Finding a mattress foam that suits your needs can be quite challenging and confusing. Especially since there are different types of mattress foam available in the market today. These types are also made by various brands, comprised of different materials, and serve distinct purposes.
If you find yourself asking which type of mattress foam is best to have, you're in luck! In this guide, we are going to list down the different types of mattress foam so you won't get confused when buying anymore. Check them out below!
What is Mattress foam?
If you are doing some research about mattresses, then you have come across the term, mattress foam. Most types of mattress foam are made of polyurethane, a polymer that you can also find on your couch. Many furniture manufacturers use foam material since it is durable and gives them the right density. Similarly, purchasing a foam mattress gives you comfort, support, and relief.
What are the Types of Mattress Foam?
The foam mattress is categorized depending on density. Thus, you will often find three common types of foam mattress. These are:
- Polyurethane foam (gives you a relatively higher density)
- Memory foam
- Latex foam
You can acquire any of the above types of mattress foam depending on your preferences and need. Below is a definition of each type of mattress foam to help you better understand the advantages and downside of each mattress foam.
What is Memory Foam?
The memory foam mattress comprises support foam, springs, and a layer of mattress foam. It offers comfort and support by reacting to the heat from your body and using it to mold your shape. Note that the memory foam mattress gradually retracts to its original shape when you wake up. Similarly, it remembers your sleeping position the following night, thus the name – memory foam.
Memory Foam Material
Most manufacturers make memory foam from visco-elastic polyurethane foam. Others use another low-resistant form of polyurethane. These compounds that were used include additives of the polymer named polyurethane blended with the polyols and monoids types of petrochemicals. Both the petrochemicals and polyurethane plastics are combined in an exothermic reaction to foam a viscoelastic liquid. The composition has no health perils. Instead, it guarantees you optimal health benefits and a peaceful night’s sleep.
A Brief History of Memory Foam Mattress
The first memory foam ever made was the visco-elastic foam. During the mid-1960s, NASA saw the need to alleviate the intense pressure that astronauts experienced in the space shuttles on their journey to and from space. Consequently, the use of memory foam gained fame and penetrated the mattress business.
What are the Benefits of Memory Foam Mattress?
Memory foam mattresses are most renowned for their comfiness and the wide range of benefits they provide.
1. Ideal support and comfort
Firstly, memory foam provides you with proper support by taking the shape of your body. It forms contours that align with your body, such that pressure is reduced on the spine area. Most customer reviews comment on how memory foam makes them feel as if the mattress was ideally made for them.
2. Offers pressure-point reprieve
The memory foam mattress guarantees you an even distribution of weight. Different body parts differ in weight, and memory foam ensures a balance in pressure at all parts. As a result, you witness reduced aches relief from strain during sleep. Most importantly, memory foam guarantees you healthy sleeping habits by promoting the rate of blood circulation.
3. Reduces the possibility of allergies
Mattress foam comprises a visco-elastic arrangement that is impervious to dust and particles. This protects you from possible allergies that might result from dust accumulation. Moreover, you do not have to regularly dust your bed since the memory foam mattress is dust repellant.
4. Creates a personal sleeping zone
Memory foam reduces the possibility of your movement and transfers during deep sleep. As mentioned earlier, the mattress forms contours from the shape of your body, minimizing tossing and turning.
5. Sag-free and no sinkage
Since the memory foam mattress takes the contours of your body and retract once you are up from bed, this attribute means that mostly the mattress retains its original shape and is more durable than other mattress types.
6. Reduces the chance for neck and back pain
Memory foam mattresses ensure that your body pressure is equally distributed throughout the mattress, assuming different body parts have different weights. With this, the memory foam reacts to the weight you exert on it and, in return, offers equal support and comfort.
Are you constantly dealing with neck and back pains during sleep? Orthopaedic pillows might help you! Check out the best orthopaedic pillows that can provide you relief.
Does the Memory Foam Mattress Get Warm?
Since the advent of memory foam mattresses, different breakthroughs have improved their functionality. One such breakthrough is temperature regulation in the visco-elastic material, which initially trapped much heat amidst night sleep.
However, the effectiveness of the heat regulation depends on the thickness of your duvet, your body temperature, and the level of room temperature. Notably, the above factors could help you decide what mattress best fits your situation.
What are the Types of Memory Foam Mattress?
There are three types of memory foam mattresses in the market that you can choose from. They comprise of the following:
1. Traditional Memory Foam Mattress
This form of mattress takes the initial form and nature of memory foam as was known in the 1970s. Little has changed in manufacturing this type of memory foam mattress, and its components are from petroleum products. You will mostly see this type mentioned by environmentalists who dislike them for their use of fossil fuels.
2. Gel Memory Foam Mattress
The gel memory foam integrates the components of traditional foam with a layer of gel. Additionally, the gel layer pivots the molding components of the traditional mattress hence optimizing the support and comfort you achieve from the cooler option of memory foam.
3. Plant-based Memory Foam Mattress
The plant-based memory foam mattress is an environmentally friendly version of memory foam. It uses plant-based ingredients such as soy to replace the petroleum products used to make the traditional memory foam mattress. The natural elements present you with equal comfort, as will the traditional memory foam mattress, only that it helps you contribute to environmental conservation.
Final Verdict: Which Type of Mattress Foam is Best?
Given the information we have provided you in this mattress foam guide, you now have a vast list of options to choose from. In which one of the famous type is the memory foam mattress, which is known for its ability to remember your sleeping positions.
Still, in choosing which type of mattress foam is best, it depends on your preference and need. As a guide, always take note of the size of the mattress. 5 and 7-sized mattresses ideally offers the best comfort and support. Also ensure that the memory form mattress is medium-firm. Lastly, other considerations may vary depending on the reason you are changing your mattress.