The Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Topper: Smart Buy?
Pros
- High density, will maintain shape a long time
- Superior heat regulation
Cons
- May be too firm for some sleepers
- Medium to strong "new memory foam smell"
Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch mattress topper is currently going for less than $200 on Amazon.
If you order the Queen, it will come shipped in a box weighing roughly 22 lbs and with dimensions 22” x 15” x 13.5”.
The topper is 2.5 inches thick and has a density of 4.5 lb pcf. It is made of Cool IQ Visco Elastic Memory Foam.
Comfort is a very subjective metric that changes a lot from person to person. That being said, we believe the Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Topper will have between a medium and medium-hard firmness depending on your body weight; basically, it will not make an existing mattress softer unless that mattress is already very, very firm.
It’s possible that the Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Topper will be too firm for side sleepers. For a softer mattress topper, check out the Red Nomad 3-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper.
Unfortunately, the results of our owner questionnaires turned up some less-than-impressive results. The short answer is yes, this topper will most likely be accompanied by a smell. Check the relevant section for more information.
If there’s one thing the Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper does well, it’s heat regulation. No need to worry about sleeping too hot on top of this topper.
You can check out warranty information here.
The Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper has been reviewed using the Zen Score System, which gives a score out of 100 based on 6 main factors: Unpacking (20pts), Smell (20 pts), Feel & Firmness (20 pts), Durability (20 pts), and Heat Regulation (20 pts) .
Contents
Unpacking the Cool IQ Memory Foam Topper
The Queen-size version of the Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Topper comes shipped in an Amazon box weighing roughly 26 lbs and with dimensions 22” x 15” x 13.5”. The topper is rolled up and enclosed in an airtight plastic bag.
Simply cut open the airtight plastic bag and roll out the topper.
TIP: Open the mattress topper in a room that is currently unoccupied and well-ventilated. Memory foam mattress toppers tend to expand much quicker and have a less strong odor than memory foam mattresses, so no need to air it out for a few days – only a few hours should suffice.
Where Was The Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ Topper Made?
Nature’s Sleep products are produced and manufactured in China. Typically, we recommend purchasing sleeping products that are specifically not made in China unless they are certified by one of two regulatory organizations: CertiPUR-US or PURGreen. As you will see in the subsection right below, Nature’s Sleep products are certified by one of these organizations.
Is It Made From Safe Materials?
Nature’s Sleep produces their memory foam products in accordance with the strict standards of the CertiPUR-US program, which means their mattresses are :
– Made without ozone depletes
– Made without PBDE flame retardants
– Made without mercury, lead, and other heavy materials
– Made without phthalates regulated by Consumer Product Safety Commission
– Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality
Thickness & Density
The Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper has a thickness of 2.5 inches and carries a density of 4.5 lbs pcf (pounds per cubic foot). Since toppers are typically used to make an existing mattress softer or to add overall thickness, we don’t usually recommend a certain memory foam thickness or density to our readers. However, there is one major guideline to follow here. If you currently own a memory foam mattress that is too firm and you’d like to soften it up, the memory foam mattress topper you purchase has to have a lower density than that of the existing memory foam mattress.
So basically, if you currently own a memory foam mattress with a density of 3.5 lb pcf, you should purchase a memory foam mattress topper with a density of 3.5 lb pcf or less to ensure it will be softer. If you were to purchase the Cool IQ 2.5-inch topper, you actually wouldn’t be sleeping on an overall softer surface.
Total points awarded for Unpacking: 18 / 20
Smell
Typically, memory foam mattress toppers carry a less-strong odor than memory foam mattresses. In the case of the Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ Mattress Topper, however, things were a bit different.
We conducted a questionnaire of current owners of the mattress to get a better idea of the topper’s range of smell. Oftentimes, memory foam products will not carry the same odor strength (or lack thereof). It’s much more common that there’s a range of strengths with regards to smell. So with that said, here’s what we found out from our owner questionnaires:
- No Smell - 4%
- Light odor, gone in 3 days - 16%
- Mild odor, gone in 5 days - 53%
- Strong odor, gone in 7 days - 25%
- Strong odor, never went away - 2%
Only 20% of our respondents noticed no smell or a light smell that lasted within 3 days. 53% of our respondents said they noticed a mild odor that lasted for 5 days or less, and 25% noticed a strong odor that lasted for about a week. 2% noticed a strong odor that never went away, forcing them to return the product. To put it mildly, we aren’t too happy with these smell-test results. The only silver lining here is that no respondents reported chemical smells, so there’s that.
Verdict: If you are sensitive to memory foam odors or to smells in general, do not purchase this mattress topper. Opt instead for a Red Nomad 3-inch topper or a Lucid 2.5-inch Gel Infused topper.
Total points awarded for Smell: 12 / 20
Feel & Firmness
As always, before delving into this topic we like to remind our readers that feel, firmness, and the general comfort level of any mattress differs a lot from person to person. Given that this is a mattress topper review, the goal here will be to figure out if the sleeping experience with the topper is MORE comfortable than without the topper. If there’s no difference, then the topper is not worth purchasing. If it makes your sleeping experience firmer (highly unlikely) then we have a major problem.
Feel & Firmness Test
To test feel and firmness, we placed the Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Topper on a firm innerspring mattress and slept on it for a week. The sleeping subjects were a 200 lb male, and a 150 lb female. Here’s what we found out:
It’s more comfortable, but still firm. If you prefer medium to medium-hard firmness, this memory foam topper is your ticket to a perfect night’s sleep. On the other hand, do not expect the Cool IQ 2.5-inch topper to turn a very firm mattress into a very soft one – it just isn’t happening.
As for side and stomach sleepers, we think the majority of you will probably not be interested in this topper. Typically, side and stomach sleepers prefer soft to soft-medium sleeping surfaces. With the Cool IQ 2.5-inch, you probably won’t be able to turn your existing mattress into a soft one.
To supplement our sleep test, we also questioned current owners of the Cool IQ 2.5-inch memory foam topper, and here’s what we found out:
- Medium to medium-hard - 60%
- Soft-medium firmness - 20%
- No difference - 10%
60% of our respondents said the topper made their mattress a medium to medium-hard firmness. 20% said the topper made their mattress a soft-medium firmness, and 10% said the topper did nothing whatsoever.
Verdict: back sleepers can take the most advantage out of the Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch memory foam topper. If you’re a side or stomach sleeper and hate firm sleeping surfaces, this topper isn’t for you.
Total points awarded for Feel: 16 / 20
Durability
How can you tell if a mattress topper will be durable and last long? Well, there are 3 main things to look for: adequate density, high-quality garment construction, and resistance to surface/ edge abrasions. In this section we dive into each of these factors.
Density
The density of a memory foam mattress topper is very important in determining the general durability of the foam material. Basically, the more dense the foam is, the longer it will maintain its rigidity and shape over time. A topper with a 1lb pcf density, therefore, will begin sinking and losing its shape much faster than a topper with 3lb pcf density. However, given that toppers also need to have a density low enough to counteract the firmness of the mattress on top of which they are placed, it isn’t necessary to purchase a topper with a very high density.
With a density of 4.5 lb pcf, the Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ will maintain its shape and posture for a very long time. It’s not typical to see a topper with such a high density; while it may not be beneficial in other ways (for instance, creating a softer sleeping surface), the high density ensures the topper should not be prone to sinking or sagging at all.
Garment Construction
Garment construction refers to how resistant the mattress topper cover and actual mattress topper are to tearing at the sides, seams, and edges. The Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch memory foam topper comes with an ultra-soft 300 thread count cotton cover that is removable and machine washable. From the responses we received from our owner questionnaires, we can safely assume the garment construction of both the topper and cover are very durable and highly resistant to tearing.
Surface / Edge Abrasion
A durable mattress topper will be more resistant to surface and edge abrasions; these basically occur from the repeated rubbing of the mattress/ cover surface to sheets, your body, etc over many nights of use. Unfortunately, over 30% of our respondents reported surface and edge abrasions, as well as discolorations of the memory foam over time. Some occurred as early as 1 month after purchase, while others occurred as late as 9 months after.
Verdict
The Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper has an impressively durable mattress cover and foam material with regard to garment construction. However, the foam material seems to be prone to surface and edge abrasions, as well as discoloration. For that reason, we believe the topper will last up to 2 or 3 years maximum.
Total points awarded for Durability: 15 / 20
Heat Regulation
Memory foam mattresses are stereotyped as being “heat trappers”, which is more a testament to the lack of quality memory foam in the market these days than anything else. Manufacturers these days love to cut corners and add more pennies to their bottom line by using cheaper foam materials, which do not allow proper breathability; they essentially trap a person’s body heat in the mattress while they are sleeping. When it comes to mattress toppers though, this is less of an issue because they are much thinner and typically allow more breathability.
The Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Topper does an absolutely great job at regulating heat, and the owners we interviewed had similar sentiments:
- Slept cool - 15%
- Slept neutral - 48%
- Slept warm - 32%
- Slept hot - 5%
95% of respondents said the mattress topper either slept cool, neutral or warm.
Verdict: if you’re sensitive to heat or are worried about sleeping too hot on a memory foam product, the Cool IQ 2.5-inch topper is your solution. Superior heat regulation abound!
Total points awarded for Heat Regulation: 20 / 20
Zen Score of the Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Topper
A memory foam mattress must pass a Zen Score of 70 in order to be recommended by us at Zen Sleeping. The Nature’s Sleep Cool IQ 2.5-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper passes our benchmark with a total Zen Score of 81!
Be sure to leave a comment below if you have any questions or concerns.
