Getting a mattress topper is a great way to revitalize your mattress and optimize your sleeping experience. This option is cheaper and almost always as effective as overhauling your entire mattress. However, the market offers various options, and picking the best mattress topper for your needs may be a daunting task. It doesn’t have to be that way.
In this article, we’ve taken the pain to carry out the intensive research on your behalf. Not to decide for you, but to provide you with the key factors you should consider before deciding.
In the end, you’ll hopefully have enough information to help you pick one that’s just right for you.
Factors to Consider When Picking the Best Mattress Topper for Your Needs
- Your Sleeping Position
The best mattress toppers usually provide extra support and improve the quality of sleep.
But when it comes to providing support, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution as it’s largely dependent on your preferred sleeping position. Here’s why:
People tend to fall into one of three categories:
- Side sleepers: Touted as the most common sleeping position, this position is also healthy. However, if your mattress is not one that supports a side sleeper’s pressure points, you should get one of these best mattress toppers for side sleepers to avoid waking up with aches.
- Back sleepers: As the name implies, back sleepers fall asleep on their back. One big con associated with back sleeping is the increased probability of waking up with a sore lower back. Fortunately, firmer mattresses can help fix this problem. So if you’re a back sleeper with a soft mattress, you can use this mattress-optimizing add-on to get better sleep.
- Stomach sleepers: About 14% of Americans favor the stomach sleeping position. Like all others, it has its pros and cons but picking a topper with a medium or medium-firm firmness level is just right for stomach sleepers.
Each position has different pressure points, and these determine the support points a mattress should offer to ensure proper alignment of your body.
That said, always read specifications before placing your order or take a cue from Forbes’ recommendations.
- Body Heat
Latex and memory foam are the thickest and densest. While these features make them the most durable, it also makes them the warmest and may pose a disadvantage during summer. To curb this problem, modern memory and latex foams have cooling gels and ventilation tubes yet, if body heat is highly important to you, they’re probably not the best picks.
Cheaper options like those made of wool, feather, and down tend to be better for year-round use. They retain less heat during the summer and can provide extra warmth during winter.
- Price
Many times, the aim of getting a mattress topper is achieving comfort with breaking the bank.
What you should know is:
A higher price doesn’t necessarily make it more suitable for your needs.
Suppose you’re looking for extra support for your back and limbs or alleviating pains, memory foam and latex foam may be your ideal options. Turns out they’re the most expensive but definitely worth the investment.
However, if you’re looking to change the firmness level of your mattress, high-quality cotton, polyester, or feather will get the job done perfectly.
In summary, don’t go for the cheapest options just because they’re cheap. These may cost you in the long run. In like manner, don’t buy the most expensive one you find in the market just because it’s expensive. It would be best to cross-reference your needs with the price to pick the best option for you.
- Mobility and Ease of Cleaning
If you’re getting a one for traveling purposes, you may want to pick one that’s relatively easy to move about.
Egg crate mattress toppers are the easiest to transport, while latex and memory foam are the most difficult.
In terms of cleaning, some can be machine-washed while most others have to be manually washed. Be sure you know what you’re signing up for.
Pro Tip: Always use a mattress cover to serve as a layer of protection. Covers are easier to wash, even cheaper to replace.
- The thickness and Density Options
Typically, they have a thickness range between 2 – 8 inches.
If you’ve got a newer, expensive mattress and are looking to protect it or add an extra layer of support, a lighter one may do just fine. However, if you’re looking to infuse life into an aging mattress, you should look towards thicker options.
Memory and latex foams are usually the thickest options in the market and offer high-level support to your body. They can make your not-so-old mattress feel brand-spanking new.
- Warranty and Trial Period
A 2 – 5 year warranty period is normal in this industry. Broadly speaking, though, companies have warranties anywhere between 1 and 10 years. Do well to confirm the warranty period before placing your order. Also, you won’t be getting a replacement just because your topper is compressed under your weight after a couple of years. Read through the terms and conditions guiding the warranty to see if it’s a good fit.
Trial periods also span between 30 and 120 days. Confirm the trial period and it’s T&Cs, too.
Why Get a Mattress Topper?
In case you’re not very conversant with mattress toppers, here’s what you should know:
They are essentially a removable layer of foam placed on top of a mattress to provide extra support. They’re usually made with a variety of fillings. The four types are:
- Latex
- Memory foam
- Microfiber
- Feather and down.
They can customize your bed into having the most desirable features, and you won’t have to spend heavily on a new mattress. Some of the customization features:
- Pain relief and extra support
- Proper spinal alignment
- A quieter mattress (for couples)
- Cool a hot mattress during summer.
Final Thoughts
Treating yourself and your family to a quality night’s sleep offers incredible benefits, and some of the best mattress toppers can help you achieve this.
Now, while there’s no silver bullet to picking the all-perfect mattress topper, we’ve done well to lessen the work for you in this article. Read, analyze your options, and choose the best mattress for you. Enjoy your sleep!
