Which is the best type of mattress topper?

OK, so before I give my opinion...there are four main types of mattress topper:
 
Which is best? Most people agree that natural fibres are better than synthetic fibre mattress toppers. 

Memory foam v natural fibres is a personal preference, it depends whether you like the feel of memory foam.

Latex is a posh alternative, but it's not to everyone's taste.

Which are the best natural fibre mattress toppers?

We've picked out a couple of natural fibre mattress toppers which get good reviews and offer good value:
​John Lewis Goose Down Mattress Topper - £185 (king size)
 
This classy mattress topper is a combination of 70% goose down and 30% goose feather. Goose down is the ultra soft and ultra expensive bit underneath the feathers. You’ll pay more for mattress toppers with a higher percentage of down. Feathers give a bit more firmness, so it’s not as simple as saying that a 100% goose down topper is perfect for everyone. Some people prefer a bit of firmness, so a blend of the two is usually ideal. This one is not recommended for people with allergies.
​John Lewis Hungarian Goose Down Mattress Topper - £300 (king size)
 
This goose down topper is the bee's knees and the dog’s whats-its all in one (apologies, that’s a rather confusing animal-related sentence). Anyway, it is rather indulgently thick and is 90% goose down on its top layer. The lower layer is feather which gives it a bit more firmness. According to the blurb it is cleverly sealed to stop dust mites getting in, which means it is suitable for people with dust mite allergies and asthma.
 
But then again, it costs the same as some new mattresses…

Which are the best microfibre synthetic mattress toppers?​

If you're on a tight budget or just want something cheap for a guest bed then here are a couple of decent synthetic mattress toppers:
Sealy Select Response Mattress Topper - £30 (king size)
 
This cheap mattress topper has a microfiber cover (which just means it is very finely woven) and it has something called ‘DuPont silk like fibres’. Essentially, it is a synthetic fibre but the manufacturers say it has ‘all the legendary smoothness of silk’. That might be pushing it but it gets good reviews and it’s better for allergies than natural fibres.
Silentnight Airmax Mattress Topper - £35 (king size)
 
Silentnight is probably the biggest brand in the UK mattress market. This cheap mattress topper is polyester, but it gets great reviews and it is machine washable

Which are the best memory foam mattress toppers?

There are loads of memory foam mattress toppers to choose from, but here are a couple worth considering:
​Silentnight Impress Memory Foam Mattress Topper - £50 to £100 (king size)
 
Silentnight is a big brand and they offer this well-reviewed memory foam topper in a couple of thicknesses. The 2.5cm version is about £50, whilst the 5cm version is around £100. Personally, I’d get the bigger size if you can afford it.
 
Memory foam is very good for allergies and it offers consistent support. Some people don’t like the sinking feel, whilst others say memory foam smells a bit at first (though that does tend to go away).  
Tempur Mattress Topper 7 - £1000 (king size)
 
Hang on a minute, £1000 for a mattress topper? Bear with me a second, it’s better value than you might think.
 
Tempur is the world’s leading luxury memory-foam type brand. They helped develop NASA technology into mattresses and are still the biggest name in the market. You’d usually pay £2000+ for a Tempur, but you can get a topper for half that (or there’s a thinner version which is a bit cheaper).

Which are the best latex mattress toppers?

​There aren’t all that many latex mattress toppers on the market but here are a couple worth a look:
Latex Plus by Yanis 8cm Latex Mattress Topper - £300 (king size)
 
This one by Yanis gets very good reviews. Natural latex is good for allergies and it doesn’t have quite the same sinking feeling as memory foam. This version is 8cm thick. 
Latex Plus by Yanis 5cm Mattress Topper - £220 (king size)

OK, so this one's pretty much the same as the Yanis latex topper above, it's just a bit thinner and a bit cheaper.

Which retailers are best for buying best mattress toppers?

  • ​John Lewis has a small, high-quality selection of mattress toppers. Prices range from about £40 for a cheap double mattress topper made from synthetic materials, through to an £800 topper designed for Vispring mattresses. The only thing missing is a latex mattress topper (at the time of searching)
  • Amazon has a vast (and I mean vast) selection of mattress toppers. There are loads of cheap memory foam and synthetic mattress toppers (£20+), although there are some £200+ latex toppers if you are after something higher quality. 
  • Very has a small but decent range of mattress toppers, with memory foam, synthetic and natural feather and down mattress toppers.
  • Mattress Online has a small selection of mattress toppers, most of which are mid-priced memory foam toppers

Why should I buy a mattress topper?

There are two advantages to buying a topper to sit on top of your mattress.

  • Hygiene - toppers collect all the sweat, grotty bacteria and other unpleasantness which would otherwise end up on the mattress (best not to think about such things when you stay in a hotel...). As a result, you can just replace the topper and keep the mattress going for a few more years. Some mattress toppers have covers which can be removed and washed.
  • Comfort - you won’t notice a lot of difference with a cheap topper, but more expensive toppers add a decent layer of comfort. It's a bit like putting a new carpet down - it won't cover up holes in the floorboards and you won't notice much improvement if you get the cheap stuff they use in schools...

Does it matter what my mattress underneath is made from?

Generally, people get a mattress topper which matches the material of the mattress. So, if you’ve got a memory foam mattress you’ll get a topper which is also memory foam. However, there’s nothing to say you can’t live life on the edge and use a memory foam topper on a pocket sprung mattress.

I promise I won't tell anyone.

​What’s the advantage of an expensive mattress topper?

A cheap mattress topper made from polyester is perfectly adequate but a feather and down topper is better if you are inclined to get too hot in bed (ooer missus). 

Memory foam and latex are good if you have problems with allergies. There's also an argument that memory foam and latex offer good all over support in a mattress. If it's a thick enough topper, I don't see why you can't apply the same argument.

​What’s the difference between a mattress pad and a mattress topper?

A topper is thicker than a mattress pad.
 
I can waffle on for a while about the history of bedding or the 93 types of mattress pads if you like, but that’s the gist of it. 

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