9 min readI’ve officially started bringing my handheld fan everywhere and reapplying sunscreen like it’s my job, which can only mean one thing: summer has arrived. As a consistent hot sleeper, this season always used to be the riskiest for me. I’d either wake up in a sweat or simply not be able to fall asleep, even with my window air conditioning unit at full blast. That all changed, however, when the kind people at Perfectly Snug sent me their smart mattress topper two years ago. I’m not exaggerating when I say the way I sleep and live has completely changed for the better since I started snoozing on it.
This is not your average cooling mattress topper. While most mattress toppers are made with some type of cooling material and absorb your body heat to make you not feel as warm throughout the night, the Perfectly Snug Smart Topper works like an air hockey table. It has two fans at the bottom end that cool and push air throughout the surface, making little air streams that blow out of the mesh top layer. It’s an intense gadget for someone with intense body heat, making it absolutely perfect for me. It’s not even just for hot sleepers, though—it can also radiate warmth for those who love to be toasty as they dream.
This mattress topper has genuinely made my life better since I got it—keep reading to learn all about it and why I think you need it too.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 4.9/5
Best for: People who are tired of waking up in a pool of their own sweat.
Not ideal for: People who like to sleep in complete silence.
Price at review: $1,700
Bottom line: The only issue I have with this mattress topper is the app. Other than that, it’s literally my favorite thing in my apartment.
What Is the Perfectly Snug Smart Topper?
The Perfectly Snug Smart Topper is a cooling mattress topper that blows cool (or warm) air through its top layer, covering the entire surface area of the product. It has 20 levels in total: 10 cooling fan speeds and 10 warming levels. Zero is the neutral setting, and you can change the temperature to be warmer by setting the level between one and 10, with 10 being the warmest. To change it to the cooling setting, you can set the level between negative one and negative 10, with negative 10 being the coldest. The topper is controlled via buttons on the side or with an app, which allows you to change the cooling or warming levels.
Because it is essentially an air conditioner you can sleep on, it needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet to work. While this brought up my fears of the topper being a fire hazard, Mark Quinn, the brand's Chief Marketing Officer with years of experience in the sleep industry, assured me that the topper meets all safety codes required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Plus, the airflow in the topper is powered by two fans at the foot of the bed, which don't take much electricity, and the warming element is similar to the type of technology found in heated blankets. If it gets too hot, the sensors in the bed turn the temperature down, so the possibility of a fire is as low as any heated blanket type of product.
Delivery and Setup
Though this mattress topper feels nice and light on my bed, bringing it up three flights of stairs was rough. It comes vacuum-sealed in a tall box and folded into a compact rectangle. Little stickers throughout the folded-up topper give step-by-step instructions on the best way to unpack it, which I found very helpful since it is so large.
Following the instructions, my partner and I easily unfolded the topper onto our full-size mattress. Since it has a memory foam comfort layer, it took a few hours for the topper to fully expand once removed from the vacuum-sealed bag.
The topper came in one big box.
We let the topper expand.
After the initial unpacking, setting it up is very straightforward. Besides the topper itself, it comes with an instruction pack, a cord to plug into the wall, and mattress straps to secure the topper to the bed. These straps connect to the topper with hooks, and I actually do not use them for fear of the hooks tearing the top mesh layer. However, after months of using it, I've discovered that the topper slides around extremely easily on my bed, resulting in my partner and me having to correct its position probably twice a week. While annoying, it doesn't bother me enough to hook the mattress straps on.
Once we unfolded the topper, I plugged the cord into it and then into an outlet, and turned it on via the button on the side. After making sure it worked, I connected the topper to the Perfectly Snug app.
Setting up the app is a bit frustrating at times, I will admit. It requires you to share your location for unknown reasons, and it will only open up when your phone is connected to the same WiFi network you originally set up the mattress topper with. However, I just followed the instructions in the booklet that was sent with the product and connected it just fine. Then, the topper was good to go.
The Perfectly Snug Smart Topper Features
This cooling mattress topper has many different features. The website boasts that its top mesh layer is made of performance fabric, which allows active airflow to cool your body. Underneath that, you'll find two fans at the foot of the topper and smart sensors throughout. These sensors monitor your body temperature and automatically adjust the topper's cooling and heating elements for ultimate comfort.
Along with the different mattress sizes, the Smart Topper comes in different zones: Single zone, dual zone, and two-piece king. The single zone option only allows for single control over the entire topper, and it comes in sizes twin, twin XL, and full/double. This is the one that I have. The dual zone option allows for dual control over the topper, so it's essentially separated in half for you to choose your own settings and your partner to choose their own settings. This option comes in sizes queen, king, and California king. The two-piece king option is actually two separate twin XL mattress toppers and is meant for a split king mattress.
The scheduler.
The part of the app where you control the temperature level.
The app also has multiple features. It allows you to schedule when you want the topper to turn on and off, and you can change it for certain days of the week. For example, I have my Smart Topper turn on every weeknight at 10:00 p.m. and turn off at 7:00 a.m. On weekends, I have it scheduled to turn on at 11:00 p.m. and turn off at 8:00 a.m. since I go to bed and wake up later on those days.
The app also has the night sectioned out into three sections: the start, sleep, and wake phases. You can choose one temperature level per phase, which is nice if you have difficulty getting out of bed when it's cold. I probably change my temperature level every night, depending on how warm it is in my room, but I typically set it at level negative six for the start phase, then level negative four for the sleep phase, and around negative three for the wake phase. You can also set up how long you want the start and wake phases to last—I have mine set for 30 minutes each.
Comfort and Performance Review
I'm not exaggerating when I say that my first night with the Smart Topper was life-changing. I woke up shivering, which I hadn't done before my partner moved in. I can't describe how great it felt to wake up in the morning without having sweated through the night.
The fans make some noise when they're on, and the noise gets louder as you increase the level, but it didn't bother me at all as someone who needs white noise. It's an even sound, so I could fall asleep quickly even as I adjusted to the topper.
Cooling abilities aside, the topper is also really comfortable. It's on the firmer side, which my partner and I prefer. It does make a slight crinkling noise when you first get on top of it—think layers of tissue paper sandwiched between a blanket and a mattress. I don't notice it when I toss and turn on the bed, but it's definitely audible when you crawl in for the night.
Though I didn't notice when I first started using the topper, the smart sensors definitely work. During the summer, when I kept the topper at the coolest level (negative ten), I would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night feeling warm because the topper automatically turned the fan lower. I would then have to go into the app and change it back to the coolest setting, which sometimes got a bit annoying.
However, the only real complaint I have with this mattress topper has to do with the app. You'll see on the Apple app store that it's rated less than two stars, and I'm not surprised. As my software engineer partner describes it, the app has a very basic user interface (UI) with limited functionality. This means it gets the job done, but only in the most basic way. Yes, I can change the temperature level from the app, but only after trying to move it to the correct setting three times first. Plus, if I open the app and then pull down my notification bar, the app resets, acting as if I had closed out of it when I just quickly switched screens. And as I mentioned earlier, you can only open the app when you're connected to the same WiFi network you initially set the topper up on. The app could be improved, but it works.
Perfectly Snug Smart Topper Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very comfortable if you like a firm mattress
- Provides a good amount of white noise
- Distributes an even amount of air
- Does not require a subscription
- No bulky bedside unit
- Free shipping
Cons
- The accompanying app is very basic
How to Clean the Perfectly Snug Smart Topper
Thankfully, the Perfectly Snug Smart Topper cover is removable and machine-washable. Regular laundry detergent is recommended. The brand's website provides extremely detailed instructions on how to remove the cover safely without damaging the topper.
Every size topper cover should only be washed in cold water and dried on a cool setting so as not to risk the cover both shrinking and wrinkling. The website states that wrinkling or creasing can be extremely hard to remove from the performance fabric. For any size larger than a double/full, a standard washer and dryer are likely too small to fit the cover, and you may want to consider handwashing it or using a laundromat service.
Return Policy and Warranty
Every Smart Topper comes with a one-year limited warranty, as stated on the site. For one year after your shipping date, Perfectly Snug will either repair or replace your mattress topper if it is discovered to have a defect. The warranty is non-transferable and does require proof of purchase.
You can return your mattress topper for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it, but only if it arrives in its original protective packaging. The website states that if you want your full refund, it can't have any stains, pet hair, dirt marks, perfume odors, or anything else. They do require you to ship your return within two weeks of receiving the return instructions.
The Final Verdict: Is It Worth Buying?
Without a doubt, yes, the Perfectly Snug mattress topper is worth it. This product has completely changed the way my partner and I sleep. I promise I'm not trying to be too gushy about this mattress topper, but it has made my life so much better. I no longer wake up hot, I can sleep however I want without fear of overheating, and I can finally wear socks to bed again (this is a pro-socks-to-bed household).
The price is steep, and transparently, I likely would not have this mattress topper had they not sent it to me. However, I know that if anything happens to it or if my partner and I upgrade from a full-size bed to a queen, then it's something I will have to budget for. I can't talk up this product enough, and after almost two years of using it, I can honestly say that it is completely worth the splurge if you struggle with being a hot sleeper.
