The Ultimate Guide: Choosing Between Gel or Foam Mattress Topper

The average person gets seven hours of sleep per night—that’s the equivalent of almost 50 entire days per year. Choosing where you rest your head every night is no small matter. If you find yourself sofa surfing or travelling a lot, sleep and comfort often gets compromised. But that doesn’t have to be the case. You may have seen the trending travel sleep solution, also known as the travel mattress topper. Within that product bracket come many varieties, including ones made from gel or foam. 

If you’re stuck on which type to choose (gel or memory foam), this guide should point you in the right direction. We’ll compare comfort levels, price points, hygiene, how they fare with temperature regulation, and how long they last. 

Let’s find the perfect mattress topper match for your requirements.

What is a memory foam mattress topper?

Memory foam is a polyurethane material that moulds and shapes to whatever object is applying pressure. That’s why it’s a popular choice for mattresses—it contours and supports your entire body as you rest, offering an ideal level of firmness and comfort.

What is a gel mattress topper?

A gel mattress topper is still crafted with memory foam, but contains conductive gel beads which absorb body heat while you sleep. This makes it a suitable choice for people who run hot or want a mattress that helps keep them cool in the summer.

Is gel or foam mattress topper better?

In a nutshell, memory foam is known to offer more support for your body and less motion transfer. Memory foam mattresses can also last a little longer, meaning you’ll get more restful sleeps out of your purchase.

Meanwhile, gel is the preferred choice for people that want to prioritise staying cool. That being said, memory foam mattress creators are increasingly turning to materials that are better at temperature regulation.

Comfort and support levels

Both the gel and foam varieties mould to your body, offering support and relief from an achy back or neck. The gel mattress is known to bounce back quickly, whereas the memory foam maintains its moulded contour and shape for longer.

Temperature regulation?

If you want a mattress that keeps you cosy and warm in the winter, a memory foam design could be a good option. One with a closed-cell structure helps to trap heat.

However, for a design that can be used year-round, it’s worth purchasing one that offers a half-way house between warm and cool. If staying cool is crucial for you, the gel mattress is a no-brainer for you. That’s because the gel is specifically designed to transfer excess heat away from your body.

Gel vs. memory foam similarities and differences

To make things easier, we’ve created a comparison chart that showcases the differences and similarities between a gel and a memory foam mattress topper. We hope this will help you decide which is right for you! 

Keypoints	Memory Foam	Gel Foam
Affordability	✔
Pressure Relief	✔
Keeps You Cool		✔
Relief From Aches & Pains	✔	✔
Full Body Support	✔	✔

 

Find your dreamy mattress topper from Slothie

Find the perfect sleep companion from Slothie today. We stock high-density memory foam mattress toppers crafted in the UK. Our designs are also travel-friendly for your camping and caravaning trips!