Which Mattress Topper?

Until recently, conventional wisdom had it, that the firmer the mattress, the better it was for you. Unfortunately, this has turned out not to be true, and many of us are now finding our backs and joints are hurting with our extra firm mattresses.

Mattress toppers, enhancers or pads, lie on top of your mattress and are designed to give your spine just the right amount of resistance, so that you sleep without picking up posture problems. The terms "topper" and "pad" are often used interchangeably and different people use the terms in different ways. It is fair to say, however, that whilst ‘toppers’ (generally two or three inches thick) provide your back with an extra layer of support and a softer feel, there are other sorts of ‘pad’. These are thinner pads which are normally used for reasons of hygiene or allergy and we refer to these thinner pads as mattress protectors or mattress covers. 

Mattress toppers are an excellent way to revitalise a tired mattress. Your mattress may not be as young as it once was and is likely to have given up over the years, which means that your body weight is not evenly distributed as you sleep. Even If you’ve just bought a new mattress, you still need to 'top' in order to offer your back the support that it requires. 

Mind you, if your mattress is thirty years old, sagging and with springs poking through... don't bother trying to revitalise it with a mattress topper. A topper may well improve the performance of almost any mattress but they can't save a really old one. In this case please consider buying a new mattress rather than trying to make the old one last.

Which mattress topper do I choose?

Mattress pads and toppers have been available in many materials for years and some people still prefer a  natural filling such as feather, down or wool. Synthetic fillings have become more sophisticated and hence more popular, for example the Perfect Comfort mattress topper which is filled with a springy polyester clusterfibre filling. The real boom, of recent years, has been in the use of visco-elastic memory foam as an affordable filling. 

Choosing a topper isn’t easy. Here’s a quick guide to help:

Natural fillings

Our luxurious natural toppers are generously stuffed to make sure that resistance is just right distributing your weight evenly and taking off the pressure.

Duck feather and down mattress topper 

Experience the natural comfort, warmth and luxury of a traditional feather mattress with a feather mattress topper. The duck feather and down mattress topper is filled to two inches with twin-seam construction to hold the filling firmly in place and help maintain it's shape. This mattress topper offers the comfort of feather and down and excellent value. Elasticated straps make for a secure fit. 

Hypoallergenic down-like fibre fillings or memory foam 

Perfect Comfort fibre-filled mattress topper
This luxury mattress topper, with a depth of 2”, is ideal for allergy sufferers or those with joint, neck or back pain looking for a supportive resistant mattress topper with a soft, springy feel. 

Memory foam mattress toppers 

Many suppliers and their customers will tell you that a memory foam mattress is the ultimate sleep experience. So how does it work? By literally moulding itself to your body shape, the temperature sensitive ‘memory foam’ provides total support for your spine and joints helping to relieve any aches and pains you might have, ensuring you have a restful night’s sleep. However, there is no denying that buying a memory foam mattress is an expensive option. 

If you're buying a new bed or a new mattress anyway, this investment is certainly worth considering. However if you already have a decent mattress, that isn’t sagging in the middle, and would like to experience the feeling of sleeping on memory foam then a memory foam topper is a more affordable alternative. 

A memory foam mattress topper is a piece of visco-elastic foam, usually an inch or two thick, which is placed on top of your existing mattress. It will provide you with all of the support and comfort advantages of a memory foam mattress, without the expense. In terms of feel, memory foam provides a firmer, more supportive feel compared to the natural feather and down mattress topper and the fibre-filled mattress topper. Be aware that when new memory foam emits a strong, chemical smell. When you first buy your mattress topper you'll probably want to "air" it for a couple of days. 

Size Availability

All of these mattress toppers from The Fine Bedding Company are available in standard UK bed sizes