100% Tencel Sheet Set

Why the fiber matters more than the thread count

Thread count is the most-quoted and least-useful number in bedding. Past about 400, manufacturers reach the number by twisting multi-ply yarns together, which produces a denser, heavier, warmer sheet — the opposite of what most people want. What actually determines how a sheet sleeps is the fiber it is made from and how that fiber is woven.

Tencel is the brand name for lyocell produced from sustainably harvested eucalyptus pulp in a closed-loop process that recovers and reuses more than 99 percent of its solvent. The resulting fiber is smooth at a microscopic level, which is why it feels slick rather than fuzzy, and it is naturally hydrophilic — it absorbs and releases moisture faster than cotton. On a warm night, that means sweat moves off your skin and evaporates instead of sitting in the fabric.

How they feel and how they wear

The hand is closer to silk than to cotton: cool on first contact, with a low-sheen drape that follows the mattress rather than standing off it. Because the fiber is smooth, it resists the pilling that turns budget microfiber gritty after a season, and it is naturally wrinkle-resistant enough that these come out of the dryer looking made rather than crumpled.

The fitted sheet is cut for an 18-inch pocket, which clears a hybrid mattress plus a protector without straining the corners, and a rubber grip strip keeps it from popping off overnight. Every set includes a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two pillowcases — one for Twin XL.

• 100% Tencel lyocell, 300 thread count
• Sleeps notably cooler than cotton sateen or microfiber
• Moisture-wicking — a real advantage for hot sleepers and night sweats
• Naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites
• Smooth on skin and hair; less friction than cotton
• Closed-loop production from renewable eucalyptus wood

Caring for Tencel

• Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent
• Skip fabric softener — it coats the fiber and kills the moisture-wicking
• Skip bleach; it weakens lyocell fibers
• Tumble dry low and remove promptly, or line dry
• Wash separately from towels and anything with zippers or hooks