Protect-A-Bed Cooling Mattress Pad Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector Review

• Review
• Specs
• Comments

Your bed may be cozy and comfortable now, but is it well-protected? Protection comes in many forms: waterproof, allergen-resistant, and stain-resistant. The Protect-A-Bed Cooling Mattress Pad Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector promises all three types of protection. There’s more to a mattress protector than that though. You want to make sure it will fit your bed, feel comfortable under your sheets, and do what it says it will do. This review will give you a good idea of what to expect when you buy this bed protector.

 

Protect A Bed Cooling Protector Specs

Materials: Polyester, Polyurethane laminate, Polypropylene

Dimensions: 60″ w x 80″ l x 22″ d (Queen)

Weight: 2 lbs.

Machine Washable: Yes

Waterproof: Yes

Warranty: 10 years

Size: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split California King

How is the Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector Different?

When mattress protectors were first created, they weren’t exactly comfortable or quiet. They served one purpose: to protect your bed. They were often made out of plastic, which can repel liquids and stains easily. But sleeping on a sheet of plastic – even if you had the softest, most luxurious sheets on top – is uncomfortable, hot and can be noisy. Over time, bed protectors have improved but they still added a layer between your body and the mattress, which means heat gets trapped and then reflected back to you. By then, you’ll likely wake up a sweaty mess. Having a cooling mattress protector is even more necessary with other common memory foam and latex mattresses. Plus, a bed protector is sort of a must to keep your bed warranty intact – no warranty will let even a small stain slide.

The Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector offers all the protection you’ll need to keep the stains at bay and prevent any moisture from seeping into your bed. It’s made mostly of polyester, which can keep dust mites and other allergens away from your bed. The quilted top offers a bit of loft, which makes your bed a bit softer and more comfortable.

Plus, this bed protector won’t make those annoying crinkly sounds like other older protectors do – so you won’t feel like you’re sleeping on a shower curtain or packing materials. And perhaps the best part and the biggest selling point is the cooling effect that the “Nordic” fabric on top offers. Most bed protectors don’t put as much importance on your personal comfort when it comes to temperature.

My Protect-A-Bed Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector

When I received my Protect-A-Bed Therm-A-Sleep Snow mattress protector, I was impressed with the neat, clean packaging. Once I unwrapped the cover, I expected a bit of a smell but didn’t notice one at all. The feel of this bed protector was soft and fluffy, but it didn’t seem like it would add too much bulk to my bed.

 

• 7 standard sizes
• Rated FDA Class 1 medical device
• Waterproof
• No crinkly noise
• Deep corner pockets for snug fit
• Soft surface
• Includes long warranty
• May shift on your mattress

Goes on Easy

I immediately stripped my bed of its sheets and slipped the cooling protector on my bed. It went on easily, thanks to the elasticized corners. The cover is 22 inches deep, which means it should fit any bed thickness – even if you have a mattress topper.

Feels Good

When I rubbed the cooling protector between my fingers, I could feel the waterproof liner in this cover but it made almost no sound. If anything, it just sounds like fabric rubbing against fabric.

Washes Well

I was happy to see that it’s machine washable at any temperature. Although the polyester, polyurethane, and polypropylene materials are all allergen and bug-resistant, I prefer to wash all my beddings in hot water – just in case anything needs to be killed off. I did this and never found any major difference after slipping it back on my bed. It was a little more snug, but it still fit great.

Slips a Little

After sleeping with this cooling protector on, I did notice that it slipped a little on my bed. It may do that to beds that don’t have high profiles (about 10 inches thick). I tried putting this on my guest bed, which is my old 14-inch high mattress, and the protector fit more snugly. If you buy this protector, you also might want to purchase some nifty suspenders to keep the protector from slipping around on your bed.

Things to Note

Because of the design of this cooling protector, your bed won’t be totally protected from dust mites, mold and other nasty things. The cover doesn’t fully encase your bed, so the bottom of your bed is still exposed. If you’re sleeping on a latex or memory foam mattress, you won’t have to worry much. However, if you’re still rocking an old-fashioned innerspring bed, your mattress is still vulnerable to dust mites making a home out of your mattress and box spring. If you want something that fully encases your mattress, take a look at our mattress encasement reviews.

Features & Benefits

Let’s take a look at all the features of this cooling protector and its benefits beyond what I’ve told you about my own experience. This is what the Protect-A-Bed manufacturer is promising you and me with its Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector.

“Nordic Chill”

Protect-A-Bed calls its Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector fabric that lays on top of the bed protector “Nordic Chill” fabric. The materials are about a half-and-half blend of Polypropylene and polyester. What that means is that it’s basically a plastic fabric. This material is often used in carpet, ropes, and even thermal underwear. It’s non-flammable, but it will melt at high temperatures, like polyester.
Perhaps one of the reasons these materials are used for the top of the mattress protector is because when woven, they’re soft, but they also maintain the properties of the plastic, which is to wick sweat and moisture away from whatever it’s making contact with. This is why the mattress protector feels cool to the touch.

Spill Test

Applying residue for a test
4 hours after

Like most of our spill tests here at The Sleep Judge, I got some water and added a bit of colorant to it, so it would show up in the images. I poured it on the protector (with a towel underneath, of course) and let it sit all day long. I came back to check on it periodically, and take notes at 10 minutes, 2 hours, then 4, 6, and finally 8 hours. Each time, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it had barely set into the fabric. When I pulled up the protector, I found the towel to be bone dry. I would say this mattress protector lived up to its hype and passed this spill test.

8 hours after

“Miracle Membrane”

Waterproof mattress covers and protectors have improved so much over the years, and the Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector is no exception. The waterproof barrier, which Protect-A-Bed dubbed the “Miracle Membrane” is thin but effective. It helps protect against any dust mites or allergens getting into the fibers and setting up shop to make you sneeze or feel congested.
The protection from this layer also extends to moisture from sweat, incontinence, or spills. Perhaps one of the best benefits of this feature is that it’s so quiet. Unlike mattress protectors from days past, this one doesn’t make that awful crinkling sound with each movement you make in bed.

Snug Fit

Some mattress protectors and even some fitted sheets don’t quite fit modern mattresses. The Therm-A-Sleep line of mattress protectors, including the Snow model, is 22 inches deep, so you can be sure it’ll fit from corner to corner on your bed. The elasticized corners snap into place on your mattress, and they should stay put.

 

FDA Class 1 Medical Device

This feature may not matter to you, but to those it does, this is an important distinction. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies some products as medical devices and then assigns them to categories based on the risks associated with them. In the case of the Protect-A-Bed Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector, it is classified as a Class 1 Medical Device. It’s considered low-risk and does not require FDA approval before use.

If you have a family member who is sensitive to materials, allergens, or particulates, then you don’t have to worry about them using this product. For example, if you’re a caretaker of someone who suffers from incontinence or who is bedridden, this would be a good mattress protector to use.

10-Year Warranty

You use a mattress protector to extend the life of your mattress and to keep your mattress’ warranty valid, but it’s good to know that that protection is also protected. The Protect-A-Bed Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector is backed by a 10-year warranty. You’ll have to register the mattress protector because will mean faster response if you ever have to make a warranty claim. Be sure to keep your original receipt!

As long as you follow all of Protect-A-Bed’s instructions on the use and care of this protector, such as not using bleach on it, you should be able to get a replacement if anything goes wrong. The 10-year warranty covers any defects in product or workmanship, so the company will replace it if defects are present.

Consumer Feedback

The Therm-A-Sleep line of protectors isn’t brand new, but the Snow model does seem to be the latest in this series from Protect-A-Bed. That means there aren’t too many reviews out there yet for this mattress protector. Here’s what people are saying, so far, about the Therm-A-Sleep protectors, though.

The pockets of this mattress protector are deep enough to handle any mattress size, and those who have purchased it have had no issues with its fitting. Some users even stretched it to fit over their mattress and foundation (not suggested, though). The open design means it may slide on your bed if you’re an active sleeper, so some buyers have also purchased bed suspender straps to keep it in place. When this mattress protector is used to protect against spills, accidents, and sweat, it works well, according to those who’ve purchased it. Their mattresses were appropriately dry and stain-free. However, the open design of this mattress protector – which doesn’t completely cover your mattress – means your bed isn’t totally protected from dust mites and other allergens, but it should still resist them.

This may be the area in which most consumers are the most unsatisfied. One buyer said their protector started coming apart at the seams after only three months of use. Perhaps it was a defective unit, though, which means it could be covered under Protect-A-Bed’s 10-year warranty. Overall, though, most buyers say the Protect-A-Bed products they’ve purchased before have outlasted their warranty. Those who have purchased the Protect-A-Bed Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector and had something to say about the comfort were happy with the results. The top is soft and plush, which doesn’t interfere with the comfort of their mattress, and only adds to the comfort.

Reviewers who have tried out the Therm-A-Sleep line of mattress protectors make it clear that these toppers aren’t like having mini air conditioners in bed with you. Yes, it’s cooler to the touch, and you may notice a cooler sleep, but you shouldn’t have your expectations too high. Still, there are others who said they slept warmer because of the added waterproofed layer. So, it may come down to personal experience. More than anything, it seemed buyers were surprised by how quiet this mattress protector is. Whether you sit, toss, turn, or tug on the Therm-A-Sleep mattress protector, it doesn’t make that familiar crinkling sound that other protectors do. It makes a big difference in the quality of life. And even with frequent washings, the mattress protector never developed a noisy sound.

Conclusion

A mattress protector is kind of a necessary purchase. Waterproof mattress protectors can help extend the life of your mattress and the validity of your mattress warranty. The Protect-A-Bed Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector ensures your mattress stays stain-free, and it keeps you cooler when you sleep than using a traditional mattress protector. The top of this mattress protector is quilted and offers a softness I don’t recall standard mattress protectors having. The fit was snug on my thicker mattress but needed a bed suspender to keep from shifting on my lower-profile bed. It also remained as quiet as my soft sheets, which was a welcome surprise.

To me, the Therm-A-Sleep Snow Protector feels much cooler to the touch than other materials, and I slept comfortably on it, so it seems to actually wick away moisture and not reflect it back to my body as I slept. Better than anything I tried, it’s a mattress protector that is truly waterproof. It won’t transfer any liquids or sweat to your mattress, which is the main reason to buy a mattress protector.