New Topper Or Whole New Mattress

Can I Get By with Just a Topper, or Do I Need a Whole New Mattress

This is a question we get all the time, and not an easy one to answer. In general, though, if your mattress is basically in good shape, but not as comfortable as you would like (looking for a softer feel, less aches and pains in the morning, etc), then a memory foam mattress topper pad may well do the job.

On the other hand, if your mattress is too soft, rock hard, or has compressed areas, dips or a hammock feel, etc., then you are better off buying a new mattress - a topper pad just can't help with these problems.

If you need a new mattress, what should you look for? Stay away from the pillow tops. The foam and other materials used in standard pillow tops tend to be fairly inexpensive and will often break down fairly quickly. So rather than buying a pillow top mattress, I advise people to buy the best, basic bed they can find, and then add their own memory foam topper as the pillow top. That way, they get a quality topper (much higher density and quality than what comes in most pillow top mattresses). Then, if the topper pad softens with use after a number of years (we see people replacing their topper pads after 4 to 5 years or more), you can just replace the topper portion, rather than having to buy a brand new mattress.

For the basic mattress portion, most people stay with a good innerspring. But if you are open to it, I urge you to consider a good foam bed or even a latex bed. These types of bases just have a more substantial feel than other beds and have significant longevity. It is important to get a good quality foam bed (2.2 pound density or higher of high resiliency or similar foam). Latex is even denser but you do pay a premium for it. Either way, your foam bed should be at least 5 - 6" deep. And you should invest the time to lay down on the foam or latex you will be buying to see if it is the right firmness. I know this isn't always possible, since you may not have a store carrying foam or latex near you. But buying these kinds of beds over the internet based on their specifications can be a crap shoot, since the firmness of these beds varies a great deal. So, if you do buy over the internet, make sure you can return the bed easily in case it is overly firm.