Slipping between smooth, soft sheets is one of the easiest ways to set yourself up for a comfortable night’s sleep. The right bedding can be the difference between waking up feeling rested and energised and smacking the snooze button multiple times before dragging yourself out of bed.
For ultimate softness, bamboo trumps cotton. Bamboo fabric is naturally smooth, which makes it feel luxuriously silky to lie on. Unlike cotton, it doesn’t contain any barbs or spurs. It’s also naturally hypo-allergenic, which makes it an excellent choice for sensitive or eczema-prone skin.
If you’re a hot sleeper or find it difficult to sleep on sticky summer nights, bamboo sheets could make a real difference, as the fabric is cooler and more breathable than cotton. It’s also the most absorbent bedding choice and can absorb sweat and wick it away from your body so you’re not waking up dripping in moisture.
Bamboo sheets are also an eco-friendly choice. The bamboo plant grows quickly without using pesticides, excessive water or care. It yields more fabric than cotton does for the space it takes up and even cleans the air while it grows. One hectare of bamboo can sequester up to 62 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, whereas the equivalent young forest sequesters 15 tonnes per year.
Compared with cotton or silk, bamboo is far more durable, as long as it’s properly cared for. If you wash it at low temperatures, swerve the tumble dryer and avoid ironing, your bedding should get softer with each wash and feel fabulous for years.
How we tested
Some of the comfy bamboo bedding included in our round-up
(Zoe Griffin)
Sleeping on the job, we tested each bamboo sheet by assessing its softness, breathability and overall comfort over the course of several nights. Each was washed at a low temperature (without fabric conditioner) and tested again for softness.
We tried king-size sheets from each bedding brand and paid close attention to how deep they were and how easy they were to fit on a mattress. Extra points were given to those that stayed in place throughout the night and didn’t slide or bunch in the corners. With the cost of a king-size fitted sheet ranging from £30 to more than £100, it can be difficult to know how much to spend to find the softest, highest quality option. For that reason, we tested sheets across all price points in the quest to find ultimate comfort.
The best bamboo sheets for 2023 are:
- Best bamboo sheets overall – Sloth London bamboo bedding set: £120, Slothlondon.co.uk
- Best budget bamboo sheets – Simple & Opulence 100 per cent bamboo viscose fitted sheet: £33.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best bamboo bedding set – Green Bear four-piece bamboo bedding set, including duvet cover: £116.15, Green-bear.co.uk
- Best luxury bamboo sheets – Panda London complete bamboo bedding set: £136, Pandalondon.com
