Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper review: Body-contouring comfort for worn-out beds

Established in 2015, Panda London is a UK-based brand that uses the "magic of bamboo" to create natural, luxury sleep products, including mattresses and bedding. Its only bed topper is the Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper, which is bamboo gel-infused and designed to deliver natural, contouring comfort and advanced support.

But does it deliver — and is it deserving of a place in this year's best mattress toppers guide? To find out, I decided to use my month-long visit to see family as an opportunity to try out a twin-sized Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper.

I put the bed topper on my childhood bed, a well-worn, innerspring mattress, to put the brand's claim that it can "transform" any mattress to the test. Here are my thoughts...

Panda Memory Foam Mattress Topper: Review in brief

The Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper is thick and luxurious enough to give any mattress a makeover, especially harder beds in need of some plushness. As the brand's only bed topper, it delivers Panda's trademark bamboo-infused comfort for under $300.

As a side sleeper who needs contouring around my shoulders, I got along well with the body-hugging foam of the Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper.

However, I'm a back sleeper, too, and I didn't always feel supported along my lower back when lying in that position. I am a little skeptical about its "natural comfort" claim — the main body is memory foam and the cover is part-polyester, after all — but the removable bamboo-infused cover is washable and hypoallergenic for a cleaner sleep.

This easy-to-clean, antimicrobial mattress topper did an excellent job of giving an old mattress gathering dust in my childhood bedroom a refresh during my four-week visit. Its foam body was dense enough to add sink-in softness to my worn-out spring mattress. I recommend it to anyone who wants to change up their super-firm or old bed but isn't in the market for one of this year's best mattresses.

Panda says it uses open-cell cooling technology, and I did find the cover to feel quite soothing. However, I would describe the topper as more temperature-regulating than cooling, so hot sleepers should probably look for a mattress topper with specialized cooling capabilities.

Panda London still primarily caters to the UK market, but you can buy the Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper from third-party retailers such as Walmart and Amazon in the US. The topper is returnable for up to 90 days (depending on which retailer you buy from), but unfortunately, it does not come with a sleep trial.

As for value for money, a queen-size Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper is $229.95 at MSRP, which is below even the standard discount price of the best memory foam mattress toppers in the same size..

Panda Memory Foam Mattress Topper: Price & deals

• At MSRP, a twin is $159.95 and a queen is $229.95
• Available to buy at retailers such as Walmart and Amazon
• Retailers offer returns, but there's no official sleep trial

The Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper is a little pricier in the US than it is in the UK, with a double (the UK equivalent of a full) costing £139.95 ($189.09). A full-size in the US costs $199.95, which is only a $10 or so difference, but still worth noting.

Here's the official pricing for the Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper in all available sizes:

• Twin MSRP: $399
• Full MSRP: $199.95
• Queen MSRP: $229.95
• King MSRP: $279.95
• Californian King MSRP: $279.95

The average sale price of a queen-size memory foam mattress topper is $299, so $229.95 for a queen puts the Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper below the average foam bed topper price.

The main spots to buy the Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper in the US are Walmart and Amazon. Free shipping is available from both, and the topper is returnable for 30 days with Amazon and 90 days with Walmart. (However, there is no official sleep trial from either.)

There are no discounts on the mattress topper from either retailer at the time of publication, but you may find some price drops in the upcoming 4th of July mattress sales from Walmart and in the Amazon Prime Day mattress deals.

As the Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper is only sold through third-party retailers in the US, the benefits are a little nebulous. For instance, buying directly from Panda means you'll automatically get a 10-year warranty, but your entitlement to this becomes a little murky when buying from a third-party outside of the US.

Panda Bamboo 2" Memory Foam Mattress Topper: twin from $159.95 at Walmart
The Panda Bamboo 2" Memory Foam Mattress Topper is available in four sizes at Walmart: twin, queen, king, and Cal King. Twin XL is unavailable, but you can purchase a full at Amazon. Walmart shoppers can enjoy 90-day returns and free shipping on this mattress toper, but its unclear whether purchasing from a third party means you're still entitled to the 10-year warranty.

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Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper: Design & Materials

• Consists of a 2" layer of memory foam infused with gel particles
• Has a removable bamboo-polyester cover with elastic straps
• Naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic materials

The design of the Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper pretty much reflects its name. It consists of a 2" slab of gel-infused memory foam (called "HydroFoam"), which is encased in a bamboo-polyester cover.

The HydroFoam is infused with temperature-regulating gel particles. The brand boasts that the foam has been "revolutionized" with cooling open-cell technology, but I've been writing about memory foam long enough to know that the standard types of foams used in mattresses are open-cell, so this really isn't some advanced piece of cooling tech — just marketing.

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Still, not all memory foam is infused with heat-dissipating micro gel capsules, and the inclusion of a naturally breathable bamboo cover means the surface does feel refreshing. Bamboo is also hypoallergenic and antibacterial, making it a great choice for allergy sufferers, and moisture-wicking and odor-resistant.

The zip-up cover is removable and washable, and it also has an anti-slip base and elasticated anchor straps to secure the topper to your mattress and prevent shifting.

Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper: Performance

• Expanded instantly but needed time to take proper form
• Offers a thick body-contouring surface to hard or worn-out beds
• Supports side sleepers well; others may need something firmer

I slept on a twin-size Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper for over a month, testing it in line with our mattress methodology, which focuses on three particular areas: support and comfort, temperature regulation, and ease of set-up.

Set-up 

Similar to the best mattresses in a box, most memory foam mattress toppers are rolled up and shipped in a box to your doorstep. The Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper is no different, coming condensed and vacuum-packed in plastic.

I've unboxed plenty of mattresses and bed toppers in my time as a tester, so I don't really need instructions, but it was nice to see an instruction booklet included to explain how to unbox and care for the topper. (You'd be surprised at how many mattresses and bed toppers don't come with instructions.)

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I found the set-up to be super easy. I simply cut the plastic with scissors and then rolled the topper out onto my bed. It expanded as soon as I cut the second layer of wrapping, and it had already covered my bed's surface before I could strip the last bit of plastic.

The instructions said to leave the topper to expand for 12-16 hours. There was a slight arch running down the middle of the mattress topper, but the ridge disappeared within 12 hours.

As for off-gassing, I found it to be barely noticeable, even though the instructions warned that it may linger for up to three days.

Score: 4.5 out of 5

Comfort and support  

As someone who sleeps predominantly on my side, I loved the body-cradling, sink-in feel of the Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper. Its dense foam provided a great surface for my hard, worn-out bed, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to refresh an older bed or soften a mattress that's too firm.

I really felt my side-sleeping pressure points, such as my shoulders and hips, were soothed and supported. It's also billed as an orthopedic-grade topper, promising advanced back and neck support and optimal alignment.

However, I didn't really notice this support when sleeping on my back. I didn't feel that my hips were supported when sleeping in this position; I weigh under 130lbs and prefer a softer bed. With that in mind, back and stomach sleepers, as well as heavier sleepers, may want to look elsewhere.

Score: 4 out of 5

 Temperature regulation 

Bamboo is naturally breathable and moisture-wicking. The cover felt cool and refreshing at first touch. However, I wouldn't label it "cooling", just temperature-regulating. As with most memory foam bed toppers, the foam is infused with heat-dissipating gel to offset the material's tendency to trap heat.

The Panda mattress topper retained some heat on warmer nights, and those who don't like the sink-in feel of memory foam may find it stuffy. Otherwise, I slept cool and comfortably most nights.

Score: 4 out of 5

Panda Memory Foam Mattress Topper: User reviews

There aren't a lot of ratings for the Panda mattress topper on Amazon, but you'll find plenty at Walmart, where reviews are also taken from the Panda website.

As of June 2025, the topper has accumulated over 7,200 ratings and an overall score of 4.8 stars out of 5. There are over 6,300 5-star reviews, with many customers saying the comfort and quality were worth the price, as the topper helped relieve their joint pain.

Just over 80 reviews were overwhelmingly negative, with complaints focusing on the expansion time, the dubious claim that the topper is cooling, and some shoppers saying the memory foam was too soft.

Should you buy the Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper?

Side sleepers like me will love the body-cradling feel of the Panda Memory Foam Mattress Topper. It effectively contoured my shoulders, hips, and knees. It's also a great buy for those who want to refresh an old bed or soften a mattress that's too firm.

The anti-slip base and elasticated corner straps are also a great addition for restless sleepers, while the washable, removable Bamboo cover is helpful for those who want to add a hypoallergenic layer for their bed.

While it's not cooling, the bamboo cover provided a refreshing, temperature-regulating sleep surface for me, but very hot sleepers should look for a specialized cooling mattress topper instead. (Our top pick in that area is the Molecule CopperWELL Mattress Topper.)

Buy it if...

✅ You're a side sleeper: The body-contouring feel of the memory foam is great for cushioning shoulders and hips while side sleeping.

✅ You want to refresh an old bed or soften a firm one: The two inches of dense foam can change the feel of worn-out or hard mattresses for the better.

✅ You want a cleaner, greener protection: The topper adds an extra layer of protection to your mattress, while the sustainable bamboo cover is naturally odor-resistant, antibacterial, and hypoallergenic.

Don't buy it if...

❌ You sleep on your back or stomach: While promising advanced support, I did not feel my hips were supported enough when back sleeping. Meanwhile, stomach sleepers will find it too soft.

❌ You need a specialist cooling mattress topper: Those who overheat at night or experience night sweats won't be impressed with this temperature-neutral bed topper.

❌You're a college student in need of a twin XL: The Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper is not available in a twin XL, the standard dorm bed size, so you may want to check out the alternatives below or the best mattresses for college students.

Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper review: Alternatives to consider