This $160 memory foam topper is so cushioned and comfortable you could put it on the floor and still feel like you're on a plush mattress
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- The Sleepyhead Mattress Topper will make even your cheap dorm room mattress (or any mattress, for that matter) not just bearable, but actually comfortable.
- It features a three-inch gel memory foam and an easy-to-clean hypoallergenic cover, plus it comes in sizes Twin XL up to a California king if you have a bigger bed. It's the mattress topper I wish I'd had in college — and that I'm glad I have now a few years out.
- At $160, the topper is relatively expensive, but well worth it. Considering that your bed will be where your sleep, lounge, study, and more, spending a little extra on a quality mattress topper is a smart decision.
I remember my first day living on a college campus like it was yesterday. After a hectic day of unpacking, setting up my room, and getting acquainted with the dorm, I was ready to go and excited to be somewhat on my own. Considering I was only about an hour away from home and I was dorming with my twin brother, I had zero anticipation of being homesick, but later that night I started to miss home a lot and it was all because of one thing: the mattress.
As I lay in bed trying to go to sleep on the first night, I couldn't help but notice just how uncomfortable the mattress was — and all the duvet sets and pillows in the world weren't going to help. Compared to my mattress at home, sleeping on that twin-sized slab they called a mattress was pretty brutal.
The next morning, I did what any independent, level-headed, and responsible young adult would do: called my mom for assistance. She came to the rescue with mattress toppers for my brother and me, but unfortunately, they turned out to be not great. I'm not a big guy, but I'd still sink through the thin layer of foam feeling every bit of the hard mattress beneath it. The egg crate-style foam topper was probably just the cheapest thing she could find at Walmart or Bed Bath and Beyond (and to my mom's defense, it was completely understandable that she went the affordable route having two kids in college at the same time).
As a fairly recent graduate who dormed all four years of college, please take it from me that you do not want to sleep on a cheap mattress topper — or with no topper at all — during your time living on campus. I recently tried the Sleepyhead Mattress Topper, and it's exactly the one I wish I had when I was in college.
Read more: The best college supplies and dorm room essentials
The Sleepyhead Mattress Topper features a generous three inches of plush gel memory foam and a removable hypoallergenic fabric cover. The foam is designed to be cooling and the cover is breathable, so if you're a hot sleeper, you won't wake up drenched in sweat. The removable cover is also washable, so it's easy to keep clean, which is super important when living in a shared/communal space like a dorm or university apartment.
Unlike the mattress topper I had, the thick memory foam is supportive and comfortable. I didn't sink through to the mattress. Another small, but rather clever feature is the non-slip grip on the bottom of the topper cover. Dorm room mattresses are usually made out of cheap vinyl material, which can be slippery. If you're anything other than a mummy or vampire who stays completely still at night, most mattress toppers will slide from under your sheets. Although I don't have this issue with my mattress at home now, college students will definitely appreciate it.
At $160, the Sleepyhead Mattress Topper is considerably expensive, but I'd say it's worth the money. It's of much higher quality than anything I slept on during my college days and it comes with a five-year warranty. That means you're covered for a free replacement if for some reason it becomes defective during your entire college run — even if you need an extra semester or two to tie up some loose ends with credits.
As a student or the parent of a college student, you're going to end up spending a lot of money on non-essential dorm items, but the most important thing to invest in is making the bed comfortable. After all, it's the main piece of furniture in all dorms, which means you'll spend a lot of time on or in it.
The Sleepyhead Mattress Topper is available in college-friendly sizes Twin XL and Full XL as well as normal sizes like Full, Queen, King, and California King if you want the same level of comfort at home.
Students might be in full summer mode right now, but the fall semester will be here before you know it. Put the Sleepyhead Mattress Topper at the top of your back-to-school shopping list so you don't end up spending your first night away from home tossing and turning.