If your lumpy old bed is ready for an upgrade, you’ve probably begun crunching the numbers to see how much you need to squirrel away before you can splurge on a cushy new box spring and mattress. But after you’ve done the math and decided that unfortunately you’ll have to suffer through one more year of stiff backs and achy joints before you can afford to spring for new springs, it may make sense for you to look at another option that will have you sleeping in comfort sooner than later.
Mattress toppers are gaining in popularity because they not only extend the life of a tired mattress but can also add extra comfort to a newer bed that may now feel like it needs to be a little softer or firmer to deliver the great sleep you require. Best of all, they’re a fraction of the cost of a new mattress and don’t require a two-person tag team to get it into your home and onto your bed.
Where to begin in your quest for the perfect topper? Let’s start by narrowing your search to two of the most popular types of mattress topper – the memory foam and the gel foam topper. Both score high in consumer satisfaction and deliver a bigger bang for the buck than the typical feather or micro-fiber versions.
Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Be assured that these toppers are not just a thicker-than-normal mattress pad that smooths over the uncomfortable lumps and bumps in your bed. They serve a purpose by delivering a thick, dense layer of comfort that uses the heat from your body to quickly shape to your contours and distribute weight across your entire sleep surface. Memory foam uses technology developed by NASA to deliver advanced all-round support that cradles your body lines and allows your back to remain perfectly aligned no matter how often you change sleep position. By conforming to your natural curves, it relieves the pressure on key joints such as shoulders, hips and knees for a more restful sleep and pain-free mornings.
Gel Foam Memory Topper
Just like the memory foam mattress topper, the pricier gel foam toppers use your body heat to quickly shape to your contours and deliver superior support that eliminates pressure on key joints and delivers a more restful night’s sleep. The big difference is that the memory foam has been infused with gel microbeads that help create air pockets for improved air flow and a cooler sleep temperature. Memory foam toppers like the 2.5-inch thick Linenspa Lucid Gel which is also ventilated – make an ideal choice for dispersing body heat across the sleep surface of your topper and delivering a cooler, more comfortable night.
If you’re already scratching your head as to how to shop for this newer type of bedding technology, here are the 3 key factors you need to consider when beginning your search.
- Thick or Thin
One of the most important factors to take into consideration before you buy is the thickness level. Toppers can range from 1 to 6-inches in thickness with the thicker being the softest and most durable and the thinner toppers being less expensive but also less comfortable and least likely to last. Ideally, you shouldn’t be considering a topper less than 2 inches in depth and particularly for side sleepers or heavier individuals, the thicker the topper the better. Both Sleep Better and Memory Foam Solutions deliver a full 3-inches of thick memory foam comfort making them a great option for those looking for firmness without the extra “height” that the super-thick toppers add to a bed.
- Dense or Super Dense
When trying to figure out which density level best meets your needs, consider this; higher density is the firmer and more durable of the three while medium-density is perfect for those sleeping with a partner as it allows for optimal motion isolation. Low density is considered the easiest to “work in” because of it’s more pliable construction that makes it quickly contours to your body shape. Regardless of the specific benefits to each density, all memory foam toppers will hug your curves and deliver superior support to your joints and lower back. And if you’re a stomach sleeper, Memory Foam Solutions offers a 5-pound density topper that delivers the medium-firm support needed to perfectly meet your needs.
- Warm or Cool
Although both memory foam and gel foam use your body’s warmth to shape to your contours and deliver a supportive, restful sleep, you want to know that this same heat doesn’t build up through the night and become uncomfortably warm. While both styles of topper use advanced technology that allow your mattress topper to “breathe” and continually move air throughout, the more expensive gel foam variation does a better job at keeping you cool. Gel microbeads are integrated into the memory foam to create pockets that keep air circulating for a more comfortable, restful night’s sleep.
Now that you understand the features and benefits of both memory foam and gel foam mattress toppers, you should be able to narrow the choices on your shopping list based on your personal sleep style. Are you a side or stomach sleeper? Do you throw the blankets off and seek a cool sleep or prefer the coziness of a warmer bed? Kids, pets, partners keeping you awake? There’s a thickness, density and fabrication for you.
Now, what makes the memory foam and the gel foam topper so popular? Not only are they affordable, durable and easy to maintain, they also offer the following features:
- Relief at Key Pressure Points
Because memory foam quickly shapes to your body, it hugs your curves, provides additional support and most importantly, evenly distributes your body weight across the mattress to alleviate the burden on key pressure points such as shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. This makes memory foam an ideal mattress topper for those with arthritis, age-related joint issues or athletic injuries that can tend to flare up in the night and result in sleep loss.
- Lumbar Support
By customizing itself to your contours, your entire body is evenly supported with a memory foam topper and that allows your spine and lower lumbar region to remain in a neutral position throughout the sleep process. This is important for those who suffer from chronic back pain or those that find they feel tired and achy each time they get out of bed in the morning.
- Sleep Style Savvy
Whether your personal style is that of a side-, back- or stomach-sleeper, a memory foam mattress topper is a great option that adapts quickly to and continually to match your ideal sleep position. Because it uses heat to conform to your body’s contours, memory foam can rapidly and continually reconfigure itself regardless of how often you flip and flop throughout the night.
- Motion Isolation
If you or your partner are light sleepers, if you work different shifts or if you have kids and pets that like to jump in during the night and disrupt your much-needed 8 hours, a memory foam topper is ideal because it isolates motion and prevents transfer of movement. So, you’ll always get a restful night regardless of how often your partner tosses and turns.
- Ultra Hygienic
Because memory foam toppers are constructed from a super dense visco-elastic material they are great for allergy sufferers because they limit typical indoor allergens such as pet dander, dust and mold. The foam also doesn’t allow for penetration of dust mites and takes just a light, regular vacuuming to eliminate them altogether.
- Easy to Care For
A memory foam mattress topper is low maintenance, requiring only a light vacuuming every couple of months and because of its anti-microbial make-up, cleaning just once a year to keep it fresh, sanitary and looking its best. For stains, just lightly spritz with a gentle laundry detergent, blot dry and let it air dry before putting it back on your bed.
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