What Is A Memory Foam Mattress?

More and more, we hear the advice of orthopedic specialists and somnologists to buy a memory foam mattress. What are their benefits, and how they differ from traditional models? Let us find out together.

What is a memory foam mattress?

A memory foam mattress will give you a comfortable sleep, allow a good rest and restore strength and health. The mattress industry today offers many products made with the use of innovative technologies and developments. One of them is memory foam, also known as “smart foam” or tempur.

The memory foam mattress appeared as a result of NASA developments. NASA created material with a memory effect for space purposes. The material was used to reduce stresses on the body of an astronaut. Later Tempur-Pedic, a company from Sweden, became interested in this innovative development.

After further refinement, medical facilities used memory foam as a filler for hospital mattresses and pillows. This technology allowed the sleeping products to become orthopedic. Today memory foam is actively used by many factories engaged in the industrial production of sleeping goods.

Many mattress buyers are interested: what brings the memory effect, and how it forms? Memory foam is a 100% synthetic material with a porous, cellular structure. It consists of polyurethane foam with hydrocarbon components. Under pressure, the material follows the shape of the sleeper and then returns to its original state.

Memory foam is divided into two main types:

• Thermoelastic ortho-foam. Repeats the shape of the body under the thermal influence. You can find this material in budget products.
• Viscoelastic. The material can repeat the contour of the body in a few seconds, regardless of temperature. Mainly used in mattresses of medium to premium quality — products with such filler are in the high price category.

Long development and testing of memory foam exclude the presence of harmful and allergenic components.

Pros And Cons Of Memory Foam Mattresses

Consider the pros and cons of memory foam mattresses.

Pros:

1. The presence of anatomical effect;
2. Safe composition;
3. The optimal option for a bed of a couple. That is because of minimized sagging of the mattress on the partner’s side;
4. Durability;
5. Warranty — more than eight years.

A characteristic feature of memory foam sleeping products is the ability to envelop protruding parts of the sleeper’s body. Whoever sleeps on such mattress has a feeling of lightness and even floating in weightlessness.

Cons:

1. The high cost of memory foam products;;
2. It creates a warming effect, which is not always wanted;
3. Not everyone likes the enveloping effect;
4. Possible allergic reactions to impregnating components;

Memory Foam Mattress Types

Some factories produce hybrid mattresses with memory foam combined with spring blocks, coconut fiber, latex, bamboo, etc. Depending on materials, these mattresses have different firmness levels determined by the density of the foam. The denser the foam, the stiffer and more durable the final product will be.

Memory foam mattresses can be:

• With independent innerspring (pocket) section in the center and memory foam on the sides;
• Non-spring, double-sided (flippable) designs with different firmness levels: on one side dense foam layers and softer foam layer on the other side;
• Designs with a combination of memory foam and different filler types — bamboo, latex, coconut coir, etc.

Memory foam mattresses are characterized by a melting surface under thermal influence. They envelop your body in comfort and provide you with pressure relief of the muscles of the back, neck, and legs. By sleeping on such mattress, you do not feel any back pressure — it is like sleeping on a soft cloud.

We should note, this effect you can feel only on mattress with adequate thickness, at least 3 to 6 inches. The floating effect will be more tangible the greater will be the thickness of the memory foam. Of course, the cost of such products will be higher.

Tips When Choosing Memory Foam Mattress

You can buy memory foam mattress in two ways:

= Through the online store. Many people like to buy in the online store because of the time savings and the possibility of one-step comparison of products of different brands, although it takes place virtually. If you decide to make such a purchase, ask the manager about the return and exchange conditions.

= Through a store of direct sales. The other variant would be to buy a mattress in a mattress store, which offers a test period. Testing at home for 1–3 days allows you to determine if this mattress is suitable for you.

Also you should consider the follow, when choosing a memory mattress:

• Decide what firmness level you need in your future mattress;
• Try to test the product you like. Sleep on it for some trial nights and assess the feelings, feel the pressure of the foam;
• Examine several models of different brands with the chosen firmness as it varies between models and from manufacturer to manufacturer;
• Study the composition of the mattress for possible allergens and toxic materials, such as formaldehyde;
• Study the product’s recommendations for use, guides, and contraindications;
• Pay attention to important details, such as the presence of handles and the ability to remove the cover.
• Find out information about warranty, return and exchange options, and shipping costs;
• Read consumer reviews. By reading customer reviews, you can get reliable information about the product. But be aware that opinions of mattress owners may be very different. Many of them may not feel the declared effect of enveloping, and someone may not like sleeping on memory foam at all.

Our Recommendation

We think that it is worth buying a double-sided memory foam mattress with different firmness levels by its sides. That way, there are more chances you could find a comfortable sleeping surface. Also, we advise you not to save money on buying a certified, high-quality product. That will guarantee you will receive the perfect night’s sleep you deserve.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Allrightsleep team. Our mission is to help you find your best mattress. For more great articles, buying guides and latest mattress picks visit Allrightsleep’s homepage.