My M&S Comfortably Cool Mattress Topper review puts this bestseller to the test to see how it stacks up against the best mattress toppers on the market and whether it can really offer a cooler night's sleep compared to the best cooling mattress toppers out there.
In a nutshell
I tested the M&S Comfortably Cool Mattress Topper for two weeks over a memory foam mattress, and found that it delivers what it promises. Whilst sleeping on it, I felt 'comfortably cool' regardless of whether I was feeling cold or hot when I got into bed. Likewise, my husband, who has a much warmer body than I do, slept better and didn't wake clammy (or cranky!).
It was also easy to fit onto our bed thanks to elasticated straps in each of the four corners, and although it felt softer than I would normally choose, after a week of adapting, I welcomed the extra layer of comfort.
However, I did find that it lacked support. This topper offered an extra layer of softness – a bit like adding a spare duvet to the bed – and increased our bed's breathability, but it doesn't do much to cushion or support your joints, especially if, like me, you're a side sleeper.
And I really wish that it were machine washable, or had a removable cover at the very least, to help keep it clean and fresh. I'd also have loved the option of a sleep trial to make sure it suited us before we had to commit to keeping it.
However, if those niggles aren't dealbreakers for you, the M&S Comfortably Cool Mattress Topper is a good mattress topper that does what it promises in its name.
M&S Comfortably Cool Mattress Topper review
Specifications
- RRP: £69 / £79 / £89 / £99
- Sizes: single / double / king / super-king
- Depth: 5cm
- Construction: 100% cotton (outer), 100% polyester (filling)
- Care instructions: do not wash, do not bleach, do not tumble dry, do not iron, do not dry clean
- Manufacturer sleep trial: no
Attaching the topper to the bed
Attaching the M&S Comfortably Cool Mattress Topper was straightforward and took no longer than a minute. To get it from delivery to bed is to unwrap it from the plastic wrapping, unzip it from the protective carrier bag, roll it out and hook the elastic around the four corners of the mattress.
These corner straps are pivotal in securing the topper because without them, or if not put on correctly, toppers have a tendency to move around when they're being slept on.
I didn't noticed any 'off-gassing' smell so I placed our mattress protector over it, and made the bed.
Comfort
A mattress topper is a great way to add an extra layer of comfort to a mattress, and the M&S Comfortably Cool Mattress Topper did make the surface of my medium-firm mattress feel softer and a little more comfortable.
In fact, I usually prefer to sleep on a medium tension mattress, and initially, I found adding this topper made my mattress feel too soft. The topper has a cotton outer with a polyester fill, and it felt a bit like adding a thick duvet to the top of my bed; billowy and cushioning.
It took about a week for my body to adjust to its softer feel, and while I personally still prefer a topper that offers more support – such as the Simba Hybrid Topper with its in-built pocket springs, or the denser memory foam Panda Topper – I did learn to enjoy the extra layer of comfort this M&S topper adds when lying down.
Temperature regulation
When it comes to temperature regulation, I agree that the M&S Comfortably Cool Mattress Topper does exactly what it says on the label.
I put it to the test on a memory foam mattress with the heating on, and it exceeded my expectations, keeping me comfortably cool all night long.
To be honest, this surprised me, as the topper may be made with a breathable cotton cover, but inside is polyester filling – a manmade synthetic material that is known to cause overheating.
However, M&S states that the Comfortably Cool Topper utilises 'Climate Control technologies to assist your body in regulating its temperature for a much cooler and more comfortable night's sleep'. This technology includes what the brand dubs 'Body Sensor', a bedding technology that aims to keep you warm when it's cool, and cool when it's warm.
True to that promise, I didn't wake up once feeling hot and bothered on this topper. I stayed at a constant, comfortable temperature throughout the night. My husband, who runs at a higher temperature than me, also had an undisturbed sleep. As such, I can confidently say that the Climate Control technology works and I did indeed sleep comfortably cool.
Care instructions
Now, I love buying bedding from M&S, as it's usually so easy to care for. However, sadly the care instructions on the Comfortably Cool Topper are filled with a lot of red flags for me, especially now I'm the mum of two little ones.
Sadly, this topper isn't machine washable, and it can't be cleaned in any other way either. That means no tumble drying, bleaching, ironing, or dry cleaning. And there's no cover that can be removed and washed either. If it needs a freshen up, then all that you can do is hang it up outside for an air.
Of course, you can (and should) add a mattress protector over the top to protect the topper, but personally, I like being able to put all of my bedding through the washing machine, so for me, that's a bit of a dealbreaker.
Sleep trial
Another downside is that there's no sleep trial on this M&S mattress topper, so you won't be in a position to try it out on your bed and test sleeping on it before you commit to keeping it.
In contrast, a lot of brands, such as Simba, Panda, Emma, and Woolroom, now offer sleep trials on their toppers as standard, and although this M&S topper isn't a huge investment, it's still quite a lot of money to spend when you don't know for *sure* if it will improve your sleep.
Value for money
Overall, whilst its price tag of £75 for a double is pretty affordable compared to a lot of mattress toppers, I do think this M&S topper is quite pricey considering it's a bedding item I can't wash.
In comparison, the cheaper Silentnight Airmax mattress topper is similar in terms of adding a layer of comfort and breathability to the bed, fully machine washable, and costs under £45 for a double.
How I tested
My sleep stats:
- Sleep position: back or side
- Tension preference: medium
- Sleep problems: shoulder pain and/or neck pain and occasional pins & needles
- Height & weight: 5"8 and 13 stones
In order to test out this mattress topper, my husband and I slept on it for two weeks in our own home on top of a memory foam mattress. I assessed how easy it was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer.
