Choosing the right mattress is exceptionally important for overall health. The average consumer spends over forty hours every single week lying on a mattress. If that mattress is too firm, too soft, too lumpy, or unsupportive, serious health issues can result. Problems with the back, neck, shoulders, and hips can be caused by a cheap mattress or a mattress that has not been replaced in several years. Studies have linked insomnia and inadequate sleep levels to low quality mattresses. It’s clear that choosing a top-of-the- line mattress can have a dramatic impact on your health and your sleep patterns. What, though, makes a mattress top- of-the- line or high quality? There are so many different mattress styles to choose from. Many consumers get overwhelmed when they start asking questions about mattresses, and begin the shopping process. Two popular mattress types include pillow top mattresses and alternative gel mattresses. These two mattress styles have undergone recent improvements that make both of them incredibly valuable options for improving your overall health.
Which option, however, is the best? Pillowtop Mattresses Offer Luxurious Softness A pillowtop mattress is a regular spring mattress that is topped with a luxurious layer of soft down or artificial fillers. Higher quality pillowtop mattresses, of course, are filled with real down. Down is the soft feathers that can be found as insulation below the flight feathers on bird breeds like ducks and geese. Down is notoriously soft, and many people like to sleep on down pillows because this soft filler material conforms to the shape of their neck, head, and shoulders. The comfort of a down pillow has been expanded into the world of mattresses. Pillowtop mattresses feature a layer of soft down or artificial down across the entire surface of the mattress. This makes them as soft as a pillow. Pillowtop Mattresses Are Easier to Maintain Pillowtop mattresses may be easier to maintain than alternative gel mattresses because they aren’t filled with a semi-liquid material, and they don’t have all the risks associated with alternative gel mattresses.
A pillowtop mattress can be cleaned with a regular vacuum hose attachment. The hose is directed slowly across the surface of the mattress, and dust particles, mites, and other contaminants can be easily removed. That said, it is thought that alternative gel mattresses may be more hypoallergenic than pillowtop mattresses, especially if a pillowtop is filled with real bird down. Alternative Gel Mattresses Claim to Help with Mattress Cooling Alternative gel mattresses claim to help with mattress cooling. A mattress topper that absorbs body heat may cause overheating for the consumer, and overheating has been linked to insomnia in numerous studies. The gel material that fills the top of an alternative gel mattress is supposedly designed to absorb body heat, and wick it away from the consumer. Alternative gel mattresses certainly do feel cool to the touch when you initially lay on top of them, but there is no evidence that these mattresses are capable of maintaining that cool temperature after prolonged exposure to a body.
Alternative Gel Mattresses May Deteriorate Over Time One final risk of alternative gel mattresses is the potential for gel deterioration over time. There have been some suggestions that inexpensive gel fillers may break down after several years. This, of course, will eliminate a great deal of the cushioning effect achieved with these mattresses. Pillowtop mattresses, too, become unevenly distributed over time, which is why consumers should replace mattresses on a regular basis according to manufacturer recommendations. Thank you for choosing Mattress 1 One is a quality mattress retailer that understands our customers and what they need for a good nights sleep. We carry all the major brands including Tempurpedic, Sealy, Serta, Stearns & Foster, and Simmons visit us online or in one of more than 300 locations in Florida, Texas and Georgia.Choosing the right mattress type Mattresses are designed to provide the support and comfort you need to relax and rest. If you have had your mattress for a while, you may be wondering if it is time to buy a new one.
Research shows that people sleep better, suffer less back pain and experience fewer symptoms of stress when sleeping on newer beds. In general, your sleep quality improves if your sleep surface relieves pressure on joints and other areas of the body. Matching your specific comfort needs with the right product is a very subjective process. Mattresses are made with a variety of materials and technologies to deliver support systems that meet the broad array of consumers’ needs, tastes, and budgets. Mattresses should be evaluated every seven years for quality and support. If you haven’t shopped for a new mattress recently, there are many options to choose from. The following provides basic information on the different types of mattresses available today so that you are better equipped to choose a mattress that meets your needs.#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Mattress Reviews - Summary Memory Foam Mattress Reviews Memory Foam Hybrid Reviews
Adjustable Bed Base Reviews Memory Foam Density - Higher Vs Lower Memory Foam Vs Latex Sleep Number Bed Reviews Tempurpedic vs Sleep Number Mattresses and Sex Comparison Mattresses and (Back) Pain Research Mattress Warranties: What You Should Know Buying a Mattress Online: What You Should Know Returning a Mattress: What You Should Know Mattress Buyer's Guide For Large, Heavy Persons Ratings > Pillow Top Mattresses The Truth About Pillow Top Mattresses Review, Ratings, Comparisons and Complaints Based on 1,874 Owner Experiences What You Need To KnowPillow top mattresses have above-average initial comfort. Tops that include memory foam tend to have above average (back) pain-relief potential and conforming ability.Pillow top mattresses overall are at least two times more likely than non-pillow top mattresses to have problems with durability, off gassing, and heat retention. WHAT IS A PILLOW TOP MATTRESS. Pillow tops are most often found on innerspring beds and perhaps airbeds.
A pillow top (or euro top) mattress is generally defined as a mattress with several inches of additional padding sewn into the top. This padding can consist of regular foam, memory foam, latex, fiberfill, cotton, wool. Some tops have an integrated appearance with the mattress (euro top) while others appear to be merely lying on top. A non-pillow top mattress, by contrast, often has only minimal to moderate padding. Pillow Top vs Non-Pillow Top Mattresses The following table compares pillow top and non-pillow top mattresses based on actual consumer experiences. The findings apply mostly to innerspring mattresses. Pillow top mattresses likely require at least twice the maintenance in regard to (head to foot) rotation. Pillow top beds are on average about 30% more expensive than non-pillow top beds. Sagging of pillow tops can undermine support and possibly cause back pain as a result. Support can be lacking for sleeping or sitting near the edge of pillow top mattresses, especially those with thicker tops.
Eurotops (tops that are tapered near the edges) tend to perform better. Pillow tops are more likely to contour to the body and relieve pressure points. Easy to move on / get up off Soft pillow tops with at least two inches of memory foam provide some resistance to movement / changing positions. Pillow top beds often have sophisticated spring systems that keep movement isolated so as to not disturb one's partner. The top itself may also absorb some motion. The conforming ability of most pillow tops can be beneficial to back sleepers. Side sleepers tend to be most satisfied with pillow tops as they often provide softness for hips and shoulders. Thicker and softer pillow tops may allow stomach sleepers to sink too far into the mattress thereby undermining neck alignment and or breathing ease. Pillow tops are mainly available in medium or soft, and non-pillow tops mainly in medium or firm. Pillow tops with memory foam especially can require extended time for break in.
People over 230 pounds may find that they sink too far into thick pillow tops. Pillow tops often provide good comfort but may lack the bounce of non-pillow tops. See mattress sex comparison for general analysis. Pillow top mattresses with their extra material tend to be heavier by about 20% on average. Analysis of Key Issues Owner experience data suggests that a pillow top mattress is initially effective at minimizing pressure points, relieving pain and fostering better sleep. But these benefits often do not continue beyond the first few years – or even the first few months in some cases. At least 30% of pillow top mattress owners report significant sagging or compression occurring within three years of ownership. By contrast, about 17% of non-pillow top mattress owners report the problem. Sagging, of course, often undermines comfort and support. A person's weight and size do not appear to be the main factor in regard to whether a pillow top will sag / compress as owners weighing under 150 pounds regularly report the problem.
The chart below shows the lifespan of pillow tops as a group based on owner experiences. In other words, it shows how long a pillow top maintains all or most of its initial comfort before it sags or compresses. Pillow top mattresses, especially those with memory foam, are at least two times more likely to sleep hot than non-pillow top beds. About 8% of pillow top mattress owners report that their bed acts as a heat trap resulting in an uncomfortably warm sleep surface. By contrast, about 4% of non-pillow top mattress owners report a sleeping hot issue. (Learn more about mattress heat retention.) INITIAL ODOR / OFF GASSING Initial odor or off gassing refers to smell or gas that a mattress can give off when it is new due to the manufacturing and or packaging process. The intensity of the odor can vary from mattress to mattress, and the odor can last from a few hours to a few months. Non-pillow top mattresses have few complaints regarding off gassing odor.
By contrast, about 8% of pillow top bed owners, especially owners of beds with memory foam tops, complain about odor. Learn more about mattress off gassing. Especially when they are new, pillow tops tend to be effective in the relief of pain – including back, hip and shoulder pain – as at least 20% of owners report pain-relief benefits. As the top ages, compresses and sags, at least some pain benefits disappear. In addition, pillow tops with memory foam tend to be more effective in the relief of pain than pillow tops without memory foam. Learn more about mattress pain relief. PILLOW TOPS: AIRBEDS VS INNERSPRING BEDS Airbeds and innerspring beds are the mattress types most likely to have a pillow top. Any part of an airbed can be replaced, including the pillow top. The top is not permanently attached to the airbed, and, as a result, the existing top can be easily removed and a new top added. The cost of the replacement top may or may not be covered under the warranty.
In addition, the pillow top of an airbed can often be easily rotated or flipped to extend its life. In contrast to an airbed, a pillow top on an innerspring mattress is almost always permanently attached and cannot be easily replaced or replaced at all. This likely means that, unlike the case with airbeds, the entire mattress would need to be replaced (or repaired by a professional) if the pillow top lost its comfort. The cost of replacing / repairing the mattress may or may not be covered under the warranty terms. A small number of innerspring mattresses have a pillow top on the front and the back of the bed. This allows the mattress to be flipped on occasion to increase the lifespan of the pillow top and therefore the lifespan of the entire bed. About Our Mattress Research Our pillow top mattress research findings are based on 1,850+ mattress consumer reviews that were collected using our unbiased, accurate methodology. – While pillow top mattresses tend to have good-to-excellent initial comfort, their long-term comfort is generally no better than fair due to compression and sagging.
– Pillow top mattresses overall are about twice as likely to have a problem with initial odor / off gassing than non-pillow top beds. This is usually because pillow top beds include more foam material. – Pillow top beds, especially softer models and those with memory foam, are at least two times more likely to sleep hot than non-pillow top beds. About 8% of pillow top mattress owners report unwanted heat retention. – Pillow tops are mainly available in medium or soft, and non-pillow tops mainly in medium or firm. SLEEP PRODUCT RESEARCH: Mattress Reviews • Mattress Topper Reviews • Pillow Reviews • Bed Sheet Reviews • White Noise Machine Reviews • Sleeping Pill Reviews • Sleep Hygiene Products ABOUT SLEEP LIKE THE DEAD: Our Story • Contact • Sitemap • Privacy Policy IN THE NEWS: Sleep Like The Dead's research findings have appeared in such news publications as Barron's • Toronto Star • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • Edmonton Journal • Woman's World • The Consumerist • The Gazette • Ottawa Citizen