WHY THE REST EVERCOOL IS OUR TOP-TESTED COOLING COMFORTER

As a long-time hot sleeper, I'm guilty of not being able to sleep without cool air conditioning. While I'm not at the point of fending off menopause-related hot flashes quite yet, I'm no stranger to overheating and night sweats. I often find myself kicking off the covers in the middle of the night or sleeping with just a flat sheet for relief. That was until I started using the Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter in May 2022, mere weeks after its launch. Since then, it's helped keep me and multiple consumer testers comfortable during hot, sweaty nights.

At the Good Housekeeping Textiles Lab, our analysts (myself included) have tested dozens of comforters throughout the years, including those with advertised cooling properties. We evaluate them both in our Lab, using standardized testing machinery and industry-trusted methodology, and send them to consumer testers, including self-described hot sleepers and those going through menopause, who try them out at home and provide real-world feedback. After thorough consideration, we named the Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter the best cooling comforter and awarded it a 2024 Best Bedding Award.

Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter Overview

Since its initial launch in May 2022, you've likely heard about the Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter at least once, whether through an ad on social media, an online article, TV segments or even from your neighborhood hot sleeper. Still, if you haven't felt it in person, you're likely skeptical. After all, how cool could it really be? Let's get into it.

What it's made of

Rest's Evercool Cooling Comforter is comprised of a 90% nylon, 10% spandex knit outer shell with a 70% Sorona Polyester and 30% Tencel Lyocell fiber fill. Nylon, like polyester, is a synthetic fiber that's often found in cooling sheets, comforters and pajamas thanks to its excellent moisture-wicking properties that make it great for coping with night sweats. Rest told us the nylon used was "micro denier nylon," which means it's ultra-thin and intended to provide a buttery soft feel. The spandex provides stretch for added comfort. As for the fill, the brand shared that the Sorona Polyester "has a curled structure," which is intended to create a "lighter, softer and fluffier" texture, while the lyocell helps wick away moisture.

Rest also reported that the comforter had a measured Qmax of 0.40 in third-party testing. Qmax is related to the thermal responsivity of a material; it basically reports how “cool” a fabric feels on your skin. As a comparison, Rest's comforter earned a higher value — meaning it feels cooler — than lyocell, which has a Qmax of 0.21, and rayon derived from bamboo, which clocks in at 0.15.

The resulting comforter feels cool to the touch with an "icy feel" that our testers definitely noticed. It's not quite as fluffy as a traditional down comforter, but it has a silky nature that still won over our testers.

Why we love it

While cooling bedding can be hit or miss, this cooling comforter earned unanimous praise from all of our testers. It worked well for both solo hot sleepers and couples with different sleep temperature preferences. "My husband hates if I open a window at night, so I regularly (almost every night) woke up soaked in sweat," said one tester. "Since using the Rest comforter, I have been comfortable all night long! Somehow it manages to regulate our temperatures to keep us snug and cozy but not overheated all night."

Textiles Lab testing results

To make sure it lived up to its moisture-wicking claims, we put the outer fabric to the test with our Moisture Management Tester (MMT) to see how it responded to a synthetic sweat solution. We looked at how quickly it absorbed and wicked away sweat, how fast the fabric dried afterward and more. The fabric excelled, earning top scores and outperforming other cooling bedding we've tested.

We were also impressed by how it instantly felt cool on our hands and appreciated the construction details, including the corded edges and secure-feeling single-stitch quilting. While it felt fairly thin and lightweight, the fill still felt soft and plush. It also laundered easily (with room to spare in our washers).

Rest previously recommended that users hang the comforter to dry rather than tumble drying it (though the brand now says either is acceptable). It dried quickly when we line-dried it in our tests, but I've also tumble-dried mine at home without issue.

Consumer tester feedback

To see how the comforter performed for real users, we enlisted the help of 10 consumer testers, who rated it for overall comfort, perceived body temperature, how well it stayed in place, if it shed at all, how quiet it was and more. They also shared more about their user experience, including any likes, dislikes or other notes and commented on how easy it was to care for and maintain.

The Pros

Our consumer testers, both those who run hot or who share the bed with a partner who does, have praised this comforter for its cooling nature. One described it as a "soft, cool cloud," while another exclaimed, "I was skeptical because this comforter is so thin, but I swear this comforter is magic!"

Other testers liked using it year-round, with one noting, "I loved the weight as it felt nice and made me feel secure since I always need to sleep with a cover. It kept me at a great sleeping temperature even in warmer and colder nights." Personally, I'd have to agree, except for truly cold winter nights, I find myself gravitating to the Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter.

Beyond our testers and their partners, it was also a huge hit with their pets.

One said, "Our cats love this comforter. They love stretching out and rubbing their bellies on this blanket because it’s unlike any other one we have and very cooling." Another shared a similar experience, remarking, "My dogs have chosen to sleep on it during the day, uninvited, and it’s held up nicely to their nails."

The Cons

While it's a favorite of our testers and experts, it's not perfect. A few testers commented on the thin appearance, noting it looked odd on their beds, especially compared to a traditional fluffy comforter. Some commented that the soft, silky outer fabric could be too silky at times and slipped off their beds. And one tester found it stained easily: She said, "If someone spills water or the cats drool on it, there is an instant mark on it, but they do come out easy."

Still, our testers agreed that the pros outweighed the cons and said they'd like to continue to use it. One summed it up best and said, "I’ll happily trade [anything] for comfortable sleeping temperatures all night."

How it's held up

I've been using this comforter for a little over two years (the longest of any of our testers), though I do swap to a down comforter during colder months. That's not to say it's a summer-only product, as many of our testers continue to use it year-round. I've also consistently laundered it on a regular basis without issue.

After two years, the outer fabric feels just as soft and cool as it did when it was new, and it still keeps me comfortable throughout the night, especially when I have night sweats in the summer. Still, I tend to move around when I sleep, which has resulted in one small area (about 2 square inches) where the fill has shifted. But our other testers — including one who's used it for nearly two years — haven't had the same issue.

Do you need a duvet cover?

No! Rest says, "The Evercool Comforter is designed to be used without a duvet cover to maximize the benefits." I don't use a duvet cover with it, and neither did most of our consumer testers. One said, "[The] outer fabric is soft and silky," and others found they preferred to forego a duvet cover to maximize the cooling feel.

The bottom line: Is the Rest Evercool Comforter worth it?

For hot sleepers, yes, it's definitely worth trying! This cooling comforter has been revolutionary for our testers (myself included). It feels notably cool to the touch (much more so than similar products we've tested), and it wicks away moisture with ease, which comes in handy for those with night sweats. Plus, Rest also offers a 30-night no-questions-asked return policy.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Grace Wu is a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute and has worked with hundreds of consumer testers to evaluate home products, including cooling mattresses and cooling mattress pads. She's a longtime hot sleeper and swears by cooling pajamas and cooling comforters for relief. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University.

2024-06-27T19:06:15Z dg43tfdfdgfd