The level of comfort and support provided by your mattress can have a profound impact on your sleep. And a mattress topper is an effective way to improve your current set up. Whether you need to revitalize an ageing mattress, change the softness or firmness, or give yourself an extra layer of luxury to sleep on, there’s a topper that will give you what you need. In this review I’ll be looking at the best mattress toppers made from a range of materials: memory foam, latex, wool, down and cotton. Whether you’re looking for comfort, support, pain-relief or temperature regulation, hopefully you’ll find one which gives you a great night’s rest. Memory foam mattress topper that avoids heat retention The Isolus ventilated mattress topper is a luxuriously supportive and comfortable memory foam topper, made by the well-respected bedding company Malouf. This is a topper which you can sink into, feel cushioned and drift off to sleep safe in the knowledge that you won’t be bothered by pressure points.
Impressively for a memory foam topper, you’ll find it has minimal heat retention due to the ventilation tubes running throughout it. Here are the key points to consider: There isn’t much to complain about with this mattress topper. It would be nice if it came with a cover, but it’s the main body which is most important. And despite being superior to most other memory foam toppers in terms of heat and initial smell, you may find that there’s still a little of both. Overall, this is an excellent addition to any bedroom, whether you’re new to memory foam or are looking for a good quality mattress topper. Once you’ve slept on it it’s unlikely you’ll ever want to go back to a normal mattress. This natural bamboo topper by Exceptional Sheets is technically advertised as a pad rather than a topper. However, the terms pad and topper are often interchangeable, with the end result being what really matters. And the thickness and quality of this pad definitely merit a place among the more heavyweight mattress toppers.
The pad is particularly soft and comfortable, feeling like goose down and very popular due to this. It won’t mold to and support your body like a memory foam topper, but it will get you some way towards that fabled ‘sleeping on a cloud’ feeling. Here are the key features: The main downside is that if you’re trying to hide very large lumps or dips in your current mattress, it might not be up to the job. But if your main goal is to provide an extra layer of softness and comfort, this is a very effective choice. It will definitely spruce up your mattress and have you feeling soft and cozy again. Made in the United Stated by the Dreamfoam bedding company, the Ultimate Dream mattress topper ticks the boxes for comfort, support and durability. It’s 3 inches thick, which will help hide any lumps or dips in your current mattress, and you have three choices of firmness to choose from. The soft version is at the lower end of the scale for firmness, so you’ll sink into it but still receive support for your back.
The medium is actually probably in the medium-firm category, so you’ll get plenty of support for your body. And the firm really is quite solid – great if you enjoy a harder sleeping surface, but otherwise perhaps a bit too much. Overall, it’s an impressive mattress topper, solidly constructed and with enough choice to get the exact level of support you need. If you’re looking for a serious mattress upgrade which you’ll sleep comfortably on, the Utimate Dreams latex topper won’t disappoint. The Biosleep Concept is an excellent wool mattress topper, with a lovely balance of luxurious feel, body support and temperature regulation at night. If you’re not keen on the more synthetic materials such as memory foam or polyester, wool should be high up on your shortlist. If you tend to overheat at night or have allergies, and want a comfortable yet firm, supportive, chemical-free mattress topper it’s a great option. Here are the key points to note: One drawback to wool is that it does tend to compress over time, so if you’re looking for a soft, fluffy, sinking into the bed feeling for years to come, it might not be right for you.
You’ll also find you do need to occasionally fluff it or take it outside for a few minutes to breathe. So if you have problems lifting, that could be an issue. Wool toppers are probably the best choice if you need a combination of support for aching muscles or stiff joints and temperature regulation. And this is a carefully made topper with high quality natural materials which does those jobs extremely well. High quality feather mattress topper Having covered mattress toppers which provide firmness and support, it’s now time to focus on softness. And for that there’s nothing quite like lying on a bed of down feathers. And of the many feather toppers available, my recommended choice is this one from Pacific Coast. It’s a well-designed model which should give you the perfect soft surface to sleep on. The main downside is the same as with all feather and down mattress toppers – you’ll have to fluff it on a regular basis. The instructions tell you to do it daily to maintain the best shape and softness.
Overall, this is a well-designed and beautifully soft feather mattress topper. It’s a great option if softness is your number one criteria and you enjoy that uniquely special cosy feeling that down brings.The main reason to invest in a mattress topper is to upgrade the quality of your bed, and hopefully the quality of your sleep along with it. Replacing your mattress can be very expensive, so a mattress topper is a great way to revitalize or change the style of your bed instead. With some careful research, the right one will give you what you need at a fraction of the cost of a brand new mattress. In this article you’ll find both a list of the key factors which can help inform your decision making, and also a breakdown of the pros and cons of each type of material. By cross-referencing the two sections, you’ll hopefully have a clearer idea about which type will be the right kind for you. You can also find out about some of the more popular brands in these detailed mattress topper reviews.
First of all, it’s important to understand that there can be some confusion between mattress pads and mattress toppers. A mattress pad tends to be thinner, and usually serves either to protect the mattress or to provide only a little extra softness. A mattress pad can address specific needs, such as adding a water-proof layer or an anti-allergenic feature. You can also find heated mattress pads for use in the winter, and if you have issues with heat. A mattress topper on the other hand serves to add a much more significant layer of softness, cushioning or support for your body. And you can if you wish use both at the same time to further improve the quality of your bed. By placing a mattress pad over the topper, you can help protect both the topper and the mattress, as well as helping hold them all together as one unit. Having said that, some companies use the terms interchangeably. They may call their product a topper or pad, but actually it is much thicker or thinner than you would usually associate with that category.
So it’s always worth checking how much padding it actually provides. With so many types of mattress topper, it’s perhaps more helpful to first decide what you want or need from a topper. Then you can work out which material will best meet your needs. Personal preference and a gut feeling will probably play a role too. But if you do like to weigh up the pros and cons before making decisions, here are some of the key factors to take into account: The price can vary wildly, from 30 dollars to several thousand. But a higher price doesn’t necessarily guarantee it would be better for you. It’s about meeting your needs, not simply buying the most expensive you can afford. Plain egg crate foam, polyester and some cotton toppers tend to be the cheapest. With higher quality cotton, feather and down in the middle. Memory foam and wool can be quite expensive, with latex even more so. If it’s extra support for your back and limbs that you need, then memory foam and latex are generally more effective than the other materials.
They are better at holding the shape of your body and supporting your natural posture. With such a dizzying range of materials, brands, densities and thicknesses you should be able to find the perfect level of softness and comfort. But your definition of comfort may be different from the next person’s. Would you prefer a topper which molds to your body, such as with latex or memory foam? Or are you more suited to a naturally soft material such as down or cotton? Toppers tend to fall in the range of between 2 and 8 inches thick. If you need to revitalize an aging mattress, sleep on your side, or if you weigh more than average, you may need to look at thicker options. The materials with the best range of thickness are memory foam and latex. In addition the density of a topper is important in determining how much support it will provide you. Memory foam and latex toppers tend to have the most choice, allowing you to find just the right comfort level you need. Memory foam and latex are good at reducing the transmission of movement from your partner.
So if you sleep with someone whose tossing and turning keeps you awake, they are good choices. Memory foam and latex mattress toppers tend to retain body heat more. The thicker and denser they are, the hotter they feel. Wool, down and feather toppers are good all year round, as they provide extra warmth in winter yet reduce heat in summer. Don’t forget that the outside material can also contribute to the temperature by wicking away sweat for example. Some materials are better for certain allergies, so it’s worth checking the list below. Some are also more resistant to bed-bugs, mites, mildew and mold than others. Remember that you need to remove it from the packaging, get it onto the bed and potentially remove it for cleaning. So do be aware of the overall weight of the mattress topper. Egg crate is the easiest to transport, whilst feather, down and cotton are easier to move than memory foam or latex. Feather and down are the most difficult to clean. The standard warranty time seems to be around 2 years for many mattress toppers.
But this can be as short as one year and as long as 5 years. But remember that you won’t get a replacement just because it has compressed under your weight over time. Mattress toppers come in a range of very different styles and materials. So it’s important to know both what you hope to gain from using a topper, and what the pros and cons are of each material. Let’s take a look now at the different types in turn to give you a better idea of what your options are. Latex toppers can be quite expensive, but like the memory foam styles, can provide excellent support and comfort. Natural latex is made from the liquid in rubber trees. Not all latex toppers are natural though, so be sure to check before buying if it’s important to you to avoid synthetic materials. Memory foam is probably the most popular material people choose. A memory foam mattress can be incredibly expensive, so a topper can in part imitate a more costly mattress. At the opposite end of the material spectrum is the natural material of wool.
It can be fairly expensive, but there are some good reasons for this. Bedding made from goose or duck feathers, or softer and more luxurious down, is known for its softness and comforting feel. If you’re an allergy sufferer or need a firmer topper though, it may not be right for you. There is a vast range of mattress toppers and pads made from cotton, and often with a mixture of cotton and polyester and other materials. The price can also vary greatly with these. Egg crate mattress toppers refer to the shape, specifically the little bumps as you can see in the photo here. It’s important to note though that you can get an egg crate topper made either from good quality memory foam or from more basic foam. Because of that the price can vary wildly for products which may look and sound identical. Since we’ve already looked at memory foam above, let’s have a look at what you get from the more basic foam models. Made from foam it might not provide the same luxury as other types, but it’s a good choice if you have a lower budget or are using it for camping.