I am looking to invest in the LLBean flannel sheets for the winter months. I wanted to know if they are worth it and if LLBean does Black Friday deals or sales? The king size alone are $239 not to mention tax so we might be looking at over $250. Pretty steep for sheets.
My wife and I got some new sheets for our wedding, and originally was going to get two sets of LL Bean until we saw the price of the Costco sheets, so we decided to get one of each and compare. Our goal was a good set that would feel soft and cozy, breathable/cooling, and would last us a while. Here's our current thoughts 6 months into rotating between the two sets:
LL Bean ($150ish): 280 Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set
Costco ($70): Kirkland Signature 680 Thread Count Set
Cooling: The LL Bean sheets were by far a lot cooler than the Kirkland sheets, but the Kirkland sheets were "cool enough". I prefer the LL Bean coolness, my wife prefers the Kirkland sheets. Both sheets were cooler than most other cheap sets we've both had in the past. Both warm up over time as you would expect for a sheet without overheating myself. For me, LL Bean takes the win.
Softness: The Kirkland overall felt like it has been consistently softer than the LL Bean, but the LL Bean is still incredibly comfy. Edge goes to Kirkland, but neither were disappointing!
Durability: Honestly, both feel very durable so far. They both follow same routine care, neither have tears or lasting stains. Tie
Other Information: This could have been in durability, but I think it was better to discuss separately. The Kirkland has a pretty thickly reinforced edging on the fitted sheet, and I'm very curious on how well this will hold up over time. Neither LL Bean nor Kirkland feel like the edges are going to rip anytime soon, and they both have enough room for decently thick mattress toppers, but I really enjoy just how beefed up the edges are for the Kirkland sheet.
LL Bean also has multiple color options that Kirkland does not, so if you are concerned about diversifying colors, LL Bean wins that one. We got a navy Kirkland set and the Lake Blue LL Bean set (we would have gone mid-blue if we planned to get the Kirkland set).
Personal Verdict: Both are great 6 months into use and fulfill their purposes wonderfully. The price difference is pretty hefty, so unless you need the coolest-feeling sheets out there the Kirkland ones are no issue for myself. As long as they both hold up for the next few years, we will most likely get the Kirkland ones again over the LL Bean due to the price effectiveness. This is only for comparing cotton sheets with a primary focus on cooling and durability, so feel free to discuss!
tl;dr both are cooling, comfortable, and durable. Kirkland is better price to performance, but LL Bean has more colors and is more cooling.