Today I went to magic sleeper (Btw huge shout out to them! Great selection and amazing service!) and got a new mattress. I wanted to get a new mattress protector so I could have a small cooling layer on top, but the young man who helped us out said that the one they used to have they no longer make, and the one to replace it he hasn’t tried yet.
https://www.magicsleepermattress.com/collections/bedding-accessories/products/five-sided-icetech™-mattress-protector
This is the new cover in question. Can anyone vouch for it? If not, a recommendation to a similar product? Thank you in advance!
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Id skip that. Probably ineffective.
Id look into Chilipad, Eight Sleep, and Perfectly Snug.
John
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Hey there BKr0n,
Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround.
John makes a good point regarding the cooling aspects of mattress sleeping. There are some caveats though.
While the IceTech and similar cooling protectors get plenty of marketing hype and some decent user feedback, the truth is that most cooling claims are overstated. These fabrics may feel cool to the touch initially, especially with phase-change materials, but they rarely deliver sustained, meaningful temperature regulation throughout the night. They can’t actually “cool” your body, at best, they slightly delay heat buildup, which is often enough to feel like a benefit for a short time.
More importantly, many mattress companies require a protector for warranty coverage, regardless of cooling features. In that case, the primary purpose of any protector should be moisture and spill defense, not active temperature regulation. Natural fiber options like cotton or wool protectors offer a breathable, comfortable layer that still protects your investment without relying on gimmicky cooling tech. If you’re a hot sleeper, your best shot at real cooling is improving airflow and room environment, not relying on thin mattress protectors.
Products like @Shepherds_Dream wool mattress protector or @TheCleanBedroom’s cotton protector, @SuiteSleep cotton protector, or sleep and beyond waterproof protector that is made from two layers of cotton and a PU breathable membrane.
So yes, get a protector if you need one, but buy it for protection, not for cooling miracles.
Hope this gives you a wider view of what you should be focusing on when protecting your mattress.
Finally, what makes folks hotter when sleeping is spoken about a lot here in this forum. @EuropeanSleep speaks to this quite often, here is a short post on the subject. He often explains that moisture and a humid environment is the reason why folks are hot on their mattress.
Just keep in mind, as mentioned, some mattress companies REQUIRE a mattress protector so not to void their warranty (whatever that means).
Maverick
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I too am trying to find a new protector that doesn’t add heat to the mattress. Preferably waterproof, to protect the latex from any sweat (not because I eat or drink in bed lol, too OCD for that). I have one from Avocado that worked fine on my old bamboo mattress, but on latex it changes the whole feel and comfortability and I hate it! Any organic suggestions would be great!
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After having just spent a good chunk of change on a bed, not sure how comfortable I would be doubling the expenditure on an active system lol. Still, very interesting. I didn’t know there were this many products that used an active solution as opposed to a passive.
Thank you! 
Nice to find a place more concerned with objective data than subjective anecdote!
So would it then be safe to assume passive solutions, in this regard, are overall ineffective solutions?
Thank you for the recommendations! I actually am a little surprised at the simplicity of the solution, but then again, in terms of designing things, there’s no need to always be on the bleeding edge. If it works, it works, ya know?
Wouldn’t this be a place something like a phase change material would excel?
The person at magic sleep told me it was because typically mattress layers once stained aren’t really reusable. Makes sense since once a foam is permeated with… whatever, its almost impossible, or extremely labor intensive, to get it out.
This may sound like an odd recommendation, but I would just get a simple set of “t-shirt like” sheets if “feel” is what you’re looking for. Can get something like that at walmart on the cheap, and in terms of feel, it really is just like wearing a shirt, so it can wick away moisture just like them while also remaining soft and easy to maintain.
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Thank you for this suggestion! 
The waterproof ones tend to mess up the feel for sure, but I really want to protect the mattress as well!
Here is an article I wrote about “cooling” products last year. It took me a while to find it, but here goes.
In many industries, including the mattress industry, marketing often exaggerates the effectiveness of certain technologies, leading consumers to have unrealistic expectations. While some of these innovations have a scientific basis, their long-term performance often doesn’t live up to the bold claims made by manufacturers. Here’s a closer look at how these technologies are marketed versus their actual effectiveness:
Mattress Industry Technologies Cooling Gels : Cooling gel layers are frequently marketed as solutions for temperature regulation, promising a cool night’s sleep. However, these gels often fail to deliver long-term results. They can lose their effectiveness quickly due to factors like body heat buildup and material degradation, making the cooling benefits far less impressive than advertised. Breathable Fabrics: Many mattresses claim to use breathable fabrics that enhance airflow and wick away moisture. While these materials may provide some comfort, their ability to significantly impact temperature regulation is often overstated. In thicker or more cushioned mattresses, airflow may be limited, and the true benefits of these fabrics may be minimal. Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses are marketed for their ability to contour to the body’s shape, providing exceptional support and comfort. However, they often trap heat, which can be uncomfortable for many sleepers. This heat retention is rarely highlighted in marketing, and the technology’s performance may fall short of the claims made about comfort and temperature control. Other Products Moisture-Wicking Fabrics: Popular in athletic wear, moisture-wicking fabrics are advertised to keep the wearer dry by drawing sweat away from the skin. In everyday use, especially for bedding, these claims can be exaggerated, as the benefits depend on factors like sweat production and activity level.
Skincare: Anti-aging products containing ingredients like retinol are often marketed with exaggerated claims of dramatic, instant results. While these ingredients can improve skin over time, the marketing frequently promises effects that are subtle and require consistent use, misleading consumers into expecting faster or more significant improvements.
UV Protection Clothing: Clothing marketed as providing UV protection often promises more than it can deliver. Thin or loose-fitting fabrics allow sunlight to penetrate, making the advertised level of protection less effective than implied.
Acoustic Panels: Acoustic panels are often marketed as solutions for complete soundproofing in homes. However, they typically only reduce noise levels and do not offer true soundproofing, which is a far more complex and expensive process.
Dietary Supplements: Supplements that claim to boost metabolism or promote weight loss often imply that they can produce quick, miraculous results. In reality, these products tend to offer minimal benefits without significant lifestyle changes, making the marketing claims unrealistic.
Home Cleaning Products: Many cleaning products are advertised as “bacteria-killing” or “disinfecting,” but these claims are often exaggerated. These products may be effective against certain germs, but they typically require longer contact times to work and are not the all-purpose solutions that marketing suggests.
Water Filtration Systems: Filters that claim to remove “99% of contaminants” often overstate their effectiveness. While they may reduce some harmful substances, they may not address other contaminants as well, leaving the true scope of their capabilities underappreciated in the marketing.
Fitness Equipment: Exercise machines often advertise rapid weight loss or muscle gain with minimal effort. However, achieving fitness goals typically requires a comprehensive diet and exercise routine, meaning the marketing overpromises results from simply using the equipment.
Smartphone Cameras: Smartphone cameras are advertised as capable of producing professional-level photos. While they are indeed impressive, achieving truly high-quality results still requires understanding photography principles, something the marketing often overlooks.
Eco-Friendly Products: Products labeled as “green” or “eco-friendly” can sometimes mislead consumers into thinking they are entirely sustainable. The environmental impact of these products varies significantly, depending on production processes and disposal methods, so their actual sustainability is often overstated.
Conclusion: In industries like the mattress market, the gap between marketing claims and actual performance is significant. Technologies such as cooling gels, breathable fabrics, and memory foam often sound promising but frequently fall short of delivering the long-term benefits advertised. While some of these products have scientific foundations, their marketing can create unrealistic expectations, leading consumers to feel disappointed when the technologies don’t perform as promised.
As discussed, I could be a “wise guy” and reply to your question this way:
At what point of their implantation are we talking about? Do these materials feel colder in a cold showroom, or your home after the thermostat set at 68 all day, and there are no covers or bedding on the mattress. Then yes, you will feel the cold. Once the mattress is covered with all bedding products, then you will likely not reap the benefits of those materials.
What they say is true. Chances are, if you are buying a mattress that has a zippered comfort layer, and you did not utilize a mattress protector and spilled a gallon of grape juice (I used gallon for dramatic affect), you will likely need a new cover and one top layer of the mattress. You would not likely need to replace the entire mattress, and I would have them cut that top layer and make a topper out of it, seat cushions, shred it for pillows or something creative.
Performance fabrics, also known as moisture-wicking fabrics, are designed to move moisture (sweat) away from the skin to the outer surface of the fabric. This helps regulate body temperature by allowing sweat to evaporate more quickly, which keeps the wearer cooler and drier (hense, what I referred to @EuropeanSleep before). Instead of absorbing moisture like cotton, these fabrics use capillary action to transport it across the fabric’s surface.
Once the moisture reaches the outer layer of the fabric, it can evaporate, especially if there is air movement such as a breeze or fan. During physical activity, this process works efficiently due to increased airflow. However, when sleeping on these fabrics, there is typically little to no air movement. Without that airflow, evaporation slows down, and moisture may remain on the fabric surface longer. This can reduce the cooling and drying effect the fabric is designed to provide.
A mattress that uses phase change materials, or PCMs, is designed to help keep you cooler while you sleep. These materials work by absorbing excess heat from your body when you get too warm.
As they absorb this heat, the PCMs ( like gel beads) melt slightly at a controlled temperature, which helps pull heat away from you and keep the surface of the mattress feeling cooler. Later, if your body cools down, the PCMs can release that stored heat to help keep your temperature more balanced through the night. This process helps reduce temperature swings and can make sleeping more comfortable, especially for people who tend to overheat.
Unfortunately here is the catch. In order for PCMs to work properly, they need to be close to your body so they can sense and respond to changes in your body heat. When you add thick bedding like heavy blankets, mattress protectors, or multiple layers of sheets, you create a barrier between your body and the PCM layer. This can reduce the material’s ability to absorb and release heat effectively. Instead of the PCM responding directly to your body heat, it’s mostly interacting with the heat trapped in the bedding. This means you might not feel as much of the cooling effect the mattress is designed to provide.
To get the most benefit from a PCM mattress, it’s best to use breathable, lightweight bedding that allows heat to pass through easily. Natural materials like cotton or linen can help, as can reducing the number of heavy layers on the bed. PCMs don’t cool the way a fan or air conditioner does, but they can help maintain a more stable and comfortable sleep temperature if used correctly. In a mattress, it sounds great, but for most folks it is an impractical solution.
When I wrote the article, the point I was trying to make is that there are industries where these innovations really do serve their intended purpose. But then other industries latch on, exaggerate the claims, and market them as if they’re revolutionary for everyone. It turns into what I call “marketing fluff.”
Sure, some people might see real benefits, but the claims are often overstated.
Take the Purple Grid, for example. It was originally designed for hospital patients, especially those with burns or injuries, to reduce pressure and aid in healing. Now the mattress industry has jumped on it, pushing it as a miracle material for everyday use. The result? You’ve got mattresses where the grid structure is breaking down about 2:45 seconds in, well before you’d expect a mattress to wear out. Even though the concept is somewhat related, it was probably better suited to short-term, medical use rather than being stretched into the consumer mattress market.
Hopefully I provided an answer to your questions somewhere in my rant.
Maverick
FYI - I am a big fan of horsehair pillows, toppers and mattresses. I have about 4 HH pillows at home. You want to stay less hot, horsehair is the absolute best for not retaining heat.
As for the Perfectly Snug Smart topper that John (Billy Idol) mentioned. I have one on my bed now, since the begging of the year. Pricey, but works very well.
Maverick is a polished word smith (Im a special education teacher)!!! I give him an A+ !!!
John
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Yes you did thanks! I may even have a little to throw on top of that as well.
In electronics, there is a misconception that direct cooling is the answer to most heating problems. A lot of PC enthusiasts try to say peltier modules (small plates that, when a current is ran through them, make one side hot, and the other side cold) are something of a holy grail. Not true. The main issue there is that when you introduce that cold temperature into a hot system, you get a lot of condensation, and water in electronics is usually bad! Industry professionals however do not rely on this technology, and have not for some time (only recently has a lot of work been done with peltier modules in PCs and even then its something of a boondoggle due to poor implementation). The idea that’s typically used for cooling processors is to drag the heat away from whatever is getting hot. That’s why heat sinks have been used for so long, and why the advent of heat pipes and vapor chamber coolers was such a big deal. In a nut shell, be it by convection or by capillary action, they move the heat away from whatever is hot, and use something like a fan and fin stack as a heat exchanger.
So yes what you said absolutely makes sense lol. PCMs have also recently found their way into the PC world, but aren’t as prevalent due to limited applications (at the moment). Right now their most popular use is as thermal interface material, but its only effective at much higher heat loads than say something skin temperature.
Well I’m an engineering technician, so I guess I can say he is technically correct 
Neat! Would explain why they have used it as insulation for so long out in parts of Asia.
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