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 Others Confirm Mattress Size and Type A new memory foam mattress topper should fit the dimensions of your existing mattress perfectly to ensure it functions as intended. Determine the exact size of your mattress before you begin shopping for a topper, and take the mattress type into consideration to help select the right thickness. Mattresses with a pillow top or a quilted top may not require a topper with the same thickness as those with standard tops due to the extra cushioning afforded by these designs. Also, mattresses with specialized tops may have special requirements for rotation. Remove Any Pads or Toppers Be sure to remove any existing pads or toppers. Mattress pads are typically far thinner than toppers, and serve to protect a mattress top rather than cushion it. If you already have a removable topper, replacing it with a memory foam topper can make for a more tailored and comfortable sleep experience.
For best results, use only one topper of the appropriate thickness per mattress. Inspect Your Mattress for Signs of Wear It's important to inspect your bare mattress top for obvious signs of wear. Look for areas worn smooth by constant turning or indentations from poor weight distribution. If your mattress shows this kind of wear, you'll want a mattress topper that is thicker than 3 inches. These toppers provide greater levels of cushioning and support along with enhanced protection for the underlying mattresses. Mattresses with little signs of wear may work best with a 2-inch topper or less, especially if you prefer a firmer mattress for a good night's sleep. Select the Right Topper Thickness Take into account your mattress type and condition when deciding on a mattress topper thickness. For mattresses that already have decent padding or a built-in pillow top, a memory foam mattress topper of 2 inches is recommended. If your mattress is particularly firm or worn, then a thickness of 3 to 4 inches should provide an appropriate level of comfort.
Consider Memory Foam Density A final consideration that can be as important as your topper's thickness is the memory foam density. When it comes to memory foam, denser material offers greater support for sleepers while less dense memory foam makes for a plusher sleep surface. Those who toss and turn frequently at night can benefit from a denser foam. For mattress density to make a noticeable difference, a minimum thickness of 2 inches is recommended for most sleepers. Ratings >> Memory Foam > Memory Foam Vs Latex Unbiased Comparison Based on 8,485 Consumer Experiences Memory foam and latex are commonly used materials in mattresses that have important similarities and differences. The ratings below show how the two materials compare and contrast. The findings are true for the materials in only general. Consumer experience data suggests that memory foam and latex can be similar in their "feel" in general ways. Both tend to be considered soft but supportive, and both at least somewhat conform to the contours of the body resulting in above-average (back) pain relief and minimization of pressure points.
There are important differences in feel, however. Memory foam tends to have a sponge- or pudding-like feel which can result in a floating, cloud-like sensation. Latex, by contrast, tends to feel more solid with a springy or somewhat rubbery characteristic. In addition, memory foam – unlike latex – can be at least somewhat temperature sensitive. This means that memory foam can be firmer in cooler temperatures and softer in warmer temperatures or when in contact with a person's body. The temperature sensitivity of memory foam can provide effective contouring support. But it can also result in a person sinking substantially into the foam, making movement on the mattress somewhat difficult and restricting air circulation. The sensation of lying on memory foam can vary significantly based on several factors including the density of the foam: See memory foam density: higher vs lower. The sensation of lying on latex can also vary based on several factors. See latex mattresses for details.
Mattresses that contain at least 1.5 inches of either material tend to perform similar in owner satisfaction. It should be noted that of the 41 people in our research who say they have owned both latex and memory foam (mattress or topper), the majority prefer latex. The main durability / longevity complaint for memory foam is that it can become excessively soft over time or sag, resulting in poor comfort and support. The main durability / longevity complaint for latex is that it can develop body impressions or indentations where people sleep. Latex can also become excessively soft with use. Latex appears to provide somewhat better support. Pressure relief is a strength of both materials, but memory foam edges out latex. At least 30% of memory foam mattress owners report significant pressure relief, that is, relief from pressure points to the hips and shoulders especially. About 20% of latex mattress owners report the benefit. Memory foam (especially higher density) does somewhat better in regard to pressure-point relief likely because it tends to contour more strongly to the body than does latex resulting in more equal distribution of a person's weight on the mattress.
Pain relief is a strength of both types, but memory foam somewhat edges out latex. About 20% of memory foam mattress owners report significant relief from pain, including back pain. About 15% of latex mattress owners report the benefit. The more expensive brands/models (those mattresses that use a substantial amount of latex or higher-density memory foam) tend to relieve pain somewhat better than less expensive, lower-density brands/models. Memory foam as well as synthetic latex (usually not all-natural latex) can give off an initial gas or odor when they are new. About 12% of memory foam mattress owners and about 6% of latex mattress owners report significant initial off gassing. Off gassing is usually just a temporary annoying odor to those owners who notice it. In some cases, however, the odor is strong enough to prevent the owner from sleeping on the bed initially. And some memory foam mattress owners report feeling ill as a result of the off gassing. Learn more: memory foam off gassing.
Latex has far fewer complaints than memory foam (especially high-density memory foam) in regard to difficulty of moving on the bed or getting up off of it. This is mainly because latex tends to not contour as strongly to one's body and recovers instantaneously. However, if latex develops significant body impressions or indentations, then the bed may become difficult to move on due to "peaks and valleys." "Responsive" refers to how quickly memory foam and latex return to their original shape after being compressed. Latex quickly returns to its original shape, while memory foam can take several seconds or even minutes to do so. (In other words, memory foam has greater "memory".) Also, the higher the density of memory foam, the longer it tends to take for the foam to return to its original shape. Fast response is often preferred by consumers as it allows for easier movement and less resistance to changing positions and getting up off the bed. However, consumers who seek a mattress that strongly molds and contours to their body tend to be more satisfied with slow response (such as that found in high-density memory foam).
Motion isolation refers to how well a mattress keeps motion on the bed localized. The benefit of motion isolation is that one person's movement on the bed will be absorbed and not travel to another person on the bed to possibly disturb him or her. A mattress with good motion isolation, in other words, is often considered couple friendly. Memory foam universally does well on this issue, while latex overall performs somewhat worse. Dunlop-processed latex tends to provide mostly good motion isolation, while talalay-processed latex tends to provide no better than fair isolation. A bed sleeps hot if it acts as a heat trap for the sleeper's body heat, resulting in an uncomfortably warm sleepAbout 10% of memory foam bed owners and about 7% of latex bed owners report a sleeping hot problem. Memory foam, especially higher-density foam, has a significant number of complaints by owners regarding its suitability on this issue. Complaints for latex are fewer due mainly to it having more bounce potential.