When I saw that Parachute had a wool mattress topper, my first thought was, “that must be a sweat fest.” And when I told my boyfriend (who practically turns into a heat-blaring furnace when he’s sleeping) that we were testing one, he said, “Oh, I’m going to overheat.” But we were intrigued. The highly-rated mattress topper is a customer favorite, and Parachute says you can keep it on your bed all year long, no matter the weather. Was this the addition our bed needed, or were we correct in our initial assumptions? Read on to find out. The Parachute Wool Mattress Topper is ready to go right out of the bag—unzip, unfold, and strap it to your mattress. There are four thick elastic bands, one in each corner, that keep it secured in place. The elastic straps were tight-fitting on my 17-inch deep mattress. The straps didn’t seem like they perfectly settled into place, but if you have a standard-depth mattress, you shouldn’t have an issue. Even with our extra mattress depth, the elastics never popped off, although they seemed stretched to their limits. After securing the wool mattress topper into place, I ran my hands along it to see if it would shed, which is one of the most common concerns with this mattress topper. It sheds pretty significantly. I ended up with a rather large clump of wool in my hand. It was likely initial shedding from being jostled around in the package, never being used or cleaned. But even after using the topper for a couple of weeks, it still shed, although less. Since a fitted sheet covers the mattress topper, the shedding doesn’t get on you or interfere with your sleep in any way. It tends to collect on the sheets slightly, but it gets caught in the lint trap when I washed the sheets, so it was no big deal. Even when I changed the sheets, the shedding was pretty contained and didn’t get all over the floor. Some fibers were left behind on the mattress, though, so if you want to keep things tidy, vacuum or wipe down the bed every time you get the topper cleaned. Fortunately, the wool is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. So while you may be bothered by the sight of the shedding, especially if you like to keep a spotless house (with five animals, I barely noticed it), it shouldn’t cause any allergy flares or problems beyond that. The two main questions I had about this mattress topper were: Is it comfortable, and does it make you extra hot? As far as comfort goes, it added a negligible amount of softness to the top of our mattress, but nothing that I would write home about. The pile height of the topper is only 1.75 inches, so compared to other toppers that are three to four inches of memory foam, this one doesn’t have any pressure-relieving effects. If you have a really firm mattress and you’re looking for some plushness, this isn’t the topper for the job. Where this mattress topper really shines is temperature regulation. I incorrectly assumed that the wool would trap heat and make us extra hot; it did the exact opposite. I’m cold most of the time, so I go to bed with three blankets and often wake up sweating in the middle of the night. That didn’t happen while using the Parachute Wool Mattress Topper. I felt warm and toasty going to bed, and I woke up warm and toasty, but not too hot. Even with the intense temperature fluctuations of a New England March, the topper helped my body temperature adapt. Whether it was 12 degrees or 60 degrees outside, I was always comfortable without feeling too hot or too cold. My boyfriend, who’s always hot and wants the fan on full blast in the middle of the winter, had the same experience. He felt comfortable throughout the night and never felt like he was overheating. He mentioned that he felt more comfortable than usual, temperature-wise.
Is the Parachute Wool Mattress Topper machine washable?
The wool mattress topper is dry clean only, so you can’t throw it in the washing machine to freshen it up. Parachute recommends removing the fitted sheet and letting it air out for a day every once in a while to keep it fresh. The only way to clean it is at the dry cleaner. The good news is that this mattress topper isn’t as heavy and bulky as memory foam toppers. It’s easier to fold up and transport to the dry cleaner.
What is the mattress topper made of?
Constructed in Pocatello, Idaho, the Parachute Wool Mattress Topper is a 100 percent American virgin wool top with a 100 percent cotton backing. Virgin wool means that it’s in its natural form and hasn’t been processed. Because of this, it retains the wool’s natural crimping, which makes it resistant to body impressions.
Does this mattress topper soften a firm bed?
While the 1.75-inch wool layer adds a little bit of softness to your bed, it’s not significantly noticeable. If your mattress is too firm for your tastes or you need a mattress topper solely for relieving pressure points, you’re better off with a memory foam or gel mattress topper that’s thicker.
What sizes does the Parachute Wool Mattress Topper come in?
The Parachute Wool Mattress Topper comes in four sizes: full, queen, king, and California king. Unfortunately, there are no twin-size options. Parachute has some other down and down-alternative options if you’re looking for a mattress topper for a twin bed.
The Parachute Wool Mattress Topper vs. the Competition
When it comes to temperature regulation, the Parachute Wool Mattress Topper is the standout pick. If you’re looking for a mattress topper to add some comfort and pressure-relieving properties to your bed, there are better options available. ViscoSoft Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper: If an extra layer of plushness (and support) is what you’re after, the ViscoSoft Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper is probably a better fit. In addition to temperature-regulating properties, its three inches of high-density, gel-infused memory foam keep your spine aligned and relieves pressure points. If temperature control is your biggest issue, this wool mattress topper is a dream come true. But if you’re trying to add some plushness to a firm mattress, you may want to go with something with thicker cushioning.
