Choosing the Best Mattress Topper for your Bed – Pros & Cons of each topper type

Published on 13 July 2017

Posted in Blog

The bed is the centrepiece of your room, the one place you make a beeline for at the end of a long day. For many, it’s even the highlight of their day!

That’s why it really makes sense to make your experience as comfortable as possible. If you own and old thrifty mattress and the money it tight the best way to freshen it up is adding a good mattress topper. Toppers can also be great if your bed is a little too hard for comfort or if you’d like some extra warmth in the winter.

Mattress toppers vs. pads and protectors

A mattress topper is an extra layer you roll onto your bed for added comfort. They provide additional support and help keep you nice and cozy during cold weather.

Just to be clear, a mattress topper is not the same thing as a mattress protector – the latter being a thin cover meant to keep out moisture, mildew, allergens, dust, and pests.

It’s also not quite the same as a mattress pad. Pads are usually thinner and perform much the same function as the mattress protector while still providing some comfort.

This is the first decision you’ll have to make – which of these is the best option for you, a topper or a pad? We found the dilemma clarified in detail in this topper and pad guide on TheSleepStudies.com who have worked with us to help create this expert guide on choosing the best topper for your bed.

How to Choose the Best Mattress Topper for your money

At any bed store, you’ll find hundreds of mattress toppers to choose from. They come in all shapes and sizes, which can often be quite daunting to tackle.

To save time, effort, and money on your part, let’s address the advantages and shortcoming of each type.

Latex Toppers

A form of rubber, latex can either be synthetic or natural Talalay (made from Hevea Brasiliensis tree sap).

Pros

• Latex toppers can be very firm. This gives them high durability and can provide good support (especially useful for people who have joint or back problems).
• Despite its firmness, latex has low transfer motion. This simply means you won’t be disturbed by your bedmate moving around.
• Latex is also anti-microbial and for the most part, anti-allergenic.

Cons

• A latex surface can trap heat, so lying down on it for a long time might feel very warm.
• It may also feel too firm or too bouncy to some people’s tastes.
• It won’t work for people allergic to rubber or latex.
• For those concerned with green living, natural latex can be costly.

Memory Foam Mattress Toppers

This chemically-enhance polyurethane returns to its shape after use. Because it conforms to your body it provides ample support and comfort. It also comes in a variety of densities and, opposed to what most people think, it’s very different from latex.

Pros

• Never wrinkles or gets bent out of shape.
• Soft surface for added comfort.
• Provides ample support for arthritic joints and similar problems.
• Memory foam reduces motion, so you won’t be bothered by your bedmate’s movement.

Cons

• Over time, it may start feeling hot.
• Memory foam is more expensive than other materials.
• You may have a hard time turning or moving around in bed.

Polyester Blends

Also known as fiberfill, this is a synthetic material but feels like feather or down.

Pros

• Very affordable.
• Unlike other materials, does not carry an odor.
• Feels like feathers but is non-allergenic.

Cons

• Does not provide much support or cushioning.
• Over time, it can feel hot.
• It may get lumpy through use.
• It may also flatten over time.

Feathers and down toppers

These are much like feather duvets, and while they are incredibly soft they do not offer much support.

Pros

• Feathers feel very soft and comfortable
• Because of the air in between them they do not trap heat.
• Easy to move around in bed or turn over.
• Feather toppers do not cost as much as latex or memory foam.

Cons

• Feathers can cause allergic reactions
• You will need to occasionally fluff them up as they tend to flatten over time.
• Feather make noise when you move on them and can wake up a bedmate.
• Watch out for feather shafts sticking out of the cover.

Wool

Made from the fleece of sheep, wool toppers are rarer but provide an outstanding level of comfort.

Pros

• Wool toppers are soft and comfy.
• Provide the right amount of temperature regardless of weather. They feel cool in summer yet warm in winter.
• Easy to move around in bed.
• Wool is a highly durable material and wool toppers can last years.
• Wool is antimicrobial. It is also hypoallergenic except for those allergic to wool.

Cons

• Wool toppers are expensive and difficult to find.
• New toppers may smell like sheep, at least at first.

A small price to pay for nice place to lay

While purely optional, mattress toppers are a great way to bring additional comfort to your bed. Hopefully this list gave you an idea of what topper best suits your taste. It’s a relatively small expense for the essential need of a good night’s rest.

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