Memory foam mattresses are a fast-growing alternative to innerspring mattresses because they contour to the body and provide excellent comfort and support.
What is Memory Foam?
While we typically associate memory foam with sleep products, its original production was geared toward use for NASA in the 1970’s. What many don’t realize is that it was never used in the space program. Many falsely claim that it was used by astronauts who are subjected to high G forces. Rather, it was actually a material that would help both pilots and passengers increase their chances of sustaining crashes and other impact more safely. The foam is visco elastic, and this makes it able to isolate motion and conform to the natural curvature of the body.
It didn’t take long for manufacturers to recognize the quality of this type of comfort, and it quickly made its way into the mattress industry. Since this time, there have been a number of modifications made to traditional memory foam to ensure the best quality for your needs.
Types of Memory Foam
There are many types of foam on the market. If you believe you want to go with memory foam, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions as there are different types available which each feature their own unique benefits. Before you continue browsing, I’d first like to introduce you to these types and give you a little bit of information about each in order to help you narrow down your choices.
Traditional Memory Foam
Introduced in the mid-1990’s
Designed for cradling support to enhance circulation and decrease stress on your joints
Known to absorb heat, so this may not be a good choice if you tend to sleep hot
Open Cell Memory Foam
Has a quicker response, so you can avoid that “sinking in” feeling often associated with traditional memory foam.
Better able than traditional memory foam at dispersing heat.
Able to respond to your body temperature to keep it properly regulated for restful sleep.
Gel Memory Foam
Helps in the reduction of pressure points
Better at dispersing heat.
Many mattresses on the market combine several layers of various materials, and their properties work together to offer a combined unit that offers different levels of support and comfort. As you shop your memory foam options, it’s important to keep in mind that memory foam is ideal for use in the comfort layers. Due to its properties, this material does not serve well as a foundation.
Despite the type of memory foam you choose, they all offer some similar features on the comfort layer. This typically consists of the top half of the mattress layers, and just a few of the benefits include:
Due to its ability to conform to your body, it offers the contour you need to reduce pressure points. In fact, many praise this material as being the best in point elasticity.
It offers a level of comfort many consumers enjoy and don’t experience with other foam types.
Works well with other foams in the provision of conformity and contour while minimizing negative aspects such as decreased breathability and the feeling you are sinking into the mattress.
Memory Foam Mattress Choices:
1 Find the Right Size for Your Bed
Memory foam mattresses come in all the standard bed sizes, so you can easily start narrowing down your search by choosing the size that will fit the bed frame you have. If you don’t have a bed for your mattress, be sure to read our bed buying guide.
2 Choose the Foam Type That Sounds Appealing to You
Traditional memory foam is the most popular type of foam, and you’ll have the most mattresses to choose from if you opt for this type. It reacts to your body heat, forming to your unique shape to reduce pressure points and give you the most restful sleep you’ve ever had. However, if you tend to get uncomfortably hot while you sleep, you’ll want to choose a gel memory foam mattress. Gel memory foam is infused with gel beads, which allows for better air flow without losing any of the comfort of traditional memory foam. If you prefer a more natural material, you’ll want to choose a latex memory foam mattress. As long you don’t have a latex allergy, you’ll appreciate that this is a eco-friendly choice.
3 Pick the Density Based on Your Sleep Position
The higher the density of the memory foam, the firmer the mattress will be. Memory foam bedding generally comes in 2-pound to 5-pound densities. If you sleep on your side, you’ll want a less dense mattress that will better curve with your shoulders and hips. Stomach sleepers and back sleepers will want the support of denser memory foam.
4 Find the Thickness That Will Give You the Level of Support You Need
Memory foam mattresses aren’t usually solid memory foam, so you’ll need to choose the thickness you want. Because memory foam is so supportive, you’ll only really feel the top 3 or 4 inches of it. If you’ve chosen a lower density, however, you may want thicker memory foam because you’ll sink into it a bit more.
5 Find the mattress top for the way you sleep
As with density, your sleep position matters the most when you choose a mattress top. Side sleepers could always benefit from a little padding on their hips and shoulders, so either a plush top or a pillow top would be a good choice. A Euro top is similar to a plush top but a bit firmer and tighter. A tight top will provide the firmest surface of these, which is best for back sleepers
Complete mattress dimension and size guide- A Comprehensive Overview
While picking the right mattress model is a very important decision to make sure you get great sleep, so too is making sure you get a mattress that is the appropriate size.
You want to make sure you have enough sleeping surface area for you and your partner (if you have one). You also want to make sure that there is enough extra room in your bedroom so that you can move around, hang out, and relax.
Single Mattress
90cm x 190cm
Small Double Mattress
120cm x 190cm
Double Mattress
135cm x 190cm
King Size Mattress
150cm x 200cm
Euro Mattress
160cm x 200cm
Super King Mattress
180cm x 200cm
There are various options available from which you can choose the right sized bedding to cater your needs. However, make sure that you do have some walking space in your room which will keep it spacious too. Otherwise, an oversized mattress in a small room will give a feeling of congestion.