When it comes to comparing options for making an important purchase, the sheer amount of choice can be overwhelming. With hundreds of conflicting Amazon reviews for every product and review websites that offer competing advice about which products actually work, it can feel like an uphill battle to find reliable information on which to base your purchase decision.
Here at WiseGeek, we’d like to make this process a little easier by presenting our annual Wisest Buys Awards. Each year, we select our favorite products in a number of popular categories.
Our team of reviewers has tested the most popular mattress toppers, coming to our own conclusions about which product is the absolute best.
To decide on our award winner in the mattress toppers category, we considered the following criteria:
- Significantly improves the feel of the existing mattress
- Fits mattress securely and retains its shape
- Filling provides comfort and support
- Stays cool and breathable
- Hypoallergenic and easy to clean
2021 Wisest Buy Award Winner: Best Mattress Topper
#1 Comfort Boost Extra Thick Mattress Topper
★★★★★
Top features:
- Very thick and pillowy without absorbing heat
- Provides excellent back support
- Significantly improves the comfort of any mattress
The Comfort Boost Mattress Topper was hugely popular with our review team, and it was the hands down winner for this product category. Everyone who tried the Comfort Boost raved about how comfortable and supportive it is, and how significantly the topper improves the feel of even an old, worn-out mattress. It also earned high praise for actually staying cool throughout the night, unlike many mattress toppers that seem to absorb huge amounts of body heat.
The Comfort Boost features thick quilted squares stuffed with pillowy filling, which provides an entirely new sleeping surface, regardless of the condition of the mattress and bed. Notably, the filling stays in place and remains fluffy even with constant use, unlike many products that lose their shape and go flat. The Comfort Boost can be easily secured onto a mattress of any height, thanks to the deep, ribbed pocket that keeps the topper from shifting.
Everything about the Comfort Boost points to a very high-quality, well-made product, from the double stitching around the seams to the 400 thread-count cotton top layer. It’s also hypoallergenic, which is a must for any sleeper, and it comes pre-washed and ready to use, while also being machine washable.
Other Mattress Toppers We Like:
#2 ViscoSoft Memory Foam Dual Layer Mattress Pad
★★★★
Top features:
- Very plush “pillow top” cover
- Features a layer of gel memory foam
- Provides a very soft sleeping surface
The ViscoSoft Memory Foam Dual Layer Mattress Pad was another popular product with our review team. Although it’s relatively expensive, the ViscoSoft features two components: a gel memory foam pad and a fluffy mattress topper stuffed with a comfy fiberfill. The two-part design of the ViscoSoft is intriguing, and it really does make a big difference to the feel of the mattress.
The memory foam pad is very soft and squishy, which will really appeal to people who want to make their mattress significantly less firm. The memory foam contours to your body shape, so it really feels like you’re sinking into the bed. It may take a little while to get used to this, but fans of memory foam products will love the ViscoSoft. The mattress topper itself seems to be durable and can be securely fitted over the pad and your mattress. The cotton is very soft and provide some extra comfort in addition to the memory foam layer, while also being machine washable.
#3 ExceptionalSheets Pillowtop Mattress Topper
★★★★
Top features:
- Comfortable down-alternative filling
- Easy to remove and wash
- Customer satisfaction guarantee
The ExceptionalSheets Pillowtop Mattress Topper is another excellent, and fairly affordable, mattress topper that makes a big difference to the comfort and feel of an old mattress. The design is fairly standard, with quilted boxes stuffed with a down-alternative filling and a deep skirt that attaches underneath mattresses of various heights.
Although the ExceptionalSheets mattress topper doesn’t quite have the same thickness or breathability as the Comfort Boost, it’s a close approximation, and one that’s found in many hotels around the world. Conveniently, it’s available in a variety of sizes to fit any bed, from twin all the way up to California King, and is machine washable. The ExceptionalSheets brand also offers a customer satisfaction guarantee, which is always helpful for one’s peace of mind when trying out a new product.
