In order to find the best mattress, it is necessary to consider several factors. The memory foam mattress has been gaining popularity in recent years because of its ability to offer comfort and support for people. It also gives pressure relief and joint pain relief or other health issues that cause them discomfort when they wake up in the morning. With so many options available, however, it can be difficult for shoppers who are new to memory foam mattresses. And also not sure what kind of material makes up these products as well as how they perform under various conditions. This guide will look at some of the major differences between memory foam mattresses vs regular mattresses. So buyers can make an informed decision about which option is right for them.
Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam is a unique material that can be found in many homes to support the body’s natural shape. It offers pressure-point relief and molding properties. While being temperature sensitive for an optimal experience with your muscles at different temperatures throughout sleep hours.
Memory foam is a great choice for anyone who suffers from back pain or joint discomfort. When you lie on memory foam, your body temperature and weight soften the supportive layer of the mattress. So that it hugs around, almost like an embrace. The evenly distributed pressure relieves all points in contact with its surface, making these mattresses very beneficial to those suffering from any type of spinal alignment issue.
Also, trying to relieve their aches anywhere else throughout our bodies, too. Side sleepers will enjoy comfortable support because of enhanced lumbar spine positioning offered by most types made today.
Varients
Memory foam mattresses are designed to contour the body’s shape and respond with increased comfort. They also trap heat, but some manufacturers add cooling features like gel or plant oils that help reduce this effect. Let us look at all the variants one by one.
Traditional Memory Foam
Memory foam is a popular material for the mattress industry, and it has many types. One type is open-cell memory foam with increased airflow to combat heat retention issues.
Plant-Based Memory Foam
In order to have a cooler sleeping experience, some bed makers substitute plant oils for petroleum in their memory foam.
Gel Memory Foam
Gel memory foam contains liquid gel or gels that are swirled into the mattress, which will decrease its temperature. The tiny capsules filled with this cooling gel start out as a solid. They transform to become your body heat energy-absorbing whatever is left on top of it when you lie down at night. These phase-changing materials contain “PCMs” made up of some synthetic materials not yet known as they’re harmful.
Memory Foam with Cooling Additives
Minerals like graphite and copper are added to memory foam for their ability to conduct heat. This allows you to sleep cool through the night with no sweating.
Highlights
Pros
- Memory foam mattresses provide excellent cradles for your body, absorbing the weight of a sleeper in such a way that promotes a more restful and satisfying sleep.
- This mattress is excellent for improving blood pressure and circulation.
- The mattress provides adequate pressure point support to keep your body in the best shape possible.
- The mattress is scientifically proven to support your natural spinal alignment and prevent back pain.
- The memory foam mattresses are hypoallergenic and dust mites cannot enter into the dense material.
Cons
- The memory foam mattress is made with artificial and synthetic material.
- Mattress made with polyurethane may become toxic for health.
- The density of foam becomes the reason for overheating of the mattress. So, cooling gels are infused in some type of memory foam mattresses.
- The unique curve of the Kegel can take time to learn and master because it's so durable.
Regular (Spring) Mattress
Spring mattresses were first introduced in 1871 and gained popularity because of their bounce. Prior to this, beds used to be similar large pillows stuffed with materials like cotton or hay. Which provided insufficient support for sleeping on them. The addition of a coil layer improved matters greatly.
Spring mattresses are a type of bedding that uses metal coils or springs for support, which is encased in foam. This layer can be topped with an upholstery comprising different types and levels/combinations. It is done to ensure your comfort level doesn’t go above what you want it to plushness. The quilted fabric on top decides how soft the mattress feels underneath when sleeping. Some feel like clouds, while others may have more defined edges from their individual materials used, such as cotton vs polyester blend fabrics.
Mattresses are constructed of varying layers, which all come together to provide comfort for sleepers. The most important component is the coil system. Coils act as a foundation and promote airflow within the mattress. While also providing support during tossing-and turning motions that can be caused by stomach sleeping or other positions.
However, different types/gauges create differing levels of coziness, depending on what each person needs at any given time. Some prefer a softer feel others will choose firmer ones if they’re looking more durable enough.
Varients
There are many types of springs and coils used to make spring mattresses. The way these layers, arrangements, or connections within a bed determine what type it is – such as Bonnell coil, Offset coils, Continuous Loop Pocket coin-on coil Innerspring.
Bonnell coil
The Bonnell coil mattress has an hourglass shape of the coils in this mattress provides excellent support for your spine. The affordability makes it one popular option, but there are other types that last longer and don’t cost as much money.
Offset coils
Offset coils provide durable support, but they are not a good option for couples. The connected mattress creates movement more than offsetting your body weight and can cause discomfort after an extended period on the bed.
Continuous coil
Continuous coils are one big wire that gets twisted into thousands of smaller wires to form a layer. This creates an extremely durable bed, but also transfers motion. Because it’s all connected so well together, it is important to keep this point in remembrance while you select this type.
Pocket coil
Pocket coils are the latest version of innerspring beds. They have a fabric wrap around each individual coil, reducing motion transfer significantly. Also,’ make this type is preferred among those who want to sleep soundly without disturbance from other people’s movements next door or across town.
Coin-on coil
The coin-on-coil comfort toppers are created with two layers of coils that provide better support than other types. The extra layer in the middle reduces bounce and enhances stability, so your back will never be sore again.
Highlights
Pros
- Firmness is customizable according to the support, needs, and weight of the sleeper.
- Some people like the feeling of an innerspring system and find it more comfortable than memory foam as it is denser.
- Pocketed coils reduce motion transfer and don’t trap body heat, giving the wearer a cooler feel.
- At an affordable price, these mattresses are perfect for those on a budget.
Cons
- The lack of back support and contouring means you may experience the onset of pain faster.
- Lack of pressure relief causes many people to wake up with aching joints and numb arms.
- In the first year, 16% of an innerspring mattress' bounce will be lost. This means that despite being comfortable to sleep on at first. Spring mattresses sag rapidly after only a few months.
Summary
Now that you know all the merits and demerits of both memory foam mattresses and regular mattresses, you can select the best type suitable for your needs. If you require more warmth, more support, relief of pressure points, and lastly, if you are comfortable with a heavy weighing, then memory foam is for you.
Whereas if you need a cooling effect, less support, bounce, and can bear the noise that regular mattresses have, then go ahead with a regular mattress. This comparative information will help make an informed decision on which mattress to buy.
FAQ
Memory foam can be hot. If you buy a low-quality memory mattress, your heat will not be drawn away but stay near the top. It will take time to adjust if sleeping on an old spring for most of our lives we get accustomed quickly without waking up at night. Sweating from hot spots in between layers when trying something new like this type of material doesn’t mean giving up everything feels change sometimes isn’t easy.
Memory foam is durable because it does not have coils to break. Spring mattresses may not hold up as well, though. The reason is springs and pillars are constantly poking outwards, which can cause rapid wear-and-tear. In addition, these items offer little support in general, so you want something with better longevity.
Memory foam mattresses are known for their durability, and that’s mainly because they last so long. A typical one will cost you perhaps eight to ten years before it needs to be replaced.
If you want to know more about different sleep-related disorders check out here.
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To see the comparison of different types of mattresses click here.