KingMattresses

Memory foam is the current big thing in bedding at the moment. There's a good reason for this. There is no other sleep surface which adjusts so uniquely to your body. But what if you don't want or can't afford a memory foam mattress? Or perhaps you want to get some more life out of your existing bed first. A memory foam mattress topper may just be what you are looking for. Adding a topper to your existing mattress can really enhance the quality of your sleep.

But all the many options and the hype around toppers can be very confusing. So what should you look for in a memory foam topper pad? Here are the basics.

Memory foam is great. But you wouldn't want your mattress to be made entirely from memory foam. It's simply too soft and is not nearly supportive enough. Memory foam needs to be paired with a firmer material to provide support. So even if you do buy a memory foam mattress, you'll find the memory foam is simply one of several layers. This means that a topper mattress can integrate well with your current mattress. People with some sorts of chronic pain such as arthritis or fibromyalgia often report good experiences of topper mattresses

A good topper mattress will greatly improve a standard spring mattress. They are particularly good for transforming firm or overly firm mattresses. There is a myth that firm mattresses are the best kind for people with back pain. However medical research does not support this. See the article on memory foam mattresses and back pain for more on this. Toppers also enhance mattresses which may feel comfortable but from which you are waking with aches and pains. Mattress retailers routinely get feedback from happy customers about the effectiveness of topper mattresses in reducing aches and improving sleep.

So what quality of topper mattresses should you be looking for? The key aspect is thickness which can vary from 1" to 4" (or even more). 2" is probably the minimum to go for. It will give most of the benefits of memory foam but is cheaper than thicker versions. A 3" topper will feel more luxurious and provide even more cushioning but will cost more. 3" is probably a good idea if one of the sleepers in the bed has a heavy build. A 4" or thicker pad may feel like overkill – if you do feel you need this much cusioning, it may be time to re-evaluate whether you need a whole new bed.