Latest news with #Oeko-TexCertified
Business Insider
02-07-2025
- General
- Business Insider
This plush mattress topper transformed my bed and saved me from neck and back pain — and it costs less than $60
Once upon a time, my husband and I were sleeping on a really hard Queen-sized mattress. Almost every night I would toss and turn, waking up with a stiff back and neck. It wasn't fun. I complained to my husband — a lot. "Why didn't you just buy a new mattress?" you're probably thinking. Well, here's the scenario — we didn't want to buy a new king-sized bed — and all the accompanying bedroom furniture — until we bought our forever house. And we didn't want to invest in one of the best mattresses that we would only use for a year or so either before we'd move out. Finally, one night, while I was lost in the black hole that is Amazon Prime, I started looking at mattress toppers. I went straight to the page for Amazon's Choice products, which I've found to be a good starting point of well-priced and well-reviewed products. I found my favorite leggings this way, so I figured it would be a good way to find the best mattress topper, too. This is how I found the Linenspa 2-Inch Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper: a soft mattress topper that turned my bed from a hard plank to a squishy oasis. The best part? The mattress topper cost me just a little less than $60. Design The Linenspa mattress topper has a simple design: it's essentially a sheet of memory foam that goes right on top of your mattress. There's no straps to connect it to your bed: simply unroll it and it's good to go. The mattress topper is made of memory foam infused with cooling gel. The foams are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning they're free of dangerous chemicals, and the entire topper is Oeko-Tex Certified. It's available in two heights: two inches and three inches. The two-inch version is typically better if you prefer a medium-firm feel, while the three-inch version is best if you like ultimate plushness. The Linenspa mattress topper comes in a plethora of sizes from twin to California king, including twin XL, full XL, and short queen. Our review of the Linenspa Mattress Topper The mattress topper arrived the next day in vacuum-sealed packaging and was easy to unroll. It was easy for me to carry as it's less than 10 pounds, but if you have any trouble carrying that weight, I'd suggest getting a friend or family member to help. The mattress topper looked super flat at first but then quickly expanded to its full two-inches. The pad itself is blue, and the memory foam is infused with a cooling gel that supposedly captures and distributes body heat in order to help regulate temperature and keep you cool at night. I didn't really notice this aspect of the topper a lot since I just wanted to sleep on a softer surface, but my husband and I both sleep hot and we didn't wake up sweaty so I guess it helped a little. Depending on when you get your topper, I'd suggest opening it in the morning, placing it on your bed, and allowing it to "breathe" for several hours before sleeping on it. Some reviewers complain that it has an odor because it was vacuum-sealed, but I didn't experience that. Some mattress toppers come with a cover, but this one doesn't, so you might want to order one. Alternatively, you can place it under a mattress pad, which is what I did. Or you can just place it directly on your mattress and put your bed sheets on top. The first night sleeping on our doctored-up bed was honestly pretty awesome. While I can't say it was like sleeping on a cloud, it definitely transformed our hard slab to a plusher, more body-conforming mattress and we felt like we were sleeping on a new mattress. After sleeping on the bed for several weeks, my husband noticed that my back and neck pain complaints subsided substantially too. In retrospect, I should have gone with the three-inch version instead for a little more cushioning. After several months, the topper is still in great condition and has definitely made our mattress much more comfortable. I haven't noticed any sagging or denting either. Cons to consider While the mattress topper was extremely comfortable, it's worth noting that it doesn't come with straps to attach to your bed. If you're a restless sleeper, this might pose a problem, as the topper is more likely to shift around on your bed. Also, it can be difficult to know if the two-inch or three-inch topper is best for you. After trying it, I'd recommend the three-inch topper if you want a plush feel. What are your alternatives? The best budget pick in our best mattress topper guide is the Lucid Bamboo Memory Foam Topper. Like the Linenspa topper, it's a simple sheet of memory foam. It performed well in our cooling and motion isolation tests. Plus, it's super plush and has three thickness options. The bottom line The Linenspa mattress topper was an incredibly small investment for such a huge improvement in our quality of sleep. I'm really glad that I didn't spend hundreds of dollars on a topper, especially because this one worked just fine. As I mentioned before, if I could go back in time I might've chosen the plusher three-inch option, which only costs $20 more. But we're still happy with our two-inch topper and now my husband doesn't have to listen to me complain about my neck and back.
Business Insider
14-05-2025
- General
- Business Insider
Baloo Weighted Comforter review: a dreamy, cooling weighted blanket made with natural materials
As a sleep writer, I'm sometimes asked about my all-time favorite product that makes my bed the comfiest place ever. My answer? A weighted comforter. Like the best weighted blankets, weighted comforters provide gentle pressure on your body to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep all night. Unlike a traditional weighted blanket, which is sized as a throw or stretch only to the edges of your bed, a weighted comforter drapes over the edges of the bed to maintain the look of traditional bedding and can often be shared with a partner. The Baloo Weighted Comforter is my favorite weighted blanket for sleeping cool. The sustainability-minded company prioritizes the use of natural materials and is carbon neutral. Baloo has managed to create a comfortable, quilted weighted comforter that doesn't overheat at night with its natural cotton construction and breathability. Design The Baloo Weighted comforter's weight comes from glass beads quilted in three differently sized squares for an evenly hefty feel. The shell is made from Oeko-Tex Certified cotton, which is free of chemicals and additives. It's available in two sizes: full/queen and king. The full/queen size is available in 15 or 20 pounds, while the king size is only available in 25 pounds. The general rule of thumb is to choose a blanket that is 10% of your body weight. Between the Baloo comforter, which I tested, and the brand's Weighted Blanket, you'll want to pay attention to dimensions. Both are made of the same materials. The king-size blanket is 80 x 87 inches, roughly equal to the top of a king or California king mattress with little overhang. The king-size comforter is 92 by 108 inches, with an unweighted overhang to keep the blanket from sliding off the bed. Not only does this mean you're getting the full weight of the blanket on your body with the heft centered in the middle, but it also means that the comforter won't be pulled off the edges of the bed by excess weight. Two tags on the top of the comforter's edges help you align the blanket to keep the weight evenly distributed. The Weighted Comforter comes in white and a soft gray with loops to add your own duvet cover. The blanket version is also available in navy and green. Due to its size, the comforter should only be washed at a commercial laundromat. The blankets, in throws and queen size, may be able to be washed at home in your normal machine. Our review of the Baloo Weighted Comforter The Weighted Comforter comes packaged in a sturdy, reusable canvas bag. I appreciated this detail because it makes storage easy. I noticed right away that it was made with high-quality material. The cotton was crisp and smooth, like percale sheets or a freshly ironed button-down shirt. I tried the king-size blanket, which weighs in at 25 pounds. Even though this was a hefty blanket, I made the bed relatively easily. I also love to tug at the blankets throughout the night until they fit snugly under my chin. I had no problems moving the blanket as I fell asleep. It's also one of the few weighted blankets that are fit for sharing, since it's designed to drape over the side of the bed. My partner and I never fought over the blankets at night, and we both woke up feeling refreshed and well-rested. I don't like it when my weighted blanket feels like sleeping under a beanbag. Thankfully, Baloo's weighted comforter gives an evenly distributed weighted feel without the distinct feeling of glass beads. I also appreciated that the weight was centered in the middle, because it helped the comforter fully envelop my body in a nice, tight hug. I'd initially been a little skeptical of the claim that weighted blankets could help you sleep better at night. After researching these products and using Baloo's weighted comforter, I'm a believer. The slight pressure from the weighted comforter eases me to sleep and helps me stay asleep throughout the night. I love feeling snuggled tightly all night. Despite being called a comforter, it lacks the thick, fluffy feel of a traditional down or down-alternative comforter. The blanket itself is only filled with glass beads so that you won't get a cushy feel from polyfiber or down filling. The lack of soft filling does mean that the weight is more pronounced, but I missed feeling like being surrounded by a cloud. That said, the comforter's thinness also lends itself well to its cooling and breathability. I was a bit nervous before sleeping with a weighted comforter since I'm a hot sleeper that the weighted blanket would be warm and stifling. Baloo's weighted comforter alleviated those fears. The cotton shell is cool to the touch throughout the night. Additionally, the comforter is breathable, so it doesn't trap heat. The weighted comforter is so cooling, in fact, that it earned the best cooling weighted blanket spot in our best weighted blanket guide. Baloo's weighted comforter also comes with a lifetime quality guarantee, which covers manufacturing flaws for the entire product lifetime. The warranty is excellent and helps you get the best bang for your buck. If you buy the weighted comforter and don't love it, you have 30 days to return it for a full refund. Cons to consider While I loved the Weighted Comforter's feel and cooling capability, I missed the fluff of a traditional comforter. The lack of polyester fill is great if you're looking for a natural weighted blanket, but I wish Baloo had integrated more filling for a thick, comforting feeling. Keep in mind, too, that you can't wash this comforter in your typical residential washer or dryer. You'll have to take it to a commercial cleaner to have it professionally washed. I'd recommend using a duvet cover with this comforter; that way, you won't have to worry about cleaning it as frequently. What are your alternatives? For a weighted comforter with a traditional fluffy feel, the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter is the top pick for weighted comforter in our best weighted blanket guide. Like Baloo's Weighted Comfort, Eli & Elm's version is only weighted in the center. It also pairs well with a duvet cover. If you're looking for a budget-friendly weighted comforter, I love the YnM Weighted Comforter. Its weighting is more subtle, but it has a thick polyester filling like your typical comforter. It also sleeps hot, so it's best for the colder months or for cold sleepers. Baloo also sells its Weighted Blanket in full/queen and king sizes. It won't hang over the edge of your bed; instead, it matches the size of your mattress so it won't slide off. The bottom line I recommend Baloo's Weighted Comforter if you're looking for a weighted bedspread that won't overheat at night. It's the perfect size for sharing and has loops to tie on your duvet cover. It's thinner than a typical comforter, so it's best for hot sleepers.
