Panda Mattress Topper

Panda Mattress Topper Review UK (2024)

Last updated: 07.11.2024 Reading time: 13 Min. Liked by: 14

The Panda topper is one of the best value-for-money mattress toppers in the UK.

But is it the right choice for you?

And do you even need a mattress topper?

Let’s find out in our Panda mattress topper review. 👇

Top features of the Panda memory foam topper

Value for money
Value For Money
Machine-washable
Machine-Washable Cover
30-day trial period
30-Day Trial Period
10-year guarantee
10-Year Guarantee

Advantages

  • Uniquely soft & supportive.
  • Memory foam infused with cooling gel.
  • Hypoallergenic and Oeko-Tex approved.
  • Removable & machine-washable cover.
  • Corner straps to secure topper to mattress.
  • Anti-slip base with silicone beads to keep topper in place.

Disadvantages

  • Memory foam may be too soft for some.

  • If you easily feel hot at night, a memory foam topper may be too warm for you.

  • Some customers reported off-gassing and that the straps don’t fit around extra large mattresses - we didn’t have these problems.

Is the Panda topper the right mattress topper for you?

Before we get into the nitty gritty of our Panda mattress topper review, here's a teaser:

This is an excellent mattress topper if you're looking for extra comfort and softness.

It gives you fantastic orthopaedic support, really molds to your body, and sits well on your mattress due to the corner straps and anti-slip beads.

We found this topper did a great job at making our mattress more comfortable.

It's also very budget-friendly, making this one of the best value for money toppers available in the UK.

Panda memory foam bamboo mattress topper composition

The Panda London mattress topper is rather simple in construction, but that's not necessarily bad - this is one of the best mattress toppers available in the UK! 🇬🇧

BUY PANDA TOPPER£ 99.95

The layers of the Panda memory foam bamboo mattress topper UK:

  • Breathable bamboo & polyester top cover with elastic straps
  • Third-generation gel-infused memory foam
  • Anti-slip layer with micro-silicone grips

It has a total depth of 5 cm (1.9 inches).

Panda mattress topper composition icons

Let's look at the topper core and the Panda topper cover in more detail. 👇

1. Washable bamboo & polyester top cover

The Panda memory foam topper features a soft cover made from 40% bamboo fibres and 60% polyester. 🌱

Bamboo has a silky, soft feel that’s really comfortable - it's also temperature-regulating, enhances airflow, and wicks away moisture.

Conveniently, the Panda topper cover is also hypoallergenic and naturally antibacterial, making it a great choice for people with sensitive skin and eczema [1] or those with dust mite allergies and hay fever.

Panda topper cover with straps
Straps keep your topper firmly on your mattress.

The topper is also removable and washable - simply unzip it and pop it into your washing machine for a cool wash. 🛀

You can tumble dry it on low heat, but polyester actually dries twice as fast as other fabrics, so you can also hang it up to dry.

Polyester is crease-resistant, and ironing the cover is not necessary.

2. Gel-infused memory foam

The Panda cooling mattress topper is advertised as a "Hydro Foam" product.

Hydro foam is a special blend of gel-infused memory foam.

Standard memory foam is known to retain heat, but the cooling gel in the Panda memory foam topper helps regulate your body temperature while you sleep.

This prevents you from getting too hot and overheating. 🥵

3. Anti-slip layer

On the bottom side, the Panda cover has an anti-slip base with dotted silicone beads.

These help the topper “stick” to your mattress.

Panda topper cover
The bottom part of the cover has silicone grips.

There are also elastic, adjustable straps at each corner to secure the topper to your mattress.

Some customer reviews noted that the straps are a bit tight for very thick mattresses.

But, from what we could test, they should fit comfortably on mattresses up to 30 cm (11.8 inches) deep.

Despite having a machine-washable top cover, we recommend using a waterproof mattress protector to safeguard your purchase further.

Memory foam itself shouldn’t be washed. We explore how to clean memory foam in more detail in the FAQ section of this article.

If you’re looking for fitted sheets and bedding, we’d recommend sticking to bamboo for that same luxuriously soft feel.

Panda London sells bamboo bedding:

What does sleeping on the Panda topper feel like?

We loved sleeping on the topper for our Panda memory foam mattress topper review.

At the heart of it, the Panda bamboo mattress topper is a memory foam product, meaning you'll get to experience all the unique features of memory foam.

You'll benefit from soft, cushioning support

You'll notice right away that you can sink gently into the topper and get that real feeling of soft, enveloping support. 🤗

panda topper memory foam
Memory foam really molds to your body.

Memory foam is designed to mould to your body's natural shape, relieving pressure from your neck, shoulders, and back.

The Panda London mattress topper is actually made of orthopaedically-approved memory foam, meaning you'll get the best support possible.

We can really recommend the topper for anyone struggling with back, joint, or hip pain.

BUY PANDA TOPPER£ 99.95

The effect is quite noticeable - one of our Panda topper review test sleepers struggles with back pain a fair bit, and noticed an instant relief of pressure points when lying on the topper.

Of course, a good mattress topper can't fix your problems if pains are due to exercise, bad posture, or lots of desk work, but it can still alleviate some discomforts and make sure you sleep well and pain-free. 😅

You'll experience a gentle bounce effect

Despite being made of memory foam, the Panda memory foam bamboo mattress topper doesn't have that typical "sinking into the foam" feeling.

You will get the standard memory effect and sink into the foams a bit, but you won’t feel stuck in the foam.

This is great, as it means you can move quite comfortably from side to side. 💃

BUY PANDA TOPPER£ 99.95

Our test sleepers for our Panda bamboo mattress topper review had no problem moving to and fro.

That said, memory foam does tend to "hold" you a bit more while sleeping and you're bound to sleep more still on memory foam than on other sleeping surfaces.

How deeply you'll sink into the foam will also depend on your build and weight.

While you're unlikely to have trouble moving to and fro if you're more petite, you may feel a little more stuck in the foams if you're of larger build. 😔

The topper will dampen motion

The Panda topper will instantly change your sleeping surface to one with little to no motion transfer - this means motions will be absorbed at the point of impact and won't be carried across the surface.

low motion transfer
Low motion transfer can greatly enhance your sleep.

This is great, as it'll make sharing your bed with a partner much more comfortable. 👩‍❤️‍👨

How soft is the Panda memory foam bamboo topper?

As a standard, mattress toppers make a firmer mattress softer.

So you wouldn’t necessarily be looking for a mattress topper to firm up a mattress.

Mattress toppers themselves don't specify degrees of firmness as the way the topper feels will depend very much on the mattress it is placed upon.

To test this for our Panda topper review, we placed the product on two different mattresses:

  • A firmer spring mattress
  • A softer foam mattress

Interestingly, the Panda bed topper made both mattresses more comfortable.

This wasn't the result we were expecting. 😳

How does the Panda topper perform on a firm mattress?

The Panda topper is the perfect addition to a firm mattress - it'll give you extra softness and comfort to enhance your sleep.

In our tests, it made the firm mattress softer, allowing our test sleepers to sink in more gently and alleviating pressure points.

This is particularly important for side sleepers, who often need more sinkage for optimal spinal alignment.

How does the Panda topper perform on a soft mattress?

We found that the Panda topper also made the very soft foam mattress more comfortable.

We wouldn’t necessarily say it made the soft mattress firmer but it did manage to completely change the way the sleeping surface felt.

And since the topper is made of high-quality foams and the mattress underneath was a cheaper mattress that's only 18 cm thick, it changed the sleeping experience from average to fantastic.

On that note, we do have to add a disclaimer that mattress toppers are not meant to fix bad mattresses. If you have an old mattress that's worn out or sagging, you will have to replace it.

The softer mattress we used is new and in perfect condition, but since it's thinner and softer, it wasn't the right fit for our test sleepers - the Panda memory foam topper saved the day.

That said:

We have read some customer Panda topper reviews saying that the product felt a tad too soft.

If you're worried about this, you could try the Simba mattress topper, which is often interpreted as firmer.

But, we'd also recommend you try the Panda bed topper during the 30-night trial period. 🗓

97% of customers end up completely happy and don't return Panda products, so it may just be the perfect fit for a good night's sleep for you.

Does the Panda memory foam mattress topper sleep hot?

We tested the topper during a seasonal change, with some nights warmer and other nights cooler.

Sleeping on the Panda topper definitely felt warmer than sleeping on a pocket sprung mattress but at no point did any of our test sleepers feel hot or clammy.

Instead, the Panda memory foam bamboo mattress topper created a cosy and comfortable sleeping environment.

What if you're a very hot sleeper?

If you easily feel very hot while sleeping and are prone to night sweats, we’d be careful with memory foam.

Even the best cooling memory foam toppers won’t keep you as cool as a pocket sprung mattress without a topper.

If this is a concern, we recommend you consider buying a new mattress that suits you better.

What temperature regulation technology does the Panda topper feature?

Memory foam is known for its heat-retention properties but the Panda memory foam topper uses unique temperature regulation technology to prevent you from ever feeling too hot or clammy.

  • The Hydro foam layer is infused with a cooling gel with microbeads. These expand when they get warm and create extra space between the cells to release heat.
  • The bamboo fibre cover has great thermo-regulating properties, allowing air to flow freely and keeping you cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

These features ensure good breathability and a steady airflow stream through the topper, carrying away excess heat to keep you cool and comfortable.

Panda bamboo memory foam mattress topper sizes

The Panda bamboo topper is conveniently available in a range of British and European mattress sizes to fit (just about) any bed you may come across. 🇬🇧 🇪🇺

BUY PANDA TOPPER£ 99.95

It has a height of 5 cm (1.9 inches) and weighs between 7 and 10 kg, depending on the size of your topper.

In which sizes is the Panda topper available?

The Panda topper is available in the following sizes:

  • Panda mattress topper single: 90 x 190 cm (3'0" x 6'3")
  • Panda mattress topper EU single: 90 x 200 cm (3'0" x 6'6")
  • Panda mattress topper small double: 120 x 190 cm (4'0" x 6'3")
  • Panda mattress topper UK double: 135 x 190 cm (4'6" x 6'3")
  • Panda mattress topper EU double: 140 x 200 cm (4'7" x 6'6)
  • Panda mattress topper king size: 150 x 200 cm (5'0" x 6'6")
  • Panda mattress topper EU king: 160 x 200 cm (5'3" x 6'6")
  • Panda mattress topper super king: 180 x 200 cm (6'0" x 6'6")
  • Panda mattress topper emperor: 200 x 200 cm (6'6" x 6'6")

Your topper size will have to match your mattress size.

So, for example, if you have a king-size mattress, you also need to buy a Panda topper king size, or, if you have a double mattress, you need a Panda double mattress topper.

Will the Panda topper fit on a sofa bed?

Because the Panda topper is available in so many different sizes, you're guaranteed to find a size to fit your sofa bed.

Many sofa beds are quite firm, so the Panda topper will add just enough softness for extra comfort.

Panda topper UK prices and discount codes

Single
£ 99.95
Double
£ 139.95
King
£ 159.95
Super King
£ 174.95

The Panda mattress topper UK is very competitively priced. 💷

It's available at more than half the price of other quality online mattress toppers, like the Simba Hybrid topper.

BUY PANDA TOPPER£ 99.95

We’ve consistently rated it as one of the top budget-friendly toppers available in the UK.

Panda mattress topper discount codes

Panda offers some of the most affordable bedding and sleep accessories in the UK and you'll undoubtedly get the Panda mattress topper best price deal through Panda London directly.

Even so, they'll occasionally run amazing promotions - particularly around bank holidays, Black Friday, and Christmas!

If there is a promotion currently running, we’ll display it throughout this article.

Most promotions will automatically be applied at checkout.

Panda Life NHS discounts

Panda London offers a special discount to NHS staff and Blue Light Card members. 🩺

You'll need to provide some form of identification when concluding your purchase, but we'd recommend turning directly to Panda support to assist you.

They're super efficient and friendly, too!

Panda topper delivery conditions

Panda London delivers all its products in recycled and recyclable cardboard boxes.

Delivery generally takes 2 -3 working days, but next-day delivery options are also available.

Panda box with topper
"Panda The Topper" is delivered in a cardboard box.

Delivery is free within the UK for all orders above £30, while delivery costs apply to worldwide delivery.

BUY PANDA TOPPER£ 99.95

What does the packaging look like?

There's nothing boring about Panda The Topper delivery boxes.

Panda topper in box
The only plastic used is the vacuum-sealed packaging.

All outer packaging is made from 100% recycled materials that are also fully recyclable.

The mattress topper is wrapped in plastic, though.

This is necessary as the topper is compressed and vacuum-sealed, which allows it to fit into the compact box.

To make your unpacking experience more pleasant, Panda includes cute notes at random places on their boxes.

Panda box notes
Who wouldn't feel loved with messages like this?

The Panda topper greeted us with a "Hello Beautiful" when we first unpacked it - enough to melt anyone's heart. 🥰

How to unpack your Panda topper

The Panda topper is a tad heavy - especially if you're ordering a larger size - but you should still be able to handle it alone.

We tried the UK double size and didn't have any trouble.

Panda topper half out of the box
Unpack the topper on your mattress.

To unpack:

  • Place the box on your bed, open it up, and slide the rolled-up topper out onto your mattress.
  • Using scissors, carefully cut the plastic cover and pull the topper out - make sure you don't damage the actual topper or straps!
  • Remove the rest of the plastic packaging and roll the topper out onto your bed.
  • The topper will start to expand - ours reached full size within half an hour, but Panda advises that it can take up to 16 hours to expand fully.

We noticed a kink in the topper when we first unfolded it, but this disappeared completely during the day.

Does the Panda mattress topper smell?

You may notice a chemical smell when you first unpack your Panda topper.

This is called off-gassing, a common side effect of vacuum-sealed memory foam products.

The smell isn't toxic or harmful but can be slightly unpleasant.

Cutting plastic off the unrolled Panda topper

Kink in the Panda topper

If you experience this, let the product breathe until the smell disappears.

We've tried a few Panda London products and didn't experience off-gassing with any of them, but it may happen with your product.

Does the Panda topper come with a trial period?

Conveniently, the Panda memory foam topper comes with a 30-night trial period. 🥳

This means that you can test it for a full 30 nights to see if you like it.

Is it too soft or just right?

Is it too warm or the perfect temperature?

While we can give guidance, you won’t know until you try it out for yourself.

Trial period

Sleeping on memory foam may be a bit of an adjustment.

We recommend you give it a few days at least before you make up your mind.

And if you’re not 100% satisfied?

No problem - Panda will pick up the topper again and issue you with a full refund! 💰

What is the Panda topper guarantee?

Panda products are designed to last. ✅

That’s why the Panda mattress topper comes with a 10-year guarantee.

If you have any trouble with your item, no matter what, feel free to contact Panda London’s customer support team.

If you bought your topper through a third-party retailer, you have to register your product to claim the 10-year guarantee.

Should you buy the Panda topper?

If you're wondering if Panda mattress toppers are any good, then you'll be pleased to know that the Panda mattress topper is an excellent value-for-money topper that will change how your bed feels.

We think it’s one of the best mattress toppers in the UK and a great choice for many people. 😴

The Panda topper is particularly well-suited to:

  • People looking for orthopaedic support.
  • People struggling with back and neck pains.
  • Couples who want increased motion isolation.
  • People who want a luxuriously soft sleeping surface.
  • People prone to allergies.
  • People looking for a good trial period & guarantee.
  • People who want excellent value for money.

We’d be a bit careful if you’re sensitive to soft sleeping surfaces and if you tend to sleep quite hot or are a very heavy sweater.

But luckily, you can make use of the risk-free trial period to see if the topper works for you.

Contact Panda London

Customer service: To contact Panda Life directly for complaints, support, or queries, please e-mail them at info@mypandalife.com, call them on +44 208 935 5380, or visit their live online chat.

Registered office: Panda Life Ltd, 447 High Road, N12 0AF, London, UK

Frequently asked questions

  • Can you wash the Panda topper?


    As with all memory foam products, the Panda topper cannot be washed.

    But, you can still clean memory foam.

    You will need the following:

    • Vacuum cleaner
    • Water spray bottle
    • Clean cloth
    • Baking soda
    • Laundry detergent

    Step 1: Vacuum

    Clean your memory foam topper by using a handheld vacuum cleaner with a soft brush.

    You can sprinkle some baking soda over the memory foam to help absorb any liquids or odours. 

    Leave the baking soda to set for 1 hour before vacuuming it off. 

    Flip and repeat on the other side.

    Step 2: Deep clean

    Skip this step if you don’t have any stains or severe odours to remove.

    Removing stains

    Spot clean the foam using a dash of laundry detergent and water in a bucket. 

    Use a damp cloth and blot the area

    If the stain won’t come out, sprinkle boric acid over the area and keep blotting until the stain is gone.

    Once dry, vacuum to remove any chemicals.

    Removing odours

    To remove smells, sprinkle the memory foam with baking soda.

    Let it sit overnight or for at least 8 hours.

    Then, vacuum the baking soda away.

    Step 3: Let the product dry

    Don’t forget to clean both sides of the memory foam topper.

    Do not put the topper back onto your bed unless it’s completely dry.

    It’s best to give your topper a full 24 hours to dry

    Never soak memory foam 

    You should never soak memory foam, so hand-washing or machine-washing the product is not an option - even if it would fit!

    Memory foam absorbs water and takes a very long time to dry.

    The ongoing dampness can encourage the growth of mould or bacteria, which can damage your topper and cause health concerns.

    Luckily, all Panda products come with machine-washable covers.

    You can read detailed care instructions here.

  • What are the Panda topper certifications?


    Panda as a whole focuses on sustainability in everything they do.

    You can rest assured that this brand not only does right by you but also by the world. 🌎

    Health & safety

    All Panda products carry the OEKO-Tex Standard 100 [2] certification.

    This means that they do not contain any harmful substances or toxic chemicals.

    The Panda London mattress topper is also REACH-certified [3].

    This means it complies with the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and restriction of Chemicals regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.

    All Panda products also comply with UK fire regulations. 🔥

    Sustainable materials

    Even though the Panda pillow and the Panda bed topper feature memory foam, a synthetic material, Panda as a whole focuses on sustainable and eco-friendly materials.

    Of course, they focus predominantly on organic bamboo products.

    Bamboo [4] is the fastest growing plant on the planet, uses 70% less water than cotton, and has some unique features.

    Panda also focuses on sustainable and environmentally-friendly packaging. 📦

    • Boxes are fully recycled and recyclable.
    • Products are placed in re-usable bamboo bags as far as possible.
    • Buttons are made of 100% bamboo instead of plastic.

    That said, the Panda topper is a compressed product that features a bit more plastic than most other Panda products.

    This is because the topper is vacuum-sealed to enable it to fit into a cardboard box.

    Responsible recycling

    Panda products are built to last, and you should enjoy them for an average of 5 - 10 years.

    Even so, Panda doesn’t want their products to end up in a landfill.

    Most of the materials used in Panda products are recyclable.

    But memory foam is a little more complicated and more difficult to dispose of. ♻️

    This is why Panda has set up the Panda Circle Of Life Programme.

    If your Panda product has lived a good, long life and you’d like to dispose of it, Panda will collect the product from your home (free of charge) and repurpose it responsibly.

    Giving back to panda bears

    Panda London uses bamboo in their products, but they also give back to the panda bear community.

    The company is committed to being vegan-friendly and bird-friendly, protecting animal habitats, keeping habitats chemical-free, and safeguarding existing rainforests through OneTribe [5].

    A portion of their profits even goes to animal charities to help preserve the habitat of wild panda bears. 🐼

  • Can you buy the Panda mattress topper through other retailers?


    You can buy the Panda memory foam mattress topper from other UK retailers.

    On Amazon UK, you'll see it advertised as "Panda The Topper". 

    Amazon UK also sells a wide range of other Panda London products.

    Other retailers that stock Panda products include:

    • Panda mattress topper Costco
    • Panda mattress topper Dunelm
    • Panda mattress topper Wayfair
    • Panda mattress topper Happy Beds
    • Panda mattress topper EcoHuman

    And many more.

    But, you have to double-check your purchase.

    The 30-night trial period and 10-year warranty aren't guaranteed when purchasing from third-party retailers.

    That's why we always recommend purchasing directly from the brand. 

  • What do other Panda mattress topper reviews say?


    Panda London mattress topper reviews show that this is a very highly-rated product.

    Panda mattress topper reviews on TrustPilot and Amazon are very favourable, with a 4.5-star Amazon rating and over 4,400 reviews.

    The company also has an overall TrustPilot rating of 4.7 with over 3,000 reviews. 

    You can even filter for "Panda mattress topper review TrustPilot" to read the topper-specific opinions.

    If you're unsure about whether or not to purchase, we'd recommend reading some of the other Panda topper reviews for peace of mind.

  • Can you tell me more about Panda Life?


    Panda Life, the company behind Panda London, was founded in 2015.

    The company makes environmentally-friendly products using bamboo fabric.

    They offer great value for money.

  • What makes bamboo so special?


    Bamboo is very environmentally friendly and has some pretty unique features:

    • It’s the fastest growing plant on earth and grows as quickly as you can harvest it.
    • It regenerates from its roots after having been harvested, so you don’t have to replant it.
    • It grows quite densely and takes up less space than other crops.
    • It doesn’t need any fertiliser or pesticides.
    • It releases about 35% more oxygen than other plants.
    • It requires 70% less water than cotton.

    These features make bamboo one of the best eco-friendly and sustainable materials.

  • References

Nicky

Nicky

Editor & Certified Sleep Therapist

Nicky is an experienced writer and editor with numerous qualifications. As a certified sleep coach, her interests lie in understanding how sleep problems arise from hormonal and environmental issues, particularly as part of stress and anxiety management.

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