I’m a Hot Sleeper, and I Tested 15 Mattress Toppers to Find the Best One

When my boyfriend (now fiancé) and I moved in together, we sold my mattress and decided to keep his. While it was very comfortable, I still wanted to get a mattress topper to add some extra oomph. And because we’re both hot sleepers, I prioritized finding one that was cooling. Then there was the added challenge of finding a topper that was comfortable for all sleep positions, as he sleeps on his back and side and I sleep on my stomach. 

Because there are so many options out there and you can’t really know which one you like until you sleep on it, I decided to test 15 mattress toppers for Apartment Therapy’s Best List series to see which one truly is the best — not just for my situation, but for every single preference. (For more bed-related product tests, we’ve tried everything from the best mattresses and bed blankets to pillows for side sleepers and so much more.)

It can be overwhelming to shop for a mattress topper because of the number of certifications products can have and the various types or styles. But it’s important to consider the type of fill, thickness level, and sleeping style before anything else to ensure you find the right topper for you. 

My fiancé and I tested each mattress topper for three full nights of sleep. I specifically focused on asking the following three questions: Was it cooling? Did my body feel supported? And did the topper move at all on top of the mattress throughout the three-day trial? 

Out of the 15 mattress toppers I tested, here are nine toppers that I believe are the best across various categories — like best for hot sleepers, best for back pain, best organic, and more. 

At the end of a long day, the best feeling is getting into bed — but an even better feeling is having your mattress respond to your body and help wash away the day’s stress. The Avocado Eco Organic Latex Mattress Topper did exactly that for me — its eco-organic latex material contoured and supported my body where I needed relief or firmness. Plus, the organic latex fill and organic cotton cover make it breathable and lightweight, so my fiancé and I felt cooler throughout the night even without any cooling technology. 

While there are no corner straps to keep it in place, during the testing period we didn’t notice any movement because of the topper’s canvas base. My fiancé and I felt comfortable and supported throughout the night, and woke up without any stiffness we typically have first thing in the morning.

Boll & Branch’s Cloud Cover Featherbed is the ultimate luxurious mattress topper because of its unique dual-chamber design and 4-inch baffle box construction. It guaranteed that I felt the sink-in softness while keeping the feather and down fill internally separate so they wouldn’t shift throughout the night. As soon as I laid down, I could feel the high-quality craftsmanship — like I was being hugged by an expertly made marshmallow. 

Over the three nights I tested the topper, I noticed that the feathers compressed (but not clumped) naturally from my fiancé’s and my body weight. This was slightly inconvenient because every morning we would have to fluff or air out the topper — using the four attached handles meant for this. But after each fluff, it felt like lying on a cloud — just like the name suggests — and it was well worth the extra effort for a dreamy sleep.

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The Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Topper is truly the best of both the pressure-relieving and the cooling technology worlds. The topper is 3 inches thick, so it added extra cushion to my bed without unnecessary bulk. I found it to be firmer than expected for the memory foam material, particularly because I’m a stomach sleeper, while my fiancé loved the added support for his back. 

The moisture-wicking cotton cover was so breathable and worked great with the memory foam’s cooling qualities — it kept us comfortably cool all night long. In combination with the pressure-relieving support, my fiancé and I both said that we felt very rejuvenated the next morning.

If you only need a little something extra, Brooklinen’s Down Alternative Mattress Topper is the one to go with. It’s made with a 100% cotton shell that kept it breathable and didn’t add any extra heat when we slept on it. Plus, the down alternative microgel filling is made to ensure even distribution without any lumps forming over time (which is a great extra perk!). 

I especially liked that the entire thing is machine-washable and that the bottom barrier is waterproof to protect your mattress from stains, accidents, and allergens. Plus, instead of corner straps, Brooklinen’s topper has an elastic skirt (like a fitted sheet) that can fit mattresses up to 18 inches thick — and while testing, there was absolutely no risk of it moving.

The Company Store’s website says “Cozy is calling,” and they weren’t kidding! Their Legends Hotel Down Alternative Mattress Topper was like sleeping on a ridiculously soft cloud. It’s made with baffled quilted squares and filled with OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified recycled polyester fiber that noticeably kept the cloud-like stuffing from clumping.

But I think the secret to this topper is that each quilted square has gussets, or extra space, which allows the fill to breathe and never fully compress — and it made a huge difference. Even though this topper doesn’t have corner straps for added security, I found that it only shifted a centimeter or two during my testing period.

Sleepyhead only offers two types of mattress toppers, so they’ve perfected the foam topper to a T. Their Super Topper with CoolTech 2.0 Cover immediately caught my eye because of the cool technology. It’s made with 50% gel to pull heat away from your body and 50% copper memory foam to block bacteria and allergens. And it totally kept my fiancé and me cooler while giving us peace of mind about germs. 

I particularly loved that the OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified cover is completely machine-washable and has a non-slip grip on the bottom, so it really didn’t go anywhere once it was on my mattress. Plus, I found the non-slip back worked perfectly without the corner straps (as those kept popping up while testing).

If you’re looking for the ultimate organic mattress topper, Silk & Snow’s Organic Latex Topper is the way to go. It’s made with a GOTS-certified cotton cover and filled with GOLS-certified latex, so it’ll last for years and offer long-term support. (But I will warn you — it was very heavy to put on the bed.)

I found it to be firmer with less cushioning, as it’s only offered in a 2-inch thickness — I woke up slightly sore from sleeping on my stomach. But my fiancé had a great night’s sleep and woke up so well-rested that he was talking about it for days after the trial period ended.

I’ll be honest — this was the one I was most excited about because I’m such a hot sleeper. And Brooklyn Bedding’s Microcoil Mattress Topper did not disappoint. It’s made with a layer of microcoils that adapted to my every move (without disturbing my fiancé lying right next to me). The microcoils are sandwiched between two layers of foam that are very soft and sturdy.

Plus, the GlacioTex™ Cooling Cover regulates heat and works with the microcoils and open-celled foam layers to allow body heat to escape — it keeps the topper so breathable. This mattress topper just has win after win after win for hot sleepers who struggle to stay cool, even in winter (myself included!).

It seems that Helix understands body aches and pains because their ErgoAlign Mattress Topper with GlacioTex features two different firmness levels across three sections to ensure each part of your body finds the relief it needs. The top and bottom thirds are plush foam for relaxing pressure relief, and the middle third is a firmer, ultra-dense section to give your lumbar region the support it needs (plus it’s meant to prevent sagging or straining). 

My fiancé and I could definitely feel the difference between the sections! It’s also made with GlacioTex™ cooling fabric as the top layer that pulls heat away from your body — which we loved. Our mid-20-year-old bodies weirdly have constant aches and pains, so when we woke up without any soreness and with more energy to start the day, it was truly amazing.

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