FAQs - memory foam topper pad

FAQs On Our Memory Foam Mattress Topper Pads

The Healthy Foundations Topper Pad: all you ever wanted to know and more.

What makes this type of foam, memory foam, so special?
What are mattress topper pads and overlays?
Is 2" or 3" of this material enough to cushion my body and relieve pressure points?
Which topper should I get -- the 2" or the 3"?
Will your topper help alleviate my arthritis, relieve my back pain, reduce my tossing and turning, or just help me sleep better?
Is it any different than those eggcrate foam pads?
Does memory foam feel different than ordinary foam pads?
How long will it last?
Why should I buy your topper vs other memory foam toppers on the market?
Is the Healthy Foundations memory foam topper pad hot to sleep on?
Do our topper pads have a strong odor?
My bed is pretty old. Will the Healthy Foundations topper pad make it more comfortable?
Do you need to buy a cover with the topper?
Will my current sheets fit over my bed if I use an Healthy Foundations topper pad?
How does the Healthy Foundations topper pad compare to the overlays made by Tempur-Pedic ®?
How does the Healthy Foundations pad compare to the inexpensive memory foam pad I saw on television?

What makes this type of foam, memory foam, so special?
I get this question a lot, and it is such an important question that I've spun it off into its own section on the site - my Guide to Memory Foam. In it you will find sections on: a brief history of memory foam, what makes memory foam unique, not all memory foams are created equal, density - the real story, can I get by with just a topper or do I need a whole new mattress, and what thickness of topper you should look for.
Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
What are mattress topper pads and overlays?
Our topper pads and overlays are 2" thick and are made of a special therapeutic foam memory foam that goes right on top of your mattress. Our pads come in 2" and 3" thicknesses. I really prefer putting one of these pads on top of a standard mattress rather then buying a pillow top mattress. Unfortunately, most pillow tops use fairly inexpensive foams and other materials that compress fairly quickly. Then you are stuck - because the pillow top is attached to the bed and now it is compressed. But if you buy a topper like ours instead, you get a high quality cushioning layer - and all in all it will end up costing you less than the pillowtop. And years down the road, if your topper does need to be replaced, you can simply replace the topper with a new one rather than buying a whole new bed.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
Is 2" or 3" of this material enough to cushion my body and relieve pressure points?
I was skeptical too, at first, that a 2" or 3" pad could make much of a difference. But these topper pads and overlays are very different from ordinary foam pads. In the first place, a twin size weighs about 15 - 25 pounds and a queen around 25 - 35 pounds. That's because the material is 4 to 10 times denser than ordinary foams - so you get a lot more material in these pads than in an ordinary pad. In fact, to get the same amount of cushioning, you would need to have 8" - 15" of ordinary "eggcrate" padding. These visco-elastic pads were originally used in the medical industry, because they are very dense, serious pieces of comfort equipment. That's the reason we can give such outstanding warranties on our products (10 years for Healthy Foundations toppers).

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
Which topper should I get -- the 2" or the 3"?
This is a question a fair amount of people wrestle with - whether to get the 2 or 3 inch topper pad.

It's hard for any particular person to know if they would like a 2 or 3 inch. For some that just like a cushier feel, or their mattress is really firm, you'll probably like a 3 inch. Others just need a bit of cushion and don't want to want to feel they are sinking into their bed, and for them a 2 inch makes sense.

But for a lot of people, it's somewhere in the grey area between. So they aren't sure whether to get the 2 or 3 inch.

And I'll be honest; most people would probably like either one. The 2 inch works really well for most people. I probably sell 2 or 3 times as many of the 2 inch versus the 3 inch.

And in terms of reviews, 98% of the reviewers say they would recommend the topper to a friend regardless of which topper (2 or 3 inch) they chose.

So this is one of those products that just gets really good customer reviews. The return rate is 1 - 2%, which for a sight-unseen topper is just really low.

So, I think you'll be happy regardless with the 2 or the 3 inch.

But, again if you're bed is really firm you're going to feel like it's almost like sleeping on the floor. Then you're going to want to go to the 3 inch topper. Or if you like that soft cushy feel that's probably the option for you as well.

But the real way that I try to help people to make this determination is to give them this decision tree for picking a 2 or 3 inch topper pad that I have worked out.

And it seems to be helpful for most people since I don't get this question nearly as much as I used to before I made up this decision tree. So check it out, and I hopefully if you are still confused the decision tree will help you see which topper, the 2 or 3 inch, might work best for you.

One other thing I get asked from time to time is whether I offer a 4 inch topper. My opinion is that if your mattress feels so hard that you think you need a 4 inch topper, then maybe you should spend your money on getting a new mattress that's more comfortable to begin with rather than putting a band aid on your current one with a topper. I just think in this case you would probably come out better just getting a new mattress than spending money on a topper trying to fix something that just isn't going to work for you.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
Will your topper help alleviate my arthritis, relieve my back pain, reduce my tossing and turning, or just help me sleep better?
Nothing is a panacea, of course, but the vast majority of my customers have told me that these topper pads and overlays have helped them with their pain or sleep problems. Often they had tried other pads, such as "eggcrate" pads, without much relief. Finally, with these toppers, they tell me that they have been able to get some relief. I've been told by customers that they sleep longer, awaken fewer times during the night, and their backs hurt less. Others just like it because it's so comfortable. A few have even taken to packing their topper pads in duffel bags to take along on trips. The only way to know if either of these pads will work for you is to try one out on your own bed. That's why I offer a 365-day free trial period on Healthy Foundations topper pads. That way you can try one for yourself and then let me know how it works for you.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
Is it any different than those eggcrate foam pads?
Yes, it's very different. This type of foam is very dense - from 4 to 10 times denser than the ordinary eggcrate pads. This means much more cushioning for your body and a much longer life for your pad. You would need 4 - 10 times thicker eggcrate pads to equal the cushioning found in these pads - and probably a stepladder to get into bed once you put them all on top of your bed. The extra density of these pads is the reason that offer a 10-yearwarranty on all our topper pads. Compare that to a standard "eggcrate" pad which often starts to breakdown after just a short time. And this type of foam is the only foam that also molds to your body - to support it correctly and reduce painful pressure points. That is why this special foam, memory or visco-elastic foam, has been used in hospitals not only help prevent patients from getting bed sores but also to heal their bed sores. "Eggcrate" foam is an inexpensive way to try to make your bed more comfortable. But if you want to find a pad that will actually help ease your painful back and joints or help with sleep problems, the Healthy Foundations Topper is a much superior way to go and is very effective.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
Does memory foam feel different than ordinary foam pads?
Yes, this is one of the first things people notice. When you squeeze this type of foam, it feels so different - as though there were a gel in the foam. If you press your hand in the foam, it leaves an imprint that slowly disappears as the foam returns to its normal shape. And when you lie down on the foam, it molds to the curves of your body and cushions you in a very pleasant way. Some say it feels almost like you are floating on water. Back sleepers often tell me that they love how it fills in and supports the curve in their lower backs.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
How long does it last? Because this foam is so dense, it lasts for years. That is why all out topper pads come with a 10-yearmanufacturer's warranty. ( Click here for more information on the the topper pad warranties)

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
Why should I buy your topper vs other memory foam toppers on the market?
It's a fair question when you're comparing different types of toppers. There are so many different toppers out there and so many different prices. Some people tell me how great our prices are. Some people tell me that they are higher than other peoples. It's a confusing world out there so I'm going to try to help you understand why I think or what ours is, and how ours stacks up with others out there.

Now one of the things I think that's important first is that I didn't want to carry cheapest out there. Routinely, the cheapest ones are the ones from China. I did not want to do that. There may be some real good stuff from there, I don't know. But just with the quality control issues they've had with all sorts of different products and toys, and other health items that are made over there, shampoos or toothpaste, whatever, I'm not comfortable having my stuff manufactured over there.

That is one reason why our memory foam toppers are made of foam made in the US and that are Certipur-US certified. It is just very important to me that the toppers have the highest possible quality and materials used since people are sleeping on it.

And to me price wasn't as important as comfort and quality and making sure people are taken care of if there are any warranty issues and that type of thing.

I was okay with not being the cheapest. I wanted to be the best in those categories (comfort, quality, and backing up the product).

So, here's what I've always primarily focused on; comfort. And a long time ago when I came across a 4 lb density memory foam, I was really surprised because until then I was more familiar the 5 lb densities. Specifically Tempur TM Pedic's Tempur TM foam, and this 4 lb density was a softer, more elastic feel.

But what was surprising to me was that some people who had a Tempur-Pedic TM that I knew well, liked this 4 lb density, softer foam, even better.

For example, I have an aunt who had Tempur-Pedic TM at home and she got my topper pads for her vacation home. And she liked the feel of the topper pad better. I was shocked. Because I was so biased at that time.

But now after thousands and thousands of customers I have reversed my bias. I like the 4 lb, softer memory foam, much better for a topper pad that you are going to use to soften up your current mattress, give you some pressure relief.

The 4 lb memory foam we use in our toppers is supportive and comfortable, conforming.

So I've found that the 4 lb memory foam we use is kind of the sweet spot. First because it really does a good job conforming and cushioning you. And second with memory foam or with any foam product you are going to pay for density. So if you go to the higher densities you are going to pay more. And in my experience at the 4 lb is really where you get that comfort and you don't have to pay more for it.

So that's why I've always focused on the 4 lb and that's what always makes us different and why we only sell 4 lb memory foam.

And in terms of customer's responses, they seem to agree that this is the sweet spot . As I write this, we have about 100 reviews of our topper pad and 98% say they would recommend our topper to a friend.

Another thing that makes us different is you know we have this plethora of information in reviews so you can see for yourself if it might help you with whatever issue you are having with your mattress. Hopefully, if you read over some of the reviews, you really get a sense of whether the topper will work well for you or not. And the reviews are not biased, can't be edited. So I think that's one reason we have a real low return (only 1 - 2% of our customers return their toppers). And that makes us different as well.

Another difference is that we only carry the toppers in a couple of thicknesses - 2 inch and 3 inch options. Why? For most people the 2 inch works well. For some people who have a harder bed or just like a cushier feel or are bigger people go for the 3 inch.

But in general having those limited options seems to make it much easier for people to get the topper pad that will work for them.

My opinion is that if you really think you need a 4 inch topper, then your mattress is way too firm and you probably need a new mattress instead of a topper. You should save your money, don't get the topper, get the new mattress.

Now in terms of why we offer it with and without the cover, it's another thing that makes us different. I didn't want people to always have to pay for a cover and to spend more that way. I would rather have the money going into a good topper pad, the good quality topper. And since most people already have an existing mattress pad they can put the topper under, you can save some money by just buying the topper without a cover.

In terms of the cover we carry it is also different. Since most folks already have a mattress pad, I didn't want to just offer something they already had. Instead, the Protect-a-bed Premium mattress cover we offer is really for folks concerned about spills, liquids, or some allergy issues.

The Protect-a-bed cover has a breathable membrane, so it works well with the topper pad.
So those two options again make us different. You can pick and choose most people who get just the topper. Maybe 1 out of 3 people get the cover with it. So you can save some money that way and still put your money towards the quality topper pad. Another thing we do differently than other companies is that we don't compress the topper and put it into a box till we are shipping out an order.

The concern is that the longer a topper sits in a box compressed, the more this might affect the quality of the topper (coming back to its full height, not having compressed areas, etc).

I've heard people complain about ones they get from other places that had been warehoused for a period of time could have edges that were not coming back from compression.

Also, we don't roll our toppers nearly as tightly as they do for stuff in department stores or other retail stores. They have limited shelf space and they have to try to get those down into small packages.

For us we're just trying to stay under a certain standard for oversize shipping, so I've had them expand our packaging so that they're not as compressed.

The result is that we had almost no issues with the toppers being damaged or coming back to their full height. Which is really great, since there is nothing worse than waiting for the topper for a week or so and having a problem with its quality once you open it up.

Lastly, what obviously distinguishes us is our 1 year money-back trial. First because it's so long. But also because we don't make it hard to return a topper. A lot of these companies will have return policies but they say things like 'like new', 'in original packing materials'. All these requirements to make it extremely hard to return things.

In contrast, we don't have any of these kind of requirements. We only ask that you ship it back to us if you want to return it (the only cost on the return is the return shipping cost, no restocking fees, etc).

And we've gone to something even more recently that makes it even easier and there's no expense associated with the return.

Now this is just for you all who are reading this, I am not putting this on the topper page on the site because I am concerned people would take advantage. Our regular return policy is that we require people to ship it back to our the warehouse in Georgia. And this can be an expensive proposition unfortunately since the toppers are bulky. For the larger toppers, queens and kings, it can cost upwards of $40 - $50 and more to ship them back.
I thought that spending this kind of money on a return is ridiculous, and I hated the
topper just being discarded and going to waste.

So I now went to allowing people to make a charitable contribution of their topper pad to a local charity. There is a slight hassle involved. I understand by getting it into your car and taking it over there. But once you fax or email us the copy of the receipt we refund you the full purchase price and you haven't had to spend the money shipping it back to us.

And people really like that somebody else gets use of it. It stays out of a landfill, so it's really nice to do a charitable contribution.

So far I don't think it's been something people are taking advantage of and people seem to be appreciative of that option. So they can try it and donate it to a charity if doesn't work out. So I think that makes us very different as well.

And lastly, another things that is different about us is that we are very customer service oriented. If you contact us, I get back to you quickly personally, and I make sure your concerns are taken care of. So you aren't dealing with some random customer service person. You get my attention, and I will make sure you are taken care of.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
Is the Healthy Foundations memory foam topper pad hot to sleep on?
Foam, in general, is hotter to sleep on than cotton. But the our memory foam has small holes in its cells that allows heat to dissipate. The result is that memory foam tends to sleep a bit hotter than cotton but less hot than standard closed cell foam.
For most people who keep their houses at a comfortable temperature year round, our memory foam pad seems to be comfortable. Most people, if they do feel warmer on it, just adjust the amount of covers they use so they are comfortable.

In terms of feedback from customers, I rarely hear any negative comments about the topper sleeping hot and almost no returns.

I do think this may be an issue for people in warmer areas of the country or who keep their bedrooms at warmer temperatures.

But again, what I hear from most people is that they simply adjust the amount of covers they use and this takes care of any issue and they feel comfortable on the topper.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
Do our topper pads have a strong odor?
Another question I get a fair amount is whether topper pads have a strong odor.

And while I know the concern for this is fairly high since I get this question a fair amount, in reality I almost never get a complaint about the topper having an odor.

By almost never I mean I may get a complaint about this once every year or two.

I attribute this to the particular memory foam we use and perhaps because it is Certipur-US certified (so it is tested at having very low VOCs, which is why this particular memory foam has almost no odor while others have a strong odor).

About the worst I hear or see in the reviews is that people air out the topper a day or two if they find it has a minimal odor at first, and this takes care of it.

So while I understand this has been an issue for other memory foams, it just hasn't been a problem for the particular memory foam we use in our toppers.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
My bed is pretty old. Will the Healthy Foundations topper pad make it more comfortable? It depends on the problem you are having with your bed. If your bed is still "O.K.", just a bit hard, then our topper pad will probably do the job and make it much more comfortable. However, if your bed is getting soft and mushy, then you should probably look into getting a new bed first and then see if you still feel you need the topper.
Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
Do you need to buy a cover with the topper?
I get asked a fair amount whether you need to get the protective cover to go along with the topper pad.

For most people it's really not something that you need to get. We probably get 1 out of 3 people to get the topper with protective cover. Most just buy the topper on its own and use it under their existing thin quilted mattress pad.

And using it under the quilted mattress pad you already have works fine for most people. This sort of quilted mattress pad is not going to change the feel of memory foam as long as it's a thin pad. If it is, you will still get the feel of the memory foam through the pad.

And it just save you some money, you don't have to spend it on a new cover.

The Protect-a-Bed Mattress Protector that we sell as an add on to the topper pad is something I added as an option because I had certain amount of people that really had an issue they were concerned about spills, liquids, or allergy issues.

The Protect-a-Bed Mattress Protector works well with a memory foam topper since it has membrane built into it that protects against liquids but it is also breathable. So it protects but also allows air into the topper so it doesn't interfere with how the topper works or feels.

So it helps with liquids and spills - it's going to be liquid resistant - but it doesn't make you hot like an older typical plastic covering would.

Also, because of the tight weave of the Protect-a-Bed Mattress Protector, they manufacturer also says it may have some benefit for certain allergy issues.

I get very few Protect-a-Bed Mattress Protectors back, so it seems like people really like them. The few people that I've heard any negative comments is that because the membrane has a bit of a kind of stiffer feel to it, and so some people tell me it's a little bit of a rustling sound. But again I get perhaps 2 complaints in a year, so it hardly ever comes up.

So for the most part people really like it. You do have to be sure to launder it according to the directions to make sure it maintains its integrity. If you dry it too hot it can damage the fabric or the membrane. So you just need to be careful to follow the laundering instructions.

But again, unless you are concerned about spills or liquids or have allergy issues, then you can just get the topper by itself and use it under your existing thin quilted mattress pad.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
Will my current sheets fit over my bed if I use a topper pad?
It really depends on how thick your bed is and how deep your sheets are. If your sheets are really snug now, you may have to buy deeper sheets. They are generally available at linen stores and department stores. However if you have some room to begin with, your sheets may be just fine. In fact, most people tell me that they are able to continue using their current sheets. For those who can't, and want to try the topper pad first before they invest in new sheets, I suggest placing an extra sheet just around the topper pad or overlay and then placing it on top of your mattress as it is. That way you can at least try one without having this additional expense.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
How does the Healthy Foundations topper pad compare to the overlays made by Tempur-Pedic ®? The initial difference that most people notice is that Healthy Foundations toppers pads, as well as the pads without a cover, are a fraction of the cost of the more expensive memory foam overlays made by Tempur-Pedic ®. There is some reason for the price difference in the thickness and density of the pads. The memory foam pads made by Tempur-Pedic ® are an inch thicker (3" vs. 2") and a bit denser (a cubic foot of the memory foam material made by the Tempur-Pedic ®, that is a cube of this foam, one foot on each side, weighs about 5.35 pounds, while a cubic foot of our memory foam weighs about 4 pounds). Note: ordinary foam pads often weigh from 1/2 to 1 pound per cubic foot, making these visco-elastic foams a truly different class of foam products. I should say that some stores do carry a thinner Tempur-Pedic ® pad, but I use their 3" pad for comparison because this is the thickness they use in their mattress.

In terms of feel, the memory foam made by the Tempur-Pedic ® is also a bit stiffer initially, which may make it a better product for those who need extra support, e.g. those with serious back conditions or pain issues. The memory foam made by Tempur-Pedic ® is also much more temperature sensitive - this means it becomes stiffer when the weather is cold or when the humidity is low. Turning over can also be a bit more difficult for some older people since the memory foam made by the Tempur-Pedic ® pad may remain stiffer around your body. I've found that the Healthy Foundations foam is more user-friendly - as the texture stays basically the same at a wider variety of temperatures and people have no problem turning over or getting used to it.

So what's the bottom line? I know people who love both types of this memory foam. They both seem to do the job in terms of reducing pressure, alleviating common back or joint pain, and allowing for a more comfortable, and deeper sleep. Since the price difference is so great, many of my customers who are simply looking for greater sleep comfort try the Healthy Foundations topper pad and find that does the trick. Other customers who have serious back problems, who are bedridden, or who just enjoy the feel of the memory foam made by the Tempur-Pedic ® may instead choose to go with the more expensive memory foam made by the Tempur-Pedic ®.

Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page
How does the Healthy Foundations pad compare to the inexpensive memory foam pad I saw on television?
Recently, I have seen a very inexpensive memory foam pad advertised on television, magazines, etc. It is very difficult to compare these pads to the Healthy Foundations topper pad since they come in so many densities, thicknesses, and cuts (cut flat like our pad, cut in an eggcrate cut, or cut in a zone pattern). Many of these pads aren't as dense as our pad, and this can make a big difference in comfort and durability. And what is worse, many of these less dense pads actually cost more (the cost of advertising really drives up the costs of these lower quality pads). Further, I really believe that a flat cut pad is preferable to a zone cut or eggcrate cut pad. Memory foam is naturally conforming and pressure relieving, and there is just no need for an eggcrate or zone cut (whose sole purpose is to soften certain areas of foam).
Given these considerations, I would caution you about buying a memory foam pad that is very inexpensive. You really do get what you pay for when you buy memory foam, and less costly pads are almost always lower density pads. You may also want to stay away from eggcrate or cut memory foam pads - you will get more value from a comparably priced flat cut pad since it will have more memory foam, and usually at a higher quality. That leaves you with flat topper pads, and I really believe our pads are of a very high quality memory foam and are at the sweet spot at 4 lb density. Lower densities just don't give you the same memory feel, and a 4 lb density does give you the comfort and pressure relief you look for in memory foam at a much more affordable price than higher density pads. I believe so strongly in the quality and value of our pads that I offer a 365-day money-back trial on all our pads. This gives you the opportunity to see for yourself if the pad really will work for you - and this is the real bottom line.
Click Here to Go to Our Topper Pad Information and Ordering Page

What People Are Saying About Our Memory Foam Mattresses And Toppers:

"It's even better than we expected"

"My husband and I are thrilled with our Healthy Foundations mattress. We have had it through the winter and summer and find it perfectly comfortable in both hot and cold weather. We were afraid that the memory foam would be warm in the summer but that hasn't been the case at all. My husband has had severe back problems, to the extent that he was seeing a pain doctor and having back injections. I have suffered with hip pain for almost two years. My husband recently commented that he hasn't had back pain since we got our new mattress. My hip pain has also improved greatly. We are both so happy we found Healthy Foundation because we were not willing to pay the price to get a Tempur-pedic or Sleep Number Bed. We couldn't be happier with our decision."

Rose, Neenah, WI
August 5, 2015

"Superior To The Tempurpedic"

"We slept on a Tempurpedic mattress for years but were put off by the price it came time to replace it. The Memory Foam web presentation was informative and persuasive, so we switched. We've had the Memory Foam for three or four months, and it is superior to the Tempurpedic."

Craig, Cornwall Bridge, CT
August 8, 2015

"No more Back Pain!"

"We are very happy with our Healthy Foundations Mattress. We have tried several mattresses and this is the only one that eliminated waking up with a stiff/sore back or sore arms. Great purchase!"

Sleeping Well, MD
July 7, 2015

"I Love My Topper."

"I love the way it turned my too hard mattress into a comfortable place to be. For me it is especially helpful for joint areas. I couldn't live without it."

Dixie, Austin, TX
February 5, 2015