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- After testing the Linenspa 2-Inch Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper for a few months to soften up my firm mattress, it's helped alleviate my back and pain issues.
- It's surprisingly inexpensive at $39.99 for a Twin up to $79.99 for a California King, and it's held up well and makes my mattress feel totally new.
- It's a gel-infused memory foam mattress topper designed to make firm mattresses feel softer and help prevent overheating, so it's a great option for hot-blooded sleepers as well.
- See more: The best mattress toppers
Once upon a time, my husband and I were sleeping on a really hard Queen-sized mattress.
Almost every night I would toss and turn, waking up with a stiff back and neck. It wasn't fun. I complained to my husband — a lot.
"Why didn't you just buy a new mattress?" you're probably thinking. Well, here's the scenario — we didn't want to buy a new King-sized bed — and all the accompanying bedroom furniture — until we bought our forever house. And we didn't want to invest in an expensive new mattress that we would only use for a year or so either before we'd move out.
Finally, one night, while I was lost in the black hole that is Amazon Prime, I started looking at mattress toppers.
It seemed like a logical temporary solution to my problem that would require little investment, but it wasn't. My innocent little search proved to be a bit overwhelming, to say the least, as there are hundreds available of varying thicknesses, materials, and price points. For example, a 3-inch Tempur-Pedic can set you back more than $200, while a cheap 1-inch egg crate foam can cost less than $20.
After I got over the initial overwhelmed feeling, I went straight to the page for Amazon's Choice products, which I've found to be a good starting point of well-priced and well-reviewed products. My strategy is to look at the number of reviews in context with the average star rating — if a product manages to get a 4+ star rating with thousands of reviews, I'd try it.
I found my favorite leggings this way and that's how I landed on the Linenspa 2-Inch Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper too, so I'd say this strategy has a good track record. The best part? The mattress topper cost me just a little more than $50.
Specs
- The mattress topper is available in several different sizes:
- Cal King: 71 inches x 83 inches x 2 inches
- Full: 52.5inches x 74 inches x 2 inches
- King: 75 inches x 79 inches x 2 inches
- Queen: 59 inches x 79 inches x 2 inches
- Twin: 37.5 inches x 74 inches x 2 inches
- Twin Xl: 37.5 inches x 79 inches x 2 inches
- Materials
- 100% Polyurethane Memory Foam
- Gel Beads
The foam is CertiPUR-US® Certified, meaning it has been analyzed by independent, accredited testing laboratories, and meets CertiPUR-US standards for content, emissions, and durability. It also comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Set-up process
The mattress topper arrived the next day (because Amazon Prime rules) in vacuum-sealed packaging and was easy to unroll. It was easy for me to carry as it's less than 10 pounds, but if you have any trouble carrying that weight, I'd suggest getting a friend or family member to help.
The mattress topper looked super flat at first but then quickly expanded to its full two-inches. The pad itself is blue, and the memory foam is infused with a cooling gel that supposedly captures and distributes body heat in order to help regulate temperature and keep you cool at night. I didn't really notice this aspect of the topper a lot since I just wanted to sleep on a softer surface, but my husband and I both sleep hot and we didn't wake up sweaty so I guess it helped a little.
Depending on when you get your topper, I'd suggest opening it in the morning, placing it on your bed, and allowing it to "breathe" for several hours before sleeping on it. Some reviewers complain that it has an odor because it was vacuum-sealed, but I didn't experience that.
Some mattress toppers come with a cover, but this one doesn't, so you might want to order one. Alternatively, you can place it under a mattress pad, which is what I did. Or you can just place it directly on your mattress and put your bed sheets on top.
The first night sleeping on our doctored-up bed was honestly pretty awesome. While I can't say it was like sleeping on a cloud, it definitely transformed our hard slab to a plusher, more body-conforming mattress and we felt like we were sleeping on a new mattress.
After sleeping on the bed for several weeks, my husband noticed that my back and neck pain complaints subsided substantially too. In retrospect, I should have gone with the 3-inch version instead for a little more cushioning. After several months, the topper is still in great condition and has definitely made our mattress much more comfortable. I haven't noticed any sagging or denting either.
The bottom line
The Linenspa 2-inch Gel Infused Mattress Mattress Topper was an incredibly small investment for such a huge improvement in our quality of sleep.
I'm really glad that I didn't spend hundreds of dollars on a topper, especially because this one worked just fine. As I mentioned before, if I could go back in time I might've chosen the plusher 3-inch option, which only costs $20 more. But we're still happy with our 2-inch topper and now my husband doesn't have to listen to me complain about my neck and back.
Pros: Inexpensive, highly-rated, can soften a firm mattress, comes in various sizes
Cons: Choosing between the ideal thickness for your needs might be a gamble, the warranty might be limiting
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