Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Mattress Topper Review: Deep Sleep and a Painless Morning

I have a pretty basic Sealy mattress and have been happy with it. I sleep fairly deeply and on my stomach, for the most part, despite trying to train myself to sleep in a more spine-friendly way. I get some lower back pain upon waking some days, either because of my sleeping position or something I did the day before to tweak it. I’ve been told I’m hyperflexible in my joints, and sometimes my sleep position can exacerbate the situation.

Instead of getting a multi-thousand-dollar new mattress which may or may not help my various back issues, I decided to try the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Topper.

Unboxing

Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Mattress Topper specifications

• Type: Talalay latex
• Material: Latex with a cotton cover
• Firmness: Soft, medium, firm (I tried firm)
• Trial period: 30 days (120 nights for full mattresses)
• Warranty: Three-year warranty for defects
• Shipping method: Ships FREE and arrives in roll-packed boxes
• Care: Organic cotton cover is machine washable
• Price range: $422.30 (Twin) to $830 (King/Cal King)

Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Mattress Topper pros and cons

Pros

• Support: The topper is very supportive and, unlike memory foam toppers I’ve tried in the past, doesn’t make an imprint around my body. Instead, the sensation of floating on top of my mattress meant that I had deeper sleep than usual. On the nights I’ve used the topper, I haven’t noticed night waking at all due to discomfort and have woken up to my alarm (or child climbing into bed with me) out of a deep sleep. Naps have also gone well.
• Less back pain: I feel rested and have no back pain, despite not getting to my usual pilates classes over the last few days—the thing that usually alleviates any post-sleep stiffness.
• No off-gassing: I’m sensitive to smells, so it was nice that I didn’t have to air out the topper at all before putting it on my bed and sleeping on it the first night.
• Cool: I usually run hot in my sleep, but didn’t on this topper. It’s the start of summer here, so I’d have understood if I’d have sweat, but I didn’t notice any retaining of temperature.

Cons

• Cleaning hassle: The organic cotton cover is machine washable, but if anything gets to the latex below, it will be hard to clean.
• Fitting favorite sheets: The height made it so it was a bit of a literal stretch to get my sheets over both the mattress and the topper.
• Height: My headboard is detached from the base, so I could just move it up with the added height, but if you have a lower headboard attached, the topper might make it hit your neck weird in bed. If you don’t want your bed any higher than it currently is, this topper does not smush down once you’re in bed, so it is a different perspective. I didn’t mind this, and don’t have a mattress base, so my bed isn’t too high.

Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Mattress Topper price

Regardless of which firmness you select, the prices are as follows:

• Twin: $422.30 (sale price: $316.80)
• Twin XL: $450.60 (sale price: $337.80)
• Full: $591.80 (sale price: $443.80)
• Queen/Queen short: $663.30 (sale price: $497.60)
• King/Cal King: $830 (sale price $622.50)

Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Mattress Topper firmness

The Talalay mattress topper comes in three firmnesses with increasing indentation load deflection (ILD) scores.

• Soft (19 ILD)
• Medium (28 ILD)
• Firm (36 ILD)

Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Mattress Topper construction and design

Latex comes from a rubber plant. Talalay is a process for making latex materials, including mattress toppers. A liquid latex is set in a mold and cured with carbon dioxide. While some latex processes use petroleum, the Talalay process is more organic and doesn’t break down as much as it ages. To protect the longevity of the foam, the latex topper is wrapped in an organic cotton cover. The Brooklyn mattress toppers are made in Arizona from domestic and international materials.

Design-wise, this topper is simple and white, with thick straps that hold it in place on the mattress. It’s three inches tall, which adds height to the mattress and may impact your sheet selection.

Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Mattress Topper support and comfort

Unlike fluffy pillow-like mattress toppers filled with feathers or synthetic, the latex sits atop the mattress and doesn’t cause you to sink into the center of the bed. Like memory foam, it supports you equally all around, but unlike memory foam, it doesn’t mold onto you. As a result, the latex mattress cover offers balanced body support and higher comfort than other mattress cover materials.

Depending on how you sleep and your preferences, the three firmness levels can accommodate your style. I used the firm topper, which suited me as someone who prefers a harder surface and who sleeps on my stomach, with some potential for hyperextension when I sleep really deeply. I also sleep warm, and it was warm outside, but not hot enough to turn on my AC when I began using the topper. The latex doesn’t retain heat, and I didn’t wake up due to being too warm, something that regularly happens to me in other beds.

Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Mattress Topper performance

The performance of this topper really does do a lot, considering it’s a topper and not a whole new mattress.

Cooling

It doesn’t reflect heat back to me like memory foam or down toppers would.

Motion isolation

I do sleep alone. However, when a kid joined me first thing in the morning, he curled up on one side of the bed and fell back to sleep, something that never happens. I didn’t feel his movement on my side.

Support

I have hyperflexible joints and have injured myself when I’ve slept hard, especially in my lower back, due to over-extending my hips. Due to the super-supportive latex, I haven’t woken up with any back pain since sleeping with the topper.

Is the Talalay Latex Mattress Topper for you? Who is this topper best for?

If you want to sink into your bed like Mama Bear, this is not the topper for you. It gives the illusion of floating atop the mattress, not becoming one with it.

For me, the firm mattress topper was just right, but I can imagine some people might find it too hard and would be better suited to the medium firmness. On my first night in bed with it, I didn’t notice a difference in feel compared to my firm mattress that I’d been sleeping on for the last four years, but I noticed a marked difference in my sleep quality the next day.

I am somewhat picky about my sheets, and my favorite sheets, Cariloha Bamboo Resort Sheets, were able to fit over the mattress and mattress topper, but just barely. You may need to switch to deeper-pocketed sheets if you find it difficult to keep sheets over this topper.

I wasn’t thrilled that the cover wasn’t waterproof, but it is washable. If it fits, I may put a waterproof cover over the mattress and topper since I have kids and want the mattress topper to last for years. This is actually advertised as a good idea due to the latex material.

One of the best features of a latex topper is that it helps me stay cool when sleeping. If I needed another layer, I’d prefer to add a blanket rather than have the heat come up from the mattress.

What sets Talalay Latex Mattress Topper apart from other mattress toppers?

Latex mattress toppers are known for being supportive, cooling, and long lasting. They’re often recommended for people with back pain and/or people who sleep hot. Latex toppers are also usually a good option for people with allergies, especially with the additional cover.

Other types of mattress toppers include:

• Feather and down: These toppers are soft and plushy. They’re not always ethically sourced and are not usually hypo-allergenic
• Down alternative: Down is a good option for people who like the feel of feathers or down but have allergies or want to make sure their topper is ethically sourced. Usually made from polyester, down is soft but not supportive.
• Memory foam: Memory foam conforms to the body more than latex and also retains heat, so it’s better for people whose bodies run colder while asleep.

Other mattress toppers from Brooklyn Bedding

Brookyn’s other mattress toppers include:

• Microcoil Mattress Topper: The least expensive option, this is a body-contouring topper
• Memory Foam Topper: Four pounds and extra-contouring

The latex topper has customizable firmness and is advertised as “ultra-responsive” versus the more contouring alternatives. It has the most reviews on the Brooklyn website.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is a Talalay latex topper good for back pain?

Yes, the ultra-responsive latex material doesn’t conform to the body like memory foam and offers balanced support. Latex mattresses and toppers are often recommended for people with back pain, who weigh more than 200 pounds, or who spend a lot of time in bed. Other options besides mattress toppers for back pain are mattresses for back pain.

How long does a Talalay latex topper last?

Talalay mattress toppers last about five to 10 years, depending on use.

Does the Talalay Latex Mattress Topper come with a warranty?

Yes, the product has a three-year warranty for topper defects.

How does the Talalay Latex Mattress Topper ship?

The topper ships in a box, rolled up in plastic. It was easy to unroll and unpack the topper. No scissors were needed to release it; the topper didn’t need to puff out and didn’t have a smell that needed to dissipate. The whole topper is not particularly heavy and is easy to move to the desired location.

Is the Talalay Latex Mattress Topper easy to clean?

The latex topper itself is spot-clean or professional-clean only, but the cotton cover is machine washable.

Final verdict

After years of thinking I was sleeping just fine on my firm mattress and that all mattress toppers weren’t worth the price, I have officially been converted by the latex topper from Brooklyn. It doesn’t indent when I lie on it, even for an extended period of time. I hardly noticed any difference in feel from my usual mattress. However, I did notice a markedly better night’s sleep. I haven’t woken up once in the middle of the night since I started using it, it doesn’t make me hot, and I’ve noticed less back pain and stiffness in the morning. While spendy, the topper is less expensive than a whole new latex or other type of supportive mattress, and I find it hard to imagine a better night’s sleep than what I’m now getting with this topper.