It feels a bit like a shower curtain at first but it's fairly easy to get your mattress in there. I didn't realize the mattress had to slide inside of the cover but it wasn't too hard to do with a little help. I think this would be great if you live in a damp climate, have a drafty home or have issues with allergies. It's not too thick, it's just enough to protect your mattress from any issues. The surface is very smooth. I like that it's waterproof and that the material fully protects the mattress, especially from allergens.