There is a world of sheets and cozy, comforting materials to wrap your body for a beautiful night's rest. But let's face it, not all materials are created equal, and not all fabrics provide a similar experience as the next. And when it comes to draping your bed with a set of sheets that you are likely to call your own, you're not the only one enjoying the benefits of the material selected. Of course, we're talking about your bed here ;)
So we open our writings again to take on the question that has no doubt resulted in you placing your hands on the keyboard and typing (bamboo vs. cotton, which sheets are better!?) That question alone is enough to give anybody a headache. But as your resident sleep specialist in this space, we've got you covered.
As our premise statement, keep in mind there is a bevy of bamboo and cotton variations out there, but we will "try" to keep our comparisons to the most observed and purist of the two. After all, 100% Organic Bamboo Lyocell Sheets is what we do!
Understanding Bamboo Sheets
At its most foundational form, bamboo sheets are made out of the persevering bamboo fiber, a resilient resource that grows at an astronomical rate. Now the manufacturing process is where one tends to see quite a bit of difference, depending primarily on the goals seeking to be accomplished in the material's production. Nevertheless, you've likely run across three distinct variants that are indeed dictated by the manufacturing process mentioned above. Since you're here, let's examine those three. ;)
Bamboo Linen
Bamboo linen is very similar to other linen variants, holding some of the same sustainability principles while also keeping in tune with the linen family's appearance and feel (Wrinkly and not the soft buttery touch) that you may be after.
Bamboo Rayon
With Bamboo Rayon, we reach what we like to call (a starting point.) Or really, a place where we at Prosper Heights (don't care too much for.) Rayon exists as a material that's made from cellulose. And the process of removing cellulose from its carrier (plants) is a very harsh chemical bath. The result is a man-made material used to create the final product of "Bamboo sheets."
Bamboo Lyocell
Bamboo Lyocell is where we make our mark. Lyocell is a unique material that takes the path of creating bamboo sheets with non-hazardous and non-toxic materials. And we're not going to get on the fact that its eco-friendly, green-driven, organic lyocell is made from a closed-loop process that ensures 99% of the water used is recovered and used again—talking about loving mother nature! ;) The result is a truly organic product with a soft and exceptional feel to the body.
Understanding Cotton Sheets
They are, of course, made from cotton and have multiple variations to their build as well. Some of the absolute most notable ones are Egyptian Cotton and Pima Cotton. Egyptian cotton deserves its fair shake. They are gentle and soft but similar to the bamboo fabric; they require a purposeful care management system. Nevertheless, if caring for bamboo sheets is any concern to you whatsoever, we've got you completely covered with our care article mentioned here!
The Comparison Walk
To understand these two, the Bamboo vs. Cotton story even more. Let's take a comparison walk down five of their most essential characteristics.
Eco-Friendly
Bamboo is an excellent resource, and as mentioned before, its rate of growth is astronomical. Due to a unique rhizome-dependent system, certain bamboo species can grow at a rate of 36 inches in 24 hours; that's 1 inch every 40 min! Thus being naturally renewable and dependent upon the manufacturing process mentioned above, bamboo sheets have a minimal environmental impact.
However, the cotton counterpart has its drawbacks. It doesn't fare quite well in this category due to the pesticides that are consistently sprayed on the crop to aid in its growth unless the product is indicated as 100% organic.
Health Management
As mentioned previously, bamboo's health benefits are exponential, whether it be the manufacturing process of the plant or its natural sustainability. Eco-friendly is at the core of the product (especially bamboo lyocell) based, not to mention its hypoallergenic build. On the other hand, Cotton is loaded with pesticides up until you reach a 100% organic variant.
Comfortability
Let's talk about one of the most critical comparison topics to date. Comfort level! While this topic is one that can be approached one-sidedly. Bamboo sheets start with comfort in mind; being a naturally softer material than cotton, the ability for it to feel buttery smooth (especially lyocell) is in its inherent nature. The fibers themselves almost have to be compromised (additives of unknown materials) to produce a fell that's (not so soft)
Cotton, on the other hand, takes a different approach. To aid in its comfort, there are different weaves and specifications to consider. But its main criteria hinges on the ability to introduce a higher thread count to increase the level of softness (Psst…This is something that bamboo forgoes as a thread count of 300 of bamboo is known to be softer than 1000 thread count of cotton.) But you didn't hear that from us ;)
Cool vs. Warmth
The bamboo fabric is a naturally breathable one that ultimately produces a sleep experience that is much cooler than cotton. This enables warmer summer nights to be a lot more tolerable than not. On the other hand, cotton is an excellent retainer of warmth, further locking in heat that your body may be expelling.
Cost Efficiency
Or as one may put it, WHY SO MUCH!! Bamboo sheets tend to a bit more expensive as opposed to their cotton counterparts. But as one begins to increase the thread count to match bamboo's softness (eyes may start to boggle!) That's why at Prosper Heights, we understand the conscious budget-friendly shoppers entirely and have created a product from the ground-up that places that at the forefront.
Conclusion
The world of sheets/product comparisons can be a daunting one. But in our most humble opinion, bamboo produces some of the most notable benefits from its sustainability to its hypoallergenic nature and naturally soft texture.
However, there are also great cotton builds to choose from as well. While it may require the need to increase it to an appropriate thread count, they still exist as a viable option.
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