I’ll Never Use a Mattress Topper Again, Thanks to This Cooling Sleep Upgrade

For years, I tried virtually everything to help me get better sleep and sleep through the night: sleepy girl mocktails, magnesium, melatonin, weighted blankets, new pillows, even over-the-counter sleep aids. Some were gimmicky, some made me overly drowsy, others only worked for a few weeks until my body adjusted. And then I realized: Maybe it’s the cheap mattress and mattress toppers I’d been sleeping on for six years!

I know, it should’ve been obvious, but I genuinely thought if I was comfy, the problem couldn’t possibly be my mattress. Then, after a particularly rough night of sleep, I walked past Hästens Sleep Spa with a friend and spontaneously walked in just to see what they had going on. 

Through their “sleep spa experience,” we were able to lie down on a handful of mattresses to see what was best for our sleep style and preferences (I loved the medium-firm). While I didn’t end up taking one of their mattresses home, I realized I had never really looked into what would be the best type of mattress for me. 

I had gotten my old mattress on sale for $100 when I first moved to NYC at the ripe age of 21, and thought it’d be too much of a hassle (read: splurge) to upgrade. I got a firmer mattress because that’s what my parents always had, claiming it was better for your back. I added two mattress toppers over time, a 2-inch gel foam topper, and later, a plush cooling topper that I put on top of it.

After a few years, I decided it just wasn’t working. I’m a super-hot stomach and side sleeper, so when I got the opportunity to test the cooling mattress of my dreams, everything changed. Enter: The SweetNight CoolNest mattress.

The SweetNight CoolNest Mattress is made with six layers, including a supportive base layer and gel-infused memory foam, designed to make the mattress breathable and cooling. It comes in sizes full, queen, king and California king, and is also available in 12-, 14-, 16-inch-thick versions. 

I opted for the 14-inch full, and the sheer height felt instantly luxe compared to my old 6-inch mattress. It was easy to unwrap, and after I let it expand for nearly 48 hours, it was time to put it to the test.

After just one night on the SweetNight CoolNest mattress, I realized how much having a quality mattress can affect your quality of sleep (I mean, duh). I not only slept through the night comfortably, but I didn’t want to get out of bed! 

The top layer is made of a light, cushy, medium-firm foam wrapped in a super-breathable CoolNest cover, which wicks away moisture to keep you cool throughout the night. Beneath that are three more layers of memory and comfort foam with a support foam layer on the bottom. 

This final layer has a five-zone ergonomic support system for pressure point relief to redistribute your weight for proper spinal alignment, which I’m pretty sure is what makes it so easy on my back (and side and stomach). 

The real kicker for me about this full, lush mattress is how cool it keeps me. As someone who has the AC blasting alongside two standing fans running pretty much 24/7 through the warmer months, it felt like I was doomed to sweat no matter what. 

But the CoolNest fabric has 10,000 microvents atop airflow-promoting foam that help your skin breathe, keeping the mattress up to 8 degrees cooler — or 35% compared to standard fabrics — even with my mattress protector and fitted sheet. And honestly, I’ve been sleeping on this mattress for three months now and I’ve had the driest sleep of my life on it, even through NYC’s brutal heat waves.

Of course, as much as I love this mattress, what works for me won’t necessarily work for you. The CoolNest is recommended for hot sleepers, back and side sleepers, people with back pain, light sleepers, and those who frequently change positions — almost all of which are me. If you don’t fall into any of those categories, or you prefer a super soft or super firm mattress, this probably isn’t the one for you.

I was lucky enough that the mattress fit on my old bed frame, but not all bed frames can handle the thickness and weight of the CoolNest. I did also have to buy larger, stretchier sheets built for the height of the mattress, so keep that in mind. 

Another consideration is price. I had avoided buying a new mattress because I assumed it would be thousands at minimum (and some are) — but not the CoolNest. Starting at just $359.99 and on sale now, plus an additional 10% off with code “ATCOOL” (on the 16-inch queen mattress) through October 1, it’s an investment in your sleep and your well-being. 

If you’re still figuring out what your sleep style is and aren’t quite sure if this mattress is right for you, you have 100 nights to try it out along with a 10-year warranty if you decide to keep it. The thick foam resists deformation and is designed to last, so hopefully you (or I!) won’t have to buy another for at least a decade.

As a former cooling mattress skeptic, I can tell you: the SweetNight CoolNest mattress is the real deal. It’s plush but supportive like the comfiest hotel mattress, and you don’t even have to leave your home. And hopefully, it can even help lower my AC electric bill.

Buy: SweetNight CoolNest Mattress, use code “ATCOOL” for 10% off, $485.99 $739.99