I read an article in the new Yorker that said Egyptian cotton is just like regular cotton because it has been so badly bred and farmed anymore (for at least the last 15 years). This would explain why it seems there isn't much difference in quality. So it is sort of false advertising. I bought a random towel at a Home Goods store called Feather Touch and it to this day is an anomaly of a cotton fabric and I suspect this is made from real long staple cotton. I cannot find a thing like it anywhere and the brand seems to be defunct. It is like a silky microfiber. I bought it in 2016 or 2017 which might be due to supplies of actual long staple cotton still being available. Leave it to humans to ruin something amazing from nature. More on reddit.com

Sferra Giza 45, if price really is no object. More on reddit.com

If you’re willing to spend around $750, the best sheet you can buy are these simply because it’s the best quality cotton and they’re underpriced until the fall, when they raise prices (probably close to doubling them) so now is the best time to buy these: https://www.tmasc.ca/products/st-geneve-flora-giza-45-egyptian-cotton-sheets They come in a Jacquard or a sateen but they’re made out of Giza 45 and they’re single ply so they’re very thin to help with breathability, which is typically the reason shy people pick percale, but very strong due to the fiber used. Keep in mind the link I sent is Canadian pricing, you want to buy those in Canada because for some reason the American market is up charging that brand. If you wanted percale just because you like the feeling of percale and that’s all you’ll buy, you’ll probably want a more entry level percale sheet from Sferra, Frette, St. Geneve, Schlossberg or matouk. Malouf or Peacock Alley have some ranges towards the top of their catalog that may have exactly what you’re looking for in terms of price but keep in mind these are much lower brands than the 5 I mentioned above. Basically it’s lower quality brand but higher end range vs higher quality brand but more entry level range. True ELS is absolutely worth it regardless of what anyone says, but you’ll want to stay away from the billions of brands pretending to sell quality. The 7 brands I just mentioned all offer quality, some at better prices than others, and you’ll never need to worry that you picked the wrong company. Hope you find something you’re looking for! More on reddit.com

Here is the ultimate advice when it comes to sheets. Stay away from bamboo or silk and especially stay away from polyester. In general, try to stay away from anything synthetic. Linen can be good but I personally hate the feel as do most. It’s usually not soft at all when you first get it and takes a long time. Go with 100% high quality cotton and get a Percale weave if you prioritize breathability or a Sateen weave If you prefer a soft and silky feel. Both are great, percale can still be soft and sateen can still breathe. Everything’s relative. You may be asking what is a high quality cotton? It’s anything classified as being long or extra long staple cotton. The best cottons in the world include Giza 45 or Sea Island cotton. They’re also extremely expensive. My pillowcases made of Giza 45 Luxe from Sferra cost $400 each. That’s their top range and is obviously not practical or necessary in order to have a comfortable sleep. Buy the most expensive sheets you can afford. You’ll be happy you did. MOST IMPORTANT rule about sheets are the quality of the material and to find that, you need to shop at trusted brands. If you’re willing to spend on something good, go for the brands Frette, Sferra, Letto, Schlossberg, St. Genève or Matouk. The more you spend the better it’ll be. They all have entry level sheets that are still great compared to 99% of what’s out there. Don’t worry about thread count as most companies artificially inflate the number using a variety of methods. More on reddit.com