Lucid vs ViscoSoft: Which is the best foam mattress topper with cooling gel?
Shopping for a cooling mattress topper? Here's how to choose between the Lucid Gel Memory Foam and ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid
The Lucid Gel Memory Foam Topper and the ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid Mattress topper both use cooling gel-infused foam to add a body-contouring feel. In short, they're ideal for making a firm mattress feel softer. Outside of that there are some key differences between the two, all of which we'll explore in this Lucid Gel Memory Foam Topper vs ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper comparison.
Here we'll be looking at key areas such as price, design, cooling features, comfort, and support, providing our expert opinion on how the Lucid Gel and ViscoSoft models compare to help you choose the best mattress topper for your bed.
Just keep in mind that if your current mattress is sagging, neither of these softer toppers can help. In that case you're better off choosing a firmer option. And if your bed is over eight years old and sagging, we actually recommend investing in a new mattress instead. Our guide to this year's best mattresses for all budgets and sleepers contains our top recommendations.
For now, let's get started with our Lucid Gel Memory Foam Topper vs ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper comparison, with today's best prices for both highlighted below ahead of this year's Labor Day mattress sales and deals.
Lucid Gel Memory Foam vs Viscosoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper: Specs
Header Cell - Column 0 | Lucid Gel Memory Foam Topper | Viscosoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper |
---|---|---|
Type: | Memory Foam | Hybrid |
Materials: | Gel-infused memory foam | Gel-infused memory foam, down-alternative fill |
Firmness: | Plush | Plush |
Depth: | 2", 3", or 4" | 3" or 4" |
Trial: | 30 nights | 90 nights |
Warranty: | 3 years | 5 years |
Price (MSRP): | From:$49.99 | From:$184.95 |
Lucid Gel Memory Foam vs Viscosoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper: Price and trials
- Lucid's topper is best for small budgets, with a 2" queen just $69.99 at MSRP
- The Serene Hybrid is always 25% off, with a 3" queen regularly $179.95
- ViscoSoft offers a 5-year warranty, while Lucid offers a 3-year warranty.
The budget to lower-mid Lucid Gel Memory Foam Topper earned a spot in our memory foam mattress topper guide for its amazing value for money. With a starting MSRP of $49.99 (for a twin 2" model), this gel-infused foam bed topper is always discounted at Lucid Mattress.
The standard deal is 15% off, which usually reduces a queen-size 2" model to $59.49 down from $69.99. However, you can often catch a 30% flash sale at Lucid which will bring the same model and size to $48.99, making it one of the best cheap mattress toppers under $50.
These flash sales (known as "daily deals") are hard to predict, however, as Lucid seems to throw them at random. Still, even if you only catch their standard 15% off discount (which is automatically added to cart), you're still getting a budget-friendly bed topper.
The ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid, on the other hand, is a mid-range topper that's regularly 25% off at ViscoSoft. This means a 3" queen-size is usually $179.95 (down from $239.95), while a 4" queen is $189.95 from $254.95. This deal is pretty evergreen, so you'll never have to be too strategic about when you buy.
In terms of extras, both Lucid and ViscoSoft offer free shipping and warranties. Lucid offers a 3-year warranty while ViscoSoft's warranty lasts five years, which is a pretty good indication of how long these mattress toppers will last before needing to be replaced.
Lucid also gives customers a month to try out their topper with a 20-night sleep trial. While ViscoSoft doesn't offer a sleep trial per se, it does have a 90-day money back guarantee, which can be seen as a 90-night sleep trial.
Lucid Gel Memory Foam Topper: was from $49.99 now $34.99 at Lucid Mattress
While there's often a 15% off discount added to cart when buying this topper at Lucid, there's currently a flash 30% off deal. Right now, a queen-size 2" model is reduced from $69.99 to $48.99. This deal is hard to predict, so we suggest taking advantage while you can. Plus, you'll get a 3-year warranty, a 0-night sleep trial, and free shipping.
ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper: was from $184.95 now $139.95 at ViscoSoft
Thanks to a regular 25% off sale on all ViscoSoft bed toppers, a 3" queen is now down to $179.95 (was $239.95). Benefits include a 5-year warranty, free delivery, and 90-day money back guarantee.
Lucid Gel Memory Foam vs Viscosoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper: Design and materials
- The Viscosoft Serene combines gel memory foam with down alternative fill
- The Lucid Gel Memory Foam has a simple one-layer design with no cover
- The Viscosoft Serene includes a washable pillow top and four anchor straps
The Lucid Gel Memory Foam Topper has a very simple one-layer design consisting of a slab of memory foam. The topper has no cover, which may pose some issues for people who want to protect the topper, but the good news is that you can purchase a machine-washable cover separately.
The memory foam topper has a bright blue color and comes in three thickness options: 2", 3", or 4". We reccomend going for the 4" model for maximum comfort and plushness. The foam is CertiPUR-US certified, hypoallergenic, and perforated to encourage airflow. It's also infused with gel to pull heat away from the body.
As a hybrid topper, the ViscoSoft Serene has a more complex design consisting of two layers: a 1.5" down alternative fill pillow top and 2.5" of gel-infused memory foam. To keep the pillow top aligned with the foam layer (and to stop the topper from shifting), an elasticated skirt and anchor straps are included in the design. However, our reviewers did find the topper to still shift and become misaligned.
That said, the down alternative/memory foam hybrid design is still unique and customizable thickness options are available, with ViscoSoft offering either a 3" or 4" design. The pillow top is also removable and machine-washable for an easy clean.
Lucid Gel Memory Foam vs Viscosoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper: Comfort and support
- Both toppers provide a plush, body-hugging feel for side sleepers
- The Serene Hybrid is also supportive enough for back sleepers
- Neither are firm enough for stomach sleepers
When sleeping on the 4" model of the Lucid Gel Memory Foam topper for our Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper review, our reviewers found this topper to be exquisitely plush and the best for side sleeping.
The foam topper hugged the lead tester's body and distributed her weight evenly when sleeping on her side, and offered deep pressure relief to the shoulders.
However, back and front sleepers will find there is no lumbar support when sleeping on their stomach or back.
While the Serene Hybrid is also a medium-soft topper, testers in our ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper review were surprised how it offered both pressure relief to side sleepers and enough support for back sleepers.
The pillow top provides sink-in softness, but the bottom layer of foam combines both comfort and support. However, this topper should not be placed on a mattress that's already soft and isn't recommended to front sleepers.
Lucid Gel Memory Foam vs ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper: Cooling features
- Both toppers use memory foam infused with cooling gel
- Our testers found the Lucid's ventilated design regulates temperature well
- The ViscoSoft's down-alternative fill increased airflow for a breathable sleep
When testing the Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper, our review panel were impressed with how cool it slept for a budget memory foam topper. They credit the above-average temperature regulation to the ventilated design that features airholes, along with the heat-dissipating gel infusion.
While there were some hot nights where some heat was trapped, nothing was unbearable and the topper kept sleepers cool no matter how warm the room was.
Like the Lucid topper, the ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid uses gel-infused foam to minimize heat retention, with our testers never feeling hot when trying out this topper. The down-alternative fill also encouraged a good amount of air circulation for a breathable sleep.
Lucid Gel Memory Foam vs Viscosoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Toppers: Which should you buy?
Buy the Lucid Gel Mattress Topper if...
✅ You're a side sleeper: Our review called this toper "exquisitely plush", make it ideal for side sleepers who need to soften a firm bed.
✅ You need to soften a dorm bed: This budget topper is great for adding softness and extra protection to hard dorm bed for a few years at a low price.
✅ You're on a tighter budget: This topper is one of the best budget-friendly bed toppers on the market, where you can snag a 3"queen for under $100.
Buy the ViscoSoft Mattress Topper if...
✅ You share a bed: The topper isolated motion well, meaning you won't feel the movement of a restless partner.
✅ You sleep on your back: Our reviewers were surprised that such a plush topper could offer great back support.
✅ You sleep hot: The combo of breathable down alternative fill and the cooling gel-infused foam should keep you feeling fresh at night.
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Frances Daniels is a PPA-accredited journalist and Sleep Staff Writer at Tom's Guide with an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University. Her role includes covering mattress and sleep news and writing sleep product reviews and buyer's guides, including our Best Hybrid Mattress 2024 guide. She is hugely interested in the relationship between good sleep and overall health, interviewing a wide array of mattress and sleep experts to create well-informed articles about important topics such as nutrition, sleep disorders (from sleep apnea to night terrors), lucid dreaming, sleep hygiene, and mattress care. She is also our specialist on mattress toppers — producing mattress topper reviews and taking care of our Best Mattress Toppers 2024 guide — and takes the lead on all content related to fiberglass-free mattresses for a clean, non-toxic sleep.