The best wool bedding and why it's the surprising solution to hot nights

We all know that wool is great for jumpers, coats and blankets, but it doesn't exactly scream best bedding, does it?

But, over the past few years here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, we’ve started to see more of the best duvets, best pillows and best mattress toppers filled with the stuff. They come with some big claims about how effective the fibre is at regulating temperature and how moisture wicking it is – making it a supposedly ideal solution for hot, sweaty sleepers.

So, we’ve compiled a list of our best wool bedding, looking through feedback to see what our panellists really thought, and we spoke to an expert about its benefits beyond winter clothing and throws.

Why does wool make a good duvet or pillow filling?

We wanted to know more about why wool is touted as a good sleep solution, so we spoke to Graham Clark, marketing director of British Wool, to find out more. He told us wool is “the perfect material for sleeping on and under”, for myriad reasons including its role as a “natural insulator”.

“It keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer,” he says. “This is down to wool’s temperature-controlling capabilities. Just think about how a fleece works when it's on the back of a sheep!”

Wool naturally absorbs moisture, too. "It can absorb up to 30% of its weight without feeling damp or heavy,” according to Clark.“When sleeping, wool wicks the sweat away from your body keeping bedding fresh and dry, which is then released into the atmosphere. This ensures a better night’s sleep.” The way it repels moisture, and doesn’t trap it, also makes it resistant to mildew and mould, again keeping your bedroom fresher.

It’s also a more sustainable buy, “Wool is renewable (it grows on the back of a sheep every year) and also biodegradable – at the end of its life 100% of wool will biodegrade naturally if buried and not contribute to landfill unlike other products,” says Clark.

These benefits come with a high price tag. But it's a durable pick that should last you for years. “You can bend a wool fibre over 20,000 times without it breaking,” Clarks says. “This means wool products will last for a long time and maintain their bulk, loft and appearance.”

For maximum benefits, he suggests you should “cocoon” yourself in wool – there’s no point investing in a wool-filled duvet, only for a polyester pillow to leave you feeling hot-headed and uncomfortable. Natural fibre bed sheets (like linen or Egyptian cotton) pair well with it, too.

“Once you make the changes, you’ll never go back – I am talking from experience!” Clark promises.

What to consider when shopping for wool bedding

Investing in a wool duvet, pillow or topper is much like buying a hollowfibre, down or foam design. You need to consider if it will meet your support, comfort and care requirements.

Some of the pillows below are adjustable, which will help find your perfect height, but wool won't rival memory foam when it comes to overall support, so it's a question of balancing how hot you get with the level of cushioning you need.

For duvets, you'll need to think about warmth and seasonality. Unlike other duvet fillings, wool isn't always measured in togs, but brands should give guidance on the weather it's designed for, making it easy to decide if you want one made for winter, summer or all seasons.

Lastly, consider how you'll care for your new bedding. Not all wool items are machine washable, so you'll have to consider whether you're happy with spot cleaning it or dry cleaning.

If you're an especially hot sleeper, we've tested the best cooling bedding featuring pillows, duvets, bed sheets and toppers. We've also tested the best cooling pyjamas to help banish sweaty nights.

How we test wool bedding

To find the best wool duvets, pillows and mattress toppers, our testers enlist the help of a panel of readers. They try each product out at home over a period of weeks before filling in a survey, detailing how comfortable the product was, what its quality was like, whether they found it breathable, and if they'd recommend it.

Back at the Good Housekeeping Institute lab, our experts carry out extensive wash tests (where applicable) to make sure the bedding maintains its size, quality and loft night after night.

These are our best buys.