Hi everyone, I am seeking to find a mattress topper to add on top of my latex bed (from CST). I see most posts recommend a wool topper, but note that they flatten/get more firm overtime. Down alternatives sound great, but it reads as if they sleep very hot, and I can’t get a good feel on some reputable brands to purchase from.
Overall, I’m looking to add a pillow top feel on top of my latex mattress. What would you recommend?
Hi Nmason711,
I’d skip the down alternative and go with wool, assuming it’s within your budget. Wool adds softness, some contouring, and excellent temperature regulation. The big advantage is that it sleeps noticeably cooler than synthetic fill.
The one thing to understand about wool is that it compresses under your body weight. I have a 3" organic wool topper, and because it’s hand-filled and tufted, it conforms to my body over time. You’ll see what looks like a body impression, and at first you might think something is wrong with it. It’s not. In the summer, I put mine outside on a large drying rack and let it air out in the sun for a couple of hours on each side. It came right back to life. The wool regained much of its loft, felt refreshed, and smelled fresh. It’s a nice reminder that wool is a natural material that benefits from a little airing out and care.
Think of the inner sole as it wears to you foot and makes the sneaker more comfortable. It conforms to your foot and fills in the spaces where you need support. Wool does something similar with your body. It settles into your curves, fills the gaps, and adds comfort where you need it.
Don’t confuse that with a defect. That’s part of how wool works, and frankly, it’s one of the reasons I find it so comfortable.
Maverick
Thank you Maverick! Do you find that as it compresses it turns more firm? I certainly don’t want to have to air it out daily/weekly to maintain the plush feel
As for brands, can you share what topper you use?
My topper was from a company called Natural Felt. The business was sold by its original private owner to Oregon National Fiber Mill, which was briefly a Trusted Member here at TMU.
To answer your question, yes, as wool compresses, it becomes firmer, as most materials do. But there’s another part to this that I think is important that some misunderstand. As it compresses, it also conforms to your body, filling the spaces and providing support where you need it. That helps relieve pressure rather than leaving certain areas suspended while the surrounding muscles work to keep everything aligned. What I particularly like about wool is the feel. When I switch from my latex topper to wool, I get a subtle contouring without the pushback of latex. You sink into the fluffy wool loft a little, but it’s nothing like memory foam. It’s more of a gentle hug, and you still feel like you’re sleeping on top of the mattress rather than down in it.
Next to horsehair, which is even more temperature neutral, wool is one of my favorite natural comfort materials. It’s also excellent at wicking moisture, which helps keep you comfortable throughout the night. As far as maintenance, I wouldn’t worry about airing it out daily or weekly. I find once a year, or maybe every year and a half, is plenty. Initially, I rotated mine with every sheet change, but eventually I stopped. I actually decided I liked the way it conformed to my body more than I disliked the appearance of the body impression.
That’s the trade-off with wool. You have to get past the idea that a topper needs to look perfectly uniform to be doing its job. I’d rather have something that conforms to my body and makes me comfortable than something that looks pristine but doesn’t do as much for me.
There are also some beautifully constructed toppers out there that use high-loft, tufted construction with multiple layers of wool, wool and cotton, horsehair, or combinations of all three. They create a much loftier, more substantial pillow-top feel.
One I particularly liked was the wool topper from Millbrook Beds. That thing was a dream. Unfortunately, it was also $2,500, so I’m still dreaming about it. LOL. The Hastens topper they pair with their 2000T mattress is even more incredible. It’s in another league altogether, but it’ll also set you back five figures. There’s some seriously beautiful craftsmanship in this category. Unfortunately, the price tags can be just as impressive as the toppers! 