Stop! Before you buy a new bed, try this £69 mattress topper that just scored a perfect 10/10 in our Reader Approved Awards

For our brand-new awards, three readers put the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper to the test on their own beds – and the verdict was unanimous: a perfect 10/10 from every tester. From its design and support to its ability to breathe new life into an ageing mattress, it impressed across the board, making it one of the highest-scoring products to earn a Woman&Home Reader Approved Award.

These awards exist to find practical, everyday products that genuinely make life easier, more comfortable or less stressful for women over 40. Rather than relying on expert opinion alone, we hand products to real women to use in their own homes, then gather their honest verdicts against a set of robust criteria.

Investing in the best mattress isn't always an option, so for this category we wanted to know whether a good mattress topper could genuinely transform an existing bed – and offer a more affordable alternative to buying a new one.

Here's exactly what made the Slumberdown Sleep Soundly Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper such a hit with our testers.

Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper

If your mattress has started to feel uncomfortable or is simply past its best, a topper can be an easy way to give it a new lease of life without the cost of buying a whole new bed. Our testers particularly loved the extra cushioning and support the Slumberdown topper provided, with one describing the difference it made to her older mattress as “transformational”.

The topper uses a 5cm-deep dual-layer construction, with gel-infused memory foam that gently moulds to the body. It delivers that cosy, cushioned feel memory foam is known for, helping to relieve pressure points while still providing support as you move throughout the night.

And if you find traditional memory foam a little too warm, there's good news. The foam is infused with cooling gel, while breathable mesh panels in the removable cover encourage airflow. Together, they help tackle one of the more common complaints about memory foam: that it can feel hot after several hours in bed.

Best of all, there’s no complicated setup or major commitment involved. The topper simply sits on top of your existing mattress, adding a comfortable new layer without the expense – or the hassle – of replacing the whole thing.

Meet our testers

Samantha Priestley

“Since going through menopause, I’ve struggled with my sleep. I often find myself uncomfortable at night, changing position and struggling to get settled again. The extra comfort of the mattress topper made a real difference. It helped me feel cosier and more comfortable, which made it easier to relax and settle, and ultimately helped me get a better night’s sleep."

Liz Morrell

“I've found mattress toppers a great way to give a tired mattress a new lease of life without the expense of replacing it. They can add an extra layer of comfort and support, helping to make your existing mattress feel more inviting and comfortable, while avoiding the cost and endless decision-making that comes with buying a completely new mattress.”

Suzi Terry

“I am 52 years old and sometimes suffer from back pain. The extra level of comfort from the Slumberdown mattress topper has really helped to ease this and has made my bed feel much more comfortable. It has genuinely improved my sleep and made a noticeable difference to how comfortable I feel at night.”

What our readers think

Our readers tested the topper on everything from already-comfortable beds to older, more tired mattresses. Across the board, they found that it added noticeable comfort and support, with some testers saying it changed the feel of their existing mattress considerably.

Here’s exactly what they had to say:

“A star product. I tested it on top of a relatively old Ikea mattress, which I didn't think was that uncomfortable until I added this – it was transformational! It offered soft comfort with just the right amount of firmness, helping to improve my sleep. I already use a mattress topper in my campervan, but the Slumberdown version would score higher. I was so impressed that I actually bought another one for my teenage, rugby-playing son. He loved it too, although if your mattress is dipping (as his is), the topper will dip a little with it.” – Liz, 53

“I sometimes suffer from back pain, and the extra level of comfort from the mattress topper has really helped to ease this. It has made a noticeable difference to my comfort at night and improved my sleep.” – Suzi, 52

“My mattress was quite comfy before, but this topper gives it extra comfort, and it's so easy to attach to your bed. I love it.” – Samantha, 55

Why we love it

Having tested hundreds of sleep products over the years, from mattresses and pillows to duvets and even cooling bedding, our Homes Ecommerce Editor, Laura Honey, knows what separates a genuinely useful topper from one that simply adds a layer of softness – so she wasn’t surprised to hear how well this one performed with our testers.

Laura Honey

“The dual-layer construction adds cushioning without completely changing the feel of the mattress underneath, while the gel-infused memory foam gently moulds around the body to help distribute pressure and provide a supportive, cushioned feel,” Laura explains. “That’s particularly useful if your mattress has become less comfortable over time, or if you want to soften a firmer mattress without replacing it. You wouldn’t ever expect a topper to fix an underlying problem with your mattress, but it can make a noticeable difference to how comfortable your bed feels – something our testers clearly experienced first-hand.”

The verdict

We also like the practical details. The quilted knitted polyester cover has breathable mesh panels to promote airflow and can be removed and machine-washed at up to 40°C, making it easy to keep the topper fresh. It's also designed to fit across the mattress surface and comes in standard bed sizes, so there’s no complicated setup – you literally pop it on your bed.

Ultimately, that’s what makes this topper so appealing. It’s such a simple way to change the comfort of an existing bed, whether your mattress is starting to feel tired or you want a little more cushioning and support. For our testers, that relatively small change made a surprisingly big difference to their sleep.