13 Pairs of Cooling Pajamas, So You Don’t Wake Up In a Puddle of Sweat
While night sweats tend to be associated with menopause, they can happen in people in their 20s and 30s who aren't going through menopause. Some factors that mess with your body's ability to thermoregulate are alcohol and stress (two things that, if you're like me, you're having more of in this hellscape of a year).
Hot flashes are one of the most common side effects of menopause, with around 80 percent of menopausal people having them. "Menopause is terrible for women’s sleep, and hot flashes exacerbate the sleep disturbances. When the skin changes temperature and sweating occurs, often drenching the bed clothes, sleep interruptions are inevitable," says gynecologist Felice Gersh, MD, author of PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track. "Hot flashes and night sweats are related to brain functions." She says that while we don't know the exact mechanism of hot flashes, we do have some insight.
There are two main things Dr. Gersch says could be causing hot flashes and night sweats in menopausal people. First, a drop in estrogen essentially causes the balance of your parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems to shift. Your sympathetic nervous system (you may know this as the one that controls your fight-or-flight response) has more output than your parasympathetic one. This leads to sweating and changes in skin temperature, Dr. Gersh says. It could also have to do with lowered hormone levels messing with your hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that regulates your body temperature.
"Any method that keeps the skin cool and dry will benefit sleep," says Dr. Gersh. "Moisture wicking sleepwear serves a very unique need to keep the skin cool and dry. That helps with comfort and therefore with sleep." These sleep sets could help anyone experiencing night sweats or overheating, not just people who are menopausal. Below, shop our picks for cooling pajamas.
Best Cooling Pajamas for Women
This looks like a regular tee, but it’s designed to keep you cool and dry all through the night. It’s microbial so you can go an extra day in between laundry loads, and it comes in four different colors. Lunya makes cooling shorts, too.
Pros
- Antimicrobial
- Breathable
Cons
- Runs big/boxy fit
- Expensive
This floral chemise says, “I wake up in the morning to birds chirping and then drink an herbal tea while dyeing fabrics using berries I picked in the woods.” Even if your real life is more like like waking up to the sound of the garbage truck, laying in bed in for a full hour trying to summon the will to get through your to-do list, and then drinking four cups of black coffee. (Whichever one, at least you won’t be overheated.)
Pros
- Adjustable straps
- Built-in bra
- One-piece
Cons
- Some reviewers say seams are scratchy
This delicate bamboo viscose set comes in black, cream, light pink, and sky blue. I need one in every color, please and thank you. (*Bank account screams into the void.*)
Pros
- Organic bamboo viscose
- Up to UPF 50
- Comes as a set
Cons
- Some reviewers say straps are uncomfortable
This matching pajama set is made of a polyester/spandex blend that’s both super soft and breathable. It comes in a ton of color and patterns so you can pick up a few sets to switch between.
One reviewer said, “These PJs are so comfortable. I live in a place with high humidity so I love the fact the fabric doesn’t cling to you. The fabric is the perfect thickness, not too thin but not so thick you’re sweating in them. Plus they feel so smooth and soft and very breathable.”
Pros
- Button front allows you to adjust to your preference
- Lots of color options
- Comes as a set
Cons
- Reviewers say the shorts run small
This is the bedtime version of the comfy t-shirt dresses that have become a staple in our pants-less WFH outfit rotation. It’s made with a fabric that feels like soft cotton, but is better because it wicks away moisture and is anti-microbial. It comes in sizes S to 3X.
Pros
- Moisture-wicking
- Antimicrobial
- One-piece
Cons
- Runs short
- Reviewers have mixed feelings about the side pockets
Though it looks and feels silky, this cami is made from bamboo lyocell—which is good for both the environment and keeping you cool while you slumber because it’s breathable and moisture-wicking.
Pros
- 100 percent bamboo
- Sustainably made
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- Runs small
This set is made from bamboo lycra, which is quick-drying and cooling. It comes in approximately a zillion colors and prints, and is available in sizes S to 2X.
Pros
- Lost of color options
- Soft and moisture-wicking
- Comes as a set
Cons
- Runs small
This tee and shorts duo is made of soft antibacterial, thermo-regulating fabric. It also made me wonder how many days in a row you can wear clothes before you’re classified as a hot mess, because the set is so comfy I never want to take it off.
Pros
- Naturally deodorizing and antibacterial
- Side vents for more air flow
- Comes as a set
Cons
- Expensive
Best Cooling Pajamas for Men
You may already have some classic Hanes shirts or underwear in your closet, now add a pair of cooling pajamas. This short sleeve and pants set is made with a cotton/polyester blend and has X-Temp technology, which adapts to your body’s temperature and also wicks away sweat.
Pros
- Breathable
- Designed to adapt to body temperature
- Comes as a set
Cons
- Pants run big/long
Made with eucalyptus fibers, this lightweight tank top is 8x more breathable than cotton to prevent overheating while you snooze. And for particularly hot sleepers, it also dries in 1/3 of the time.
Pros
- Breathable
- Eucalyptus fiber
- Fast-drying
Cons
- Expensive
Lightweight with a relaxed fit, these pajama pants are breathable and have 4-way stretch. They’re also moisture-wicking and anti-odor, so you can feel and smell fresh on even hot nights.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Moisture-wicking
- Affordable
Cons
- Pants run long
Breathable and moisture-wicking, this comfy t-shirt will help regulate your body temperature while you sleep. One reviewer said, “Superior to any sleep wear I’ve ever worn by far. I instantly felt cooler just wearing this sleep wear outside of bed and once in bed it delivered as advertised and beyond my expectations.”
Pros
- Breathable
- Moisture-wicking
- Tagless
Cons
- Shorts sold separately
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