Best cooling mattress toppers for 2022 – CNET [CNET]

Once you’ve found the best mattress for how you sleep and you’ve picked out bedding that you love, there’s a third component that can help to make the setup just right. A mattress topper, protector or pad can add an extra shot of comfort to the mix while simultaneously adding years to an otherwise dreary bedroom set. And if you happen to be a hot sleeper, a topper with cooling properties can provide a lot of relief.

Whether you go for a mattress topper with a generous layer of memory foam or a mattress pad or protector with hypoallergenic and dust-mite resistant properties is a matter of personal preference, as is the type of cooling you’re after. 

Are you adding cushion to a too-hard mattress, and you just need a bit of subtle cooling for your best night’s sleep? Or are you less concerned with cushioning, but a super chilly cooling pad to calm a fever or nighttime hot flashes is more what you need? Give some thought to your goals, and shopping for your cooling topper will be a breeze.

Today I’ll share the highlights of some of the hands-on reviews of the top cooling mattress toppers on the market so that you can find the best cooling mattress topper, protector or pad for you or your family. We’ll be adding more toppers to this list as we get our hands on them, so keep an eye on this space. Summer might be long gone, but heat always rises and a cozy downstairs might make for a hot bedroom.

Please note that for each product, I tried a twin size in order to fit my bed at home. However, the price shared at the end of each review is for the queen size (the most popular size) without any sale discounts applied. 

Read more: Best air mattress for 2022

What to look for in a cooling mattress topper

When shopping for these or other similar cooling bedding, you can try to look for clues as to the cooling components used, as well as language describing whether the item is a mattress topper, protector or pad. On the packaging, for example, you might find that the product design includes an aerated feature, which helps promote a cooling airflow throughout the product, or that the top layer is infused with a cooling gel. It may also say something about copper, graphite or charcoal being utilized, each of which act to absorb and draw heat away from the body, then dissipate it elsewhere. 

Memory foam, while usually known for trapping heat, might be described as infused with a certain cooling element to create a new heat-wicking innovation. Phase-change material, which liquifies and turns cool when placed against something (or someone!) hot, then once comfortably cool, returns to a solid state, may also be used. While each of these has a certain cooling proficiency, a topper integrated with a combination of them would actually be ideal.

What’s the difference between a cooling pad, cooling protector and cooling topper?

Since I wanted to check out the cooling components of each (and we have a couple of each in our review), let’s start by clearly defining the difference between mattress pads, mattress toppers and mattress protectors.

When you buy a brand-new mattress, a mattress protector is in order. It isn’t thick, but it gives the bed an additional thin layer of comfort plus waterproof protection from damage and staining. 

A mattress topper, on the other hand, is often thick, typically between 1 and 4 inches, designed to give greater comfort to a too-hard, aging or otherwise less-than-perfect bed surface when you don’t want to buy a whole new mattress. Since it’s expected to be thicker, the topper can be found with a range of materials in it, such as memory foam, latex or down. 

Finally, a mattress pad is similar to a protector in that it’s thinner, offers a slight bit of additional comfort and is usually integrated into a sheet or fitted with straps to help hold it in place on the mattress. 

To find the best cooling toppers, or protectors and pads with cooling properties, be on the lookout for heat-wicking or dissipating qualities, graphite, cooling gels or beads, or other components specifically included for cooling off the sleeper.

They can usually be found in different sizes and used in a variety of settings including dorms and campers.

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