Before you buy a memory foam topper or pad you'll hate or just don't need ask yourself the following questions: A memory foam topper can give you many of the benefits of a memory foam mattress at a much lower cost. A quality memory foam mattress top can almost eliminate painful pressure points that cause you to toss and turn all night. They will help you get to sleep more quickly, sleep more deeply and wake with fewer aches in joints and muscles. Sometimes doctors actually prescribe memory foam mattresses and pads for people with certain health and sleep problems. And once you buy the pad, you'll need something to cover it with. A good source is Faux Paw Furs; Fake Fur Throws, Comforters, Pillows, Stoles & Fabrics. Q1: Can you get by with just a pad, or do you need a new mattress? Don't drive yourself crazy with frustration or confusion over how long you've had the bed or how much you spent. Buying just a pad instead of a whole new mattress will work if your mattress is basically in good shape.
If your mattress is too soft, has compressed areas, or a hammock feel, get a new one. If your mattress just needs to be a bit more comfortable, maybe it's a bit too firm, then buy the mattress pad. Q2: How do you choose a good memory foam topper?A good memory foam pad has many of the same properties as the top layers of a visco elastic foam mattress: Thickness A good pad should be between 2" and 4" thick. Some people are happy with 2 inch pads. I don't like them, they're too skinny for me. I have a 4" topper. It has enough depth to cushion the wide shoulders of a 5'11" overweight side sleeper. If you're a smaller person you'd probably be happiest with a 3 inch thick pad. Density Between 3lb and 5lb. Most people seem to prefer 4lb pads. If you weigh over 200lbs you might want to go with a 5lb or higher density pad for more support. ILD Indentation load deflection (ILD) is a measure of the foam's comfort, or how easily it deflects. Between 8 and 20 is an acceptable range.
But many people prefer ILD measurements between 12 and 15 for that melt-into-the-bed feeling Temperature sensitivity Memory foam should soften at body temperature. That's how it provides the conforming support. The foam cells closest to your body soften and the ones further away stay firm. If you live in colder climates, a memory foam mattress top might feel a bit hard just as you get into bed. But it warms up quickly to contour itself to your body. Q3: How long do they last? 4 to 8 years with 4lb density foam. However, I've seen warranties up to 10 years. Q4: Who makes the best memory foam mattress top?Most of the major mattress manufacturers now carry a line of pads and toppers. Sealy mattresses, Serta, Simmons and even TempurPedic mattresses have them. In 2006, Sensus came out on top in an informal test conducted by a Wall Street Journal writer. But there's many more pads out now, so choosing the best rated mattress pads is a bit more challenging. So make your choice easy.
Follow the criteria outlined in the "How do you choose a good topper?" section, choose a reputable manufacturer and wait for a good sale. Q5: What's a Good Price? Here's average low prices for Queen size pads: You will pay more for higher pound density memory foam. There's just more stuff in it, so it is going to cost more pound for pound. Bonus Tip: Make sure that your memory foam topper has at least a 30 day no questions asked return policy. Even after answering these 5 questions on memory foam toppers, you won't really know if a mattress pad will work for you until you try it in your own bedroom. "Lazy Buyer's Memory Foam Bed Topper Guide - Best Memory Foam Pads" "Memory Foam Mattress Topper Reviews And Memory Foam Bed Pad Buying Tips"#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Mattress Topper Reviews > Memory Foam Mattress Topper Reviews Based on 38,517 Actual Consumer Experiences THE GOOD: Most popular mattress topper • often highly effective at improving mattress comfort • available in several varieties to suit personal need and preference.
THE BAD: Potential for initial odor and heat retention • can be too firm for people under 120 lbs • somewhat difficult to move on / get up off • squishy feel possible • fairly heavy. THE COMPETITION: See how other topper types compare to memory foam in the topper comparison. Ratings show how the various memory foam topper varieties compare to the average mattress topper. Ratings indicate what tends to be true; ratings for a particular model or individual topper may vary. The table below compares toppers with 89% or better owner satisfaction based on at least 500 consumer experiences. * Memory foam density indicates howFor example, foam with 3.0 lb (or lbs/ft) density means that a cubic foot of this foam weighs three pounds. See the above grid and memory foam density: low vs high to learn more about differences in density. ** Gel-infused memory foam tends to sleep about 25% cooler longer than regular memory foam all other things being equal. *** CertiPUR-US certified foam meets standards for content, emissions, performance and durability.
Memory foam is made from polyurethane with additional chemicals to increase density. The foam is made up of millions of spherical shaped, open cells. What makes memory foam unique is its temperature and weight sensitivity. Memory foam mattress toppers should generally be expected to last about three to four years with regular use – a rate somewhat better than that of the average mattress topper. Memory foam toppers with higher density foam (4 lbs/ft or more) may last somewhat longer than those with lower density foam (3 lbs/ft or less). As the toppers age and wear, they tend to lose their resiliency and support. They may also discolor and tear. Memory foam toppers often have warranty lengths of 2-5 years. Owner experience data suggests that the likelihood of successfully filing a warranty claim is low. Consumers, as a result, should probably not place much emphasis on warranty coverage when shopping. When unpackaged, memory foam can initially give off a gas or odor which can last from hours to weeks.
Off gassing is the main complaint by memory foam topper owners as about 18% report the problem. Off gassing can be a small annoyance to some people and unbearable to others. Learn more about memory foam off gassing. There is often randomness as to whether and how much a memory foam mattress topper will off gas. However, owner experience data suggests that off gassing tends to correlate with topper thickness. * Off gassing lasting more than 24 hours. About 7% of memory foam topper owners – vs about 4% for the average mattress topper – report that their topper sleeps hot or, in other words, fails to disperse body heat resulting in an unnaturally warm sleep surface. Thicker memory foam toppers tend to have more heat-related complaints than thinner varieties. This appears to be due to the fact that the sleeper often sinks further into thicker toppers where there is less air circulation. High density foam toppers may also increase the potential for heat retention. * Heat retention is enough to undermine sleep quality at least some of the time.