If you are in the market shopping for a mattress, chances are you’d be confused about whether to choose a memory foam or innerspring bed. The reason is simple: mattresses with springs are the most popular of all bed types but visco-elastic foam has grown in popularity over the years (since being introduced by NASA in 1966).
The aim of the agency at the time was to make
aircraft cushions safer but in the 1980s, the foam was released to the public
and became commercialized. Charles Yost, the inventor called it ‘slow spring
back foam’ but it has gone through several modifications including being used
in medical applications.
Innersprings, just as the name suggests, consist of springs
or pocket coils which are insulated by layers of fabric, to provide an even
sleeping surface while memory foam is made from polyurethane, a synthetic
material made from petroleum products. Unlike regular polyurethane foam, memory
foam is temperature and weight sensitive. Temperature-sensitivity means it
responds to body heat by molding itself to the shape of a person’s body within
minutes.
Memory
Foam is Right for You If:
* You want excellent pressure relief from aches in the back,
joints, neck, shoulders as well as hips, as many users with these health challenges
report an improvement upon using this foam
* You want a bed that will last long and require little
maintenance. This is unlike spring mattresses (which you have to flip now and
then)
* You want a sleeping surface that eliminates motion
disturbance between partners who sleep on the same bed
* You want a bed that will contour to your body, distribute
your weight evenly and reduce tossing and turning
* You have set aside a
substantial sum of money as it tends to be expensive
A
Spring Bed is Right for You If:
* You want a bouncy feeling on your mattress. This is unlike
visco-elastic foam which you just sink into
* You prefer a bed made with springs, instead of foam
* You don’t want to spend much
on a mattress
* You hate cushions that sleep
hot, like most memory foams do (however newer brands have taken care of this
problem with the open-cell technology and the gel-infused memory foam)
If you decide to go for memory
foam, go with a 5Ibs density or more. Check if the foam has gone through
stringent industry certifications like the Certipur-US or Oeketex. Also read
the reviews of actual users of the product and check the warranty and return
policies of the company you want to buy from. Can the product be returned after
a trial period? If it can, at whose cost will that be? If it can’t, how many
years warranty does the product have? This will enable you to choose carefully.
Popular visco-elastic foam
brands include Tempur-pedic, Sleep Number, Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Signature
Sleep, Dynasty Mattress, Sleep Innovations, Dream Foam, Lucid by Leninspa,
Ultimate Dreams and so many others. You can investigate these brands online and
even check with local mattress stores. Get a feel of these brands by lying on
them and if you want to avoid the stress of going from store-to-store, get your
credit card and buy a bed online. Many people have taken this risk without
regrets.
Conclusion
What you sleep on doesn’t
really matter –be it visco-elastic foam or a bed made with springs- what
matters is the personal comfort and support you derive from it. If a mattress
serves your needs and that of your spouse, I’ll suggest you stick to it instead
of following the fad and the dictates of our time.
