Waking up sticky at 3am is no one’s idea of a good night’s sleep. If you have ever kicked the doona off only to wake up shivering minutes later, you know the struggle. Cooling blankets are the secret weapon Australians are turning to for cooler, calmer sleep.
They are cleverly designed to stop you from overheating in the first place, using breathable, moisture,wicking fabrics that actively pull heat away from your body. It is a simple but incredibly effective way to get a cooler, more comfortable night.
What is a Cooling Blanket?

In simple terms, a cooling blanket is a lightweight, breathable blanket designed to wick heat and moisture away from your body. Think of it as the opposite of your thick winter doona, which is built to trap heat and keep you warm.
Instead, a cooling blanket helps you stay at a comfortable, even temperature all night long. It gives you that comforting, gentle weight you want from a blanket, but without turning your bed into a personal sauna.
It is not all about air con, your bedding plays a huge role. Let's look at why your current setup might be working against you.
Why Your Bedding Makes You Hot
That thick, fluffy doona you love so much? It could be the very reason you are waking up in a sweat. Traditional bedding often traps heat and creates a stuffy environment right when you need to cool down.
Here is why your standard quilt might be making you overheat:
- Heavy Synthetic Fibres: Many conventional quilts are filled with dense materials like polyester. These fibres are fantastic insulators, which is great for winter, but in summer they simply trap your body heat right next to your skin.
- Lack of Airflow: The combination of tightly woven fabrics and thick fillings in a regular quilt kills any chance of ventilation. Without fresh air circulating, humidity and sweat get trapped, leaving you in a sticky mess.
- Sweat Trapping: When you sweat under a non breathable fabric, it just absorbs the moisture and holds it. This leads to that awful clammy feeling and disrupts your sleep.
Cooling blankets solve these exact problems. They use clever, breathable fabrics that allow air to move freely and pull moisture away from your skin, keeping you dry and comfortably cool all night.
How Do Cooling Blankets Actually Work?

When you first touch a cooling blanket and feel that instant relief from the heat, you are not imagining it. It is all down to clever fabric science that helps pull heat away from your body. This property is measured by something called a Qmax rating.
In simple terms, the Qmax number tells you how cool a fabric will feel to the touch. The higher the value, the faster the material draws heat away from your skin, giving you that immediate sensation of coolness.
Qmax Rating Explained (Science Made Simple)
Let’s break this down. Think of it like dipping your hand in a cool stream versus warm bath water, the difference is instant. A fabric with a high Qmax rating works in exactly the same way on your skin.
This rating cuts through the marketing fluff. It gives you a clear way to compare different fabrics and see which ones are genuinely built for cooling.
- Average Cotton: A typical cotton sheet has a Qmax value of around 0.2. It is breathable, but it will not give you that distinct cool to the touch sensation.
- Cooling Tech Fabrics: Specially engineered materials, like the advanced bamboo blends in Morgan and Reid comforters, can have a Qmax value of around 0.45. That jump is what creates the noticeable, instant cooling effect you are after.
Once you understand this simple science, you can shop with confidence, knowing you are picking a blanket that is genuinely designed to help you beat the heat.
The Best Cooling Blanket in Australia

After diving deep into the science and listening to what Aussies really need, we can confidently say the Morgan and Reid Ultra Cooling Bamboo Comforter is the one to beat. It is the perfect marriage of smart fabric technology and real world practicality.
Its features are not just marketing fluff, they translate directly into a better night’s sleep. It has been designed from the ground up to tackle sticky, humid nights and help anyone who naturally runs hot.
Why It’s Our Top Pick
Here is why this comforter stands out, with benefits you will feel on the very first night.
- Instant Cool Touch Feel: With a high Qmax rating of 0.45, it feels noticeably cool the moment it touches your skin. This provides that immediate sense of relief you crave when you are feeling too warm.
- Breathable and Dry Comfort: The natural bamboo blend is incredibly breathable and a champion at wicking moisture away from your body. This means you wake up feeling dry and fresh, not sticky.
- Designed for Aussie Summers: This was made with Australian conditions in mind. It offers a lightweight feel that will not trap heat the way a traditional doona does.
- Practical for Families: It is fully machine washable, a massive plus for busy people who need bedding that is easy to look after. For more help on getting the right fit, check out our guide on the king size bedsheet size in cm.
"Menopausal night sweats were ruining my sleep. The Morgan and Reid comforter has given me so much relief. It’s soft, light, and genuinely keeps me cool and dry all night long." — A grateful customer.
Other Types of Cooling Blankets

When you are looking for a cooling blanket in Australia, you will come across a few different options.
- Bamboo Cooling Blankets: These are a popular choice for good reason. Bamboo fabric is naturally breathable and fantastic at wicking moisture away from your skin. You can learn more about it in our guide to the best bed sheet materials.
- Weighted Cooling Blankets: These combine the calming pressure of a weighted blanket with cooling fabrics. They can be great for anxious sleepers, but the extra weight is not for everyone on a truly hot night.
- Gel Infused or Tech Heavy Versions: You will also see blankets that use gel infusions to create a cool feel. While they can feel great at first, this effect sometimes fades during the night and they can feel a bit gimmicky.
For most people, a cooling comforter is the easiest, most practical solution. There are no slipping inserts or heavy layers to worry about. It is just a thoughtfully designed, breathable comforter that does its job beautifully.
Who Should Try a Cooling Blanket?
While anyone can appreciate the light feel of a cooling blanket, for some people, they are a game changer. If any of the following sound familiar, you will feel a massive difference.
- Hot Sleepers: You are the one constantly throwing a leg out from under the covers. A cooling blanket works with you to manage your body heat, preventing that slow roasting feeling.
- Menopausal Women: Hormonal shifts often bring on intense hot flushes and night sweats. A cooling blanket can be the difference between waking up in a sweat and sleeping soundly through the night. You can read more about how these blankets offer comfort over at The Telegraph.
- Couples with Different Sleep Temps: It is the age old battle, one person is freezing while the other is melting. A cooling blanket helps the warmer partner stay comfortable without turning the other into an icicle.
- Families without Air Con: With rising electricity costs, running the air con all night is not always practical. Cooling blankets are a brilliant, low energy solution.
- Renters: If installing an air con unit is not an option, a cooling blanket delivers targeted cooling right where you need it, without having to chill the entire room.
Care and Maintenance
Looking after your cooling blanket is simple, which is exactly what you want from your bedding.
The best part about many modern cooling comforters, including Morgan and Reid’s, is that they are machine washable. This makes them incredibly practical for families and everyday use. Just follow the care instructions, and your blanket will stay fresh and effective for years to come, offering you cool comfort night after night. Proper care ensures its longevity.
FAQs
Do cooling blankets actually work?
Yes, they really do. It all comes down to clever fabric technology. They use breathable materials with a high Qmax rating that are brilliant at pulling heat away from your skin, helping you stay comfortable all night.
What is the best cooling blanket in Australia?
For the perfect mix of cooling power, comfort, and easy care, our top pick is the Morgan and Reid Ultra Cooling Bamboo Comforter. Its high Qmax of 0.45 provides instant cooling, and its machine washable design makes it a practical choice for Australian homes.
Is bamboo good for hot sleepers?
Absolutely. Bamboo is one of the best materials if you overheat at night. It is naturally breathable, allowing air to circulate, and its moisture wicking ability is second to none, keeping you dry and comfortable.
What does Qmax mean in bedding?
Qmax is a score that measures how quickly a fabric pulls heat away from your skin. The higher the Qmax value, the cooler the material will feel to the touch. Advanced cooling fabrics can reach 0.45 or more, delivering that immediate cooling sensation.
Are cooling blankets worth the money?
For anyone who struggles with night sweats or sleeping hot, a cooling blanket is a very practical investment in better sleep. It can mean you are less reliant on air conditioning and can genuinely improve your sleep quality. You can read more about this trend in this detailed market analysis.
Ready for a Cooler Night's Sleep?
To sum up, cooling blankets are the practical, affordable solution to sweaty nights and restless sleep. They offer a simple way to regulate your temperature, helping you wake up feeling refreshed instead of tired and clammy.
If you want the best of the best, we recommend the Morgan and Reid Ultra Cooling Bamboo Comforter as the hero pick for its blend of instant cooling technology and everyday practicality.
Ready to swap sticky nights for breezy sleep? Explore the Morgan and Reid Ultra Cooling Bamboo Comforter here.
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