I have found the memory foam too hot David but use what I call "egg cartons" and are great. You just put them on top of your normal mattress. Take about a week to get used to though.

love love love our memory foam (2.5 inches thick) on top of the mattress. We have it covered with an electric blanket and a cotton mattress protector. Have no 'hot' issues even when in the Pilbara WA

I have a memory foam topper .... Absolutely magic! Cheers Colleen

As mentioned above all "foams" whether memory or just latex, are not created equal ! some of the cheap rubbish is just that, very little foam but lots of fillers to bulk out the latex which is the expensive bit.

When we did the research to buy a new mattress we found there are two quality foam manufacturers, one in Belgium and one from NZ.

Most cheap gear comes from China and is basically poor quality full of fillers which add heat build up when sleeping on them. It's the old adage I'm afraid, you definitely gets what you pay for.

If you don't take my word for it do a Google the info is out there.

A quality mattress or topper will pay you back with years of comfort, considering we spend a third of our lives in bed.

my work background is in bedding (no!!!.........I didn't run a brothel) and can tell you there is no such thing as memory foam other than a name.

It is a marketing furfy - just a different type of manufactured foam and the industry is aware that these so called wonder (and more expensive) matts are hotter than others. True memory foam matts feel like they have a thin layer of oil when you press your hand down on the top. The mattress industry have really got into the marketing of their products and most of what the salesperson will tell you about the products is total bull****.

If you want to soften your 'van matt (if supplied by the manufacturer they are mostly cheap and made in China) or they are sagging, try a good quality topper pad from the likes of Target (don't go to a bedding shop - it will really cost you). The foam is convoluted (egg carton shaped as the Chief describes it). This makes the mattress softer, fills in any minor sagging and is a lot cooler because air can move between the matt and topper pad. DONT buy the cheapie ones from KMart and BigW - wont help you at all. We have a new matt, but have put a Target topper on it, an electric blanket and then a mattress protector (very thin and from KMart, but keeps all this stuff in place on the matt)

The rule of thumb when buying a matt is:

1. if you have chronic back problems, don't get a soft matt - a medium to fairly hard matt is best

2. For a queen size matt, don't spend more than about $1200 - anymore you've just helped buy someone a replacement BMW. Double about $1000.

3. Caravan matts are usually a different size and shape to standard sized matts. Measure your matt if it has square corners (many have rounded edges on the end that hangs out at the tail end of the bed) and measure the one you finally pick to buy. If you buy and take the plastic bag off your new matt and then find its the wrong size, most retailers will not take it back for hygiene reasons (most have been ripped off at Xmas time when people buy a few matts for visitors and then try to return them a week or two later claiming its not what they wanted)

4. Listen to the salesperson, but believe nothing they tell you. Most are getting some commission or are paid only by commission - they want to sell you a very expensive matt. Always push hard for a discount of at least 10% - discounting is allowed for in the retail price (especially Harvey Norman). Or go for a free delivery

5. Don't choose your matt by pressing down on it with your hand or sitting on it. Select by price range and get down to 3-4 matts. Lay on each for about 3-4 mins and then move onto the next one. You will then like 1-2. You need to spend at least 10 minutes lying on each - but do it on your side not your back. We all have a deep sleep period called REM and they reckon 97% of people sleep on their side in REM. You don't toss and turn during this time (it may only last 1-2 hours of your nights sleep) and that why we have sore hips, back, shoulders, of thighs. You have the incorrect bed (too hard or too soft) or it has a big sag in it (kneel down beside your matt and look where your bum normally is - that's where the sag is). It pays to choose your matt, then go away and come back and try it a few days later and then make your decision.

6. It takes about 4-6 weeks to adjust to your new matt. Never buy one where the retailer is offering a money back or swap if you don't like your new matt with a specified time. What do you think they do with all these returned matts - they don't throw them away folks!

7. Pure latex matts are extremely comfortable, but extremely hot (so only suitable for the Tassies or the frigid types), so watch out. If you want to buy a latex matt and never had one before, try out latex by buying just a latex pillow and see if you can handle the heat.

8. Custom made matts (to suit the odd sized or shaped 'van matts) can be brought on-line and usually much cheaper than placing a "special" order through a retailer.

Bruce & Bev

You obviously know your beds, maybe you can explain to me how the convoluted foam can work when in it's usual thickness it will just deform and flatten with body weight. Cannot see how the air can circulate when it is squashed flat as it would be with one or two bodies lying on it.
Especially the cheaper one's out there. Admittedly the air would circulate where there is no body contact.

We did exactly as you suggested when selecting a new bed for our last home (we no longer have the house but still have the bed in storage) ours is a full latex mattress, weighs a ton, made with Belgian pure latex has a pillow top and is the most comfy bed we have ever owned, but we paid for it cost wise !

In our fiver we have a basic inner spring mattress but with a pure latex 70mm topper which makes it ok, I would love a latex mattress if not for the weight issue.

Hi Brian. You must be from Tassie lol to be able to handle the heat of a Latex matt - because its rubber - it actually reflects your body heat (put your hand on your vehicles tyres and you will see how much rubber deals with rubber. Foam has a lot more air blown into it which allows the heat to disperse, unlike rubber/latex.

The convoluted foam (the better toppas) are quite firm and don't flatten out completely when you lie on them - the pointy side should point downwards into the matt.

And you've got me going on pillow tops - they are another pure marketing trick and don't provide better comfort than a non-pillow top. All they do is gather dust, fluff and body hair in the join between the matt and the pillow top (and sorry - the lice that eat all the dead skin you shed all day long....not the same as bed bugs that bite you for blood).

Just in case anyone is wondering why Im claiming to be an expert in bedding - I was Sales Manager for a large furniture chain retailer and we sold hundreds of matts each week - I know the tricks:)

Tassie, no Perth ! never found the bed hot in any way, but we do have a winter and summer doona.

I tested out the Tempur memory foam type and did find them very warm so we went with the pure latex instead, have a mattress protector only under the bottom sheet.