The right mattress material can make all the difference in getting a good night’s sleep. Some of the most common materials to choose from right now are foam and spring. Learning the difference between the two will help you determine which is best for you.
Type of Foam Mattresses
Foam mattresses are durable, light, and known for providing proper support and excellent pressure relief. However, there are several different types of foam mattresses in the market, including:
- AirFoam- This material has a similar appearance to a traditional mattress, but the core consists of microscopic air pocket layers rather than metal springs and wood framing. The air trapped in the foam offers superior support and bounce.
- Memory Foam- Memory foam mattresses consist of multiple layers of different densities of foam. It can mold around the contours and fill gaps in your body. They can also absorb motion, so a partner that tosses and turns does not disturb the other.
- Polyfoam- Polyurethane Foam (also known as polyfoam) is an inexpensive foam mattress. It can be in the form of a regular grade, high grade, or high resiliency. You can compress polyfoam very quickly due to its low density. Since it is lightweight, it is easier to maneuver so that retailers can save on shipping costs. It can provide softness and support, but as the name suggests, is made with polyurethane.
- Foam Latex– Latex creates a firm, uniform bouncy support by aerating a sap-like substance to create bubbles. The material used to make a foam latex mattress can either be natural or human-made.
Spring Mattresses
Spring mattresses are the most traditional mattress type, a predecessor to foam mattresses. Spring mattresses have metal coils suspended within the other materials of the mattress. These innerspring or coils, with s-shaped wires, contract as weight is put on them. They provide support for the body by pushing back a similar amount of pressure that the body applies. Spring mattresses tend to be more responsive to movement than memory foam and do not absorb movement.
Support
While both offer decent support, those with back and neck issues are usually better off using foam. Foam mattresses can form around the shape of your body. That is what makes them better at naturally curving to your spine than spring mattresses. Spring mattresses are better suited for heavier people.
Temperature
Foam mattresses typically tend to be worse at keeping you cool at night. That is because foam mattresses absorb the heat and use it to make themselves more malleable. By being malleable, the foam mattress can mold itself to the contours of your body.
Heat retention can be an issue for people with a body temperature problem or who live in hot climates. Springs mattresses are better at creating a natural airflow. Alternatively, there are foam and hybrid options that also offer a night of cooler sleep, including the air foam variety.
Durability
If you’re looking for a long-hauler, foam outlasts spring mattresses, which are prone to get worn down easier than foam. Their durability is why foam mattresses have more prolonged warranties than spring mattresses. Even longer-lasting springs tend to wane sooner than foam since they become less comfortable with age. As they age, spring mattresses tend to lose their form while the metal coils start to poke and sag.
Price
Many people believe that spring mattresses are always cheaper than foams. However, as foam becomes more popular, the prices have evened out significantly. There’s a spring or foam mattress available for most budget needs, so it generally doesn’t play a huge factor when determining which mattress to buy anymore.
Foam mattresses are vacuum sealed into boxes, which makes online purchasing and shipping quick and easy. Whether you’re in the market for a twin or California king, you can order a 12-inch mattress in a box at affordable prices online. Many distributors even allow customers to try out their purchase in a trial.
How Would You Like Your Sleep?
There are many mattress options in the market; your choice will largely depend on your sleeping needs. How much bounce or support do you need? Is the temperature an issue? How durable do you need your mattress to be? These are all factors you can use to decide on the mattress you should choose. Take your time and weigh all the options because you will spend at least a third of your life on the bed you choose.
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