5 signs you should buy a topper, not a mattress, in the Cyber Monday sales
It's an excellent time to be buying a new mattress, although by now you're cutting it fine if you're set on a bargain bed. However if you've been forced into the position of finding the best Cyber Monday mattress deals because your old mattress is showing its age, but on the whole you'd really rather not spend a load of money on a new mattress right now, there's another option.
In many cases you could save money by instead choosing one of the best mattress toppers to give your old bed a new lease of life. There are some great deals around right now, and the bottom line is that you could find yourself sleeping soundly again without the worry of having spent hundred (or even thousands) of dollars on one of the best mattresses.
I've been writing about mattresses and learning about the mattress business for the past few years, and I can tell you that a good topper can be an effective and relatively inexpensive alternative to ditching your old mattress for a new one; in some cases it's actually a better option. The trick is knowing when buying a topper will see you right, and when you're going to have to bite the bullet and get a new mattress.
Below are some of the best Cyber Monday deals on mattress toppers; after that I'll talk you through the signs that it's a topper, not a mattress, that you should be shopping for:
The best cyber monday topper deals - US
Bear Pro topper: was $245 now from $160 at Bear
Not all bed brands have included their topper in their Cyber Monday mattress deals, but Bear has – there's 35% off with code BLACKFRIDAY. The Pro is a plush memory foam topper that's designed to provide pressure point relief so side and combi sleepers. It's infused with copper for cooling, and comes with free shipping and returns. View Deal
Allswell 3" memory foam topper: from $78 at Walmart
Allswell is one of our favorite budget bed brands, and its topper is a bargain this Cyber Monday, with a queen size available for just $108. This memory foam topper is infused with graphite to prevent overheating, and while it's basically a thick sheet of foam you'll want to cover with a mattress protector or similar, it's a quick way to add softness to a too-firm mattress. View Deal
Tuft & Needle mattress topper: was $200 now from $144 at Amazon
The Tuft & Needle Mattress Topper is designed to add softness and pressure relief to a too-firm bed – perhaps for side sleepers looking for a little extra give around the shoulders and hips. At 2" thick, it's one of the thinner options around, which is good if you don't want something too cumbersome (or anything that'll require extra-deep sheets). Silicone beading keeps this in place, so you don't need to fiddle around with straps. It's also on sale at Tuft & Needle, but prices are lower at Amazon. View Deal
Avocado Eco Organic mattress topper: was $199 now from $180 at Avocado Green
Avocado makes some of the best organic mattresses around, but they don't come cheap. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly way to mimic that sleep feel, try one of this brand's toppers. This new addition is made with 2" of certified organic latex, for a weightless sleep feel, as well as organic cotton. Because it's Avocado, you can expect top quality. There's 10% off sitewide for Cyber Monday with code HOLIDAY. This is the best Avocado Green mattress sale we ever see. View Deal
Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt topper: was $319 now from $191.40 at Tempur-Pedic
Tempur beds have a unique sleep feel that'll meld around your body and provide unparalleled pressure relief on your joints. They cost a small fortune through, so it's no surprise that Tempur-Pedic toppers are so popular. For Cyber Monday, this topper has a 40% discount, which matches the best discount we ever see, and is well worth taking advantage of.View Deal
The best cyber monday topper deals - UK
Panda Bamboo Mattress Topper: was £169.96 now from £84.96 at Panda London
Panda's Bamboo Mattress Topper is a really straightforward option, featuring a single layer of Panda's third-generation gel-infused memory foam that conforms to your body shape and helps regulate temperature while you sleep, all wrapped up in a breathable, hypoallergenic bamboo and polyester cover. In the Panda Cyber Monday sale there's 15% off, making it the cheapest option listed here; a double will cost you £118.96.View Deal
Simba Hybrid Essential Topper: was £229 now from £148.85 at Simba Sleep
The Simba Hybrid Essential Topper isn't your average topper. Between its foam layers it features a layer of Simba's tiny Airocoil springs; up to 1,500 off them, making the topper more responsive and providing airflow to keep temperatures down. It's also 100% recyclable and comes with a 200-night trial, and while it's not a cheap topper, with 35% off it's a lot more affordable. A double will cost you £181.35 in Simba's Cyber Monday sale.View Deal
Emma Flip Topper: was £149 now from £104.30 at Emma Sleep
As the name of the Emma Flip Topper suggests, it's designed to be turned over if needed, and because it has a softer side and a firmer side, it's able to cater for more sleeping styles than the average topper. In Emma's Cyber Monday sale there's 30% off the Flip Topper; that'll get you a double for £160.30, which is a great price for such a versatile topper as it's not always discounted.View Deal
Otty Bamboo Mattress Topper With Charcoal: was £179.99 now from £89.99 at Otty
Otty's Bamboo Mattress Topper with Charcoal is 5cm deep and Otty rates it a 5.5 on the firmness scale, so it's just the thing for tweaking the feel of a too-firm bed. It's breathable and it absorbs moisture and odours, helping you to maintain a fresh sleeping environment, and there's an anti-slip base. With 50% off in the Otty Cyber Monday sale, this topper will cost you £124.99 in a double size.View Deal
5 signs you should buy a mattress topper
1. Your current mattress doesn't feel quite right
We should all know by now that it takes a while for our bodies to adjust to the feel of a mattress - that's why most of the top sleep brands offer lengthy sleep trials. Conversely, though, you might find that your mattress feels just right at first and then, as time goes on, notice that the 'new mattress' feel has worn off and it just doesn't seem as comfortable to you.
In this situation there's nothing wrong with the mattress itself; it just doesn't feel quite right to you, and that means that a topper should be all you need to get that new mattress feel back.
2. You're getting too hot in the night
Even some of the best mattresses have a tendency to get a bit warm in the night, and yes, I'm looking specifically at the ones with a load of memory foam in them. Memory foam's a terror for trapping heat, and the nearer it is to the top of your mattress, the more likely it is you'll feel the effects.
Choosing a specifically cooling topper, or instead a topper with a filling that isn't foam - such as latex, wool or even microfiber - can help prevent you overheating at night. It's worth noting, though, that it'll also reduce the sink-in feel that you get from memory foam, which could be a downside for many.
3. You've started waking up with aches and pains
If you've been sleeping soundly on your current mattress for a while but recently started waking up with aches and pains, well, I hear you. The same thing happened to me, and while the mattress itself was still in good condition I'd got a bit older, and its firm sleep surface wasn't as right for me as it previously had been. A slim memory foam topper made just enough difference for me to stick with a perfectly good mattress for quite a while, with fewer aches and pains in the morning.
4. You're more aware of the springs in your mattress
Nothing lasts forever, and if you've been sleeping on a hybrid mattress for a few years, the foam layers could be starting to wear a little thin, especially if you've neglected to rotate your mattress every few months. If that's the case, then there may be areas of the bed where you're aware of the feel of springs, which is just the thing to spoil your sleep.
As long as the springs are still properly contained within the mattress though, this is another situation in which a mattress topper is an easy fix; not only will it stop you feeling the springs, it'll also give your bed a refreshed feel in general.
5. You're really short on budget
There are some good cheap mattresses out there, but honestly, the less you pay for a mattress, the less likely it is to give you a comfortable night's sleep for the next few years. Many of the cheap mattresses we see are best suited to a spare bed, as they have just enough cushioning and strong enough springs for occasional use, but after sleeping on them every night for an extended period you'll find that they become a lot less comfortable.
If your old mattress is past its prime but you only have the budget right now for a cheap replacement, it's likely that a quality topper would be the more sensible alternative. It'll improve the feel of your bed and things should stay good for another few years; likely longer than it'll take for the performance of a cheap mattress to fall off a cliff.
