Budgy do you have any thoughts on whether the waterproof protection on this mattress pad would make it too hot?  Do you know what the waterproof barrier is?

 This seems to be the same one for sale at Costco that we have discussed here.  I am wondering if it is worth recommending to a friend of mine looking for a good, but not too expensive mattress pad for her daughter.

p.s. just saw that Phoenix bought this.  Did you research the waterproof issue?  That is my one concern with this mattress pad.  Maybe no problem, but not sure.

The breathable/waterproof membranes are similar in concept to the "gore-tex" idea and are made of polyurethane. They work quite well although they are probably not "quite" as waterproof as vinyl and not "quite" as breathable as cotton or other natural materials in a mattress pad application. They work quite well in jackets and clothing except in really extreme conditions. Some are better than others.

In the stores they will usually give you a demo of how waterproof they are by covering a glass of water with them and turning it upside down with no leaking. They also demonstrate it's breathability by showing you that the scent in the water can still be smelled.

Here are a few links with good information (in general about waterproof/breathable membranes).

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6174584.html

http://www.outdoors.org/publications/outdoors/2006/breatheasy.cfm

The mattress pads I have looked at are the microporous variety.

Phoenix

PS: We sent two of them (not the natura but the thinner 2 layer cotton/membrane type) to Romania where they are not available it seems to an elderly friend who has incontinence issues but didn't like the feel of completely waterproof barriers.

these are definitely my favourite "it has to be water proof pad".  If someone just needs REALLY good moisture protection though technically not water proof then I like the wool puddle pads better. 

I believe these guys are using a food grade polyethylene as the barrier, the breathability is really provided by the wool layer quilted on the top of it, this is why these should not sleep nearly as hot as most water proof protectors.

Thanks guys.  Budgy, you seem to imply though that it would be a bit hotter (everything else equal) than their regular washable wool one? 

My friend is a case where the waterproof feature is not needed.  So, ideally the waterproof feature would not be added.