Mattresses don’t come cheap but the investment is worth it. However, as with everything we regularly use, mattresses tend to wear out but, there is some hope for it! If you want to make it last longer, you might want to invest in a mattress topper, here's our list of the best mattress toppers available in the UK.
Mattress Toppers, Pads, and Protectors
With one quick Google search of mattress toppers, you’ll likely to encounter these three terms: mattress toppers, pads, and protectors.
These will come up interchangeably in your results and, while they sound similar, they’re actually quite different. Whichever one would suit you most is up to your own preferences.
- Mattress Protector
A mattress protector is true to its name and acts as a barrier between the mattress and contaminants so as to keep it clean and pristine. It’s used to help keep a mattress’s warranty since something as simple as a stain is enough to void it. This is most crucial during the mattress trial period and for mattresses with a lifetime warranty. Mattress protectors also make it easier to resell the mattress, if ever you’re dissatisfied with it but can still be sold second hand.
These mattress protectors are typically made of a waterproof fabric that encases the entire mattress. This casing prevents any dust mites or bed bugs from making a home in your favourite mattress. It’s also usually very breathable and helps with the temperature regulating the abilities of your mattress.
- Mattress Pads
Mattress pads are a step up from the mattress protector. This basically serves as an additional layer of padding on top of the mattress, great for added comfort if your mattress is just a touch too firm. It could also have some mattress protector qualities, like in waterproofing.
A mattress pad is usually great as a comfy and less noisy alternative to a mattress protector. However, not all mattress pads have protector qualities, some are very traditional and act as a fitted sheet with a thicker top.
- Mattress Topper
Lastly, a mattress topper is like a mattress pad on steroids. It’s usually much thicker than a mattress pad and can thus act as an additional layer to your mattress. Because it’s so thick, it’s basically like a futon placed on top of your mattress.
Mattress toppers can be made of memory foam, latex, polyester, and other materials typically found in beds. These could also be equipped with features that will help the mattress, like with waterproof fabric and temperature regulation properties.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Having A Mattress Topper
Mattress toppers are not fit for everyone and, just because one friend is ecstatic with his topper, it doesn’t automatically mean it would fit your own needs.
It’s clear to many people that mattress toppers look like a wise investment. It’s chock full of advantages and might be just the thing you need to breathe new life into your mattress in the many aspects of your sleep life. Here are a few common benefits among most mattress toppers on the market today:
- Toppers Can Help Protect Your Mattress
Since it’s a thick layer standing between your body and the mattress, it will help protect your mattress from bodily fluids, from dead skin cells, and from any spills. It helps you stay eligible for a warranty, without having to sacrifice any comfort.
- Mattress Toppers Can Provide You More Comfort
Like how mattresses are usually composed of multiple layers of materials like foam, gel, and springs, a topper is a bonus layer. It turns your 3-layer natural latex mattress into a 4-layer bed to sleep on. For any harshness your mattress might have gotten over the years, a topper could help soften it up and bring back your comfy dream-filled nights.
A mattress topper can also have cooling qualities that help regulate body temperature since these can be made from extremely breathable materials. If your mattress has turned out to be warmer than you expected, adding a cooling layer could help out a lot.
- A Topper Could Also Help Relieve Your Back Pain
It’s similar to how a mattress helps with pain, by constructing it in such a way that supports your back instead of straining it. Even the best orthopaedic mattresses can get worn and old after a few years. To help it out, a topper might just be what your sleep needs.
- Topper Can Extend The Life Of Your Mattress
Lastly, a topper is basically there to help extend the lifespan of your mattress. Since it’s there to act as, fundamentally, another mattress on top of your own bed, it helps you squeeze out all the us
However, even with all these advantages, it’s not meant for everyone and it comes with its own set of drawbacks.
- Toppers Are More Expensive That Protectors And Pads
Mattress toppers are much more expensive than mattress protectors and pads. This is because the materials used are different and harder to produce. However, it also offers much more value for your hard-earned money if you choose to spend a bit more on a topper.
- Toppers Have Shorter Warranties
It also has shorter warranties compared to the mattresses itself. This means it’s not an actual replacement for your old bed. Think of it like botox or lip fillers— it doesn’t change anything permanently but it does add some more oomph.
- Toppers Won’t Make An Old Mattress Feel New
In that same vein, using a mattress topper for your old bed won’t make it feel like a brand new mattress. No matter how comfortable a topper is, you won’t be guaranteed the same results as other people who have bought it. Even the softest and coolest topper won’t feel like a cloud if your mattress is as hard as a rock. The mattress it sits on still greatly affects your experience of the topper. However, while it won’t change it completely, it will definitely be a step up from your usual night.
Mattress Topper Buying Guide: Questions You Should Be Asking Yourself
Before you go on with your mattress topper journey, you’ll have to know a few things first to make the best decision for you. There are certain factors that you might not have thought about before that can affect your judgment of a mattress topper. To avoid any unfortunate accidents, here are some questions to answer that can help you out:
- What’s Your Budget?
It’s important to know your budget first. There will be some very expensive toppers that aren’t worth the money, just like how there are lower-end toppers that are basically a waste of money, considering your needs. A topper can range anywhere from £20 to more than £100, depending on the brand and materials used.
- How Do You Sleep?
If you sleep fitfully, there must be a reason. It could be that your mattress has retained too much heat, your new mattress is too firm, or that you simply wake up with an aching back. Keeping in mind any sleep issues you face is important when choosing your topper.
- What’s The State Of Your Current Mattress?
Your mattress topper will sit on top of your mattress. If it’s too soft or too firm, it’s important to consider how that would interact with the topper itself. If it supports you well but has a breathing or temperature regulation problem, it’s just as important to include that in your decision.
- How Will You Clean It?
Some toppers are difficult to clean. There will be some options where everything is machine washable, while there will also be some that only allow its removable cover to be cleaned. If you don’t have an easily accessible washer-dryer, consider the weight of your topper and what you can handle bringing to the washers.
- Do You Have Any Allergies?
As with all things, remembering potential allergens is important. Most have information on whether it’s hypoallergenic or antibacterial. However, there are still some out there with no information on the possible ways it can irritate your body. e you can get out of your mattress. It protects, supports, and cools all at the same time, and can make even the most uncomfortable of mattresses feel much better.
Check Out Some Of The Best Mattress Toppers
1. Olivia Rocco Teddy Mattress Topper Enhancer
Pros:
- Extremely comfortable
- Thick topper
- Fluffy texture
- Reversible and can be used in both warm and cool climates
- Machine washable
- Lightweight
- Secures well to the mattress
Cons:
- Not extremely thick
- Does not offer much body support
- No details on being hypoallergenic
If you take one glance at the Olivia Rocco Teddy Mattress Topper Enhancer, your first thought will most likely be “comfy”— and for good reason!
This topper is quite different from others on this list. Rather than acting as a buffer for a bad mattress, this one enhances the way a mattress the way already is.
This is a thick reversible topper that can be used year-round. One side is an extremely comfortable and fluffy teddy fabric, reminiscent of your own teddy bear from your carefree childhood days. This side is great for keeping warm during the winter and helps make your bed even cozier and harder to climb out of.
During hot summer nights, simply reverse this to use a soft microfibre side. This side keeps your body cool and helps regulate your heat. The reversible feature helps ensure that your sleep will always remain comfortable, no matter the season.
In between these two sides is synthetic filling. It’s not extremely thick like other toppers on this list but it’s enough to soften how your body reacts to a tough mattress. However, this might be too thin for you.
One reason why it’s so thin is that, since this is a reversible topper, the four elastic bands on each corner should be able to comfortably fit the mattress, regardless of what side faces up. The depth of this filling also helps make it easier to wash and dry.
While this thickness makes it more versatile and easy to care for, it minimizes its orthopedic support. Additionally, there isn’t much information about other health benefits, such as if it’s antibacterial or hypoallergenic.
Even with all that, this topper might still be for you if you just want to make a good mattress even better. This can help warm you up, cool you down, and would be easy to carry around for any long-term trips out of town.
Additionally, if you have a brand new mattress that’s a touch too firm for you, this might work best with it. This softens everything it’s laid on and helps you sink into your mattress even deeper whilst relieving pressure on your body.
2. Panda the Topper
Pros:
- Cooling Hydro-Foam for temperature regulation
- Antibacterial and hypoallergenic bamboo cover
- Orthopedic and back support properties
- Strong elastic to secure to the mattress
- Anti-slip bottom for minimal movements
- 10-year manufacturer guarantee
- Available in multiple mattress sizes
Cons:
- Has a chemical smell upon opening
- Can be too soft
- Cannot be flipped over
The Topper by Panda is a Hydro-Foam bamboo mattress topper designed for comfort and body support.
Hydro-Foam is Panda’s secret weapon. This is basically what they call their 3rd generation gel-infused memory foam design. This foam mixture was optimized for temperature regulation and for molding to different contours of your body. Additionally, this is dense enough to provide ample support to help relieve any body pains you might be accustomed to upon waking up.
The thick Hydro-Foam layer is wrapped in a removable bamboo cover, which is breathable and sensitive to body heat. The bamboo cover is filled with antibacterial properties, is hypoallergenic, and protects the mattress from little dust mites. Moreover, the cover is easy to wash and clean.
It’s equipped with four durable elastic bands on each corner and has an anti-slip bottom. This is meant to secure it to the mattress and to prevent any weird movement as you go about ordinary bed activities.
With the Hydro-Foam and bamboo cover duo, it’s obvious that this mattress topper was designed for an uninterrupted night’s sleep. It boasts of back and neck pain relief, cooling features, and even uses antibacterial materials. Going further than that, this topper offers a 10-year guarantee, which you can fall back on if you encounter any problems after your thirty-night trial.
However, this does come with a few setbacks. Upon opening this package, you will most likely be exposed to a very chemical scent. It’s expected to air out after a few days but, if you’re sensitive to pungent scents, this might be something to pass on. Furthermore, while it’s orthopedically approved, it’s also extremely soft, which might be a problem if your mattress was soft, to begin with.
Even with those weaknesses, this mattress topper might still be great for those who sleep in uncomfortable climates, and if you simply want a little more support from your mattress. Since this is so soft, it helps enhance the qualities of your current mattress that might have worn out after a few years.
Since it’s available in a huge variety of mattress sizes, if this is the one for you, you’ll most likely be able to find one that will fit your needs well.
3. PROCAVE Microfiber Mattress Topper
Pros:
- Micro-comfort
- Hygienic and mattress protecting
- Moisture regulating and breathable
- Quilted and fast drying
- Secure and fitted to the bed
- Very thick and comfortable
Cons:
- Only available for single and double beds
- Dirt gathers at the quilting
The PROCAVE micro-soft microfiber mattress topper originates from Germany and has helped many sleep-troubled minds find rest.
As the name states, it’s made from a microfiber fabric that serves many purposes. This textile allows it to be extremely comfortable and soft to the touch whilst being hypoallergenic. It’s also made with a very thick layer of high-quality polyester filling, which is breathable and can offer up some back support.
This polyester filling and microfiber cover combo help regulate body moisture. What that means is that it helps cool down the body to prevent excess sweating during the night. This is important in getting rid of any sticky feeling you might wake up to after a hot summer night or a humid morning.
It has a quilted design that helps keep the filling in place no matter the movement it’s subjected to. To secure it, there are four very strong elastic bands attached to each corner. These bands can fit mattress heights up to 30cm tall.
Though it’s high in density, it’s still very lightweight and easy to clean. All you’ll need to do is to wash it up to 60ºC and it’ll dry fast enough to be able to use it the very next night.
This might be a great mattress topper for you if you’re looking for something that’ll help make your firm mattress be a bit more comfortable, especially if you tend to wake up sweating. It both looks and feels like a cloud, and it’s made for bonus comfort more than anything else. It offers some back support but not enough for major back pain.
You should also consider that this is a lightweight topper, which makes it easy to carry to the wash and leave it out to dry. Furthermore, this topper might be able to help out if you have any allergy or dust mite problems.
However, do note that this only comes in single and double bed sizes. For any larger or smaller beds, this is not a good option for you. The quilting could also pose another issue since any dust and grime could collect in those seams, especially if you’re someone without a lot of time to clean things.
4. Silentnight Airmax 600 Mattress Topper
Pros:
- Highly breathable
- Hypoallergenic materials
- Very deep mattress topper
- Offers some body support
- Doesn’t absorb moisture and bad odor
- Easy to wash and maintain
- Available in multiple mattress sizes
- Straps securely to the mattress
- Very durable
Cons:
- Not good for serious body pain
- Greatly influenced by the mattress itself
- Might be too soft
This last one is the Silentnight Airmax 600 Mattress Topper, best known for its breathability.
It has a 6cm depth, making it a noticeably thick layer that’s mostly made of polyester. This material promotes a lot of breathability, which helps make it more comfortable to sleep on. This also helps regulate body temperatures. This polyester material is also hypoallergenic, allowing it to be used by most people without absorbing moisture and unpleasant odors.
The layering design in this is quite interesting since it was designed with hollow spaces between layers. These hollow points make it even easier for air to pass through. On the sides of this mattress are mesh wall covers, to act as a gateway for the air to enter and exit through while you’re on it.
This topper won’t be able to help you out much if you’re looking to firm up a mattress that’s too soft but it could work if you want to soften up a mattress that’s too firm. This topper relies a lot on the mattress itself in order to provide you the support you really need. That means that if your mattress itself is broken and uncomfortable, this won’t help much.
It’s able to offer some support to the body and makes it easy to rest comfortably, but it’s too soft to handle much of the bigger body aches. If you’re looking for lots of body pain relief, this topper isn’t ideal.
Much like the previous toppers on the list, this one has four elastic straps on each corner in order to secure it well to the mattress. Additionally, its materials make it very lightweight and easy to wash and dry.
Memory foam mattresses tend to retain a lot of body heat but this mattress topper might be able to answer that dilemma. This topper encourages air to circulate around you as you sleep and adds a lot to your comfort. If you regularly wake up sweating, the breathability of this topper might be something you need.
This could also work for you if you’re looking for a topper that pairs comfort with easy maintenance. It’s super easy to take care of and the Silentnight brand is regularly commended for its UK-made durability.
5. Inofia Latexpur Mattress Topper
Pros:
- Latexpur foam for orthopedic support
- Charcoal Reliefoam for body support and odor neutralization
- Hypoallergenic and antibacterial materials
- Removable natural linen fabric cover
- Temperature regulating and body-heat sensitive
- Environmentally friendly
- Anti-slip bottom and secure straps
- Easy to roll up and transport with you
- 10-year warranty
Cons:
- Comes at a premium price
- Difficult to fit into a travel bag
This Inofia mattress topper is 3” tall and has a two-layer design for maximum support.
The top layer is made of Latexpur. It’s a high-elasticity latex foam that follows the contours of your body without caving in after prolonged use. Additionally, the elasticity helps make it more durable. It’s also made with no harsh chemicals and is very safe for the environment.
Under the Latexpur layer is the Charcoal Reliefoam layer. This is a firm layer that serves as additional support for your body. It slows down your dip into the mattress and helps relieve the pressure in your body. Moreover, the charcoal material helps neutralize odors and this layer is made with a minimal carbon footprint.
This mattress topper has a removable cover made of natural linen fabric. This fabric is great for the skin, breathes well, absorbs moisture, and resists heat while still being good for the environment. Underneath, it also has an anti-slip cover and durable straps to fasten it to your mattress.
These three materials together make a cooling mattress with lots of body support. It has a medium firmness and will work well with both soft and hard mattresses. Additionally, the layers in this topper are antibacterial, hypoallergenic, and even antistatic!
It comes in a variety of sizes and can be rolled up into a bag if ever you’d want to travel with it. However, be warned that it will be difficult to roll this up tightly enough to fit it inside its bag without ripping its seams.
This mattress topper also comes at a premium price, making it a pretty hefty investment, even if it has a 10-year warranty to soften the blow.
This might be the mattress topper you’re looking for if you want body support more than anything else. It works well with most kinds of mattresses and it won’t be bad to invest in this even if your mattress is still relatively new.
The dual-layer technology works together to support your body despite its mattress base but a good mattress itself won’t hurt to have. For any back pain from mattresses that are either too soft or too firm for you, this Inofia mattress topper might do the trick.
Final Thoughts
After all of that, you’re all set. We’ve given you five of the best mattress toppers and have laid out the pros and cons for you to consider. There’s no one-size-fits-all topper that’s perfect for everyone but there is definitely one that’s best for you.
From where we see it, the best mattress topper from this list is the Inofia Latexpur Mattress Topper. This one offers tons of pain relief, temperature regulation, and overall comfort. It’s even made an effort to be safe for the environment! Its only drawback is that it comes at a premium price. However, the ten-year warranty and value for your money help soften the blow.
The others on this list are great too! The PROCAVE Microfiber Mattress Topper looks like it would be great for those who tend to sweat a lot while they sleep, while The Topper by Panda could solve body support issues. The Olivia Rocco Teddy Mattress Topper would be good for mattresses that just need a little help, while the Silentnight Airmax 600 Mattress would help get rid of any problems with beds that have retained body heat.
Every mattress topper has its own strengths and weaknesses. The five we’ve given you might be what you are each great but if you’re looking for other features, you’ll know what to look for now.
