Best memory foam mattress topper Memory foam mattress toppers are the most popular choice among users, and we found more reviews for them than for any other type of topper. A number of memory foam mattress toppers get very high ratings at different review sites across the Internet, but none fares better than the Serta Ultimate 4-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Est. $200 and up). Owners say the Serta Ultimate Foam mattress topper is very comfortable and supportive, and many report that it provides relief from pain and stiffness. This Serta is reported to be on the soft side, so it gets better ratings from back sleepers than from side sleepers. That's not unusual for softer mattresses and mattress pads as side sleepers tend to sink deeper into those. However, for those who love a soft bed, the Serta Ultimate is the "ultimate" in comfort, users say, with many likening it to sleeping on a cloud. For some, though, that cloud feels more like a giant sponge, and some say that this memory foam topper traps heat too much and also makes it difficult to move around.
This Serta memory foam mattress topper comes in a wide range of sizes, twin, full, queen, king and California King. The four inch thickness is a great choice if you're a heavier individual, or if your mattress is significantly hard or sagging. The 2-inch thick Serta only comes in three sizes, queen, king and California king. The Serta Ultimate mattress topper is a good choice for allergy sufferers as it's is hypoallergenic and antibacterial. Long-term reviews indicate that this mattress topper is quite durable, although some experts say that you can only expect a memory foam mattress topper to last about three to five years. Since the Serta comes with a long, three-year warranty, it seems that this one may be at the longer range of that scale. The Red Nomad 2-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Est. $70 and up) is another great choice that gets raves from experts and owners. It also comes in a wider range of sizes, twin, twin XL, full, queen and California king. The Red Nomad also comes in a 3-inch thick size.
, where it earns an overall owner satisfaction sample of 94 percent. However, that is based upon far, far fewer owner surveys (for example, 788 surveys for Red Nomad, 25,542 for Serta; Serta earns a rating of 89 percent). That's significant because in our research on both mattress toppers and mattresses, which we cover in a separate report, the more input a manufacturer has, the lower their ratings tend to be. Still, owners at retail review sites love the Red Nomad mattress topper. They say it adds a lot of comfort to a too-hard bed and that it fits extremely true to size. Most say they noticed absolutely no odor upon unpacking the mattress topper; others say it had a slight odor, but that it aired out very nicely. , is another popular memory foam mattress topper. Owners give it high praise for comfort and pain relief. Many say that after trying this on their own bed, they have purchased additional mattress pads for other beds in the home. This mattress topper also comes in a full range of sizes, twin, twin XL, full, queen, king and California king.
The Memory Foam Solutions pad gets more durability complaints than the Serta or the Red Nomad, with some saying the foam disintegrates within a few months. gets good reviews for dealing with complaints. If you tend to get hot when you sleep, you might prefer the Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Est. $85 and up). This memory foam mattress pad is infused with a gel designed to disperse heat and improve airflow. Owners generally agree that the Lucid mattress pad doesn't make them too warm, and most say it's very comfortable, although, as with all memory foam mattresses, there are those who say it's just too soft. It gets raves from back pain sufferers who say that the supportive softness eliminated their morning pain and stiffness. The bamboo fabric cover on the Lucid Gel mattress topper gets good reviews for its softness and for protecting the mattress topper, but some say it makes the pad too slippery and that it slides around on the bed. We also read a notable number of complaints about the odor when this mattress pad is first unpacked.
All memory foam mattress toppers get those kind of complaints, but this one seems to garner more complaints than others for that particular issue. Many say they had to unroll theirs and air it out for several days before they could use it -- so you may want to factor that into your purchase decision if you need it for a specific time frame.August 1, 2014 0 Comment Guides If you’re buying a memory foam mattress for the first time, choosing the right one can seem a little tricky. They work and feel differently than common innerspring beds, and firmness levels can also be a little different. But, firmness is an important important part of mattress comfort, so understanding the basics can be helpful when trying to choose a comfortable bed.Keep reading to learn about memory foam mattress firmness and compare different brands and firmnesses of beds.Mattress firmness is a measure of how much a mattress “gives” when force is applied. In the most basic sense, a soft mattress will easily compress, while a firm mattress will take much more weight to compress.
Since different companies describe beds in different ways, it can get confusing, however, there are couple of concepts that can make it easier to compare and shop beds.IFD (Indentation Force Deflection) is a standard test of foam firmness that measures the force required to compress foam by 25%. IFD’s under 18 are typically softer and used in memory foam comfort layers. IFDs over 30 are firmer, and are usually used in support core layers.IFD is not commonly given by memory foam mattress manufacturers, but if it is, it may help you determine how firm or soft the bed is. However, IFDs of individual layers may not provide much practical insight, since it can still be hard to tell how all the layers will feel together.More often, however, firmness is usually described arbitrarily by mattress manufacturers, and there really isn’t a set standard of what is soft, medium or firm. On a memory foam bed, firmness depends in the density and IFD of the core layer, as well as the density, thickness and IFD of the upper layers.
Although density is not directly related to firmness, it can have an effect on how a mattress feels. Denser memory foams can initially feel a little firmer until they contour, but they tend to be more buoyant, better at cushioning pressure points, and also more resistant to softening over time. Denser polyurethane foams (the core layers) are also less resistant to impressions.But, according to Sleep Like The Dead, people are more likely to rate lower-density memory foam mattresses as overly firm. This could be because the lower-density foams may be less buoyant, causing sleepers to ‘bottom out’ on the more rigid foam cores.When it comes to temperature sensitive memory foams, density can be a little harder to judge. Polyurethane Foam Association says that both temperature and humidity can influence IFD ratings. Temperature-sensitive foams feel firmer in cooler temperatures and softer in warmer temperatures. The foam near your body will also soften as it warms when lying down. Keep this in mind if you are trying temperature sensitive memory foam mattresses in a store!
In the following section, we compare soft, medium and firm memory foam mattresses from 10 leading memory foam brands, and describe who might prefer each. If the company had multiple beds in a firmness range, we tried to choose the one that seemed most popular. Not all brands offered beds in all firmness levels.Review data comes from third party review sites, consumer review sites, and/or retailer websites. Mattress specification and pricing data was gathered 8/1/14, and could be subject to change. Some companies do not provide full details like ILD or density. Beds are sorted from lowest to highest price.Softer mattresses are usually considered ideal for side sleepers, who tend to experience greater pressure as their hips and shoulders sink further into the mattress. The beds below are all classified in the plush to medium soft range.The Spa Sensations 12” Theratouch model offers a good entry-level value and has good reviews, but may not be ideal for those seeking a mattress to hold up to daily use over several years, or those over 200 pounds.
The Amerisleep Liberty offers higher density foam and greater transparency than many of the more expensive models, though the BedInABox Serenity also received good ratings as well.Medium firmness mattresses are usually the most popular, as they will feel comfortable to the widest proportion of people. Depending on the depth of the comfort layers, any sleep position can get adequate support on a medium mattress. Several sleep studies have also indicated that medium firmness tends to be better at reducing back pain than firm beds. The following mattresses all fall in the medium range of firmness.The BedInABox PacBed offers a good entry-level value for a medium memory foam bed, with good core density. The Amerisleep Revere has strong ratings and specifications within the mid-range category, and the Tempurpedic Rhapsody features high-density memory foam with good ratings as well.Firm mattresses can provide good support for back and stomach sleepers. Since there no springs exerting upward force, a firm memory foam mattress can offer better pressure point protection than a firm spring bed.
For firm memory foam beds, the Comfort Dreams 11” Select-a-Firmness mattress offers a good value with low and medium density memory foam and good reviews, though like other entry-level beds, is best for temporary or occasional use. In the mid-price category again, the Amerisleep Americana offers good density/ILD levels and reviews, while the Tempur-Contour Supreme offers a better value than the similarly-priced iComfort Acumen model.Most mattress companies will have some type of firmness classification and will state how the mattress is intended to feel to help you shop. Though IDF and density can be most helpful when trying to gauge how a bed will feel, they aren’t always available. If you are unsure where a mattress falls, get help from a sales rep and explain what you are looking for and what you are comfortable with.If you are trying to get a better idea of firmness, reviews can also provide some insight.When you read reviews, it can be helpful to see if many people say a bed was firmer or softer than expected, if a bed softened more than usual, and other valuable owner information.
But, keep in mind that firmness is inherently personal, and what feels firm or soft to you may be classified differently by someone else.Ensuring you have the ability to return is always important when mattress shopping, and if you are trying memory foam for the first time and not sure about firmness, you’ll want to inquire about store policies. It can take a few weeks to adjust to a new mattress, so look for a return policy with at least 30 days.If you are in between soft and medium or medium and firm, it may also be more practical to err on the firmer side for two reasons. One, memory foam will soften up a little over time as you break the bed in (more so for lower densities), and, you would always have the option of placing a topper on the bed to soften it up a little if needed (often cheaper than returning).We hope this guide to memory foam mattress firmness answered your questions, and as always, feel free to leave questions and comments below! 2016's Best Black Friday Deals on Memory Foam Mattresses