Which mattress gel topper is right for you? Find the right topper with this comprehensive buying guide & top recommendations.
Gel toppers are a very easy and quick way to make your existing mattress more comfortable.
- The toppers are very narrow mattresses made of an elastic gel that you can place on top of the actual mattress.
- The pads can be combined with all mattresses and are suitable for all types of sleep.
- When buying, pay attention to the volume weight, which is decisive for the quality.
By the way, doctors recommend gel toppers especially to people with chronic back problems. But the pad also offers you many great advantages without pain.
I will explain everything you have to consider before buying and whether a topper is also suitable for you.
These are my personal favorites from the comparison:
You will find all the details and these other topics in this article:
Index
What is a gel topper?
A gel topper is a very narrow “mattress” made of viscoelastic gel compared to normal mattresses, which you can place on your normal mattress.
- The pad adapts to your body better than ordinary mattresses. This will relieve your spine at night and prevent back pain .
- With the topper you lie higher and have greater sleeping comfort.
Most gel toppers are temperature-neutral, suitable for allergy sufferers and antibacterial.
They are also very flexible and can be combined with all common mattress types – from classic Bonell spring core mattresses to mattresses made of latex or cold foam.
Features & benefits
Gel toppers offer you many advantages in combination with a normal mattress.
Regardless of whether you sweat a lot or freeze, the topper adapts to your circumstances and helps you to equalize the temperature:
- Sweat is removed quickly and reliably.
- The pad also stores your body heat and keeps you warm on colder nights.
The visco-elastic surface adapts perfectly to your body and promotes a straight spine, which prevents back pain.
Note: Doctors also recommend gel mattress toppers as a useful support for back or shoulder pain .
In addition, they are very handy and easy to transport.
You can also use the pad on a sofa bed. After use, you can simply roll up the topper and store it in the storage space of the sofa bed, for example.
Overall, you will lie softer with a gel topper and promote a peaceful night’s sleep .
You get many models relatively inexpensive compared to completely new mattresses made of cold foam or latex. Simply add the pad to your existing mattress to significantly increase your comfort.
Who is a gel topper suitable for?
Gel toppers increase sleeping comfort and are generally suitable for every person and every type of sleep.
I particularly recommend the toppers in the following cases:
For older mattresses:
Improve your sleeping comfort – and that for relatively little money. This is especially true if your mattress is older and you are no longer as comfortable as you were at first.
You save yourself the purchase of a completely new mattress with the edition.
For back pain or tension:
Good gel toppers have excellent pressure point relief.
Therefore, the toppers are particularly suitable if you suffer from chronic back pain, tension or diseases of the spine.
For restless sleep:
If you move around a lot in your sleep, the topper will intercept your movements and isolate them. You are always right.
Even if you share a bed with a restless sleeper , a gel topper will prevent your partner’s movements from spreading to your side of the mattress. So you can lie calmly even when there is absolute chaos next to you.
Volume weight as a quality feature
You can tell the quality of a gel topper by the volume weight (RG).
The density is also decisive for the quality of mattresses made of cold foam or latex.
The RG value indicates how many kilograms of raw material are used in the production of one cubic meter. A higher density means that the mattress consists of more material:
- With a high density, the material is processed very densely. This ensures a high level of resistance, durability and good lying comfort.
- If the density is low, the material is “stretched”. This leads to a lot of cavities and air pockets inside. These give way quickly and the material can sag.
You can compare this to toilet paper, for example. A high volume weight is similar to multilayer toilet paper and a low volume weight is similar to single-layer toilet paper.
A brief overview of the usual values:
RG 20 – RG 25 | Low standard | Shelf life: about 1-2 years |
RG 30 | Standard | Shelf life: about 2-3 years |
RG 35 | Higher standard | Shelf life: about 5-6 years |
RG 40 | Good quality | Shelf life: about 6-8 years |
RG 50 – RG 60 | Very high quality | Shelf life: about 10 years |
RG 75 | Excellent quality | Shelf life: over 10 years |
A topper with an RG 50 and over will usually serve you for 10 years, while with an RG 25 you can only count on 1 to 2 years.
Hygiene and care
Gel toppers are generally very easy to care for and hygienic.
Due to the core made of viscoelastic gel foam, mites have no living space, which means that the pads are also suitable for allergy sufferers.
You can easily remove the breathable cover and wash it in the washing machine at 40 – 60 degrees (varies depending on the manufacturer).
In addition, the toppers absorb sweat and there are no unpleasant odors.
Recommended gel toppers
In the following I would like to introduce you to some toppers that stand out due to their good price-performance ratio and high level of comfort and which I give you with a clear purchase recommendation.
GELAX Gel Topper from Snoozo
The Gelax Topper is high quality and at a reasonable price.
The topper has a total height of 7 cm, the core made of gel foam has a core height of 5 cm. Due to the high volume weight (RG 50), this topper ensures an ergonomic and health-promoting lying position with long-lasting quality and durability.
Important details at a glance:
- Volume weight: RG 50
- Total height: 7 cm
- Removable cover, washable up to 40 degrees
The cover is also criss-crossed with a climate band. This makes the topper particularly breathable and helps you to sweat less at night.
The gel topper is also ideal if you are allergic.
Premium gel topper from AM quality mattresses
The gel topper from AM quality mattresses also uses gel foam to combine the advantages of visco and HR foam.
It offers you a high level of comfort and durability. It is particularly noticeable here that the provider decides against vacuuming the toppers. This is to avoid damage and you can use the topper immediately upon receipt.
Important details at a glance:
- Volume weight: RG 50
- Total height: 6 cm
- Removable cover, washable up to 60 degrees
- Is not vacuumed – ready for use immediately
The underside of the topper has a special anti-slip coating that prevents it from slipping on the mattress.
The Tencel cover is double-quilted with a climate fiber to reliably eliminate moisture. In addition, you can easily remove the cover with the zip and machine wash it at up to 60 degrees.
The gel topper is also suitable for allergy sufferers.
The AM gel topper is available for a similar price as the Gelax gel topper.
Gel Topper from Supply24 – Best comfort
As an absolute premium product, I recommend the Gel Topper from Supply24, because it stands out from the crowd with a significant increase in quality.
In addition to a significantly higher volume weight, the topper also offers you a greater lying height, which is particularly helpful with harder mattresses.
You can sleep on an old Bonell spring core mattress like on a water bed .
Important details at a glance:
- Volume weight: RG 85
- Total height: 12 cm
- Amicor Pure cover, washable up to 60 degrees
The Amicor cover is divisible and can be easily removed with a zip. Like the other gel toppers, you can easily machine wash it.
Both the core and the cover work against mold, mites, bacteria and odors and are suitable for allergy sufferers, sensitive people and if you have high hygienic requirements.
If you are ready to spend more on a mattress topper then I recommend this model.
Conclusion: Gel toppers ensure a better sleep
A gel topper offers you a good opportunity – similar to the right pillow – to improve your sleeping comfort inexpensively.
Even a mattress that is too hard can develop real waterbed qualities with the right gel topper and thus bring you a healthy and peaceful sleep.
That is why doctors have long recommended that patients with back problems use a gel topper on a normal mattress.
- Due to their ergonomics, gel toppers are suitable for all people and all sleep types.
- They can be combined with any mattress.
- This makes a gel topper a simple and cheap alternative to make your mattress more comfortable.
I hope this information helps you to find the right gel mattress topper for you.
My other reading recommendations:
If you are interested in other variants besides gel toppers, then take a look at these comprehensive guides:
I created Sleep Knowledge to share my interests and experiences on healthy sleeping with others. On this page I am therefore dealing with interesting questions about the optimal night’s sleep & everything else that goes with it.