I tested Silentnight's under £50 mattress topper to see if its 10cm depth could transform my firm mattress

For this Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 Mattress Topper review, I put the brand's 10cm deep mattress topper to the test by sleeping on it for two weeks to see how it performed.

The best mattress toppers Ideal Home has tested range from 2-9 cm, so I was excited to see how this extra-deep 10cm topper would perform in comparison.

In a nutshell

Silentnight describes this topper as being 10cm deep, so I was expecting great things in terms of comfort, and to be honest, I was a little disappointed in reality.

I guess I envisaged a thick foam sleep surface, but because this topper is filled with soft and airy polyester microfibre, it only ever achieved that 10cm depth when it was fluffed up with nobody lying on it, (and even then I'm not sure mine ever quite achieved a 10cm height to be honest).

However, fitting it onto my double mattress was easy, and it stayed firmly in place during testing. Unlike a denser foam or memory foam, you can also wash the entire topper at 40 degrees.

Overall, as Silentnight promised, it did ‘breathe new life into my mattress’ by adding an extra layer of comfort, and I'd definitely recommend this affordable option to anyone who just wants to add an extra layer of softness to their bed.

However, I found it didn't offer any support, and as I was expecting an extra-deep sleep surface, I was a little disappointed it didn't measure up to my expectations in that regard.

Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 Mattress Topper review

Specifications

• RRP: £35 / £47 / £43 / £48 / £53
• Sizes: single / small double / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 10cm
• Construction: 100% polyester cover, 100% polyester microfibre filling
• Care instructions: machine washable at 40 degrees. Air dry rather than tumble dry
• Manufacturer sleep trial: no

Attaching the topper to the bed

The Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 mattress topper arrived vacuum-packed in a zippable outer bag with handles.

Because it’s been compressed for shipping, Silentnight advises to shake it vigorously for up to 5 minutes before you put it on the bed, or to pop it in the dryer for a few minutes (size dependent). They also advise that you should allow 48 hours for the mattress topper to regain ‘maximum loft’. I gave mine a good shake and saw it bounce up significantly whilst doing this.

It was easy to attach to the mattress using the four corner elasticated straps. The elasticated straps didn’t feel as sturdy as on other toppers I've tested, but they did the job securing it to the bed. However, I found there was some overhang of the double topper on my double mattress.

Comfort

Once on my mattress, this topper felt incredibly soft to the touch, so much so that when my son came and jumped onto my bed, he wanted to sleep on it without a sheet on top!

Silentnight says the mattress topper has a 10cm depth for ‘cloudlike comfort’ with ‘internal walls to ensure the gently supportive filling stays in great shape and is always plump.’

The square pockets of filling on my topper did feel soft, airy, and cloud-like, but my pockets didn’t seem to be quite as tall as the 10cm described, and especially not once I lay down on them.

This didn’t impair the comfort too much though, and when I lay in the middle of the bed, it did feel soft and comfortable. I like a quite firm mattress, but, as a side sleeper, I can sometimes wake up with an aching shoulder or hip if I don't use a mattress topper. When I slept on this topper, the extra cushioning under my joints was noticeable, and I felt more comfortable.

However, because it’s very soft, I didn’t find it offered the same level of support that the foam and memory foam toppers I've tested have.

Plus, around the edges of the mattress topper the pockets of stuffing are rectangular in shape and the separating stitching didn’t go right to the edge, so consequently when I rolled closer to the edge of the bed it didn’t feel as plump.

Temperature regulation

Because this topper is filled with light and airy microfibre, it should allow some airflow, at least if you shake it to redistribute the filling regularly.

It comes with no particular cooling claims, but I didn't find myself overheating too badly on it, as I have with some synthetic toppers.

It isn't going to offer the same temperature regulation as a natural fill topper, such as the Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper which is one of the best cooling mattress toppers I've tested, but it was OK to sleep on during warm nights.

Care instructions

The Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 Mattress Topper can be machine washed at 40 degrees, which could be a big selling point for those with allergies or if this topper is for a kids bed.

The double-sized topper I tested did fit into my washing machine but any bigger would have been a push, so that’s worth taking in to account.

It washed up well on 40 degrees. The manufacturer recommends air drying it rather than tumble drying, and so I followed their advice and it came up as new.

I also tried patch cleaning it when my son got a chocolate mark on it and that came off completely with a sponge and warm water.

Sleep trial

Silentnight doesn't offer a sleep trial on this topper, so unfortunately you can't test before you buy. The only good news on this front is that, compared to many toppers, it isn't too expensive, so it may be worth taking a punt if you're looking to soften up a sleep surface.

Verdict

Overall, I found the Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 mattress topper a very affordable way to add an extra layer of comfort to my firm mattress. It didn't offer much support, but it was light, airy, and soft.

The ‘super soft microfibre cover’ also lived up to its name, feeling so soft to the touch that it was tempting not to put a sheet on top! In fact, my son describes it like ‘sleeping on a giant bed of cotton wool', and now refuses to sleep on anything else!

It's also a great option for a kids' bed as the entire topper can be washed if needs be.

I was a little disappointed it didn't feel as deep as I expected it to be. However, if I hadn't been expecting 10cm depth, I think I'd be very happy with this topper for what it does offer.

That said, if you want support and proper cushioning instead of just an extra layer of softness, there are better options out there. The Simba Hybrid Topper, Panda Memory Foam Topper, IKEA Nisseholm Mattress Topper, Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper, and Dreams TheraPur ActiGel Cool Mattress Topper are all better buys in this regard. Although, admittedly, they are all more expensive.

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 Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 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. 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.