works well with fabric barrier [SEP] i personally would recommend getting a larger size cooling pad the bigger the better in this case it can be expensive though i like it is ability to stay cool even in the high temps but do not put it directly on your skin the plastic it is cased in does not breathe so you need to put it under your pillow or sheet whatever i put mine under my sheet and quickly learned not to sit on it during the day because you at first think you sat down on something wet but realize it is just that the pad is cool enjoy