The advice for bad backs when I bought my current bed was to get something with a firm mattress, which I did. It really hasn't helped me, in fact for a while it was easier to fall asleep on the sofa than in bed. This mattress topper has made it possible for me to get, if not a full night of sleep, it least a lot more sleep and usually with no back pain when I wake, where previously I often ached from the neck down. I researched memory foam pads quite well before purchasing, finally deciding on this higher 5lb density 3 inch high pad over a 4lb 4 inch one. The higher density pads are supposed to last longer, though eventually all pads begin to break up over a period of a few years. Also, the higher density is supposed to be more supportive, though without trying a taller but lower density pad, I can't say if this is true. What I can say is that this pad supports my < 140lb body quite well, though when I tried this out on the floor before putting it on the bed I was able to feel the ground while rolling over. If you're much heavier, you probably want to get a 4inch pad of the same density, or maybe opt for a memory foam mattress to replace whatever you currently have. The pad is a very light salmon pink, arrives very compressed, is really quite heavy (12lbs according to the shipping info) and smells pretty bad! I made the mistake of not vacuuming my carpet before allowing it to expand, which meant it picked up some debris which wasn't easy to remove. I would suggest putting a clean bed sheet down on the ground before allowing this to expand. I did get most of the junk off using short bursts from a compressed air canister meant for cleaning computer keyboards, though hair tends to get embedded in the foam and needed to be picked out. Getting it from the floor to the bed really needs two people. I was able to do it alone by rolling it up, then I struggled to stand it on one end as it flopped around, before letting it fall onto the bed. I do not advise doing this! I didn't want to wait two days for the out-gassing to complete before using, which meant I ended up changing and washing the sheets daily for a week, flipping the pad over on every sheet change (which isn't too easy on your own.) I ended up added a folded up heavy blanket between me and the base sheet and pillow cases for the first couple of days, which helped to stop the odor from getting to me. I also had to throw the pillows into the dryer after the first night as they'd absorbed some of the smell. If you have any disc issues (back pain, sciatica, etc.) then this may well help, but do some research first and consider asking your doctor or specialist if this would help in your situation. For my part, I think the pad has already paid for itself in the month I've been using it.

The foam panels are not cut to the correct sizing. I strongly recommend buying an oversized panel for your purposes (they're all the same price anyway) and then cutting it down. This is an extra hassle, but easy if you use an electric kitchen knife ($15, and you're saving about $200 compared to buying this elsewhere). Keep in mind that not every "larger" size is strictly larger in both length and width - check bed sizes on Wikipedia if you need to. Cal King should cut down to Queen easily. Incorrect sizing is sort of a common issue for similar products anyway...if you can deal with needing to resize it yourself, this is a great price for a thick slab of very good quality foam. When inflating, the thickness is good but a bit at either end remains pinched after several weeks. Probably a permanent defect. Since people don't normally sleep on the very edges of the bed, this is annoying but probably not a major issue. Again, this would run you about $400 elsewhere...and probably still leave you with the same concerns to deal with. As far as the effectiveness of the foam itself - the mattress will usually apply support pressure to your body at a wide range of irregular angles. The foam is very effective at regulating this effect so that support pressure is applied smoothly in response to your weight and shape. It does not precisely make the bed *softer* so much as it makes it do what it already does, better. 3" is also quite thick...very nice for your large American sleepers, but possibly too thick for smaller builds. You can't really cut it to be thinner either. Consider buying the 1" or 2" versions instead if this is you - you can stack two toppers easily if you want it thicker after all.

Let me say first that I have owned several memory foam mattresses and toppers. I have longed to own the original memory foam mattress (I think we all know who that is), but have found it much too expensive for my taste. I'm a bargain hunter so I try to find that kind of quality for less. From what I've read about the original pink "Sensus" toppers, they are very good and you'll pay the price. I don't believe this to be the Sensus topper that I've read about on other websites. The company that made the original sold the name rights to a different company. But I thought I'd give the overstock topper a chance so let's get down to details. I mathematically checked the density by weight and it does come out correctly to a 5lb density. This does not automatically mean it's high quality, however. The other important aspect of memory foam is the indentation force deflection (IFD). This basically measures the firmness of the foam. This foam does not even come close to TP. It is very soft. This may be good for some people and bad for others. I was looking for something much firmer and closer to TP brand's IFD. This topper collapses quite easily under pressure. So while it feels soft, it does not give much support. Instead of melting into the foam, you crush it flat immediately. My last topper was from a popular discount warehouse right off the shelf. It was firmer and less expensive than this one. As far as the chemical smell that some people have complained of, I didn't find it to be too overwhelming. Mine was quite tolerable. So in conclusion, if you're looking for a soft topper, you can find one for much less than the Sensus from the Big O. I wouldn't buy this one again.

This is our second memory foam topper, the last one was from *****. This one is MUCH better, the difference in quality is huge. It had no smell at all when we opened it and it expanded ready to use after being left over night. It is actually slightly bigger than our queen-size mattress, so you will definitely want deep pocket fitted sheets for over it. It also did not fit in the topper cover that worked for the Costco pad. My husband is a stomach/side sleeper and I am a back/side sleeper and we both have been sleeping great on this. I would recommend this to anyone!

I have tested several memory foam toppers this one is, by far, the best. I have slept on a genuine tempur mattress (queen) for years. We needed the extra space in our master bed, so we combined two rather firm twin coil beds in to a king (very hesitant). The shipping and arrival was very quick, as always, from Overstock.com. The topper had a slight smell but nothing too bad, we slept on it after about 15 hrs of airing out. I was concerned about the size when it arrived (too narrow and short) but it stretched out nicely to fit perfectly (78X80). The claims about heating up when sleeping (I live in FLA) can be minimized by using a quality mattress pad (Royal Velvet Big and Soft) on top of foam topper. IMHO this is the best alternative to a true TempurPedic mattress and A LOT less money. If you only take one piece of advice, buy a minimum of 5 lb memory foam, you get what you pay for!

This is probably the best foam mattress topper that Overstock sells, and the best I have found. It's higher density and is softer yet firmer to sleep on -- a comfort for my hip bone pain. I've had only one other similar to this one and it lasted 1 year with constant use on a good mattress for a 105-pound body. Two of the corners of this specific topper, which I have had for about a month, did not ever puff up and remain flat and hard about 4 inches in, but who sleeps in the corners of their mattress? The smell was quite minimal and dissipated rapidly. I am buying another one today just in case Overstock runs out of them!

This is a very comfortable topper, fits my mattress nicely. The worst part of this was that an edge didn't expand, but is only an edge, slight, and I could trim it, if it caused me problems. It was fantastic shipping time and eases any of the pain issues I have with fibromyalgia.

I purposly ordered this topper as it had the highest density poundage. 5lb. I opened it and it appeared to be excellent quality, generous fit, hopeful. I put it on my bed and laid on it. Body impressions. Same as any other memory foam topper. I spent the night tossing and turning in deep impressions. I give up. I am going back to my featherbed topper.;

Initially very comfortable. Provided great insulation from the cold of an air mattress used during the winter months. Later in the year, during spring and summer months, became much too warm to tolerate during the night. Contributed to heavy night sweats. Held moisture and developed black mold spots. Product was discarded.

We've been using this topper for over a year, and it has been great. The 5lb foam density makes a huge difference when compared to cheaper toppers. This one gives great support, while still having a soft feel. The only con is that this topper is incredibly heavy and awkward to move, but otherwise it is very comfortable to sleep on, and feels great after a year of use. Highly recommended.

• How did the color on site compare with the actual product? Good
• Please tell us about the quality of the product. Excellent
• How accurate was the on site description of the product? Accurate

Mattress arrives with an odor that you have to air out for at least 5 days, which is disclosed in the instructions. It is very heavy and takes two people to place on bed. At first is was very nice and comfy. In the winter months it's ok, but come summer, that mattress just gets too hot. We originally bought hoping to extend the life of our mattress, it only made us go out quicker and buy a new mattress. Dont waste your money.

• How did the color on site compare with the actual product? Not applicable
• Please tell us about the quality of the product. Quality okay
• How accurate was the on site description of the product? Accurate

I bought the Sensus 5 pound/3" deep queen-sized mattress topper in May 2011 and am not happy with it. Here are specific thoughts to help you decide if this product could be right (or wrong) for you: 1. I bought the Sensus to help with "pressure points" discomfort from side-sleeping on a very good, firm mattress. To my surprise, the foam topper, while helpful, did not eliminate the pressure point problem. I naively assumed that putting a soft layer on top of a firm mattress would improve my sleeping experience, but unfortunately it did not completely address pain in shoulders/hips from side sleeping. 2. The product caused other problems I did not anticipate. Within a few days of starting to use the Sensus, I began having aches in my lower and middle back. Before using Sensus, I had never experienced routine lower and mid back problems from my sleeping arrangements. As you consider whether to buy Sensus, think about whether it could actually cause pain in parts of your body that are not problematic right now. For me this was the deal breaker. 3. I think Sensus caused my lower/mid back problems because it is too soft. This is ironic, since many reviews rave about 5 pound density being the best and firmest choice. But it really isn't firm, which is kind of the point because the big selling point is that it will alleviate pressure point problems. 5 pound density may be "firm" relative to cheaper, lower density foam, but it is not truly "firm". So you've got this foam layer which is soft, but not "too" soft -- it is firm enough that you can still have pressure point issues, while being soft enough to cause lower and middle back pain. Everyone is different, but if you buy Sensus you're gambling that its softness level will relieve pressure points while not causing other back problems. Don't assume you will achieve this optimal result. Perhaps if I'd bought a 2 inch thickness the softness of the foam would have blended optimally with the firmness of my mattress to alleviate pressure point issues while not creating lower/mid-back problems. But I'll never know.... 4. The Sensus is very fragile and very unwieldy. It is extremely easy to damage it, especially in the unpacking process. You have to pry apart the foam -- it sticks pretty tightly to itself and the prying apart process is time consuming and quite tricky. The fragility of Sensus is ideal for merchants because if you want to return the product (as I do) any damage will prevent you from persuading the merchant to take it back. The 5 pound density, 3" deep topper weighs about 50 pounds in queen size, so getting it out of the package, unpeeling it into a flat rectangle, coaxing it into a fabric encasement and then getting it atop your bed is quite a job. And then if you decide to return it, the whole process has to be gone through in reverse... and you can only return it if all of this labor proceeds with no damage taking place with the topper. I assure you that it is virtually impossible to unpack, unfold, encase, install, de-install, de-encase, re-fold and re-pack this topper without some damage occurring. Therefore it is very unlikely you'll be able to return this Sensus product, so do think very carefully before buying it. Despite my best efforts, mine has several divots on the edges and some dirt in one spot where the packaging opened up en route to my house, so it is probably a total loss. With the cover that's $*** down the drain. I might try ****, or I might just send it off to a charity. Or I might just chop it into little bits and landfill it. Not sure yet what I'll do with this thing now that I'm done with it in just 3 weeks... 5. My Sensus topper has an odor. Many people write about odors emanating from various mattress toppers, and the stories are quite true. I aired my Sensus out on the floor for 4 days before installing it, and even now some 3 weeks later it is still smelly. The odor is more musty than chemical -- think mildewed linens smell more than new shower curtain smell. I am unsure whether the mildewy smell is because of how the topper was warehoused before shipment or is inherent to this type of foam... for me it is not a huge issue, but for those who really dislike odors in their sleeping products it needs to be considered. 6. When you see photos of a hand print in "memory" foam with the hand hovering over the print it has just etched in the foam, do not take those photos at face value. The photos imply the "memory" foam has a pronounced tendency to hold whatever form is pressed into it for an extended time period. But no....I tested this Sensus topper -- stuck my hand deep in the foam, held it there for 30 seconds with consistent pressure, and then quickly withdrew my hand. It takes less than 4 seconds for any trace of my hand imprint to vanish. The photos imply something much longer, and it just ain't so. With standard high density foam you get no "memory" and with this expensive stuff you get a 3.5 second "memory". Standard foam costs far, far less than this stuff, so is it worth hundreds of dollars for 3.5 seconds of "memory"?

• Did the color match the color displayed onsite? Yes
• How is the quality of the product? Depends on the person and his/her sleeping needs
• Did the description onsite accurately describe the product? Yes

This is a horrible topper. I have let it air out for months and it is still gross and toxic smelling. Going to try to return.

Best price on the internet for a 3" queen size 5lb density memory foam topper. Super comfortable. Fit perfectly. What a find! Overstock my hero!

this is the first mattress topper I ever got.....did not expect it to have such an impact on our sleep even thou the reviews were good....all I can say, when you go to bed , it feels like heaven.....now our bed that has a very old mattress (10+years) feels like the most expensive bed in the world. Definitely recommend it!

it's amazing what this memory foam topper does for our sleep comfort.

I swapped out my 4 lb density 4 inch topper for this 5 lb density 3 inch topper. Overall I do like the increased firmness, but there's also something to be said for the softness of the 4 lb foam (or was it just the extra inch?). I feel like I remember my dreams better on the 5 lb, but haven't had the same percentage of ultra-comfy deep sleep sensations as on the 4 lb. I will say that the one detraction for this item was when I received it, it had a pretty major fold in it that seemed like it was going to be problematic, however, after leaving it spread out for 2 days it completely fixed itself on its own.

great mattress --sleep much better now wife loves it too

We bought this to replace a 18 month old topper we bought from ****. The one from ***** (in store) was great. Soft but still supportive but over time my back started to get sore after a nights sleep. I chose this because it was supposed to be amazing, as you can see by the more recent reviews. This one feels more spongy, or less thank the 5lb density that is advertised. This may last longer but not what I was looking for or was led to think it was. The size of the pad was actually larger than our bed. We have a king and it hung over on every edge. Not complaining about that since I heard they may be shorter and its easier to stuff the edges in a sheet than to pretend its fits your bed. I suppose someone without back pain would like it more since you won't need the support. fyi I am 210lbs and 6'3".

I believe it's not the original SENSUS foam. Anyway I decided to buy it due to the price being considerably lower. And the results are just excellent. The topper really makes the difference. It may turn to be not so durable as the original one (it will become less "supportive" in less time), but it's cheaper, so it can be replaced more often.