Mattresses are no small investment, but memory foam mattress toppers offer consumers a way to get the comfort and support that they need without buying a whole new bed set. Toppers range from 1 to 4 inches thick and lie over the top of an existing mattress. Since memory foam contours to the body, it offers extra support and cushion, though thinner toppers provide less support than thicker options. With so many products on the market, look to the top 10 memory foam mattress toppers to choose one suitable for the bedroom. Table of Contents Hide 1. Sleep Innovations Topper 3. 2.0 Visco2 Ventilated ... 4. Serta Ultimate Topper 5. Linenspa Lucid Gel Mem... 6. Memory Foam Solutions ... 7. Nature's Sleep 2.75-in... 8. Nature's Sleep Natural... 9. Healthy Back Ergo Perf... 10. Healthy Back Embrace T... Sleep Innovations created its topper particularly for extra-long twin mattresses, so anyone with a larger bed has to look elsewhere. The 2-inch memory foam topper comes with SureTemp technology and open cell construction, which makes the pad slightly firmer and more supportive.
The Carpenter memory foam topper comes in all sizes from extra-large twin to king, but this model is only 1-inch thick. Though the topper only offers a little extra cushion, its lightweight build makes it easier to move and budget-friendly. Some even recommend using the pad to reupholster furniture. For a new take on 2-inch toppers, consumers should try the 2.0 Visco2 Ventilated topper that features a polyurethane memory foam using an open cell construction. This allows the foam to breathe and maintain an optimal temperature throughout the night. Additionally, the company only uses natural ingredients to construct the Visco2, meaning that it is environmentally-friendly as well as hypoallergenic. The Serta Ultimate topper offers just that: ultimate comfort and support with a 4-inch thick pad. Thicker toppers like this are heavy and may cause problems with fitted sheets, but it does provide maximum cushion and, unlike many memory foam toppers, this one loses its factory odor quickly.
Many consumers complain about the heat-retention properties of memory foam, but that is not the case with the Linenspa Lucid Gel Memory Foam mattress topper. It uses gel-infused memory foam to disperse body heat and keep the pad cool throughout the night. The 2.5-inch gel construction also offers adequate support and the pad comes with a washable cover. The Memory Foam Solutions topper features a 3-inch pad with 4 lbs. per cubic foot density. While the extra-dense construction does offer more support, it is slower to dissipate heat and the chemical odor with which it comes. However, the PURGreen certification indicates that the topper does meet environmental standards for safety. Since users cannot wash memory foam, the Nature's Sleep 2.75-inch topper comes with a soft microfiber cover that protects the topper from wear and tear. It is thick enough to support and cushion, but also light enough to move when needed. Nature's Sleep Natural Elements topper addresses many of the common problems associated with the average memory foam products.
Nature's Sleep infuses the topper with charcoal that helps reduce odor, dissipates moisture, and purifies the air. A negative ion charge also restores the body's energy while a 300-thread count cover keeps it protected. This small 1-inch topper offers sleepers a way to travel with extra support. Just roll it up and head out the door. Pressure-sensitive bio-foam supports and cushions, though only marginally due to its thin construction. Eliminate pressure points and sleep comfortably throughout the night on the Healthy Back Embrace topper made with ventilated memory foam. It promotes a proper posture and increases sleep quality without retaining heat. The 2-inch topper also comes with a moisture-absorbing cover. How to Buy a Memory Foam Mattress Topper on eBay A bad night of sleep can affect your entire day and, if it continues, can cause serious health issues. Even the smallest improvement with a mattress topper can make all the difference in the world by eliminating pressure points, promoting better posture, and increasing blood circulation.
Browse through the toppers on eBay to choose one suitable for your mattress and lifestyle. Simply type a term or phrase in the search bar located on every eBay page. This generates a list or products related to your query. Increase your quality of life by increasing the quality of your sleep. Memory foam is polyurethane with additional chemicals increasing its viscosity and density. It is often referred to as "viscoelastic" polyurethane foam, or low-resilience polyurethane foam (LRPu). Higher-density memory foam softens in reaction to body heat, allowing it to mold to a warm body in a few minutes. Newer foams may recover more quickly to their original shape. Memory foam was developed in the 1970s under a contract by NASA's Ames Research Center to improve the safety of aircraft cushions. Ames scientist Chiharu Kubokawa and Charles A. Yost of the Stencel Aero Engineering Corporation were major contributors to this project. The temperature-sensitive memory foam was initially referred to as “slow spring back foam”;
Yost called it "temper foam".[2] Created by feeding gas into a polymer matrix, the foam has an open-cell solid structure that matches pressure against it, yet slowly springs back to its original shape. Yost later founded Dynamic Systems Inc. in collaboration with NASA to commercialize the foam, including it in both medical equipment such as X-ray table pads and sports equipment such as American / Canadian football helmet liners. After Dynamic Systems sold memory foam products to Becton, the range of products was expanded. When NASA released memory foam to the public domain in the early 1980s, Fagerdala World Foams was one of the few companies willing to work with the foam, as the manufacturing process remained difficult and unreliable. Their 1991 product, the "Tempur-Pedic Swedish Mattress" eventually led to the mattress and cushion company, Tempur World. Memory foam was subsequently used in medical settings. For example, it was commonly used in cases where the patient was required to lie immobile in their bed on a firm mattress for an unhealthy period of time.
The pressure on some of their body regions impaired the blood flow to the region, causing pressure sores or gangrene. Memory foam mattresses significantly decreased such events.[2] Claims have also been made that memory foam reduces the severity of pain associated with fibromyalgia. Memory foam was initially too expensive for widespread use,[] but became cheaper. Its most common domestic uses are mattresses, pillows, shoes and blankets. It has medical uses, such as wheelchair seat cushions,[3] hospital bed pillows and padding for people suffering long-term pain or postural problems; for example, a memory foam cervical pillow may alleviate chronic neck pain. Its heat-retaining properties may help some pain sufferers who find the added warmth helps to decrease the pain. Unfortunately, the heat-retaining properties can also be a downside when used in mattresses and pillows so in the second generation memory foam, companies began using open cell structure to better help with breathability.
In 2006, the third generation of memory foam was introduced. Gel visco or gel memory foam consists of gel particles fused with visco foam to reduce trapped body heat, speed up spring back time and help the mattress feel softer. This technology was originally developed and patented by Peterson Chemical Technology,[4] and gel mattresses[5] became popular with the release of Serta’s iComfort line and Simmon's Beautyrest line in 2011. Gel-infused memory foam was next developed with what were described as "beads" containing the gel which, as a phase-change material, would achieve the desired temperature stabilization or cooling effect by changing from a solid to a liquid "state" within the capsule. Changing physical states can significantly alter the heat absorption properties of an element, which is why the technology was applied to memory foam. Since the development of gel memory foam, other materials have been added. Aloe vera, green tea extract and activated charcoal have been combined with the foam to reduce odors and even provide aromatherapy while sleeping.
Rayon has been used in woven mattress covers over memory foam beds to wick moisture away from the body to increase comfort. Phase-change materials (PCMs) have also been used in the covers that are used on memory foam pillows, beds, and mattress pads. A memory foam mattress is usually denser than other foam mattresses, making it both more supportive and heavier. Memory foam mattresses are often sold for higher prices than traditional mattresses. Memory foam used in mattresses is commonly manufactured in densities ranging from less than 1.5 lb/ft3 to 8 lb/ft3 density. The property of firmness (hard to soft) of memory foam is used in determining comfort. Firmness is measured by a foam's indentation force deflection (IFD) rating. However, it is not a complete measurement of a "soft" or "firm" feel. A foam of higher IFD but lower density can feel soft when compressed. IFD measures the force (in pounds-force) required to make a dent 1 inch into a foam sample 15" x 15" x 4" by an 8-inch-diameter (50 sq in) disc—known as IFD @ 25% compression.
[6] IFD ratings for memory foams range between super soft (IFD 10) and semi-rigid (IFD 12). Most memory foam mattresses are firm (IFD 12 to IFD 16). Some [] report that IFD is a poor way to measure softness of memory foam, and that foam density as a measure of quality is more important, but not always true. Foam density of 5 pounds per cubic foot (80 kg/m3) or greater is considered high quality, although most standard memory foam has a density of 1 to 5 lb/ft3 (16–80 kg/m3). Most bedding, such as topper pads and comfort layers in mattresses is 3 to 4.5 lb/ft3. Very high densities such as 5.3 lb/ft3 (85 kg/m3) are used infrequently in mattresses. The new second and third generation memory foams have an open-cell structure that reacts to body heat and weight by 'molding' to the sleeper's body, helping relieve pressure points, preventing pressure sores, etc. Most memory foam has the same basic chemical composition, however the density and layer thickness of the foam makes different mattresses feel very different.
A high-density mattress will have better compression ratings over the life of the bedding. A lower-density one will have slightly shorter life due to the compression that takes place after repeated use. Emissions from memory foam mattresses may directly cause more respiratory irritation than other mattresses.[7] A 2002 American-Norwegian study claims children's "foam" mattresses are 3.3 to 8.1 times more likely to host dust mite feces than spring mattresses, yet the study did not mention if the foam tested was of the standard or shape memory type and simply referred to covered or non-covered foam mattresses, which could lead to believe the foam in question could be the standard less expensive non-memory type. Thirteen mattresses were excluded of the study without further notice and the paper was written self-admittingly to debunk a 1981 Australian paper that claimed the opposite, namely that kapok and spring mattresses had 2-3 times more mites than foam mattresses, yet the American-Norwegian team explain "We speculate that children tend to get their parents’ old foam mattresses".
Neither study addressed memory foam. Memory foam, like other polyurethane products, can be combustible.[9] Laws in several jurisdictions have been enacted to require that all bedding, including memory foam items, be resistant to ignition from an open flame such as a candle or cigarette lighter. US bedding laws that went into effect in 2010 change the Cal-117 Bulletin for FR testing.[10] There is concern that high levels of the fire retardant PBDE, commonly used in memory foam, could cause health problems for users.[11] PBDEs are no longer used in most bedding foams, especially in the European Union. Manufacturers caution about leaving babies and small children unattended on memory foam mattresses, as they may find it difficult to turn over, and may suffocate. The United States Environmental Protection Agency published two documents proposing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP) concerning hazardous emissions produced during the making of flexible polyurethane foam products.
[13] The HAP emissions associated with polyurethane foam production include methylene chloride, toluene diisocyanate, methyl chloroform, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, propylene oxide, diethanolamine, methyl ethyl ketone, methanol, and toluene however not all chemical emissions associated with the production of these material have been classified. Methylene chloride makes up over 98 percent of the total HAP emissions from this industry. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of methylene chloride also irritates the nose and throat. The effects of chronic (long-term) exposure to methylene chloride in humans involve the central nervous system, and include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and memory loss. Animal studies indicate that inhalation of methylene chloride affects the liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system. Developmental or reproductive effects of methylene chloride have not been reported in humans, but limited animal studies have reported lowered fetal body weights in rats exposed.