Why Memory Foam Mattress Toppers Wear Out Quickly How Long Before You're Forced To Replace Your Topper You would think that toppers made of memory foam last as long as the beds made of the same material. But this is not the case. Not even Tempur-Pedic toppers last as long as their mattress counterparts. All other things being equal, a memory mattress topper has a shorter lifespan because: Thickness - Memory foam toppers are generally thinner than the foam layers used in mattresses. Toppers that are too thin (only 1-2 inches thick) wear out quicker because when the cells at the top crumble, there is a less memory foam underneath to take their place and provide support. Overlay - Memory toppers are generally laid over an existing mattress or bed. If the mattress underneath is already worn out and shows sagging, the topper will simply follow that contour and make the sag even more pronounced because of its soft nature. That may take some time to become permanent. Overweight - Heavy and obese people may speed up the process by adding extra pressure to the visco foam topper.
While a memory mattress is held up by a highly resillient core, the topper is held up by air, springs or whatever else the bed is made of. Extra weight also makes the open cells crumble quicker than they would under the average person. You can expect a viscoelastic foam topper to wear out in 18-36 months. If Only All Memory Toppers Were Made Of Tempur-Pedic Quality Foam... Most viscoelastic toppers, however, are not usually made of the same quality grade material as beds and mattresses are. This means they don't last as long. Viscoelastic material is very expensive to make and usually used to make only beds and mattresses. Toppers, however, are generally much cheaper and using Tempur-style foam of the highest quality would make it economically unrealistic for manufacturers. Tempur Pedic brand mattress overlays, however, are made of the same NASA-evolved foam technology as Tempur mattresses. There is little information to indicate whether or not other mattress companies use the same grade foam in their toppers.
Bottom line, a visco memory foam bed topper will continue to provide support and comfort without sagging for 1.5-3 years, as long as it's: Made of high density Tempur-style memory foam Used over a solid foundation My Foam Mattress Has Memory! A Critical Eye On The Latest Mattress Technologies How Long Does It Last?What affects the expected lifetime of memory mattress pads and does a Tempurpedic overlay last longer? The answer is years and years as long as it's made of better quality, higher-density foam. Real NASA LinkMany manufacturers claim Swedish foam was first used by the NASA Space Program to boost sales for their visco foam beds.NASA never did use that basic material in the 1960s. NASA bedding or space bedding technology simply does not exist as such.The truth is the Swedish Tempur-Pedic company did eventually come up with a reliable formula now used in the best-selling Tempur mattress.While Tempurpedic beds are commonly known to use Swedish foam bed technology, not all such products made in Sweden are made of the so-called NASA bed foam.
Authenticity TestHow can you check if your purchase as good as a authentic Tempur bed? You can try the wine glass test, the egg test, or the fridge test. You are here: Home > Must-Know Facts > Why Memory Foam Mattress Toppers Wear Out Quickly 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. Gel-infused memory foam tends to sleep about 25% cooler longer than regular memory foam – all other things being equal. Memory foam toppers can often be added to just one side of a bed to, in effect, provide different firmness and feel for each side. This can make a mattress more suitable for couples. Learn more on how to have a topper on one half of a mattress.