Best Mattress Topper for Back Pain

The Brooklyn Bedding TitanFlex Topper is a mixed-foam model that offers great cushioning for pressure points. This makes the topper a great choice for side sleepers and people with sharp pressure points who want a bit of extra cushioning on their mattress’ surface.

How It Performed

The topper is available in three firmness levels. Our tests show the soft (3) design is best suited to side sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds. Side sleepers weighing 130 to 230 pounds preferred the balanced feel of the medium (5) design, and the same was true for our back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. Lastly, the firm (7) feel should provide sufficient support if you weigh more than 230 pounds. We recommend this design to anyone whose mattress has become uncomfortably soft over time.

During our temperature control tests, the topper outperformed most of the all-foam models we’ve tested firsthand. TitanFlex is an open-cell foam, so it promotes air circulation and won’t absorb much heat. You can also choose from two cover materials, both of which provide excellent cooling. We also found the TitanFlex foam fairly responsive and easy to move on compared to traditional memory foam.

What It’s Made of

TitanFlex is a proprietary material that combines the even contouring of memory foam with the responsiveness of latex. This topper contains a single piece of TitanFlex measuring 3 inches thick, making it suitable for mattresses with moderate to heavy wear and tear. Two covers are available. One is made from breathable organic cotton, while the other is a circular-knit polyester that feels cool to the touch.

The TitanFlex Topper is reasonably priced and Brooklyn Bedding offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Your purchase includes a 30-night trial, and you’ll receive a 3-year warranty if you decide to keep the topper.

The Birch Organic Mattress Topper is constructed with high-end materials that give the topper above-average durability. If you’re in the market for a luxury topper and dislike the deep hug of foam, this model may be right up your alley. A handful of green certifications also make the topper an appealing option for eco-conscious shoppers.

How It Performed

The topper earned favorable ratings from our team’s back and stomach sleepers across all weight groups, but those weighing 130 to 230 pounds were particularly impressed. Some of our side sleepers also felt comfortable, but the latex may not conform closely enough to alleviate pressure in the shoulders and hips. This is especially true if you sleep on your side and weigh less than 130 pounds.

The Organic Mattress Topper excelled throughout our temperature control tests. We’ve attributed this strong performance to its breathable cover, moisture-wicking wool layers, and ventilated latex core. The topper may also be a good investment if your mattress has softened with age and become difficult to move on because the latex offers noticeable springiness.

What It’s Made of

The topper’s core contains 2 inches of Talalay latex. This material is exceptionally responsive, even compared to other types of latex, so you shouldn’t experience too much sinkage when getting in and out of bed or changing sleep positions. Organic cotton and organic wool batting rest atop the latex for extra cushioning. The wool also has moisture-wicking properties to keep you dry on humid nights.

Measuring slightly more than 2 inches thick, the topper should provide a good comfort adjustment for any mattress with light to moderate wear and tear. An organic cotton cover completes the eco-friendly design. The topper has earned green certifications from well-respected organizations such as the Global Organic Textile Standard, eco-INSTITUT, and Wool Integrity NZ.

Birch offers free ground shipping to all 50 states. The company’s sleep trial allows you to test out the Organic Mattress Topper for 100 nights. If it meets your needs, you’ll also receive a warranty covering structural defects for up to 10 years.

The most comfortable topper for any given sleeper with back pain should cushion sensitive areas and reduce discomfort while maintaining even support. The Silk & Snow Organic Mattress Topper is available in medium (5) and firm (7) designs. Between the two options, our tests show the topper can accommodate sleepers across a wide range of body types and sleep positions.

How It Performed

Our side sleepers weighing up to 130 pounds and back sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds preferred the balanced cushioning of the medium feel. While the latex won’t contour as closely as foam, you’ll notice some moderate conforming as the topper adapts to your body. Most of our testers weighing more than 230 pounds preferred the extra support of the firm feel. The same was true for our back and stomach sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds.

Since Dunlop latex is naturally dense and responsive, the topper fared well during our ease of movement tests. Most of us encountered minimal resistance moving across the toppers, and no one sank excessively — even when testing the medium feel. Temperature control is another strong point. The latex retains little heat and the breathable cotton cover promotes airflow, so you shouldn’t sleep too hot.

What It’s Made of

The topper’s core consists of Dunlop latex measuring 2 inches thick. Dunlop lacks the strong bounce of Talalay latex, but is still fairly responsive compared to foam and other topper materials. A cotton cover encases the latex. The cotton has earned certification from the Global Organic Textile Standard, and the latex is certified by the Global Organic Latex Standard, so this topper is a good option if you prefer to purchase sustainably made products.

Silk & Snow offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. and Canada. The trial period runs for 100 nights, during which you can return the Organic Mattress Topper for a full refund if it doesn’t meet your needs. Should you decide to keep the topper, you’ll receive a 3-year warranty for the latex and a 1-year warranty for the cover.

Foam mattress toppers can aid spinal alignment by helping distribute your weight across the surface. One example is the Nolah Mattress Topper, which has a polyfoam construction that helps cushion pressure points while preventing your body from sinking excessively. You can also choose between medium soft (4) and medium firm (6) feels, which should accommodate a wide range of sleep needs. 

How It Performed

Our testing found the softer model better suited for side sleepers, offering extra cushioning to alleviate pressure in common areas like the hips and shoulders. Meanwhile, the firmer option offered more support for our side sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds, as well as our back and stomach sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds. 

Thanks to the proprietary cooling technology and a breathable cover, the Nolah Mattress Topper kept cooler than many other foam models we’ve tested. The foam also absorbs most movement transfer and noise, making it an excellent addition for couples prioritizing motion isolation.

What It’s Made of

Proprietary AirFoam polyfoam is engineered to stay cooler than traditional memory foam while still offering cushioning to alleviate aches and pains. The foam measures 2 inches thick, perfect for mattresses with light to moderate wear. The foam’s intended cooling properties are enhanced by a breathable organic cotton cover, which is naturally moisture-wicking to keep you cool and dry throughout the night. 

Nolah offers free shipping to customers living in the contiguous U.S. Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery, and a 10-year warranty against structural defects backs the Mattress Topper. 

The PlushBeds Natural Latex Topper has a firm (8) feel, making it one of the firmest toppers in our testing lab. The firm and responsive feel ensure robust support to keep your body on an even plane, while the latex adds a bit of surface cushioning for sore spots along the spine.

How It Performed

Our team tested each of the topper’s firmness levels, and the firmest model was most popular among our back and stomach sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds. If you sleep on your side or weigh less than 130 pounds, you may prefer one of the softer models. Most of our side sleepers preferred the medium soft (4) and medium (5) models, though some weighing less than 130 pounds enjoyed the deep cushioning of the soft (3) model.

The firm topper performed well during our temperature control tests. Our heat guns detected very little heat buildup thanks to the firm feel and breathable construction. We also awarded positive ratings for ease of movement. Latex is naturally responsive, so it won’t sink beneath your weight and shouldn’t sink excessively when you get in and out of bed.

What It’s Made of

The topper contains a single layer of organic Talalay latex certified by the Global Organic Latex Standard. The latex is ventilated to promote airflow and cooling. You can choose between 2- or 3- inch profiles. We recommend the latter for mattresses with more pronounced wear and tear, and the former for mattresses with minor to moderate sinkage. An organic cotton cover is available for an extra fee.

PlushBeds offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Returns are not accepted once the Natural Latex Topper has been unboxed, but your order is backed by a 5-year warranty against material defects.

Best for Side Sleepers

Puffy Mattress Topper – Soft

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Price:

$229

Firmness:

Soft (3)

If you’re a side sleeper, chances are you’ll experience added pressure in the shoulders and hips after sleeping on a surface that doesn’t provide adequate cushioning. The Turmerry Latex Mattress Topper might be a worthwhile investment if your mattress feels too firm. You can choose from four firmness levels — soft (3), medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (7) — depending on how much you weigh and the amount of support you need to sleep comfortably.

How It Performed

During our tests, the soft topper was popular among our side sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds but did not provide enough support for most of our other team members. The balanced feel of the medium topper earned favorable ratings from testers weighing 130 to 230 pounds across all sleep positions. If you’re a side sleeper who weighs more than 230 pounds, our tests indicate the medium firm and firm feels provide enough support. Our back and stomach sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds also preferred the firmer designs.

Temperature control was a highlight of our hands-on testing. The latex is ventilated to promote airflow, so you shouldn’t experience too much heat retention regardless of which firmness level you choose. Another area where the topper performed well was ease of movement. Even on the soft model, we were able to get on and off the mattress without excessive resistance.

What It’s Made of

The topper consists of ventilated Dunlop latex and is available in 2-inch, 3-inch, and 4-inch thickness options. The 4-inch option has a dual-sided design with a soft feel on one surface and medium firm feel on the other. If your mattress has heavy wear, you should consider the 3-inch or 4-inch designs, while the 2-inch topper should provide an adequate comfort adjustment for mattresses with minor indentations.

All thickness options are available with organic certification from the Global Organic Latex Standard, but you may also purchase non-organic versions for a slightly lower price. You can buy an organic cotton cover for an additional fee. Note that the cover is included for free with the purchase of the 4-inch topper.

The topper’s sticker price depends on which profile and type of latex you choose. Turmerry offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Your order comes with a 120-night sleep trial, and the topper is further backed by a 5-year warranty.