Best Gel Mattress Toppers (Memory Foam & More)
Last Updated: April, 2024 | This Post May Contain Affiliate Links
You've probably come across the term "gel infused foam." But what are they, and why should you consider buying one? Let's recap a bit. You know of the popular high density memory foam mattress that many are fond of due to its body-conforming properties. Unfortunately, this traditional memory foam would trap heat making people sleep hot and get sweaty through the night.
To curb the heat situation, manufacturers brought about gel infusion to make up gel memory foam mattress and gel mattress toppers. Therefore, gel mattress toppers are made of materials that contain gel particles, cooling gel beads, or thermal gel among other gel substances. The presence of gel in these toppers helps dissipate heat during a hot night or in the summer, keeping the sleeper cool throughout.
We took a tour of several brands and created a list of the best gel mattress toppers that our readers can purchase to enhance their sleep experiences. According to our tests, the best gel mattress topper is the 2-inch Gel Swirl Memory Foam topper by Brooklyn Bedding which offers comfort and different size options for various user types. Read on to learn more about our 5 best gel memory foam mattress toppers.
A Quick Look At The Top 5 Gel Mattress Toppers
Swirl Memory Foam Topper
The swirl Memory Foam Topper comes in ultra-plush comfort level. More importantly, it's an excellent fit if you're tight on budget.
GhostBed Memory Foam Topper
With Ghostbed's solid reputation, you can be sure that this mattress topper is high quality. It has different zones to support different parts of your body.
Plushbeds Cooling Gel Memory Foam Topper
In case you like the premium comfort of an organic latex mattress topper, Plushbed is the best option to settle for.
Linenspa Memory Foam Topper
Another ultimate solution when you're not planning to purchase a new mattress would be buying this Linenspa topper.
LUCID Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
If you need a topper to relieve pressure points on your body and make your bed a bit firmer, Lucid is an excellent choice.
Pros
Cons
Overall Thoughts
In your quest to hunt for the best mattress topper, consider adding the swirl Memory Foam topper to your list. Unlike some mattress toppers, the Swirl foam topper doesn't come with a dedicated cover. Beneath the cover is the gel memory foam layer, which provides fantastic pressure relief in addition to more comfort.
If you like thinner mattress toppers, then you'll enjoy the tremendous support this bed pad has to offer. Its motion isolation is world-class and ensures neither you nor your partner disturb each other at night with constant tossing and turning.
More importantly, this Gel swirl topper has CertiPUR-US Certified foams—meaning it's free of harmful chemicals. In case you're worried about allergens, you can rest assured the hypoallergenic cover has got your back. In fact, the topper is made of high-quality cotton Terry material.
This swirl gel memory foam mattress topper is highly breathable with excellent airflow—some customers even consider it the best cooling mattress topper. This is thanks to its multiple features, which ensure the topper is always cool. Also, the foam itself is breathable to keep you cool, especially during hot summers or if you reside in hotter regions.
For a budget mattress topper, this mattress pad can last up to 3 years before planning for another one. Though it bears off-gassing, it isn't that intense. Ideally, it would be best to fit this mattress topper with a dedicated cover to make cleaning it easier. This can also potentially extend the lifespan of the topper. To widen your pool of options, the Brooklyn swirl topper is available in 6 sizes. Some include the twin XL, full XL, California king, Short queen, and more. Plus, the size options have different affordable price points.
Pros
Cons
Overall Thoughts
GhostBed memory foam topper is among the best toppers with superior features in the industry. If you usually sleep hot, you'll like how best it can dissipate heat. Though a bit unfit for stomach sleepers, it excellently accommodates back, combination, and side sleepers.
As one of the best gel infused memory foam mattress toppers, GhostBed has a state-of-the-art construction. It has a convoluted design, plus it's zoned with five different support levels for various body regions. Compared to other sleep surface areas, this topper is a bit firmer at the center. The zoned design ensures the topper doesn't trap heat—this makes the topper better than most gel mattress toppers on the market for hot weather.
Compared to most mattress toppers, this is one of the gel-infused varieties that are neither overly hugging nor restricting despite being pretty thick. The GhostBed topper is incredibly adaptive, which is excellent for spreading tension over the bed evenly. This, in addition to motion transfer, ensures a peaceful and restful slumber through the night. So, if you're looking for the best mattress topper for you and your partner, then GhostBed is an Ideal option. More importantly, this topper can easily snap back to its original form after lying on it.
Back, combo, and side sleepers, will love the cradling comfort this mattress topper offers. Also, since it's made to accommodate the majority of sleepers, stomach sleepers can use it. But as long as they are light and petite.
The GhostBed topper is also a firm mattress topper despite its 3-inch thickness. The thickness is primarily suitable for medium sleepers. To such Individuals, the firmness would make the pad feel like a medium mattress topper. According to most mattress reviews, this topper has a firmness scale of 6.5/10.
For a full review, click here.
Pros
Cons
Overall Thoughts
Plushbed has made quite a name for itself in the sleep industry, mainly producing high-end sleep products such as mattresses and mattress toppers. This Plushbed pad is a memory foam topper made of top-grade, GREENGUARD gold certified latex and memory foam.
The Plushbed memory foam topper has a 100% organic cotton cover that zips easy cleaning. The surface layer of this removable cover is cool to the touch. It can dissipate body heat efficiently, which makes this topper an excellent pick for hot sleepers and sleepers who prefer organic mattress toppers.
Generally, this gel infused memory foam topper has a closely knit structure. And this, in conjunction with its high-quality, dense materials, shields the topper from sagging. The knitting structure ensures that the gel infused foam topper always snaps back to its original shape.
The layers beneath the cover are primarily based on personal preference as it comes in 2 thickness options, 2" and 3". These layers are made of GREENGUARD Gold certified Talalay latex material, which also comes in 3 firmness options. So, you can choose either extra-firm, medium-firm, or soft.
The bounciness of the foam latex makes it suitable for those who want to relieve pressure. People seeking healthy spinal alignment should opt for the firmer topper version as it provides excellent support.
More importantly, this gel foam plush topper has a classic memory foam feel of contouring and hugging the sleeper. With that, the topper molds to your shoulders and hips while cradling your entire body to give you that word class sleep comfort. Also, it prevents excessive sinkage into the material, eliminating the feeling of being stuck.
If you have a sleeping partner Plushbed is one of the best memory foam mattress toppers to opt for—thanks to its motion isolation. That way, neither you nor your partner will disturb each other with constant tossing and turning. This article has more on other mattress topper options by Plushbeds.
Pros
Cons
Overall Thoughts
For a budget-friendly bed pad, the Linenspa mattress topper features an impressive design and construction that adds comfort to your bed and extra thickness.
This is a 3-inch cooling mattress topper infused with gel beads that assist with thermoregulation. These polyurethane gel beads help dissipate body heat evenly, so you sleep at a more neutral temperature. Since the mattress topper is a slab of thick memory foam, it doesn't come with a cover. Plus, given its design, it doesn't need one as it's also relatively easy to clean.
Linenspa is made to provide excellent cushioning. Plus, it contours well with the body to assist with pressure point relief. Moreover, the memory foam thickness enhanced motion isolation, a great feature for those with sleeping partners. In the motion transfer department, this mattress topper is a competitive model like the tempur topper supreme.
Linenspa is among those memory foam toppers with a slightly above-average firmness. This topper's thickness promotes healthy spinal alignment. Also, Overweight individuals above 230 pounds who like a soft mattress topper should go for Linenspa.
Notably, Linenspa offers three topper options. One has a gel swirl Memory Foam, while another has a gel swirl infusion. The last one is a convoluted gel memory foam topper. Also, like most toppers, the Linenspa topper is available in multiple sizes, the twin XL, Queen, king, and California king.
Compared to most memory foam products, Linenspa company produces mattress toppers with lesser to no off-gassing. Plus, the memory foam used to make the topper is made with CertiPUR-US standards. That means they are safe and don't emit harmful chemicals. For a healthier sleep all year round, ensure you're airing the topper periodically. Plus, it's best to use baking soda to clean it. Even better, consider asking the manufacturer about the best way to care for the mattress topper.
Related Content: Best Egg-Crate Mattress Topper
Pros
Cons
Overall Thoughts
Construction–wise this is one of the best cooling mattress toppers with excellent heat dissipation. This cooling topper is designed to cool the body and release any trapped heat—thanks to the gel infusion in the topper's memory foam. This is because the topper has evenly spaced and sized ventilation holes which promote excellent airflow on the topper's surface.
Some toppers like the Viscosoft mattress topper, Lucid is soft and supple. So, in case you have a mattress with a firmer sleep surface, Lucid is among the best choices to seek. More importantly, the memory Foam layers ensure the topper conforms with your body shape to relieve pressure points.
People with arthritis will find how excellent this mattress topper relieves pain. Moreover, it also assists relieve pain in regions like the joints, plus it also helps ease out stress. Basically, this mattress topper is primarily suitable for combination and side sleepers. However, still, stomach and side sleepers will find it comfortable so long as they like a softer sleep surface.
The gel infusion in the topper's memory foam ensures. Motion isolation is also another great feature of this topper. Not only does this make it an excellent option for individuals with sleep partners, but it also ensures it doesn't shift off the mattress. Unlike most toppers, this is one of the few high quality memory foam mattress toppers with a warranty. Generally, its warranty lasts up to 3 years.
Click here to read the full review.
Benefits of Gel Mattress Toppers
Is a gel memory foam mattress topper worth the hype and worth your money? Fortunately, yes! And here's why.
1. Keeps You Cool Through the Night
Onto our first obvious point - its cooling gel technology. As we had earlier mentioned, gel swirl infusion in a mattress topper helps to regulate your body temperature as you sleep. The gel infused memory foam topper will pull the body heat away and keep you cool through the night. This is essential for a comfortable and deep sleep.
2. Offers Strong Support When You Sleep
Gel memory foam is supportive. The mattress topper will evenly distributes your body weight and conforms to the shape of your body, providing support to your spine, neck, and hips. As a result, you'll wake up feeling refreshed with no backaches or pains.
3. Pressure Relief
The memory foam in a gel mattress topper contours to your body curves, which reduces pressure points on your neck, back, and hips. This is essential in relieving pain on these pressure points.
4. Dissipates Motion
A gel mattress topper also isolates motion, meaning that if you sleep with a partner who tosses and turns a lot, you won't feel their movements. Therefore, you'll enjoy uninterrupted sleep all night long.
Choosing the Right Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Now that you know the benefits of a gel mattress topper, how then can you choose the right one for you? Unfortunately, there's no one-type-fits-all topper in the market, therefore to get the best mattress topper, you'll need to consider a few things as discussed below.
Your Old Mattress Situation aka Firmness Level
Why exactly are you getting a mattress topper? Is your mattress too soft and you need some firmness added to it? Or do you have an extra firm mattress and you need some plush topper for better sleep? The answer to this question will help you choose the right firmness level for your gel mattress topper.
The difference between firmness levels is also the difference between getting back aches and waking up feeling rested and healthy. Therefore, be sure to choose the right firmness. Our favorite topper options discussed above all come with up to 101-night trials so you're able to test different ones until you find the one that fits.
Mattress Size
Speaking of fitting, let's talk mattress sizes. A memory foam mattress topper is an extra accessory that will lie on top of your current mattress, which means that it's able to move around. To curb this issue, you need to consider two main things and one of them is the topper size. Your ideal gel topper should fit the size of your mattress so that it can easily stay in one place. If it's too small, it won't offer you all-around body support and will easily move around your bed. If it's too big, it'll affect edge support and make you easily fall in your sleep.
Mattress Supporting Accessories
In my previous point, I mentioned two things that can help keep your mattress topper in place. The second thing is the accessories or features it comes with. Find a mattress that has straps or a long cover. These features will help you hold down the gel topper to your existing mattress keeping it perfectly in place for when you toss in bed. If you go for a gel memory foam mattress topper with a cover, try getting a breathable and cool cover like GhostBed's Ghost Ice fabric to prevent you from heating up at night. You can also look for a waterproof mattress protector-like topper cover.
Consider Health Factors
Unfortunately, not all toppers are a good health choice but many gel toppers do come with extra features and technologies that make them ideal for use. One is being hypoallergenic, meaning it does not act as a habitat for allergens like dust and dust mites. If you're asthmatic, this is a tip to take seriously.
Additionally, look for the certification labels. You need a gel topper that hasn't been made using harmful chemicals like VOCs and Phthalates. To get certified, the products go through testing making them a safe option for both kids and adults.
Conclusion
To conclude, a gel infused memory foam topper provides several benefits that lead to improved sleep quality. It's more beneficial to hot sleepers for it hosts cooling properties. There are other options for toppers that can keep sleepers cool through the night, like an organic latex mattress topper. However, if you enjoy the conforming of memory foam, then a gel infused memory foam mattress topper is the way to go. Always check mattress reviews like this one before buying a mattress topper, so that you can make informed decisions.