Modern mattress toppers come with many different and variable fillings. These fillings vary, both in their price and the properties that they confer upon the sleeping surface.
Originally nearly all toppers would be filled with feathers and down, usually sourced from ducks or geese. Organic wool is another naturally sourced topper filler and, although it has a unique and unusual feel, it is popular with many people.
One of the more recent developments in mattress and consequently topper construction is the use of some new synthetic and semi-synthetic filling materials. The most prominent of which is visco elastic memory foam.
The memory foam fillers are very different to the traditional organic fillers in that they compress and shape themselves around the body in a very unique manner. They also offer what is often described as “a slow recovery” reaction when the weight of a person is removed from them. This unusual action does not see the foam spring back into its original shape like a normal foam, but rather return to its original outline, almost in slow motion.
One of the important advantages of this special foam is the way in which it shapes and cradles itself around the distinctive shape of anyone resting upon it. This body-moulding behaviour is said to help keep the back and spine in a good straight alignment during the night which produces better and more restful sleep.
Memory foam mattresses use large sections or sheets of memory foam, whilst mattress toppers can use either thin sheets or a granulated or shredded version of the material. It is generally believed that a least two and a half (and ideally three) inches of memory foam are required for a good topper.
Memory foam is not the only alternative to the organic fillers. Other options include regular foam and latex foam. Latex foam can come in sheet or shredded composition and has a similar feel to its visco elastic counterpart. The big, or at least the most noticeable difference is in the way in which the foam recovers after the weight has been removed from it. Latex has an instant springiness and this gives it a very different feel to memory foam. It is also said to feel cooler than memory foam and the other organic fillers.
As with visoc elastic foam, latex foam toppers should have a good two and a half inches in depth. Both of these foams are none washable, however they usually come with a removable cover that can be machine washed for convenience. These foams do not harbour smells or germs, so they are ideal for those who suffer from allergies, i.e. they are hypoallergenic.
