Memory Foam Mattress Topper Styles and Makers

Memory foam, also called viscoelastic memory foam, is a type of foam made with thousands of tiny bubbles in a plastic material. It has special physical properties that make it ideal for bedding: it molds to the shape of your body but retains its original shape when you get up. Memory foam also holds heat well, and some people enjoy its warmer feeling. Memory foam mattresses have been around since the early 1990′s, but they’re large, heavy, and expensive. That means many people who would benefit from such a mattress don’t have one. If you’ve been thinking about sleeping on memory foam but it’s not in your budget, consider getting a memory foam mattress topper instead.

What Is A Memory Foam Mattress Topper?

A mattress topper is made of a soft material and designed to be put directly on top of your mattress, under a fitted sheet. It’s purpose is to make the mattress softer or more comfortable to sleep on. Some mattress toppers are made of down filled cloth, similar to a large pillow. Memory foam toppers are made of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, the same material found in Tempur Pedic and other types of memory foam mattresses. These types of mattress pads are designed to give you the comfort of a memory foam mattress without the weight and cost of a full mattress.

Memory foam was originally marketed to people who have trouble sleeping because of pain and people who have pain because of sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress. Since memory foam molds to the contours of your body, you get more support than from a traditional mattress. That means that pressure points at your neck, back, and hips aren’t stressed as much, and that reduces pain. With back and neck pain being such a big issue for people these days, it makes sense to avoid the causes as much as possible. You spend hours every day sleeping in your bed, so why not reduce your risk of developing pain?

People who suffer from back, neck, and joint pain also find that they get some relief from the heat retaining properties of memory foam. This material holds the heat of your body better than a regular mattress, and that provides extra comfort.

Memory foam comes in several different densities. Which density you need depends on your preference. If you like sleeping on a firmer mattress, you’ll probably want to check out denser foam, while if you like a softer bed, you’ll want to check out the less dense foam. Density is usually measured in pounds, so that a 5 lb foam is pretty dense, while 3 lb is much less dense.

Where To Buy A Memory Foam Mattress Topper?

There are several easy ways to get a memory foam topper if you’re looking for one. Amazon has some of the cheapest memory foam toppers around, and even after paying for shipping and handling you can often get a better price than you can at a local store. Other online retailers, like Overstock and specialty stores, also carry memory foam pads.

Many people want to look first, though, and that’s a great idea if you’re just thinking of getting a topper. Visit your local mattress store to see a selection. Some department stores also carry mattress toppers of different types. Checking out the memory foam toppers yourself is a great way to see what model you might like, whether you want to go with a 2, 3, or 4 inch topper, and what maker you like best. Be sure also that the model you’re looking at will fit on your bed. Toppers almost always come in king size, queen size, and twin size.

Recommendations

Serta has been around for ages and is a trusted name in mattresses. They have a great line of memory foam mattress toppers that come in twin, queen, and king in several thicknesses. Another maker you might want to check out is Sleep Studio. They’re toppers are very inexpensive and also come in several different thicknesses. Tempur-Pedic is the original memory foam mattress maker, and their quality can’t be beat. They make several different toppers (including ones for travel). The only issue is that their prices are higher than some other manufacturers.