Hi Reb_enfilade,
[quote] Based on the mattress toppers mentioned in the “Foam Factory…#4” post I was wondering which option sleeps the coolest:
- Latex
- Shredded Latex
- Polyfoam
- Memory Foam
- Gel Foam
- column gel
What out of these options is the top three coolest? Is there a particular brand that is known for making a good cooler mattress topper?[/quote]
There is more about all the many variables that can affect sleeping temperature in post # 2 here and it will depend to some degree on the specific properties of the material itself because every material category includes versions of the same general material that have higher and lower airflow (and in most cases the specs about the airflow in a specific material are not available). It will also depend on the the type of mattress protector and sheets that you are using which can also have a significant effect on sleeping temperature but in very general terms materials with a higher airflow will tend to sleep cooler than materials that have a lower airflow. This means that for most people … and in very general terms only … shredded latex would tend to sleep cooler than a solid latex topper (and Talalay would tend to have more airflow than Dunlop), followed by polyfoam and gel memory foam and non gel memory foam would tend to be the most insulating of all. Natural fibers such as wool would be more temperature regulating than foam materials but they tend to feel firmer than foam toppers.
Buckling column gel has large spaces inside it but it’s specific effect on temperature would depend on the airflow of the materials that were above and below it which would affect the airflow through the spaces themselves.
I would also keep in mind that a topper over memory foam can also reduce the amount of heat that can reach the memory foam which can affect the amount it softens or the length of time it takes to soften when you sleep on it so a softer topper over memory foam can also firm up the memory foam underneath it which can change the “feel” of the mattress depending on how deeply you sink into the upper layers.
The brand of a topper isn’t as important as the specific properties of the material because every manufacturer makes a range of toppers. A conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced supplier is generally the most reliable source of information about the toppers that they sell and how it compares to other types of toppers that use the same type of material.
I would agree with you that a 2" layer would be a good “average” choice that would provide a “little to a fair bit” of additional softness and would have less risk of creating alignment issues than a thicker topper.
Unfortunately this is also the case with most of the major manufacturers who are more concerned with selling “profit margins” to their customers (which are the larger retailers that sell them not consumers) than they are on providing the type of information that can help consumers make more informed and more suitable choices. They operate in a very different way from most of the smaller manufacturers that are much more focused on their reputation and providing higher quality and better value to their customers which are actual consumers rather than larger stores which sell their products. There is more about this in post #12 here.
As sad as it may be … the members here that have spent more than an hour or two on this site will generally know more meaningful information about mattresses and mattress materials than most of the salespeople who sell them in the mainstream industry.
Phoenix