Memory Foam Mattress Topper Review and Guide

Memory foam is certainly on the lips of every bedding buyer nowadays, and for good reason. This material is being used in quite a few items, and the memory foam mattress topper is one of the most popular.

Why memory foam?

There are certainly several materials that you can buy when choosing a mattress topper so why should you choose memory foam mattress toppers in particular? The benefits of memory foam come as a result of its visco-elastic properties. The ability for the foam to adjust according to body temperature means that any individuals lying on it can be assured comfort and proper alignment of the spine. Furthermore, memory toppers evenly distribute weight, relieving pressure points that can typically cause discomfort during sleep.

Memory foam is one of the most popular materials used in mattress design that can be found on the market. This is because there are few other materials available that can match the sheer comfort, support, and general appeal of high quality memory foam. Tempurpedic is probably the most popular memory foam mattress and mattress topper manufacturer out there, and this is largely due to the fact that they were among the original pioneers in the development of memory foam. However, there are several other well known manufacturers of memory foam out there and although they deal primarily in mattresses they also design mattress topper ranges. Here are some tips on buying memory foam mattress toppers.

• Look into the density of the mattress topper - You should ideally search for a memory foam mattress topper that corresponds to the firmness or softness of your mattress. If you are using a hard innerspring mattress, you might want to consider a lower density memory foam, as this will make resting a little more comfortable without compromising overall support. On the other hand, if you have a soft mattress already, then a low density topper might give in too much under your weight and cause more than a few aches the morning after. In general, the density of memory foam is expressed in pounds per square inch. A density of 4 pounds and higher is considered to be high density while anything under 3 indicates low density.
• Consider the thickness of the memory foam topper - Density is not the only factor that determines the overall support and give-in of memory foam. The thicker it is, the more support there will be. If you are looking for the firmness memory foam topper around, look for a +4 pounds per square inch mattress topper that is 4 inches thick.
• Buy from a reputable manufacturer - There are only a few well-known memory foam manufacturers out there. Although this isn't to say that all others beyond these few offer poor quality, it would be a good idea to spend more money on a good topper than to purchase from a relatively unknown company and end up with something that was nothing like what you were hoping for. There are cheaper toppers out there designed from material that might be touted as genuine memory foam but does not offer the same support and quality characteristic of higher-end foam.
• Compare prices - The best way to find a reasonable deal is to compare prices between memory foam manufacturers. You can get a good idea of quality by reading reviews, and once you know what to look for you can move on to comparing prices between stores that sell the same model. Not all retailers will be selling at retail price. Some will offer the same for less depending on a variety of circumstances. It is up to you to snag the good offers as soon as they are made available to you.

Memory mattress topper dimensions

Like memory foam mattresses the memory mattress toppers are available in all common sizes.

Approximate size guidelines for memory mattress toppers:

Memory foam mattress toppers are also available in several thicknesses. Some are as thin as 1" and some of the thickest can be 5" or more. Many people find the sweet spot to be around 3", so that the comfort and support of memory foam is noticeable but the topper is still affordable to most. A 4" memory foam mattress topper is certainly luxurious, but the thicker you go the more you sink in to the topper, which loses some of the support.

How much should you spend?

Mattress toppers are available in a range of prices, but memory foam toppers are usually the most expensive. However, these types of toppers are certainly an investment rather than an expense because of the potential benefits.

Memory foam is costly to produce so if you buy cheap memory foam mattress toppers you will most likely get poor results. You can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $400 (depending on size) for a high quality memory topper with latex. Of course other factors affect the price also, like density and thickness. In comparison, memoryfoam mattress toppers cost a lot less than buying a full memory foam mattress.

There a lot of brands that now sell memory foam matress toppers, but you do not need to pay top price in order to get a good topper. The Serta memory foam mattress topper models are popular choices and include the Serta Ultimate which offers supreme comfort at under $200. Another that receives many reviews is the Novaform Elite. Some of the major online retailers may occasionally have discount memory foam mattress toppers so it's worth keeping an eye out when you are considering purchasing a new mattress topper.

When to buy a memory foam topper

Memory foam bed toppers work best if you already have a firm mattress. The memory foam works well at making the mattress more comfortable to sleep on, but if you have a mattress that is too soft or has dips, you might be better buying a new mattress rather than a topper.

A visco elastic memory foam mattress topper is fine used as-is, but for added protection against spills and allergy reasons you can also buy a mattress protector. Make sure if you with the protector that it does not hinder the effect of the memory foam feel.