Here’s something they don’t tell you when you buy a mattress: Pillowtop mattresses sink over time. In our case, the sinking happened about six months after we bought it.
As a result, we started waking up with aching necks and backs and wondering why. Turns out, the memory foam in today’s pillowtops break down “over time.” In our case, “over time” was six months.
Modern advice is to buy a regular mattress and a separate topper. Then, you can replace the topper when it loses its buoyancy.
You know, the advice that I could have used the day we bought our mattress.
Luckily, it’s not too late to add a topper to our mattress. And that’s exactly why I purchased the Serta ThermaGel Cooling, Pressure-Relieving Memory Foam Mattress Topper. After 365 nights (minus a vacation or two) of use, I’m well-equipped to give you the skinny on this budget bed-fixer.
Serta ThermaGel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Specifications
- Thickness: 2 or 3 inches.
- Sizes: Twin to California King.
- Material: Gel-infused memory foam.
- Cooling technology: ThermaGel particles, open-cell foam.
- Comfort level: Medium (conforms but still supports).
- Weight: 4.1-10.5 pounds.
Pros
- Provides pressure relief
- Revives saggy mattresses
- Durable build
- Cooling technology prevents overheating
- Multiple sizes and thicknesses
Cons
- Cooling feature is disappointing
- Sizing can be inconsistent
- No removable cover
- Spot cleaning only
The Unfolding Experience
The mattress topper arrived in a big box. It was wrapped in something that looked and felt like plastic wrap. I just grabbed a pair of scissors, freed it from its packaging and put it on the bed.
With some mattress toppers, you’ll get a hefty dose of off-gassing as soon as you remove it from the packaging. The chemical smell can be overpowering, making it impossible to use until it’s aired out for a couple of days.
However, I didn’t experience that with the ThermaGel topper. It also didn’t require the hours of decompression time that sometimes comes with boxed mattresses and toppers. In fact, it easily flattened on my mattress, allowing us to start enjoying it the first night.
Your first challenge will be pulling your fitted sheet over both your mattress and your new topper. I had a deep-pocket fitted sheet, and it barely stretched over it all. It took my original 14-inch mattress to 17 inches, if that helps you as you measure.
But the real test came that night, as we drifted off to sleep on our new mattress topper. I felt the difference immediately. The topper provided full support for my pressure points, whether I slept on my back or side. (I’m not a stomach sleeper, so I can’t speak to that!)
As for cooling, I can’t say I notice a difference. But foam mattress toppers are notorious for lacking breathability, so the design helps with that issue. Still, don’t assume this is like going to sleep on top of an air conditioner. You’ll get ThermaGel particles and an open-cell design, not built-in refrigerant.
Year One Check-Up
One year later, that mattress topper is on our bed in our new home, 170 miles away from where I set it up a year ago. I forget we have the topper on our mattress until I’m changing sheets. Here are my thoughts at the one-year mark:
Durability
Unlike our mattress, the topper stands firm after 365 full nights of sleep. (Plus a few hundred naps or so.) It’s as buoyant as Night 1, and we’ve forgotten the saggy mattress beneath it. Of course, we’ll have to buy a new mattress eventually, but if you want to give your aging mattress a little extra life, this could be the answer.
Motion Isolation
One of my favorite things about this topper is that it suppresses motion. My husband is a restless sleeper, and before we added the ThermaGel topper, I’d often feel him tossing and turning throughout the night. This topper does a great job of suppressing that. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely cheaper than a motion-isolating mattress.
Shifting and Fit
My biggest concern when I first unpacked this topper was that it would move around on the bed. I guess that’s one benefit to barely squeezing the fitted sheet over it: There’s not an inch of wiggle room. If you’re worried about that, attaching straps to your fitted sheet can help anchor everything.
Cleaning and Care
The ThermaGel mattress topper doesn’t come with a cover, which means you can’t simply unzip and wash. If you do need to clean it, you’ll have to spot clean with a water-diluted mix of either baking soda or white vinegar. After a year, though, it looks just as clean as the day we got it, and we’ve never done any of that.
Key Features
Considering adding the ThermaGel topper to your mattress? Here are some key features to help you decide if it fits your needs:
Pressure Relief and Support
The ThermaGel topper builds in memory foam, which conforms to your body. It relieves key pressure points, reducing stress on areas like your hips and shoulders. While it’s no magic cure for pain, it doesn’t add to existing problems. Occasionally, I’ll still wake up with a “crick” in my neck, but for the most part, I rarely have those “I just slept wrong” pains.
Temperature Regulation
I used to sleep cold. I didn’t want a ceiling fan blowing on me, and I had a stack of covers to help me get through the night. Those days are gone. Night sweats and hot flashes have come for me; I sleep with both a ceiling and a bedside fan. As I mentioned above, the design of this foam topper keeps it from making matters worse, but if you’re expecting active cooling, you won’t get it here.
Two Different Thickness Options
While the Serta ThermaGel isn’t customizable, you can choose from two different thicknesses. We have the 3-inch topper, which is ideal for side sleepers. But if you need a little more firmness, consider the 2-inch topper. You’ll save a little money while also getting the firmness you need.
Durability and Longevity
One year later, this topper is just as comfortable as it was the first night. It has memory foam, so I expected it to start sagging, but it hasn’t. Best of all, it’s given our 10-year-old mattress new life. Sure, we’ll have to buy a new one eventually, but when we do, we’ll purchase a regular mattress and use it with this topper. If we need to replace it down the road, a couple hundred bucks will give us a few more years.
Serta ThermaGel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
The Takeaway
The Serta ThermaGel Cooling, Pressure-Relieving Memory Foam Mattress Topper delivers plenty of comfort for a relatively small investment. It’s flexible enough to transform a sagging mattress, supportive enough to prevent sleep-related aches and pains and durable enough to handle month after month of nightly use. Just don’t expect active cooling. But even if you still need your ceiling fan on its fastest speed, it’s well worth it for the other benefits.
