OP here - thank you for the recommendations! I get that thread count doesn't necessarily mean better, I just want sheets that don't feel thin and flimsy even as percale is a more stiff feel. If I can get there with the lesser thread count, that's fine too.

If anyone here has the LL Bean ones, which ones - the standard percale, the sunwashed, or the 400 threadcount percale? My one hesitation here is I read they are oversized and I really hate a fitted sheet that isn't snug on the bed and bunches.

Also, if you sleep hot - higher thread count is not a good thing.

Anonymous wrote:Lands’ End. Over and done.

NP

I got some sheets that were recommended in this site (can’t remember the name) and they’re like sleeping on trash bags - all crinkly. Are Lands end like that, or softer? I don’t want to crinkle all night.

Lands’ End. Over and done.

The LL Bean ones are what you want. Thread count is a marketing thing that we've been sold as a measure of quality, but, as PPs have said, it's not as relevant to the things you are looking for.

I once bought sheets at kohl’s that were extremely thick. They were heavy. I loved them so much and they lasted for years and years. I went to buy them again and after a little research found that the company changed the product. I am so bummed. Still looking for an extremely heavy sheet set.

It has nothing to do with thread count or percale. Just one of those things you stumble upon. I have since bought percale and while nice and crisp they were not as crisp as my old sheet.

My old sheet which I still use started out almost scratchy and softened with use and each washing. But remained thick and crisp. They were 600 thread count and supima cotton.

Higher thread count is not necessarily going to get you a better sheet. Long staple cotton percale at a 200TC is going to feel better longer than a lot of higher TC ones. Those high thread counts are often produced via skinny, multi-ply threads.

Lands End has an Italian percale that is to die for (ask to be buried in your sheets). If you want to go really old-school, there's Red Land Cotton, but those are a little above what you want to spend:
https://www.redlandcotton.com/products/back-to-basics-sheet-sets

Read the Wirecutter article.

I love Ballard's percale sheets. Ship to their store in Tysons to save on their ridiculous shipping.

Oh yeah also, the performance and organic target sheets feel the same to me in the store but they are totally different after washing.

The target organic sheets are more percale-y I think. They’re “flat weave.” The threshold ones are sateen. I do think the threshold ones are treated more. The organic ones are “raw” after one washing and then break in over a few months.

I don’t think you will do better than the target ones at that price point. Both are reasonably thick imo (I also like thick sheets but they do fold up smaller than my Coyuchi ones, but the Coyuchi sheets are more $$.

I recently bought Riley percale sheets based on Wirecutter reviews. They are glorious.

I also bought Parachute Sateen sheets and don’t like them nearly as much as the Riley ones.

Anonymous wrote:Percale count will always be lower than sateen.
I would wait for the Bloomingdales white sale that comes once a year and get sheets there.

OP here - thanks, but I actually need to purchase soon and can't wait.

Percale count will always be lower than sateen.
I would wait for the Bloomingdales white sale that comes once a year and get sheets there.

OK I'm in the market for sheets. No more than $130 for a queen size set. I love the feel of crisp, cool, cotton sheets (percale preferred), but also want ones that feel like they have a bit of weight to them.

I had 300 thread count organic cotton Pottery Barn sheets which just felt soft and worn after a few years.

I've read good reviews of the Threshold 400 threadcount performance sheets on this site, but want to know if they also feel thick or thin on the bed? What about the organic Threshold sheets?

I looked at LL bean and Garnet Hill but their thread count isn't that high.

Considering maybe Crate and Barrel 400 threadcount percale? Brooklinen but their thread count also isn't that high? Company Store?