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The Best Down Mattress Topper

Candace Osmond

Mattress toppers are designed to act as extra layers for the top of your mattress. They are a great solution in cases where a mattress seems to be either too firm or too soft for your own good, and it also serves as support in case your mattress feels a little worn out, but you lack the resources to buy a new one just yet. Just like in the case of a new mattress, it takes a little effort to understand what good toppers are all about, but that’s why we’re here today: to show you some of the best down mattress toppers that money can buy but also to teach you what makes a good topper.

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#1 

Allied Essentials Luxe Mattress Topper

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#2Pacific Coast Feather Company 42648 Euro Rest Quilted Top Feather Bed

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#3Pacific Coast Feather Luxe Loft Baffle Box Feather Bed

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#4Down Etc Down Feather Bed

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#5Natural Nights® 700 Goose Down Mattress Toppers

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Mattress Topper Materials

Just like with a mattress, a topper can be made from a variety of materials, and each of the one in the following list are more or less suitable for different kinds of sleepers. Mattress toppers are usually made from:

Memory foam

One of the most common materials used to make mattress toppers is memory foam. These are great when it comes to body conforming and can quickly take the shape of your body using the heat that comes out of it. They are amongst the best choices for sleepers looking to get some extra pressure relief. They have plenty of other qualities, such as zero noise output, excellent motion isolation, and comfort. However, memory foam is infamous for trapping body heat, so if your bedroom is warm or you know you’re a hot sleeper, you might want to avoid this material.

Convoluted polyfoam

This type of foam is easy to recognize because of its egg-crate shape. This type of foam shares a lot of the benefits that memory foam has to offer, including good motion isolation and no noise, being a great material for couples that share a bed. The cradling feeling offered by this type of foam is moderate but still does a really good job at isolating motion. Because of the thrifty design, convoluted foam mattress toppers are generally cheaper compared to memory foam ones, so they are a viable choice for people on a budget. They’re not as durable as other options.

Latex

Known for being a naturally cooling material, there are plenty of benefits to choosing a latex topper over other ones made from other materials. They are considered a luxury option as they don’t trap your body’s heat, they tend to be very durable, and offer a great deal of support. Latex mattress toppers will not conform as close as those made from memory foam, but they do manage to offer pressure relief to some extent. While latex mattress toppers are more expensive compared to some of the other options on the market, they make it easy to switch between sleeping positions because they are highly responsive.

Feathers/Down

Feather mattress toppers are usually filled with feathers, down, or a combination between the two. The fill typically comes from ducks, geese, or both, and the predominant material might change the way a topper feels. Feather toppers are a way to add more luxury to your mattress, but they don’t offer as much practical benefits as some of the other types of materials do. While they are not particularly great at offering pressure relief or support, feather and down mattress toppers are often chosen because they make the mattress softer and that’s why a lot of sleepers choose to buy them.

Fiber

Mattress toppers willed with fiber are also called “down alternative” toppers, and they are a great alternative for people that don’t want to invest in products made with natural down. They are great if you have feather or down allergies, and they are less expensive.

Wool

Toppers made with wool are pretty versatile and soft, so they will definitely provide you with a cozy sleeping experience. They offer temperature neutrality regardless of the seasons, and can wick away moisture which draws sweat away from your body in case you’re a hot sleeper. During the winter, a wool topper can provide great insulation and make you feel warm and cozy.

What to Consider Before Buying a Mattress Topper

When you’re looking to purchase a new mattress topper, regardless of whether we’re talking about a down topper or one that’s made with some other type of fill, it’s important to take the following factors into consideration:

  The thickness of the topper will usually vary between one and four inches, and the height chosen should take into consideration the surface of the mattress. For example, if you have a mattress that’s way too firm for your own good, then you want to choose a topper that’s thick enough to adjust the comfort level of your bed. Thinner toppers are better for situations in which minor changes are required.

  The density of the mattress topper is related to other performance features. For example, if you opt for a high-density memory foam topper, you will get the benefit of closer conforming and better edge support, but you will also sense stronger off-gassing and notice that the topper retains more heat compared to a low-density one.

  The firmness of the topper is also important, as some people choose softer toppers because their mattress is too firm or firmer toppers because their mattress feels too soft.

  The durability of a mattress topper is strongly related to the material that’s used in its construction. Latex, wool, and memory foam toppers are considered to be the most durable, but they will eventually sag in some time. Fiber and down toppers don’t have the same durability because the material loses its shape the more you sleep on it.

  The motion isolation feature of a topper is mostly important if you share the bed with a significant other. This feature shows you how well a material can absorb movement so that it’s barely noticeable for the other person sharing a bed with you. Latex and memory foam do a very good job in isolating motion, and feather and fiber toppers do too, but it’s minimal in comparison with the former two examples.

Is A Down Mattress Topper Right for You?

You might be wondering if you fit the sleeper profile that down toppers are meant to address, so here are some of the sleepers that might benefit the most from a down mattress topper:

  People who have to sleep on a mattress that’s too firm. Down toppers are excellent when it comes to soft surfaces to sleep on and they can definitely add that extra plush layer you’re craving for, making sleep a lot more comfortable since they provide more sinkage for the body parts that exert pressure on the surface of the bed.

  People who tend to sleep hot. Down and feather toppers don’t absorb body heat and don’t retain it either, which means that they are way cooler to sleep on compared to toppers made from memory foam, for instance.

  People who move the topper around a lot. If you have a hard time lifting heavy objects and want a topper that you can easily move from one bed to another or want to store away often, these toppers are excellent because they are lightweight and easy to maneuver.

It’s also important to note that a down mattress topper might not be the best choice for you if:

  You have known down or feather allergies. On top of that, down and feather beds are prone to attracting dust and microbes, and these are considered allergy triggers, so it’s best to avoid them.

  You want a more conforming topper. While soft and comfortable, the construction of a down mattress topper will never be able to conform to your body the same way a memory foam topper does, so if you’re looking to get that cradling sensation, this is definitely not the right topper for you.

Best Down Mattress Toppers

Allied Essentials Luxe Mattress Topper

When you’re looking for hotel-style comfort, a down mattress topper can go a long way of ensuring you every night is a like night on vacation. Available in sizes that range from Twin to Cal King, this topper offers a high-quality sleeping experience for those who usually sleep on a firm mattress and would like to have a softer surface to rest on at the end of the day. The first thing noticeable about this experience is the 100 percent cotton cover that surrounds the fill. With a thread count of 300, you know that you’re dealing with a tight weave that ensures the durability of the fabric, plus the breathability that are native to cotton fibers.

Meeting the Responsible Down Standard, the fill of this topper consists of down and goose feathers that pass through the company’s Durawash process to make them cleaner and less susceptible to allergy triggers. The topper comes with a stretch skirt to make it compatible with mattresses that measure up to 20 inches in height. The thickness of the topper is two inches.

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Pacific Coast Feather Company 42648 Euro Rest Quilted Top Feather Bed

We have two suggestions from the Pacific Coast Feather company, and the first one is a featherbed that’s designed to provide you with softness and comfort, just in case your current bed feels a little too firm. Measuring three inches in thickness, this topper comes with an allergen-free warranty that promises to make sure your allergies won’t be triggered and won’t cause you any discomfort in that regard.

This King-size topper is surrounded by a cover made entirely out of cotton and which looks to provide you with the softness and breathability that only cotton can offer. The fabric has a 230 thread count, indicating the tightness of the weave and the overall decent quality that ensures a pretty long lifespan. The Resilia feathers that are part of the fill are another quality indicator, just like the fact that we’re dealing with a product that is trusted by hotels on an international level.

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Pacific Coast Feather Luxe Loft Baffle Box Feather Bed

The second Pacific Coast Feather Bed we have in store for you today is another hypoallergenic solution for those of you that have your heart set on a down and feather bed but were worried about the breathing implications of choosing a product that’s known to trigger allergies. The cotton cover is something that down mattress topper manufacturers have accustomed us with, and this product makes no exception. Aside from getting the benefits that you already know cotton has to offer. The 230 thread count of this weave is another thing to look forward to, so rest assured that the cover of this topper is top-notch.

The design of the topper offers a baffle box design that’s looking to ensure even fill distribution whilst making sure that the topper is lofty at three inches thick. Much like the model we’ve looked at earlier, this one is also filled with Resilia feathers, promising cushioning for your shoulders and keeps. And, one of the best parts yet: you have 30 days to try it out and initiate a return if you don’t like it.

P.S. Did we mention this topper is machine washable?

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Down Etc Down Feather Bed

The Down Etc. Store has a down mattress topper to offer, one that measures 2.5 inches in thickness and is currently available in a Twin, Full, and Cal King version. The construction of this down feather bed offers pretty much what you’d expect considering the relatively low price. It offers a fill that combines 95 percent duck feathers, with the remainder of five percent being grey duck down. The baffle box construction, as we mentioned when reviewing one of the models before, is designed to keep the loft in place and provide you with a relatively fluffy surface to sleep on.

While the specifications mention that the fabric has a 235 thread count, it doesn’t mention what this fabric is, and that’s usually something we pay attention to because we want brands to be transparent in regard to what their products have to offer. Even so, considering the price, this is a really good option when you want to invest is a down and feather mattress topper.

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Natural Nights® 700 Goose Down Mattress Toppers

Some of you might argue that we saved the best for last, and they would be right. There are so many reasons why we added this particular mattress topper to the list of best down toppers. Even if the price is way spicier compared to that of other models we’ve looked at today, the quality of the materials used is undeniable. Available in a Twin, Queen, King, and Cal King size, this product is designed with natural certified organic goose down, which is good news for people with an interest in organic bedding products.

With a baffle box design, this topper has a 700 fill power, a measurement that’s often used to depict the insulation power and loft of down comforters. The fabric that makes the cover is unbleached long-staple Egyptian cotton, which says a lot about the quality of the fibers used in the construction of this topper.

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Conclusion

When you’re looking to invest in a new mattress topper, make sure you’re doing so for the right reasons. While it’s true that toppers can be life-savers in some situations, there are situations where buying a new mattress altogether might be a much better idea. Even if they are comfortable, down mattress toppers aren’t right for just any sleeper out there, so make sure that you carefully read the information written in the article to determine whether or not a down topper is the best choice for you.

Photo credit: ST Design Studio/Shutterstock; pen kanya/Shutterstock