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What's The Best Cooling Mattress Topper In 2018?

When looking to buy the best cooling mattress topper or best cooling mattress pad, here is how Sleep Titan can be helpful. 

Nowadays, when buying a mattress, many variables need to be considered. So put the sheets and comforter to the side, toss the headboard and frame options to the low priority list. Let's talk about the best cooling mattress topper. 

Mattresses today are made from all sorts of different materials and it's good to know about them. There is everything from allegedly "space-age" technologies like memory foam to the classic springs and padding design that so many people use, but when it comes down to it, which one is the best is mostly a matter of taste. Some people like a firmer mattress, while others tend to want a mattress that is softer.

On the contrary, something that nobody is looking for is a mattress that is warm. Many people like their bed cool when they lay in it, and plenty of us spend our nights trying to find the cold spot on the bed and pillow. So, what's the solution for mattresses in warmer climates? Try to flip it during sleep, and see how that goes.

There are a few things to keep the mattress cooler, and one option is utilizing a cooling mattress topper or pad.

What is a Cooling Mattress Pad?

Mattress pads are a simple affair. Usually it consists of a padding material that goes between you and the mattress. A cooling mattress pad is made of a material that will act like something of a heat sink, moving your natural body heat away from you, instead of storing it like most mattresses will.

A cooling mattress pad keeps the body cool and less prone to sweating during sleep and adds a bit of padding under the person sleeping. The padding adds to the comfort, and it makes sleeping more pleasant.

Why is a Cooling Mattress Pad Topper Important?

So why does it matter to stay cool and comfortable when sleeping? Well, to begin with, no one likes to wake up sweaty. It is uncomfortable, and it is a bad start to a day.

More important than that, overheating while in bed means the body spends all night trying to regulate the core temperature via sweat, and that can lead to sleepless nights or poor quality of sleep.

A cooling mattress pad topper can help to avoid sweating during sleep by better dispersing heat than the mattress on its own. Mattresses are designed, for the most part, to get as much support as this person needs to be comfortable. Heat retention in the mattress is often an afterthought. Through experience, the worst mattresses for this are ones that sink into or ‘contour’ to the body including foam mattresses. Space-age foam retains heat significantly, and that makes them all the more uncomfortable. On the other hand, a cooling mattress pad topper can help to make them more tolerable.

One Thing Not To Expect From a Mattress Cooling Pad

You know that feeling when you first get into your bed and under the sheets? That feeling of cool fabric on your body? It's that instance where the bed is as cool as it is going to be that night but sadly, a mattress cooling pad may not make that feeling last.

When you get into your bed and between those sheets, you’re basically a small heater. You’re heating the mattress, you’re heating the sheets, you’re heating the bed in general, and you’re not likely to find that a simple mattress topper can keep your bed as cool as it will be when you first get in. There are things that you can buy that will do this (including a fan that blows directly under your sheets at night), but a mattress topper will not do this for you.

Different Types of Cooling Pads/Toppers

Not all cooling mattress pads and toppers are created equal. There are a variety of different designs, and they all seek to help keep the body cool at night by utilizing different technologies and techniques. A few different terms to keep in mind include:

Hypoallergenic

One of the significant terms to know will see repeatedly, and a term that will be important for anyone who has allergies that they struggle with on a daily basis. A hypoallergenic mattress pad or topper is one that is made to be less likely to set off an allergic reaction. Hypoallergenic conditions happen in two ways; firstly, by using materials that people are not likely to be allergic to in the first place, and secondly by using materials in the construction of the mattress pad that does not attract pollen, pet dander, and other allergens. This option is getting more common in the industry, but there are still mattress pads and toppers that are not hypoallergenic, and if allergies are an issue, try looking for a different topper.

Foam

Foam mattress toppers are designed to not just help the body stay cool, but also to make sure that this person is going to be able to be comfortable. They tend to be a topper with a layer of a foam (like memory, foam, for example), surrounded by materials that will help to dissipate the heat this person's body creates. Soft and comfortable, a properly-made foam mattress topper can help the person fall asleep and fight heat while doing it.

Gel

Another standard material used in mattress toppers is gelling. Look at it or feel it, it is similar to the gels used in Doctor Scholl’s inserts for shoes. This gel is good at dissipating heat, as well as helping to be comfortable by distributing weight evenly. The downside is that these mattress toppers tend to be a bit heavier than foam ones, but if the mattress will stay put for a long time, this is a good choice. Open-celled gel designs are very capable of dissipating heat while providing comfort, and mattress toppers consisting of foams infused with gel can help with heat dissipation.

Ventilated

The next step above gel would be a ventilated mattress pad which can further help to keep cool at night. Ventilation helps air to move across the mattress topper, and airflow is essential in making sure that heat can dissipate swiftly. Due to the way they allow air to flow, Ventilated mattress toppers are great for fighting the heat.

How To Choose The Best Cooling Mattress Pad/Topper

The first thing to consider when looking for a mattress pad is to know what to look for before looking. People want an easy answer, but the truth is that everyone has different needs. Some people need to have a hypoallergenic mattress pad because they have terrible allergies. Others want a firmer pad that incorporates gel, or a softer pad that incorporates memory foam.

Some things to consider when picking the right mattress topper:

  • Is the person allergic to dander, dust, and the like? If so, they need a hypoallergenic mattress pad, plain and simple.
  • Does the person have back issues and need a softer mattress topper that still provides comfort and heat dissipation? Something utilizing foam is likely to be in the person's best interest if this is the case.
  • Will they need more support to be comfortable? If so, a denser mattress, something less foam and more robust may be the best fit.
  • What’s the budget for this, and how often is the person going to be able to replace the mattress topper? Is the person looking for a topper that can run through the laundry or one that they will have to replace more often?

These are all questions the person needs to have an answer for when shopping for a mattress topper.

Best Cooling Mattress Pad Comparison Table

Mobile Users: For optimal viewing, tilt your phone to landscape (wide-view) to see the entire table.

7 Best Cooling Mattress Toppers or Pad

There are a wide variety of mattress toppers out on the market today, and many claim to help with staying cool at night. We will be reviewing our favorite sets.

1. Capsa Sleep Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper


When utilizing foams, the person ends up with a mattress topper that is going to hold in heat and be less efficient at actually dissipating it. Most foams are designed to increase the amount of heat that it will retain, and in most cases making it a worse choice than merely having no mattress topper at all.

However, this Capsa Sleep Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper is a much better idea than that, and one that mixes the heat dissipation properties of gel with the comfort of memory foam. The combination does not sound like the kind of thing that would be the best idea on paper, but it works exceptionally well. For how well it works, the price may a bit on the high side. 

This mattress topper begins with Certi-Pur memory foam (one of the more prominent brands out there making high-end memory foam) infused with a soft gel. This gel acts to move heat away from the person's body, dissipating the heat. The natural design of the gel allows for heat redistribution, but of course, this mattress topper is designed to allow air to move through the gel and foam mattress. Airflow is essential to keep the mattress topper cool, and the Capsa mattress topper keeps it cool by utilizing airflow. With its open cell design, it is more than capable of keeping the person cool throughout the night, especially if the room has a decent airflow provided via air conditioning or fan.

Of course, if it does not keep the person comfortable while they sleep, it does not matter how cool the mattress topper can keep the person, right? Well, when it comes to comfort, it combines the best of the memory foam and gel materials used in the construction of the product, which leaves the mattress topper that is both comfortable and supportive, reducing pressure on the body and this person's pressure points while laying down. It is two inches in thickness, and if the person is looking for much support, they will likely find that the Capsa mattress topper is the best option.

Pros:


  • Thick
  • Reduces pressure on pressure points
  • Five-year warranty

Cons:


  • On the pricy side.

2. Advanced Sleeper Solutions Gel Memory Foam Topper


As a general rule, the big problem that this person encounters with memory foam is that it tends to be much denser than most foam. Its denser than most foam because it needs to be able to offer body support when laying on it, but the problem here is that the increase in density makes the foam more likely to hold in the heat, rather than dissipating it. If the foam chosen is less dense, it ends up compressing under even the slightest of weight.

The Advanced Sleeper Solutions Gel Memory Foam Topper brings us the best of both worlds by mixing the two and doing so without sacrificing the air-cooling capabilities. It begins utilizing Certi-Pur memory foam, much like the first mattress topper that we looked at, although this foam is a bit lower in density (again, the lower the density, the heat dissipates more efficiently), and then injecting gel throughout the entirety of the topper. Certi-Pur is unlike most of the cheaper ‘gel’ toppers that this person will find, which have memory foam throughout, with a few pockets of gel placed in the foam; there is gel throughout the entirety, and it is well-spread and properly dense.

Between the gel and the open cell design of the memory foam, this person has a topper that is going to be great at moving the heat off of this person body and away from it, keeping this person cool. Much like the first mattress topper we reviewed, it combines the best of what this person can get from memory foam with the cooling power and comfort of gel, providing this person a comfortable mattress topper from a brand name that this person can trust, and that is widely available. The only thing I did not like about it was that it seemed to have that ‘new mattress smell’ when I first put it on the bed. However, after a few days, I either couldn’t smell it, or it had lost that fresh-out-of-the-factory fragrance.

Pros:


  • 2 inches thick, providing all the support you’ll need.
  • Money-Back Guarantee
  • Lasts for quite some time

Cons:


  • Likely to be the most expensive one on this list, unless you can find it on sale.

3. Zen Bamboo Ultra Soft Bamboo Mattress Topper


When this person thinks of bamboo, it is not likely that this person thinks about comfort. Moreover, let’s be honest here; that makes sense. Bamboo, on its own, is a green and hard plant, one that this person would not think would be good for keeping this person comfortable in the bedroom (unless this person like ridiculously hard beds). However, Zen Bamboo, as a company, makes a very soft and comfortable series of sheets, pillow covers, pillows, and even bed toppers for this person bed, although this person never expects it from their name. Moreover, they do it using bamboo fibers, along with a blend of microfibers.

Engineers designed around the idea of the topper being soft and breathable, which is a good start if this person is looking for something that will keep this person cool while this person sleep. Down-alternative fibers act to soften the topper further. These fibers are hypoallergenic, which means that if this person is someone who struggles through their life with allergies, this person is going to be glad to have this in this person life.

​However, how does it perform when it comes to making sure that this person will stay cool? Believe it or not, bamboo is quite useful in keeping this person cool in general. It does a great job of allowing air to pass through, which, of course, means it will be able to help this person keep cool, and the microfibers involved in the production are also going to be able to help with that.


It is an inch tall, but because it is made up of fibers that are only really there to help with air movement, this person is not going to get the same support that this person will get if this person is using a memory foam mattress. However, on the plus side, it can be machine-washed as long as this person utilize the low settings, and it will keep its shape through washing and drying if this person uses those settings. Being washable is especially useful for those who have many allergy issues.

Pros:


  • Available in all sizes.
  • Keeps you extremely cool.

Cons:


  • Not as thick as other toppers, and doesn’t provide as much support as a memory foam topper will.

4. Extra Plush Bamboo Fitted Topper


Yes, it is another offering that utilizes bamboo to help keep this person comfortable and cool, which is something that is more common than this person would think if this person had only seen bamboo in the wild. That being the case, this is an excellent competitor for the Zen Bamboo offering up above, and one that is well worth this person consideration.

​It is worth mentioning that they do not market this topper as a ‘cooling’ topper, although it does work well as a cooling topper; they market it as a fitted mattress topper. That being the case, it is made very similar to the Zen Bamboo offering in its construction, utilizing microfibers and bamboo fibers to create a pad that helps to keep this person cool. The downside is still there, too; the topper is great for cooling, but it does little to nothing to provide additional comfort when this person is laying on it.

 

The best thing about this topper is that it works very similar to the Zen Bamboo offering, but it will keep this person cool for about half price. It is an excellent choice, and this person is getting many comforts and cool for a decent price.

Pros:


  • Amazing price when compared with similar toppers.
  • Hypoallergenic.
  • Feels soft to the touch.

Cons:


  • Does not offer much by way of support.

5. Sleep Innovations 4-Inch Topper


Sleep Innovations is a company that, like so many of the other ones on here, specializes entirely in making things for this person bedroom. In their case, they make pillows and pillow cases, mattresses, and mattress toppers, built around the idea of keeping this person as cool as possible while also keeping this person comfortable. However, we are only here to take a look at the 4-inch topper that they offer.

 This 4-inch mattress topper is designed to cool this person by utilizing two different products. First, this person has 2 inches of fiberfill, which is in a soft quilted cover, with two layers two inches thick of ‘cooling gel memory foam,’ which is memory foam mixed with gel. This combination is a bit bulkier than other offerings reviewed, but it uses that bulk to get a lot done.

This combination will not just keep this person cool, and it will serve to keep this person very comfortable. When this person is looking for support, dense memory foam is a great place to begin this personal quest, and this topper shows just why that is. Best of all, the cover is removable and snug fit, so this person can keep this person mattress topper feeling and smelling fresh without having to remove the whole thing worrying about whether or not it can survive in this person washer and dryer.

Pros:


  • 4 inches of support and cooling utilizing foam and gel.
  • Very affordable for what you’re going to be getting.
  • 10-Year Warranty.
  • Cannot overstate how thick and comfortable it is.

Cons:


  • Some assembly likely to be required – they often ship it as two pieces.

6. ISOLUS 2.5 Inch Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Topper


This topper is another memory foam with gel mixture, but it provides fantastic cooling properties, mixing the two best things that will help keep this person cool while also maintaining a decent amount of support for this person body.


A nice touch for this topper is that it utilizes a beautiful bamboo cover, which keeps it soft while also helping to keep the air flowing correctly to keep this person cool. Always a nice, and one that this person will notice.

As the name suggests, it is 2.5 inches thick. While this may not be as large as the topper, we just reviewed, with 4 inches of support and cooling, two and a half inches is more than enough to help to keep the heat circulating away from this person and to keep this person cool while this person is enjoying this person bed. Even better, the mattress ventilated allows for increased airflow that keeps this person from heating up in the night while making sure that this person still has a right amount of support. 


It may not be the most cooling mattress topper on here, but if this person is looking for a more relaxed experience, and this person wants to make sure that this person gets the support that they need, this is the mattress topper for this person. It is also affordable. This person will not regret the purchase, and it’s not as large as others on here.

Pros:


  • Gel Infused, providing support and additional cooling.
  • Removable bamboo cover which can be thrown in the wash for easy cleaning.
  • Comes with a 3-year warranty.

Cons:


  • Doesn’t cool as well as some others on this list.

7. Qbedding Rattan Cooling Sleep Pad


There’s a good chance that many of this person has never heard of rattan, or seen it used, outside of in a chair that one of this person friends had in their dorm room back during the college days. That is all right, it is not something commonly used these days, but most people do not realize that rattan can be used to make a significant mattress topper.

This pad comes to us from the Asian nations, and they take rattan and combine it with a Chinese polyester blend called Beng Si. The topper is designed based on older Asian design for their bed toppers, so not only will this keep this person cool, but it will do so with a lot more efficiency than most toppers. The rattan cooling pads keep this person cool by creating a barrier that is capable of dissipating that natural heat from this person body between this person and the mattress, which helps to keep this person cool.


An interesting thing about this set is that it comes with a pair of pillow toppers, too. The toppers all have elastic straps that this person uses to hold them to this person bed or pillow, which is there to hold them in place. Something this person will notice pretty quickly about these mattress pads is that they are so skinny. Most of the pads that we have reviewed here are an inch or thicker, while these are at most a half an inch thick. 


Now, there is some downside to this choice, sadly. The feeling of laying on a rattan mat is not one that this person is likely to be used to, and it will take some time to adjust. It is not going to add much bulk to this person mattress or this person pillows, but the texture will make it a bit different. It is stiff enough that it provides support when this person is sleeping, however, which is a nice touch if this person needs additional support. Overall, an excellent solution to keeping cool at a decent price.

Pros:


  • Easy to remove – just unvelcro it and it’s off your bed!
  • Very affordable.
  • Comes with additional pillow shams for more coolness and comfort.

Cons:


  • Limited size selection.
  • Somewhat strange sensation when you first start to use it. The texture feels a bit odd at first.

If this person is looking for a good mattress topper, these seven are an excellent offering that runs the gamut for those with different needs. If, on the other hand, this person did not find one here that meets this person needs, there’s no need to fret; just remember the rules mentioned above for what this person is going to want in a mattress topper, and this person should be satisfied. Just keep an eye on quality, and never pass up a chance to test a mattress topper at a local store; it will make sure this person is more likely to be happy with what this person buy, and a test-drive never hurts.

About the Author

Peekaboo! Barbara speaking. I'm currently the Chief Editor at Sleep Titan and my job is to make sure that the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed on all of our amazing content! The lovely people here at Sleep Titan often tell me that my Friendly Superpowers come out after a glass of wine, but personally, I prefer a strong IPA. The sort of strength that screams alpha all the way! Maybe that's the reason why everyone wants me to have a drink around here. Right?!

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