I Swore By My Soft Mattress Topper — Then I Tried This and Slept Way Better

Getting into a supersoft bed is one of my favorite feelings, so I’ve always picked my bedding accordingly, from my comforter down to my mattress topper. But as much as I hate to admit it, my old plush mattress topper was doing nothing for my back. It didn’t help matters that I was already in a decent amount of pain from being hunched over my laptop all day.

According to a study in the National Library of Medicine, a too-soft bed results in hips and shoulders sinking too much into the mattress, leading to column misalignment. A too-firm mattress isn’t always the solution, though, because it might not provide enough support to the neck and shoulders.

Instead, the study confirmed that something in the middle — a mattress or topper with a medium-firm feel — helps more with lower back pain and even improves sleep quality. I found that in Helix’s ErgoAlign Mattress Topper, which provides just enough comfort and support that my back is feeling better than ever. And I got you an exclusive discount code, which is even steeper than the Memorial Day discount that’s live right now. Use THERAPY27 for 27% off until June 1.

The ErgoAlign topper has a special design to alleviate lower back pain. It’s 3 inches thick and made up of two 1.5-inch layers. The uppermost one is made of Copper Gel Memory Foam and has three different zones for your head, middle, and feet — which makes it unique from many others on the market that are the same all over. The middle section is ultradense for support and spinal alignment, whereas the head and feet ones contour and cradle.

Surrounding those layers is a ​​cover made with the brand’s GlacioTex cooling technology, which is designed to draw heat away from your body. Then, straps on each corner keep the topper in place underneath your sheets.

I’ll admit that it wasn’t love at first snooze with this mattress topper, but like with many things, it got better with time (which is about a month and a half, to be exact.) It only took a couple of days for my body to get used to it, and I’m sure that’s only because I’d slept on a plush, pillowy topper for a year up until that moment.

As soon as I noticed that I didn’t feel the need to stretch and crack my stiff back as much — it took about two weeks — I had to acknowledge that its medium-firm feel is 10 times better for me. And I haven’t felt pain in any other part of my body either, like my neck and shoulders, so it doesn’t edge into brick-like territory. I’m a combination sleeper, so it’s important to me that I feel supported regardless of if I’m on my stomach, side, or back. This topper passed the support test with flying colors.

I also appreciate that it provides plenty of edge support, which is something my fluffy mattress toppers have always lacked. Whenever I sat on the edge of my bed, I felt like I was on the verge of falling enough. Helix’s topper feels even from its center all the way to the sides, so even if I roll to the side of my bed, there’s no difference. Another benefit that my other topper failed to provide and that this one does? Full coverage, from edge to edge, across my mattress.

I can’t believe it took me so long to try medium firm bedding, but it’s better late than never. (My back can attest to that.) If you want to make your lacking mattress more supportive — or you’re inspired to ditch your plush bedding now, too — this topper is undoubtedly worth the price, especially while it’s on sale.

Buy: Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper, Queen, $364.03 (normally $498.66)