Are you looking to replace your old mattress? Are you wondering which type of mattress will suit you best? Are you choosing between memory foam and spring mattress?
As much as trivial a choice of mattress may seem, your decision will impact the quality of your sleep and health. Some people require hypoallergenic mattresses. Others need something that provides the right level of comfort for their existing back conditions.
Of the different kinds of mattresses available, there are two that stand out. There are the memory foam and the spring mattress. Both have their unique qualities.
Both offer pros and cons.
How do you pick between the two? How can you tell which one is the best mattress for you? Continue reading below as we give you a detailed comparison of the two.
Choosing the Right Mattress
Choosing the right mattress can spell the difference between getting a good night’s sleep and aggravating lingering back pain. It also affects the quality of your afternoon naps. Click on the link to get more information on napping.
Choosing between memory foam and a spring mattress is a serious task. You need to look into some key considerations before making a decision. You need to understand the science behind the comfort they offer.
The Memory Foam: What’s In It?
The technology behind the memory foam mattress traces its roots back in the mid-1960s. It was a time when a team of NASA engineers designed a custom seat for their astronauts. The directive was to create a seat capable of relieving pressure from the gravitational forces during takeoff and landing.
Memory foam eventually made its way to hospital beds and wheelchairs. Today, it is one of the most popular types of mattresses in the market.
To further appreciate it, let us break down the different elements that make a memory foam mattress. This type of mattress features multiple layers of foams. These layers come in different densities.
It is typically polyurethane that makes up the foam. It works by adjusting its mold to the contour of your body. In turn, it retains the shape of your body for a few seconds before slowly bouncing back to its original shape.
This feature works wonders for people suffering from joint and back pains.
The Spring Mattress: What’s Inside?
As for the spring mattress, it dates back to the late 1800s when the steel coil used in car seats transitioned to innerspring mattresses. Unlike the memory foam, spring mattresses come with more complicated construction.
A layer of coils in varying densities provides the mattress’s main structure. A foam layer encases these coils to bring more comfort. The level of comfort comes from the kind of upholstery of the foam layer.
You can further divide this upholstery layer into three sections. There is the insulator, the middle upholstery, and the quilt. The insulator makes sure that the core of the mattress remains steady.
Meanwhile, the middle upholstery is the one that covers the insulator. Some spring mattresses feature foam or fiber pads. As for the quilt, it is the outermost layer.
It provides a superficial feeling of the mattress.
Memory Foam vs Spring Mattress
Now that we know the components that make up the two mattress types, we can now put the spring mattress and the memory foam head to head. Here’s how they match up against each other in the key categories:
Support
The support of a memory foam mattress depends on two factors. First is the comfort layer and the other is the support layer.
We mentioned earlier that memory foam adjusts to the contour of your body. This led to some people saying that the mattress offers “dead” support. This is because memory foam does not provide the same springy feeling that other mattresses offer.
Yes, memory foam mattresses come with a support layer. However, it can only provide support if your body sinks into the mattress and reaches the support layer. If the top layer of the memory foam is too thick, you will not feel the support layer to its full extent.
On the flip side, spring mattresses provide that springy sensation with a mix of hard support. Some are capable of adapting to your body’s contours during the first impression. Thereafter, the support becomes firmer.
There are also different types of coils manufacturers use. Some use Bonnel coils, which are helical in shape. This is the cheapest and least durable.
There is also a continuous coil type. It features hundreds of individual coils that twist and link together. They offer more support than Bonnel coils.
Another is the offset coil, which conforms to the musculoskeletal structure of your body. Because of their stiffness, they are excellent for people with back pains.
The rule of thumb is this: the higher the coil count, the better the spring mattress conforms to your body.
Comfort and Pressure Relief
As for comfort, memory foam can target key pressure points of the body. These include your neck, spine, and shoulders. It alleviates pressure and gives you that sinking feeling.
The problem lies with heat retention. Memory foam mattresses can make you feel warm during summer.
On the other hand, spring mattresses offer very little pressure relief. However, some variants come with micro-coils that add comfort without the sinking sensation. Moreover, they don’t retain body heat, which is a plus over the memory foam mattress.
Durability and Longevity
The durability of a memory foam mattress lies in its density. If you wish something that lasts long, go for one that is at least 5 lb./cu.ft. If you go lower than that, you may experience sagging before the second year.
Meanwhile, spring mattresses depend on the quality and thickness of the coils. Mattresses with thick tempered steel coils will last longer.
Enjoy the Comfort You Deserve
At the end of the day, your requirements must determine your choice of mattress. Look into the benefits of a string mattress and a memory foam mattress and see which ones suit you better.
As for your overall comfort at home, other items are worth checking out. We invite you to check our other posts and articles. We feature some of the best home items that can help improve your indoor living and comfort.
