What It Is, Why It Works, And The 5 Key Things To Look For When Buying A Memory Foam Bed Or Topper. While memory foam was developed for NASA in the 1970's, it didn't hit the consumer market until the early 1990's - first as memory foam mattress topper pads, and later used in memory foam mattresses. Since then, memory foam mattresses have become the fastest growing segment in the mattress industry. With every year, you see more and more companies selling memory foam mattresses and topper pads, and it is very difficult, even for those of us in the industry, to keep up with all the new memory foam products being introduced. What is a consumer to do? 1. Brief History Of Memory Foam And Why Not All Memory Foam Created Equal - Some Just More Comfortable And Sleeps Cooler Than Others 2. How To Choose Between Different Memory Foams 3. What To Look For In A Memory Foam Mattress Or Topper, And When You Might Need To Get A New Mattress In this guide, I'm going to do my best to give you the straight story on what memory foam is, how it works, and what to look for in memory foam (density and quality, memory foam toppers versus memory foam mattresses, etc.).
Armed with the information, I hope you are able to find just the right memory foam mattress, topper pad, or other product that fits your needs. Where the mattress industry so often sells on hype about latest greatest technology, I wanted to concentrate on actual, verifiable information when putting together this guide. So before we go into the details about memory foam, I thought it was important to first look at the bottom line -- how does memory foam compare to standard innerspring mattresses for comfort. And what is great about the internet is that these days you can cut through the hype to see the actual data on this -- real reviews, by real folks, trying out the mattresses in their own homes. And while it was hard to get this kind of objective information back in '94 when I was first starting out selling memory foam after it helped me with my back pain, in 2014 all this information is now at your fingertips, literally. While comfort is subjective, what is no longer subjective is that certain types of mattress are just more comfortable than others.
And you don't have to take my word for it, or any other mattress retailer. The numbers don't lie. Based on over 22,000 real people's mattress experiences, the meta site Sleep Like the Dead found that in analyzing this information that memory foam mattresses received the highest level of customer satisfaction of any mattress type at 81%. In contrast, only 64% of innerspring owners said they were satisfied. That is a huge difference, and shows the simple reason why memory foam has gained such popularity -- it delivers comfort in a way that far surpasses the standard innerspring mattress. Where did memory foam come from and what gives memory foam its unique comfort properties? It is an interesting story and starts with the space program. But these days there are lots of different foamers making memory foam, and while they are all referred to as "memory foam", they have different formulations and in terms of comfort and sleeping cool memory foams are definitely not created equal -- which I will cover in our next section.
Next > Brief History of Memory Foam, And Why Not All Memory Foam Created Equal - Some Memory Foam Is Just More Comfortable And Sleeps Cooler Than OthersEdit ArticleHow to Buy a Memory Foam Mattress Looking for some sleep on a memory foam mattress? Before you walk into a mattress store and waltz into the jaws of an unscrupulous salesperson, get the facts by following the steps in this how-to. Make sure the memory foam is of high enough density to support your body properly. Look for memory foam that is temperature sensitive. Read the warranty information carefully. Check for ample testing done with real people. Ask for a "comfort test" period. Compare prices on Web stores of reputable direct-to-consumer distributors. Most memory foam mattresses are actually in two or three layers, with a memory foam topper glued to a foundation layer of urethane foam. If you have a good quality mattress, you may also consider buying only a memory foam "topper".
Show more unanswered questions Get a written "comfort guarantee." Make sure it's at least 10-14 days or more. If you can take ice, in a zip lock bag, you can verify if the material is temperature sensitive. It will become firmer in the place you put the ice after 5-15 minutes. Salespeople will try to give you "facts" which will favor their product, no matter how inferior, so just remember density, temperature sensitivity and reading all you can about memory foam to be educated before you buy and you'll be happy with your purchase. Most people don't realize how heavy a solid foam mattress is. Solid memory foam or regular foam mattresses are a real job to move or even to turn around even for two healthy people, and you surely don't want to carry one up stairs. Many memory foam mattresses are manufactured in China. Some of the latest products coming out of China are of super high quality and chemical free. Ask for the details of manufacture before you buy. Foam mattresses act like sponges, this means they absorb liquid.
You should always use a waterproof mattress protector when you set up your memory foam mattress to prevent liquid from getting into the memory foam and to keep you sleeping cool during hot weather. The Tempur-Pedic™ liquid-proof mattress cover of very high quality (and very comfortable to sleep on), but it is not highly durable and should not be washed in a machine with the sheets. Such treatment will eventually lead to tiny rips and tears resulting in leaks and a dramatic loss in effectiveness. Instead, this mattress cover should be spot cleaned by hand or carefully inspected for leaks after each washing. It can lose effectiveness in as little as two years if not cared for properly. New (3) from $169.99 Ships from and sold by Best Price Mattress. Add comfort and protection with mattress pads and protectors from AmazonBasics Waterproof mattress protector - Queen Quilted mattress pad - Queen Best Price Mattress 8-Inch Memory Foam Mattress, Queen Zinus 14 Inch SmartBase Mattress Foundation / Platform Bed Frame / Box Spring Replacement / Quiet…
DetailsQueen Size SafeRest Premium Hypoallergenic Waterproof Mattress Protector - Vinyl Free FREE Shipping on orders over . Memory foam provides a great sleeping surface. In normal temperatures it is somewhat firm, but when you lay down, it starts reacting to the temperature of your body and begins to mold itself to your shape. Then, weight is evenly distributed along the surface, relieving pressure points and helping you to sleep more without tossing and turning. Amazing comfort from body-conforming. Feels like you are floating on a cloud. 80 x 60 x 8 inches 60.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Amazon only ships this item within the contiguous 48 United States. Other Sellers on Amazon may ship this item to Alaska, Hawaii and US Territories. This item is not eligible for international shipping. 4.5 out of 5 stars #1,246 in Home and Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home and Kitchen) #134 in Home & Kitchen > Furniture > Bedroom Furniture > Mattresses & Box Springs > Mattresses