Trying to sleep better
Like most office workers, I spend the vast majority of the day sitting down. And while I’m passionate about my career as a graphic designer, working long hours at a desk isn’t particularly conducive to good posture or healthy joints. For me - having a supportive, comfortable sleep surface is vital to take the pressure off and enjoy some quality rest.
Unfortunately, getting enough sleep on a regular basis frequently eludes me. Tossing and turning, struggling to fall asleep, and waking up far too early can leave me feeling exhausted and unproductive at work, and sometimes too tired to socialize with friends and colleagues.
I decided to see whether I could extend the life of my current mattress with the addition of a mattress topper. Most mattress toppers are priced at somewhere between $80 and $200, which is far more affordable than purchasing a whole new mattress for $1,000 or more.
Hopefully, my careful evaluation of these toppers will help other people find an affordable way to make their mattress vastly more comfortable, allowing them to wake up feeling refreshed, energized, and entirely free from aches and pains.
How did I evaluate the mattress toppers?
- I read hundreds of reviews to learn about different styles and brands
- I ordered six of the most popular mattress toppers available on Amazon
- I put each mattress topper on my old mattress and slept on it for a week
- I assessed how well it fit the bed and whether it stayed in position
- I observed how evenly the filling was distributed
- I assessed the thickness of the mattress topper
- I took note of how cool the mattress topper felt to sleep on
- I considered the overall comfort and support provided by each mattress topper
What were the most important factors for choosing a mattress topper?
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Soft, pillowy comfort
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Quilted squares to keep the filling in place
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Thick enough to provide adequate support
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Breathable and cool
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Durable, high-quality construction
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Attaches securely to the bed and doesn’t shift
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Machine washable
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Good value for money
I've seen mattress toppers on Amazon for under $90 -- what are they like?
A good sleep surface requires the perfect balance of comfort and support. And although it can be tempting to go for a budget option, unfortunately, a cheap mattress topper really doesn’t seem worth it, as it doesn’t offer either of these features.
From what I've experienced, mattress toppers priced under $90 are almost always made of inexpensive materials, such as cheap foam. With each of these budget alternatives, I hoped that I was getting a steal of a deal. But something always went wrong. I've woken up with aches and pains as a result of flimsy, substandard mattress toppers. I’ve also encountered toppers that completely fell apart after a single cycle in the washing machine.
In the long run, continually replacing these budget mattress toppers turned out to be more expensive than if I had just purchased a high-quality mattress topper in the first place. Eventually, I decided to invest in a mattress topper made of premium, long-lasting materials. It didn’t take me long to realize that sometimes it’s worth paying a little more to get a product that will serve you well for many years to come.