How to Choose the Best Memory Foam Mattress Topper for Your Back
If you have a mattress that is too hard, too soft, or too lumpy, you don't have to spend a ton of money on a brand new mattress. Mattress toppers are thinner and lighter than regular mattresses, and they provide an extra layer of cushioning so that you can get a proper night's sleep.
Mattress toppers made of viscoelastic memory foam are the most popular sleep aids in the bedding section. They come in all sizes and vary in thickness from 2 to 5 inches. With the right foam mattress pad, you can transform an old mattress into a new memory foam bed, often for less than $100. In fact, you can help your regular mattress stay newer longer by using a separate mattress pad.
What to Look for in a Memory Foam Mattress Topper
(1) Price: When purchasing a foam pad for your bed, you should keep in mind that most foam pads deteriorate after 2 or 3 years of use, some start to crack earlier. For a twin bed, look for mattress toppers less than $70. For full and queen size beds, try to spend no more than $85. For king and California king size mattresses, you can find excellent pads for under $100.
(2) Firmness Number: If you browse online or at the mattress store, you will see that the names of most toppers start with a number such as 3.3, 4.3, 5.5, or 6.5. These numbers indicate the density of the foam. If you prefer a softer sleep surface, choose a mattress pad with a lower number. If you need a firmer surface, choose a mattress topper with a higher number.
(3) Thickness: A memory foam topper that is 1.5 to 2 inches thick provides sufficient support for light weight people, less than 150 lbs. People who weigh between 150 and 250 pounds should select a pad that is 3 to 4 inches thick. Those over 250 pounds should purchase the thicker 5 inch mattress toppers. If a heavier person sleeps on a foam pad that is too thin, the pad will deteriorate more quickly. Keep in mind that the thicker the pad, the higher the price.
(4) Brand: Choose a foam mattress topper made by a company that specializes in memory foam bedding. Two popular brands are Sleep Studio and Cloud9. For example, the Cloud9 3-Inch Visco Elastic Memory Foam Mattress Topper is one of the best selling pads, as is the Sleep Studio ViscO2 Ventilated 2-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Enhancer. You can find a wider selection of mattress toppers when shopping online. Most come with a 30- or 90-day money back guarantee, so you can return a product that doesn't help you sleep better.
Non-Foam Mattress Toppers
Light weight feather beds filled with goose down can also be used as mattress toppers. Feather beds are softer than memory foam and can improve your sleep if your mattress is too hard. Down mattress toppers, such as the Pike Street Overfilled Microplush Mattress Pad, are often used by luxury hotels.
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