Hi wik4,
Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround.
Yes, a topper can definitely help with temperature regulation, but it depends on the material. Materials like wool, horsehair, and certain natural fibers are breathable and have moisture-wicking properties that can help regulate body temperature.
Horsehair, in particular, is known for being one of the best fibers for this due to its ability to allow air to circulate, keeping you cooler. While I dont have a horsehair topper, I have 4 horsehair pillows in some iteration, that I have created. Growing up, I had a horsehair/innerspring mattress. When I got my new mattress a couple of years ago,it became necessary to be in the hunt for new pillows. I bought a couple of all horsehair pillows from Italy (that use uniquely blonde horsehair), plus I bought an additional supply of horsehair so I could make some of my own. I have added wool and/or latex noodles to create each new pillow just to see what the effects were. Horsehair tends to have a crunchy sound, so I bought some wool quilted and cotton quilted pillow covers pillow covers. Each of those covers masked any lumpiness and crunchy feel that occured when making the pillow myself.
One thing that you will notice is that horsehair just doesnt get or stay hot, or even warm for more than a second or two. When I sit in bed with my laptop resting on a pillow for some height, tempur pillows (memory foam), latex, solid or noodle, heat up(and get really hot) from the the hot air pushed out of the bottom of the laptop and retained by the foam. The same “test” with horsehair only and wool only pillows yielded much different results. When I removed the laptop from the HH pillow, it was barely warm to the touch, and that disappeared in less than a minute. The same test with wool, was slightly warmer than HH, but it too dissipated in just a minute or two. It was really fascinating.
It was clear that wool also does a good job of managing temperature, but it might retain more heat than horsehair.
Is 5 inches too thick for temperature regulation?
The 5-inch thickness might be a bit on the thicker side, especially if your primary concern is temperature regulation. A thicker topper may provide more cushioning and comfort, but it could also trap heat due to the additional layers. If you’re primarily focused on keeping cool, a thinner topper—around 1 to 3 inches—might be more effective because it won’t interfere as much with the breathability of your mattress. The thickness could also add more softness, so it depends on how much cushion you want alongside the temperature regulation.
Does anyone own the topper from The Futon Shop?
Yes, there have been other members who have purchased that topper and offered some reviews about that exact topper from The Futon Shop in this community.
Their design places the horsehair wrapped inside of wool, likely so the wool will soften the firmness of the horsehair as it can become firm as it compresses, before it springs back after the weight is removed.
Other options to consider:
Thinner wool toppers: Since wool is great for temperature regulation, a thinner layer (around 1-3 inches) might be more effective than a 5-inch topper. I happen to have a 3" organic latex topper. One annoying factor with hand tufted wool toppers is the wool does produce body impressions, so the thicker the topper, the deeper the body impression might be. It actually causes the mattress to feel better due to the contouring created, but it does look a little odd viewing your bed. I have to use that “rope exercise” shake and fluffing every week when I change my sheets to try and get the wool back to an even fluffy loft.
Latex topper (thin): If you’re already using a latex mattress, you could stick with a latex topper in a thinner profile (1-2 inches) as latex is naturally breathable. 1-2 inches will usually soften, without completely changing the feel of the mattress. Once you hit that 3" point with latex, you begin to change the feel of the mattress.
Cooling toppers: Some brands of powered toppers offer specifically designed cooling features (I am not a big fan of gel-infused memory foam or simply adding breathable fabrics).
I recently got a Perfectly Snug Smart topper, and I wrote about it here. It’s been a few weeks now, and my opinion has definitely improved as I’ve gotten more used to it. I have the topper set on a schedule, and it’s been awesome. You know that moment when you’re about to jump into bed, and instead of it being freezing cold in the winter, it’s like a cozy, warm car seat you can snuggle into. On the flip side, when the house is warm, I can set the topper to cool, and the fans kick on to make the bed feel like a cool, comfy retreat for anyone who likes a chill sleep environment.
Even though there’s no refrigerant like some cooling bed systems (no chilled water or air), when the fans on the Perfectly Snug kick in, it definitely cools things down (my wife complained she was “freezing” while I was playing around with the controls. And if you’re already in bed before your scheduled time and it’s either too hot or too cold, you can either use the app or hit the button on the topper to activate the heat or cool setting. Plus, there’s a burst function that kicks the fan on high to make things change fast.
Overall, the topper works great! You just have to understand how it works, and then your expectations will definitely be met.
Hopefully this is some good food for thought!
Maverick