Arkansas summers are no joke. When nighttime temps barely dip below 80°F and the humidity feels like a warm, wet blanket, falling (and staying) asleep becomes a nightly struggle. If you’re tossing, turning, sweating through your sheets, or waking up every hour to flip your pillow to the “cool side,” you’re not alone.
A 2022 study published in One Earth found that increasing nighttime heat linked to climate change is causing people worldwide to lose valuable sleep. In hot, humid regions like Arkansas, the effects hit even harder, especially if your mattress isn’t designed to help you sleep cool.
So, how can you survive summer nights in Arkansas without cranking the AC all night or suffering through restless sleep? The answer starts with your bed—and more specifically, with a cooling mattress.
Why You’re Sleeping Hot (And Why It’s Not Just You)
When you lie down to sleep, your body temperature naturally drops. This cooling helps signal your brain that it’s time to wind down. But if your environment—or your mattress—is holding onto heat, it throws that delicate balance off. You stay hot, your heart rate doesn’t slow down, and sleep becomes fragmented or shallow.
Common culprits of hot sleep include:
-
All-foam mattresses that trap body heat
-
Thick, synthetic bedding with no airflow
-
Medical side effects like high blood pressure, excessive sweating, or hot flashes
-
Even your sleep position—side sleepers often feel warmer on dense mattresses that hug the body too closely
But with the right mattress and a few local tricks, you can take control of your sleep quality and make summer nights bearable, even blissful.
Modern Cooling Technologies
Unlike traditional memory foam mattresses that absorb and hold heat, modern cooling mattresses are built to regulate temperature, wick away moisture, and keep air flowing throughout the night.
Gel-Infused Memory Foam
Memory foam is known for sleeping hot, but modern designs infuse cooling gels or phase-change beads, dramatically improving its temperature control. Tiny gel beads or micro-encapsulated phase-change crystals are mixed into the foam; these particles absorb your body heat as they melt (acting like heat sinks) and then conduct it into the mattress.
G3 ThermoTex™ Mattress Protector
The G3 ThermoTex is a special cooling protector that uses HeiQ’s Adaptive textile technology. In simple terms, the fabric “wakes up” when you get hot and sweaty: its fibers change shape to boost airflow and evaporation. When your body heats up, the adaptive fibers open micro-channels in the weave, letting hot, moist air escape and fresh air flow.
Breathable Innerspring and Latex
Coil-based and latex mattresses keep cool naturally through airflow. Innerspring systems have dozens of metal coils with open space between them, so air can circulate through the mattress instead of stagnating. As cooler air moves up through the coils, it carries heat away from your body.
Likewise, natural latex foam is highly ventilated: it has an open-cell, bouncy structure (often with little pinholes) that lets air flow freely and heat dissipate. Latex doesn’t trap warmth the way dense memory foam can – its millions of tiny air chambers spread your body heat evenly and quickly move it out of the sleep surface.
How to Set Up the Perfect Summer Sleep System
Getting a cooling mattress is a smart first step—but it’s just one part of the equation. To truly sleep cool during sweltering Arkansas nights, you must build a complete sleep system that works together to regulate your body temperature and wick away heat.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Start with Breathable Sheets
Your sheets are your first point of contact, so if they trap heat, even the best cooling mattress won’t stand a chance. Skip heavy, synthetic fabrics and go for lightweight, breathable options like:
-
Cloud Cover™ microfiber sheets (available at The Bedding Mart), are ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and designed to feel cool to the touch.
-
Cotton percale or bamboo. These materials have looser weaves, allowing better airflow and minimizing that sticky, clammy feeling.
Pro tip: Wash your sheets more often in the summer. Fresh sheets feel cooler and help prevent sweat buildup, which can trap heat.
2. Upgrade with a Cooling Mattress Protector
Adding a cooling protector like the G3 Thermotex™ Mattress Protector takes your setup to the next level. Unlike basic covers, this one adjusts to your body’s temperature throughout the night. When your body heats up, its responsive fabric increases airflow and promotes faster evaporation, giving you a drier, cooler sleeping surface.
Plus, it creates a clean, breathable barrier between you and your mattress, helping extend the life of your mattress while keeping you comfortable.
3. Use a Cooling Pillow That Supports Temperature Balance
A hot head equals poor sleep. If your pillow traps heat, you’ll wake up uncomfortable no matter how cool your mattress is. Look for pillows with features like:
-
Gel-infused foam or ventilated latex cores draw heat away from your neck and shoulders.
-
Moisture-wicking, cool-touch covers help keep the surface dry and comfortable like your mattress protector.
Cooling pillows are especially helpful for side sleepers, who tend to experience more upper body heat retention.
4. Invest in an Adjustable Base
Don’t overlook your bed frame—it plays a bigger role in cooling than most people realize. An adjustable base allows you to elevate your head and feet, which not only improves circulation but also boosts airflow underneath your body. The benefit? It keeps your core temperature stable and supports pressure relief. And the best part is, modern mattresses allow you to only adjust your side of the bed.
5. Enhance Air Circulation in the Room
A great mattress setup won’t fix a stuffy room. So make sure to:
-
Run a ceiling fan in reverse mode (counterclockwise) to create a wind-chill effect.
-
Use a bed fan at the foot of your mattress to circulate cool air directly under your sheets to make it easy to fall asleep.
-
Keep windows closed during the day and open at night to let in cooler air, especially after Arkansas’s late-evening temperature drop.
Shop Your Next Cooling Mattress Nearby
Not sure where to start? Visit the Bedding Mart—your trusted local source for cooling mattresses, box springs, and adjustable bases. Our in-store sleep experts can help you find the best mattress based on your sleep position, room temperature, and any specific challenges. And remember, trying your mattress before you buy is essential, especially when summer heat is involved.
