Quick Answer
Costco carries several mattresses marketed as "cooling". Novaform with gel memory foam, Beautyrest with cooling covers, and Casper with perforated layers. While these features provide some temperature regulation, gel-infused foam alone doesn't solve heat retention for most hot sleepers. The most effective cooling comes from coil-based construction with natural materials.
Brad, Owner, 40+ years of experience: "We have been helping Brantford families sleep better since 1997. Every customer gets personal attention, honest advice, and the kind of follow-up service you just do not get from big box stores."
Sleeping hot is one of the most common mattress complaints Canadians have, and it gets worse with age and certain mattress types. If you've ever woken up sweating in the middle of the night despite keeping your bedroom cool, your mattress is likely the culprit. So naturally, when Costco labels mattresses as "cooling," hot sleepers pay attention. But do these cooling features actually work?
Why Mattresses Sleep Hot
The Physics of Sleeping Hot
- Memory foam traps heat Traditional memory foam is dense and closed-cell, acting like insulation that traps body heat against your skin
- Body weight creates compression The more you sink into a mattress, the more surface area is in contact with heat-trapping material
- Foam doesn't breathe Unlike coil systems with natural air channels, solid foam blocks prevent airflow through the mattress
- Covers add insulation Quilted pillow tops and thick fabric covers add another heat-trapping layer
This is why all-foam mattresses (like Novaform and Casper) are the biggest offenders for sleeping hot. The entire mattress is made of heat-retaining material with no mechanism for air to circulate through the sleeping surface.
Costco's Cooling Mattress Options
Novaform ComfortGrande Gel Memory Foam
Cooling claim: Gel-infused memory foam | Price: $500-$700 (queen)
Reality: Gel adds some initial coolness but warms to body temperature within 20-30 minutes
Beautyrest Silver with CoolTwist Gel
Cooling claim: Gel foam + pocketed coils | Price: $799-$1,199 (queen)
Reality: Better airflow from coils, but cooling effect is moderate
Casper Original with AirScape
Cooling claim: Perforated foam layers | Price: $900-$1,100 (queen)
Reality: Holes in foam help slightly, but it's still an all-foam mattress
Mattress Cooling Technologies Explained
| Technology | How It Works | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Gel-infused foam | Gel beads absorb initial heat | Low, saturates within 30 minutes |
| Copper-infused foam | Copper conducts heat away from body | Moderate, better than gel but still foam-based |
| Perforated foam | Holes allow some air movement | Low to moderate, limited airflow in practice |
| Phase-change cover | Fabric absorbs heat at threshold temp | Moderate, surface-level only, not the core |
| Open-cell foam | Larger cell structure allows airflow | Moderate, better than traditional foam |
| Individually wrapped coils | Open coil system creates natural ventilation | High, continuous airflow through mattress |
| Natural materials (wool, cotton) | Moisture wicking and breathability | High, regulates temperature actively |
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What Actually Keeps You Cool
Brad, our senior mattress consultant, explains the cooling hierarchy: "The single most effective cooling feature in a mattress isn't a gel or a copper infusion, it's airflow. A mattress with 1,200 individually wrapped coils has thousands of air channels running through it. That natural ventilation removes heat continuously all night, not just for the first 30 minutes."
The Cooling Formula That Works
- Coil-based core Provides continuous airflow through the mattress
- Natural comfort materials Wool, cotton, and silk wick moisture and breathe
- Moderate sinkage Less body envelopment means less heat-trapping surface contact
- Breathable cover Natural fibres over synthetic materials
Cooling Comparison: Costco vs Mattress Miracle
| Factor | Costco Novaform Gel | Restonic ComfortCare | Restonic Luxury Silk & Wool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen price | $500-$700 | $1,619 | $2,395 |
| Construction | All-foam with gel | 1,222 wrapped coils | 884 zoned coils |
| Airflow | Minimal | Excellent | Excellent |
| Cooling approach | Gel beads | Natural coil ventilation | Silk, wool, and coil ventilation |
| Cooling duration | ~30 minutes | All night | All night |
| Moisture management | None | Basic | Excellent (wool wicks moisture) |
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A Better Approach for Hot Sleepers
Talia, our Brantford showroom specialist, works with hot sleepers regularly: "I always ask people to test a coil mattress and a foam mattress back to back. Even after just 10 minutes of lying down, they can feel the temperature difference. The coil mattress stays noticeably cooler because air moves through it naturally. No gel, no gimmick, just physics."
Best Restonic Options for Hot Sleepers
- Restonic Luxury Silk & Wool (Queen $2,395) The ultimate cooling mattress. 884 zoned coils for airflow, silk and wool comfort layers actively regulate temperature and wick moisture. Naturally antimicrobial.
- Restonic ComfortCare (Queen $1,619) 1,222 individually wrapped coils provide excellent ventilation at an accessible price point.
- Restonic Revive Tiffany Rose (Queen $2,995) 1,188 coils with Talalay Copper Latex, which conducts heat away from the body while the coil system provides continuous airflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Find Your Perfect Mattress at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Do Costco cooling mattresses actually work?
Costco's cooling mattresses provide some temperature relief, but the effect is limited. Gel-infused foam absorbs heat for about 20-30 minutes before reaching body temperature and losing its cooling effect. Coil-based mattresses with natural airflow are significantly more effective for all-night cooling.
What type of mattress sleeps the coolest?
Innerspring and hybrid mattresses with individually wrapped coils sleep the coolest because the open coil system allows continuous air circulation. Models with natural fibre comfort layers (wool, silk, cotton) add moisture-wicking properties for even better temperature regulation. All-foam mattresses, even with gel, sleep the hottest.
Is gel memory foam worth it for cooling?
Gel memory foam is better than regular memory foam for sleeping cool, but the improvement is modest and temporary. The gel beads absorb heat initially but saturate within 20-30 minutes. For serious hot sleepers, gel alone is not a sufficient solution, you need airflow through the mattress core.
Does wool in a mattress make it hot?
Contrary to what many people expect, wool is actually one of the best temperature-regulating materials for mattresses. Wool wicks moisture away from your body, breathes naturally, and maintains a comfortable temperature range in both warm and cool conditions. It's why premium mattresses use wool in their comfort layers rather than synthetic fibrefill.
How can I make my Costco mattress sleep cooler?
If you already own a Costco mattress that sleeps hot, try these steps: use cotton or bamboo sheets instead of synthetic fabrics, add a cooling mattress protector, keep your bedroom at 18-20°C, use a fan for air circulation, and consider a breathable mattress topper. These adjustments help but won't fully solve heat retention from an all-foam construction.
What is Talalay Copper Latex?
Talalay Copper Latex combines naturally breathable Talalay latex with copper particles. The latex has an open-cell structure that promotes airflow, while the copper acts as a thermal conductor, moving heat away from your body. It's found in premium mattresses like the Restonic Revive Tiffany Rose at Mattress Miracle and is one of the most effective comfort-layer cooling technologies available.
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
Mattress Miracle
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford
Phone: (519) 770-0001
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4
Our team has 38 years of experience helping customers find the right sleep solution. Call ahead or walk in any day of the week.
Sources
- Jacobson BH, Boolani A, Smith DB. Changes in back pain, sleep quality, and perceived stress after introduction of new bedding systems. J Chiropr Med. 2009;8(1):1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcm.2008.09.002
- Radwan A, Fess P, James D, et al. Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment in adults with or without back pain. Sleep Health. 2015;1(4):257-267. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2015.08.001
- Kovacs FM, Abraira V, Peña A, et al. Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain: randomised, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet. 2003;362(9396):1599-1604. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14792-7
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Visit Our Brantford Showroom
We are located at 441 1/2 West Street in downtown Brantford. Free parking available. Our team does not work on commission, so you get honest advice based on your needs.
Mattress Miracle -- 441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, ON -- (519) 770-0001
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 10am-6pm, Thursday-Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm.
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