Cariloha Resort Bamboo Bed Sheets Review

We purchased Cariloha Resort Bamboo Bed Sheets so our writer could put them to the test in her own home. Keep reading for our full product review.

The Cariloha Resort Bamboo Bed Sheets are supposedly the softest sheets out there, and they’re also known for being cooler than Egyptian cotton sheets. That sounds great, but when a sheet set is on the pricey side, it’s hard to make the investment without being able to see it and feel it in person first. So, we got ourselves a king set of these resort-quality sheets to see if they live up to the hype. We researched how the sheets are made, and then we tested them out in our own home to see how they’d hold up. Read on for our review of these luxury bamboo sheets.

Material and Weave: The softest bamboo you’ll ever feel

These sheets are made out of 100% viscose from bamboo, which, according to Cariloha, is “softer than 1,000 thread count Egyptian cotton.” We have to agree that the sheets are very soft—in fact, they’re the softest we’ve ever felt.

Part of the reason these sheets are so soft is that they’re made with a sateen weave. Basically, instead of the horizontal (weft) threads going over and under each individual vertical (warp) thread, they skip some. This makes the material softer and more breathable, so it feels similar to satin. Unfortunately though, because of the way sateen material is weaved, it’s not quite as strong as a material with a normal weave.

Cariloha has taken measures to make their sheets durable, like using an advanced box stitch for the seams. They also give you comprehensive washing and care instructions. You shouldn’t worry too much about the sheets being fragile, though—we’ve seen other reviewers report using a set for over five years with little wear and tear.

Thread Count: Perfect for sateen sheets

Thread count is an important factor when buying sheets, but it might not be as important as you think. For sateen sheets, a thread count of 300 to 600 is ideal. This makes the sheets soft and luxurious while keeping them lightweight and cool. The Cariloha Resort Bamboo Sheets have a 400 thread count, and we think it’s perfect for them. We honestly couldn’t imagine these sheets being any softer.

If you are wondering why you hear about 1,000 or 1,500 thread counts, it’s because of a little cheat that a lot of manufacturers can use when making those high thread count sheets. Instead of actually counting one thread as one thread, they twist another fiber around it and call it two threads. This inflates the number while not doing anything to make the sheets softer. In fact, it can lower the material’s quality, because those extra fibers are more likely to snag, and the fabric will be more fragile. Most weavers actually think that a thread count of 500 or 600 is the true maximum—not something as high as 1000 or 1500. 

Texture: Silky soft and perfect for sleeping

When we crawled into bed after washing these sheets, we were impressed at how amazing they felt. They’re silky soft, light, and almost slippery—but in a good way. The sheets practically glide over you, and you can embrace the oh-so-soft material when you lay your head down on your pillow.

Washing: Not difficult, but always results in wrinkles

The washing instructions for the Cariloha Resort Bamboo Sheets are the same as washing other delicate fabrics. Machine wash cold—no bleach—and tumble dry low. We found that the sheets were always wrinkled, even when fresh out of the dryer. The care instructions say using a warm iron is fine for getting wrinkles out. Since they’ll be covered with other blankets, we’re not too picky about wrinkly sheets.

Price: Matches the quality of the sheets

As with most high-quality sheets, the Cariloha Resort Bamboo Bed Sheets are expensive. A queen set starts at $239, and a king set is $259. The question then becomes, “Are these sheets worth their price, or can I find similar sheets at a lower price?” We’re right there with you—we don’t want to spend extra money if we don’t have to. So, we tested out a few more affordable bamboo sheets. We felt the Cariloha sheets were expensive but worth it, especially since Cariloha guarantees their sheets for one year after purchase.

Competition: Cheaper bamboo sheets that still feel great

Linenwalas Bamboo Sheets: With a price tag ranging from $80 to $100 for a queen or a king set, Linenwalas Bamboo Sheets are much more affordable than Cariloha’s. They’re made of 100 percent rayon from bamboo, and they’re also made with a sateen weave. We found that they were wonderfully soft, and they felt like quality sheets. To be perfectly honest, we love them almost as much as the Cariloha sheets, so they’d be a good option for saving money. The Linenwalas sheets also had many different color options: white, grey, pin stripe white, ivory, taupe, rose gold, Bahamas blue, lilac, or mint.

Zen Bamboo Luxury 1500 Series Bed Sheets: The Zen Bamboo 1500 Series Sheets were a bit of a disappointment. They’re only 40 percent rayon-derived bamboo, and the rest is polyester. Not only does this make them less soft, but it also makes them a lower-quality sheet. They started pilling after one wash and about a week of use. While they’re soft, crisp, and cooling, we can’t imagine these $70 king-sized sheets lasting very long. They could be great for kids, though, if you want to try bamboo sheets for them. There are plenty of color options: black, white, cream, sky blue, burgundy, gold, grey, brown, navy blue, purple, olive, and taupe.