Orthopedic beds and mattresses

Mattress Toppers

Mattress toppers are said to offer the best of both worlds by protecting and enhancing the performance of the mattress up on which they sit.

Mattress toppers are designed to sit on top of an existing mattress and most are also light and portable enough to be used in different locations. Most modern toppers are made from foam and their purpose is to provide an additional layer of comfort and warmth for the user.

Mattress toppers are often claimed to be the key to prolonging the life of an older mattress and are produced in sizes that can accommodate most standard mattress units. This claim is not however one on which you can rely and a mattress topper requires a firm mattress if it is to function properly.

Toppers are available in a number of materials from goose down and feathers, to latex or memory foam. There are many options available and many price ranges too.

Selecting the right topper

Since there are several constructions for mattress toppers, there are no fixed criteria for determining, universally, what to look for.

• Good quality visco foam mattress toppers typically weigh in at 4lb or 5lb density.
• The finest quality feather and down mattress toppers will have a 100% cotton cover with a high thread count. The higher the thread count, the more durable and the softer the cover.
• Many foam toppers will have a contoured profile, this is aimed at facilitating good airflow around the body. A small number of people find memory foam to be overly warm.
• The memory foam mattress toppers providing the best performance tend to be those with a thickness of 3 to 4 inches. Toppers of 2 inches or less cannot do the job properly.

How to use a mattress topper

Memory foam mattress toppers are designed to be placed on firm surface (i.e. a firm mattress) and make the bed more supportive and the sleeping surface cosier.

People usually make the mistake of placing memory foam mattress toppers on their old saggy, lumpy mattresses and then feel disappointed with the results – a mattress topper cannot revitalise an old and warn out mattress.

Memory foam mattress toppers should always sit on a firm mattress, ideally placed on a hard surface such as a wooden or framed bed. This way the product can work to its optimum.

Additional information about Latex toppers

Latex toppers provide good support and are ideal for heavy sleepers who feel that they lack adequate support from the less springy memory foam toppers.

Latex mattress toppers do not transfer motion (as is also the case with memory foam), but not the case with a down topper which ripples the affect of another’s movement on the bed.

Natural latex toppers usually feature air ventilation in the form of hundreds of tiny perforations in the toppers surface. These perforations promote air circulation and keep the mattress topper fresh, aired and dry. This gives rise to the common view that latex suits a cooler sleeper and memory foam a warmer sleeper.

Additional information about memory foam toppers

Memory foam mattress toppers are without doubt the best sellers and, with the right bed, can transform the sleeping experience.

A high density memory foam mattress topper will last many years and will mould itself to the sleeper’s body whilst providing good support. You can think of a memory foam topper as an additional layer to your existing mattress. But a good topper cannot compensate for a warn out mattress.

Visco-elastic foam toppers are regularly used in medical institutions because of their pressure relieving properties. The foam used in the construction of these memory foam toppers reacts to both body pressure and body temperature. These toppers contour themselves to the body shape and alleviate pressure points. Ideally, they offer a sensation similar to that of weightlessness, or a least proportional support of the body and limbs.

Finally, no mattress topper will compete with a new high quality mattress.

Ultimately, mattress toppers are simply a budget alternative to a new and much more expensive “proper” mattress. Even so, they can enhance a bed and its comfort levels.