One of the most important elements of a restful night’s sleep is laying on a high-quality, supportive mattress. But mattresses can be quite pricey, and splurging on a new one may not be in your budget. A great mattress topper can elevate your sleep while you save for a new mattress. It can also give you a luxurious sleep space while traveling and sleeping on an air mattress or pull-out bed. I tried the Therapedic Tru-Cool 3-Inch Foam Mattress Topper on my bed and on an air mattress to evaluate its comfort level. I tested the topper on my mattress for two weeks overnight. It added another three inches, making my mattress very high. I like a high mattress since it makes it easier to make the bed, but some people may prefer something lower. If you use this mattress topper on a young child’s bed, they might have some trouble climbing up and down at night. When the topper arrived, I pulled it out of the box and unrolled it. It is not very heavy, considering its size (I got the queen-size). It comes wrapped and vacuum-sealed. I unrolled the mattress topper on top of our air mattress and let it expand. It took a couple of minutes for the mattress to expand fully. Some users complained of a strong smell when they first unboxed the mattress topper, but I didn’t notice anything other than a mild odor from the foam. Once I covered it with the included cover, the smell was not noticeable. The mattress topper had a lot of give. I sank into it at first but still felt supported while I slept. Each time I rolled to the other side, it took a few seconds to settle in. When I woke up, I didn’t have any stiffness or soreness in my joints, a common complaint that I have with mattresses lacking support. This mattress topper does not offer distinct zones for different levels of support like you’d find in a mattress or some other toppers. My husband likes a mattress that keeps him cool. This feature is hard to find in most mattress toppers. The Therapedic Tru-Cool 3-Inch Foam Mattress Topper uses a special kind of foam to keep sleepers cool and dissipate heat through the night. The Serene foam lessens motion transfer, meaning that one sleeper’s movement is less likely to wake another sleeper in the bed. I toss and turn most nights, so my husband and I appreciate this feature. The mattress topper was noticeably cool to the touch when I set it up. The cover helps keep the mattress topper in place. I recommend using it; without it, the mattress topper can shift as you sleep. The elastic doesn’t keep the cover on securely when there is excessive movement. If you are using the mattress topper on a high mattress, the weak elastic on the base of the cover might not be strong enough to keep it from shifting. I also used the mattress topper on our air mattress to make it extra comfortable for a movie night screening of classic movies with our children. It was comfortable, and the reduction in motion transfer meant we weren’t spilling our popcorn every time our three-year-old wiggled, which was often. I highly recommend doing this as a comfortable spot for a family lounge. It is also a great mattress topper for a visiting guest who you set up on an air mattress. One of my favorite features of this mattress topper is how universal it is to use. As long as you get the right size for your mattress, it is pretty simple to set up. You can use the included skirt if the mattress and topper’s combined height is 18 inches or less. This mattress topper worked on a regular mattress and an air mattress. Storing the mattress topper when not in use is a little bit tricky if you don’t have a vacuum sealing system. I kept the mattress topper on our guest room mattress since we have frequent visitors for it to get a lot of use in that space. If you plan to store it away, rolling it is the best option. Folding the mattress topper isn’t practical and will take up a lot of space. If you are looking for a mattress topper that will only get occasional use, such as for an air mattress or guest bed, you may want to look for something more economical. The Therapedic mattress topper is top-of-the-line, so it comes with a higher price tag than many of the mattress toppers available on the market. You can find a good mattress topper for less than $100, so the $350 price tag for the queen-sized Therapedic topper may be more than you want to spend.

Is this mattress topper hot?

No, the Therapedic Tru-Cool 3-Inch Foam Mattress Topper uses cooling foam technology to keep you cool while you sleep. It was noticeably cool to the touch, and I woke up in the morning without getting overheated through the night. Keep in mind that the material of your sheets and blankets can also impact the temperature of your bed as you sleep.

What is the mattress topper made out of?

The mattress topper is Certi-PUR US-certified foam called Serene foam. It has air pockets to provide support to sleepers. It is a light green foam roll that covers the entire mattress when fully unrolled. The cover is 100% polyester and machine washable. It is made of a double knit performance fabric and has a waffle pattern. The sides have an additional dark mesh fabric marking the three-inch depth of the mattress topper underneath. Elastic secures the cover to the main mattress underneath, similar to a fitted sheet.

Is this good for people with allergies?

The Therapedic Tru-Cool 3-Inch Foam Mattress Topper is Certi-PUR US-certified. It is low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is free of mercury, lead, and other hazardous materials. It uses polyurethane foam, so if you are allergic to that, you should look for a natural fiber mattress and mattress topper.

Therapedic Tru-Cool 3-Inch Foam Mattress Topper vs. the Competition

Another three-inch mattress topper option is the Brookstone BioSense 3-Inch Foam Reversible Mattress Topper. It’s a little bit cheaper at $300 and is reversible. Made of Tencel, it also helps regulate temperature. Both the Therapedic and the Brookstone mattress toppers are three-inches deep, adding height to your mattress. If you need a little extra comfort and want to save some money, the Sleep Safe Ultimate Memory Foam Mattress Topper is $80 for a queen-size. It has 1.5 inches of memory foam to provide extra cushion and support, perfect for occasional use or a rollaway bed. It has a lower profile, making it a good option for a child’s bed or if you prefer a lower bed. If you want to create a soft and supportive sleep environment without spending a lot of money on a new mattress, the Therapedic Tru-Cool 3-Inch Foam Mattress Topper is a great option.