Percale or sateen cotton sheets — which should I buy?

Across the reviewers we read, the split is consistent: percale is the crisp, cool, lightweight, matte-finish weave that hot sleepers and people who dislike a slippery feel gravitate toward, while sateen is smoother, silkier and slightly warmer. r/Bedding consensus repeatedly favors percale for breathability and durability; sateen wins on out-of-the-box softness. Pick percale if you sleep hot or want a hotel-crisp hand, sateen if you prioritize a soft, luxe glide.