Last Updated: January 2020
There is nothing worse than waking up flustered in a pool of sweat. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it also disturbs your sleep. In fact, overheating is blamed for being the most common cause of sleep disruption.
Why does overheating occur when you sleep? First, your body temperature tends to rise when you are sleeping, and this rise in temperature is compounded when the heat has nowhere to go. Poor air ventilation in a mattress traps the body heat in, thereby causing the temperature of your sleeping surface to heat up – and causing you to heat up, too! This problem can occur with all types of mattresses, but it tends to be more noticeable on foam mattresses. Then, when you add on the sheets, the blankets, the pillows, the body heat of another person (if you share the bed), and the temperature of your bed can rise significantly.
If you are spending the night tossing and turning because you are constantly hot, you may be thinking about buying a new mattress; however, the idea of shelling out tons of cash on a new mattress is may be making you cringe. Fortunately, you can combat the heat without getting a new mattress. How? – By adding a cooling mattress pad to the top of your bed!
Cooling mattress pads are specifically designed with specialty materials that are meant to heat away from your body, wick away moisture and improve the breathability of your sleeping surface – and they cost much less than a new mattress.
There are several cooling mattress pads available to purchase, which can make trying to purchase the best one for your needs a bit of a daunting experience. To help you on your quest for finding the best cooling mattress pad, we have put together this handy buyer’s guide. In it, we highlight the important factors that you should take into consideration when you are shopping for a cooling mattress pad. We also share our top three picks for the best options that are currently available on the market.
If you are looking to beat the heat when you sleep, you have come to the right place!
The Best Cooling Mattress Pads
*5 Star Rating: this is based on the percentage of consumers who rate the cooling mattress pads 10/10.
There are literally dozens of cooling gel mattress pad toppers available on the market. We have tested out several options from some of the best manufacturers. Keeping the above-mentioned factors in mind, we have determined that the following cooling mattress pad toppers are the best of the best.
Zinus Sleep Master Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Zinus Sleep Master is one of the best names in the bedding product industry, and their Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper certainly lives up to their reputation.
This mattress topper offers two layers:
- 2 inches of cooling gel infused memory foam. The gel pulls heat away from the body, keeping the sleeping surface cool and preventing the mattress from overheating. It also adds an additional layer of comfort, as the memory foam contours to your body.
- 2 inches of high-density base foam. This layer adds extra support to the mattress topper and provides deep compression relief.
That’s a total of 4 inches of cooling comfort that this mattress topper will deliver for your bed. All of the materials are made of the highest quality CertiPUR US Certified materials. Additionally, the pad is backed by a 5-year limited warranty.
Our Score
Below is our final score of the Zinus Sleep Master Topper based on multiple criteria that we use when testing all of our mattresses.
Sleep Innovations 4 Inch Dual Layer Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
This construction of this cooling mattress pad from Sleep Innovations is truly unique. It offers two separate layers; however, the top layer is made of a 2-inch fiber filled quilted cover, while the second layer is made of 2 inches of cooling gel memory foam. In other words, the top surface is made to feel like a cloud, adding an extra plush layer to your mattress. The second layer pulls heat away from the body and adds pressure relieving support, so you will wake up with less aches and pains.
The cover is removable and is machine washable and dryable. Additionally, this mattress pad is backed by a 10-year limited warranty.
Our Score
Below is our final score of the Sleep Innovations Topper based on multiple criteria that we use when testing all of our mattresses.
LUCID 3 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
This cooling mattress pad by LUCID is made of 3 inches of cooling gel infused memory foam. The cooling gel draws heat away from the body, keeping the sleeping surface cooler. A ventilated designed helps to improve air flow, adding further cooling comfort. The memory foam cradles the body and adds pressure relieving support to the mattress, improving your overall comfort and your quality of sleep.
Our Score
Below is our final score of the Lucid Topper based on multiple criteria that we use when testing all of our mattresses.
Cooling Mattress Pads: Factors to Consider When Shopping
When you are looking for a cooling mattress pad, you will quickly find that there are tons of options to choose from. While having a lot of options is always nice, it can also make finding the best option for your needs a bit challenging. In order to find the best option possible, there are certain factors that you are going to want to take into consideration. Some of the key factors to consider include the type of material the pad is made of, the thickness of the pad and the additional support it provides. By taking these factors into consideration, you will be able to find the best cooling mattress pad to suit your specific needs.
Materials
Cooling mattress pads generally use one of two types of materials:
- Cooling gel infused foam – These pads are usually made of memory foam that has been infused with a cooling gel. The gel helps to keep the sleeping surface cool by pulling heat away from the body and circulating it throughout the rest of the mattress.
- Moisture wicking fabrics – Much like the fabrics that are used for athletic clothing, these mattress pads work by actually absorbing body heat and wicking it – as well as the moisture it creates – away from the body. The result is a cooler sleeping surface that allows for a more restful sleep.
Thickness
Another important factor to take into consideration when shopping for a cooling mattress pad is the thickness of the actual pad. The thickness will impact the total thickness of your mattress, and it can impact the firmness of the sleeping surface, as well.
Generally, cooling gel infused memory foam mattress pads tend to be thicker than those that are made of moisture wicking materials. Additionally, they also tend to be a bit firmer. Make sure you interact with the mattress pad before buying so you can get a true feeling for its thickness and its firmness.
Additional Support
Some cooling mattress pads are designed to offer additional support to the mattress. This may be something that you are interested in if you feel like your mattress is sagging, is too plush, or if you feel like you are waking up with aches and pains.
There are mattress pads available that are actually engineered to provide pressure point relief. This is something that you may want to look into if you find you are waking up with sore and stiff muscles, spasms, tightness or pain in your neck, back or shoulders.
Cost
Everyone has a budget, which is why you want to make sure you consider the cost of the cooling mattress pad before you start shopping. These pads can vary widely in price, so you definitely want to set a budget before you head out to make a purchase so you can avoid spending more than you are comfortable with.