I put Dunelm's temperature-regulating Gel Fusion mattress topper to the test during a heatwave, and I'm impressed

For this Dunelm Gel-Fusion Memory Foam mattress topper review, I put the brand's temperature-regulating mattress topper to the test by sleeping on it for two weeks to see how it performed, and I was impressed.

Whilst we all know that the best mattress toppers are meant to aid comfort, some, like this one, are also designed to support temperature regulation too, which is a vital factor in getting a good night’s sleep.

As a 45-year-old Mum of two who often gets hot in the night, I was keen to put it to the test to see if it added comfort to my mattress, and to see how it compared to the best cooling mattress toppers on the market, and if it could help me to keep cool, even during a mini-heat wave!

I slept on the mattress topper for two weeks with my husband, and my son even slept on it some nights, too. We all noticed that it not only provided added comfort but also helped to keep us cool.

Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper specifications

• RRP: £115 / £135 / £165 / £190
• Sizes: single / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 6 / 10cm
• Construction: Certipur-approved foam, infused with gel particles
• Care instructions: removable machine-washable cover
• Manufacturer sleep trial: no

Attaching the topper to the bed

Attaching the topper to the bed was straightforward and took a matter of minutes. All that was involved was unwrapping the mattress topper from the plastic wrapper and unrolling it, and then hooking the elastic around each of the four corners of the mattress.

These corner straps stopped the mattress topper from moving around when I was sleeping on it, like some toppers without straps can do, it also helped to keep it in position when I was getting in and out of bed.

The only downside is that I did find there was a strong 'off-gassing' smell when I unboxed the topper. I kept the windows, and the smell gradually dissipated, but I wouldn't necessarily have wanted to sleep on it straight away for that reason.

Comfort

Most people use mattress toppers to add an extra layer of comfort to a mattress, and whilst the firmness of the topper will be influenced by the firmness of the mattress beneath it, this one felt comfortable on all three of the mattresses I tried it on, which had varying levels of firmness.

As a side sleeper who sometimes sleeps on their back, I prefer sleeping on a firm mattress and initially I found this topper softer than I would have usually chosen. It felt like my body sunk into it a bit, making it a bit harder to turn over, but I quickly got used to it and enjoyed the extra comfort it provided.

I did find that when laying on the mattress I could feel the ridges of the foam underneath the mattress cover and sheet, but this wasn’t uncomfortable to lay on.

Temperature regulation

The Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper is infused with gel particles which are meant to ‘absorb and disperse body heat’ to regulate your temperature and ‘keep you cooler for longer’.

The ‘Gel-Fusion’ design is what the manufacturer describes as the ‘next generation in memory foam’, which combines traditional comfort and support of memory foam with the cooling properties of a gel.’ It also features ventilation holes through the foam for ‘increased airflow and breathability’.

As someone who often wakes up in the early hours feeling too hot, I was keen to put this to the test and see if it really helped improve temperature regulation and keep me cool.

If I’m honest, I wasn’t expecting it to make much of a difference, especially as I was putting it through its paces during two weeks in which we saw a mini-heatwave and daytime temperatures hitting 25 degrees!

However, when I slept on this mattress topper I didn’t wake up feeling sweaty and clammy like I often do. In fact, despite the unusually hot air temperatures I stayed pleasantly cool and slept brilliantly as a result. My 8-year-old son, who always wakes up sticky with sweat, gave it a go too, and he was noticeably cooler too.

My experience suggests that the science behind the temperature regulation technology works, as I definitely felt cooler and slept better for the two weeks I slept on it.

Care instructions

The care instructions state that this mattress topper cover is machine washable and even tumble dryable as long as it’s on a low heat setting. It washed and dried well, and didn’t lose its shape as a result so it was easy to put the foam back in it afterwards and fit it back onto the bed.

I also tried patch washing a small section when my son got chocolate on it and this came off well too with a damp sponge. Although I would still recommend adding a mattress protector over the top, as it's easier to pop into the washing machine.

Sleep trial

The manufacturer doesn't offer a sleep trial on this mattress topper, which makes testing out whether it's right for you before you commit to keeping it a little trickier.

However, Dunelm stores are fairly widespread throughout the country, so you may well be able to pop into store so you can have a squish of the topper in person before you buy.

Verdict

The Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper is affordable and easy to fit onto the bed, with four elasticated straps to help fix it in position and ensure it doesn’t move around during the night or when getting in and out of bed.

The memory foam topper felt softer than I would normally choose, as I prefer to sleep on a firm mattress; however, once I got used to this, I enjoyed the extra comfort it provided. As a side sleeper, it provided good cushioning for my shoulder and hip joints, so I didn’t wake up with any joint pain when I slept on it. I tested the 6cm version, but there is also a deeper 10cm option available if you prefer even more cushioning.

However, the main plus point for me with this mattress topper was the temperature regulation. I put this mattress topper to the test during a very hot spell, which saw daytime temperatures reach 25 degrees, and noticed that I didn’t wake up sweating or clammy like I often do. Likewise, my son, who often wakes up very sweaty, slept better and was noticeably less impacted by the heat than usual.

The mattress topper did give out an ‘off-gassing’ smell for the first few days of using it. Whilst this didn’t bother me my son did notice it and didn’t like it, but this certainly wouldn’t put me off buying it. The cover is removable for machine washing too, making it perfect for easy care.

And whilst the manufacturer doesn’t offer a sleep trial, with this topper costing £135 for a double, I think it’s well worth the money if your mattress is too firm or to help with temperature regulation if your mattress is prone to causing you to overheat at night.

How I tested

Rachel Tompkins

I’m Rachel, a mother of two and a freelance reviewer who helps the Ideal Home team put all manner of products through their paces to find the top recommendations for our readers. For this review, I tested the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper in a double over a hybrid memory foam mattress.

My sleep stats:

• Sleep position: back or side
• Tension preference: firm
• Sleep problems: lower back pain and/or neck pain and occasional overheating
• Height & weight: 5"5 and 9.5 stones

In order to test out this mattress topper, my husband and I slept on it for two weeks in our own home on top of the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress. I assessed how easy it was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer.