance of comfort and breathability without being baggy. The tank top's straps are adjustable, so they won't slip off your shoulders constantly, and the shorts come with a drawstring so you won't have to hike them up all night.

I think the fit of these pajamas is one of the main reasons why they're so cooling. You aren't drowning in a surplus of material when you wear them, and they stay put while you toss and turn throughout the night. It's a combination of the set's breezy fit and the fabric — 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton — that makes them super lightweight and comfy.

Nest Bedding Unisex Bamboo Pajamas

Nest Bedding Unisex Bamboo Pajamas
Nest
For a pajama set that's both cooling and cozy, few pairs compare to Nest Bedding's long-sleeve button-down and roomy bottoms, made from breezy bamboo fabric.

I'll admit, I was skeptical to give Nest Bedding's long-sleeved nightshirt and matching pants a shot. I wake up drenched in shorts and a T-shirt, so I'm sure you can understand why long-sleeved sets wouldn't exactly be on my radar, especially in the summer. But after sleeping in both the long-sleeved top and bottom (together and paired with other various pj bottoms and tops), I can honestly say that Nest Bedding's set is the perfect option for hot sleepers who still enjoy a cozy pair of pajamas.

I've officially added these cooling pajamas to my nightly rotation for summer and beyond. The set is made from bamboo fiber rather than cotton or rayon — fabrics that are commonly known to be cooling. The waistline in the pants are also super stretchy.

The pajamas only come in three sizes (Small/Medium, Medium/Large, Extra Large), and in my experience, they're roomy and cozy in all the right places.

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Soma Chemise

Soma Chemise
Soma
One of the many downsides to being a warm (albeit sweaty) sleeper is when perspiration makes your PJs stick to your body, but the chemise material of this short-and-tank set from Soma, that's a nonissue.

These cooling pajamas are made of 93% rayon, a manufactured, lightweight fiber derived from all-natural sources (think wood and agricultural products) that helps you stay cool and feel fresh. They're also gorgeously designed with leaf lace trimming along the V-neckline, which makes the set feel more like a luxury than a necessity. Soma's PJs generally run a bit larger, so I suggest sizing down if you like a more tailored fit.

Sheex Cross-Back Cami and Shorts

Sheex Cross-Back Cami and Shorts
Sheex
Some materials just feel cool, and Sheex's silky 'SleepFit' fabric is one of them.

My first impression of the sleepwear was that it looked like a pretty standard sporty tank top and shorts set, but a lot goes into making these cooling pajamas so effective.

To start, both pieces are constructed from the same Sheex performance fabrics as its sheets, which are incredibly breathable, moisture-wicking, and maintain your body's ideal sleep temperature. And unlike other cooling pajamas that are purposely designed a little looser to keep air circulating, Sheex's pajamas are breathable, but still fit close to the body. The top also features extra chest support and coverage on the inseam, plus criss-cross straps for a sporty aesthetic.

Sheex Women's Cross-Back CamiSheex Women's P.J. Shorts
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Aerie Real Free Rib Boxer and Tank Set

Aerie Real Free Rib Boxer and Tank Set
Aerie
For anyone who wakes up sweaty, with their clothes sticking to their skin, Aerie's new line of cooling pajamas are loose-fitting and made with lightweight materials so you stay cool, dry, and comfortable all night long.

I've yet to come across an article of clothing by Aerie that I didn't love, so naturally I had high hopes for their new line of cooling pajamas. I'm happy to say that I wasn't disappointed by this set.

I typically gravitate towards pajamas that feel silky-smooth, but the brand's Real Soft blend surprised me. The pajamas are made from viscose, cotton, and elastane, which are known to be cooling, lightweight materials. The set also runs large (I'm an XS and it was loose on), so there's plenty of room for air to circulate, keeping you nice and chill throughout the night.

Coolibrium The Ultimate Sleep Tank

Coolibrium The Ultimate Sleep Tank
Coolibrium
Coolibrium's day-or-night tank top dress keeps you cool via Thermal Regulation technology that regulates your body temperature by quickly transferring heat and wicking moisture away.

If nightshirts are your arch-nemesis, here's a tank to pair with all your favorite bottoms. While the Coolibrium brand is new to the market, I tested its tank dress ahead of launch and can vouch for how well it works.

The label uses a proprietary Thermal Regulation technology developed by MAS Innovation (whom you might recognize from their work with THINX) to keep your body cool and your temperature regulated overnight. It's a silky, breathable fabric that quickly and effectively transfers heat, is moisture-wicking, anti-odor, and antimicrobial. I loved sleeping in it, but I also loved wearing it outside to beat the summer heat.

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