It's Made the World of Difference
Hip and shoulder pain prompted Briar Jensen to add a Wanderluxe mattress topper to her caravan bed, and it's made the world of difference.
Before taking delivery of our caravan I read lots of criticism on social media about RV mattresses. Too hard, too lumpy, too uncomfortable. Unlike Goldilocks, no mattress seemed to be ‘just right’. As I like a reasonably firm mattress, I thought surely they can't be that bad? And on our first few caravan trips, our mattress felt okay.
However, recently I've experienced sore hips when sleeping in the van. Then, a rotator cuff strain added shoulder pain to the mix, causing me to toss and turn so much I even disturbed hubby's comatose slumber. I decide a mattress topper may alleviate the problem.
Purchasing a standard queen bed topper would mean cutting it to fit the curved corners of our van mattress. As I still have unpleasant memories of fashioning a mattress protector to fit the irregular angles of our yacht bed 10 years ago, I decide to buy a purpose-designed RV topper.
Tailor-Made Topper
Online research and positive reviews led me to the Wanderluxe Caravan Mattress Topper by Dreamer RV. The Australian company is owned by Tara and Jim Cameron-Smith who are caravanners themselves, having spent several years travelling Australia with their young children. Less-than-stellar sleep sent them down the path of designing a caravan mattress topper that replicated the comfort of a home mattress, while being conscious of keeping weight to a minimum.
The Wanderluxe toppers are made from medium-soft density memory foam, known for its pressure relief properties, and infused with cooling gel that's said to enhance temperature regulation for optimal sleeping comfort. The 50mm thick foam is protected inside a washable TENCEL-blend cover.
Designed for Australian RVs, the toppers come in multiple sizes for different mattress configurations, including curved and straight ends, east-west beds and varying bunk sizes.
Unboxing
The Wanderluxe is delivered promptly after ordering. It arrives in a compact cardboard box, which I place in our van, thinking I'll fit it before leaving, but life gets in the way. At our destination I take the carton outside, fearful the topper may explode like a jack-in-the-box. However, it's neatly folded, rolled and vacuum sealed inside two recyclable plastic bags, with a thank you card and unpacking instructions on top.
After removing the outer bag, I take the topper inside the van to cut the inner bag, so it unfolds onto the bed. It's recommended to lay the topper flat for 24 to 48 hours to allow the memory foam to reinflate but, given it's 10.30am, that's not feasible. Most of the creases have disappeared by 5pm, so I fit it to the mattress, and by the time we hit the sack I can't feel any wrinkles.
The Verdict
I'm impressed by the luxuriously soft feel of the topper's washable TENCEL cover, which features an anti-slip base to grip the mattress. A full width elastic strap at the foot end and corner elastic straps at the head end hold it securely in place. At 50mm thick, the topper fits easily under our existing MeanderWild mattress protector and beloved zippered sheets, keeping the curved bed end neat and tidy.
In bed the topper feels smooth and plush, like a firm marshmallow, not too soft, not too firm, but just right. It's supportive without putting pressure on my sore hips and shoulder, and I don't thrash around all night. As someone who often overheats in bed, I was worried the topper might trap too much body heat, but on this mid-winter night it feels comfortably cosy. However, I will have to wait until summer to fully test its temperature regulation claims.
At 7.2kg, the topper does add noticeable weight to the bed when lifting it to access the underbed storage, but it's easily manageable.
Product supplied by Dreamer RV.
Specifications
Size: Queen bed with rounded corners
Dimensions: 1500mm (W) x 1890mm (L) x 50mm (H)
Weight: 7.2kg
Material: CertiPUR-US certified memory foam infused with cooling gel, TENCEL cover, anti-slip base, elastic straps
Warranty: 2 years
RRP: From $339 Queen, $199 Bunk
