Hi MeMyselfAnd1,
Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround, we are happy to have you join the community.
Using a 3″ wool or horsehair topper on top of your leather zero gravity chair or bed is an excellent approach to help reduce heat retention and manage sweat, especially given your fibromyalgia and hot flashes. Wool and horsehair are naturally breathable, moisture-wicking, and low-toxicity, which makes them ideal for maintaining a comfortable temperature. They allow air circulation around your body while absorbing moisture and releasing it, helping prevent the clammy or overheated feeling that leather surfaces can create. A 3″ thickness strikes a good balance, providing cushioning for comfort without overly insulating or trapping heat. For sheets and covers, lightweight, natural fibers like cotton, linen, or a breathable wool-cotton blend can complement the topper by further enhancing airflow and temperature regulation.
In addition to a natural-fiber topper, you might consider adding a thin, moisture-wicking underlay or pad between the leather surface and the topper. Materials such as bamboo or Tencel can provide an extra layer of breathability and help move sweat away from your skin. This combination → leather → breathable underlay → wool/horsehair topper → light natural-fiber sheets, creates a layered system that maximizes comfort, reduces heat buildup, and maintains low-toxicity bedding. Regularly airing out the topper and sheets can also help maintain freshness and prevent moisture accumulation over time.
I recently placed my 3" organic wool topper on a table in the backyard during the summer, allowing the sun and UV rays to “refresh” it and restore its original full loft. When I use my horsehair pillows, I often place one under my laptop while working on my bed. Interestingly, my computer does not heat up, and the fans never kick into overdrive. With my wool pillow, I notice only a slight warmth, whereas the horsehair pillow shows almost no heat retention at all. By contrast, my latex pillow retains more heat, and my memory foam pillow is even worse, so much so that it causes the laptop fans to run at full speed.
There are some new sheets I tested from Rest.com. They are synthetic sheets, but they are super cool to the touch. The equalize down a bit after resting on them for a while, but the minute I changed positions, you are hit with an arctic blast of coolness. I am a little on the fence for you with them as the material with it’s Qmax rating of .44 makes them one of the coolest to touch materials. So, there is certainly promise with them in that regard. I know most conventional wisdom says stick with cotton or linen and perhaps silk, but this Rest sheets may have a place. What I can say, is they did not cause me to sleep warm or hot, even with minimal movement. The Rest.com blanket had be resting on my floor in my bedroom for a few days before I removed it from its bag. The blanket actually felt like I had stored it in the refrigeration, literally. It was that cold. I have not tried it all night just yet, as the weather turned cold, and I was worried I would freeze my wife out.
My Baloo Living linen sheets on the other hand, caused me to sleep very soundly when using their linen pillowcases. Again, no noticeable heat retention at all, and they were so soft after a few washes, I just want to keep running my hands across them.
Technically, these are some very viable options worthy of consideration.
Hopefully you will find a solution in one of them.
All the best,
Maverick