TYPES OF MATTRESSES: A COMPARISON Spring vs. Latex vs. Memory Foam Mattresses You would think picking a mattress would be so easy you could do it in your sleep — but anyone who has tried beds in a showroom knows it feels more like a confusing research project. Do you want something firm and supportive or fluffy as a cloud? Do you wake up in the middle of the night overheated? Choosing the right mattress material, and construction, can make all the difference in how you sleep. No matter your dream bed, you’ll be one step closer to a great night’s rest with this shopper's guide to mattress types. THE SKINNY ON SPRING MATTRESSES Spring mattresses are old school — people often inherit these mattresses from their parents, so they stay in the family for too long. The way they work is simple: springs press back against the weight applied to them, distributing weight and providing support. The internal metal coils can be different shapes, sizes, weights, and varieties, and are encased in upholstery or foam.
More modern spring mattresses have evolved to feature “micro-springs” and “gel-wrapped coils.” This may sound fancy, but they effectively work the same way. • Wear and tear becomes evident quickly, making them feel lumpy and uneven. This can negatively affect your sleep within the first couple years of owning the mattress. • Even the most innovative springs can develop uncomfortable pressure points since they apply the same amount of pressure to the heavier parts of your body as your more sensitive spots. • Isolating movement is nearly impossible, so you’ll always feel (and likely hear) your partner getting up in the middle of the night. • On the whole, spring mattresses often lack the even and balanced experience that something like foam can provide. • Consumers often find themselves purchasing an additional comfort layer for added softness only a couple years into owning the mattress. THE LOWDOWN ON LATEX MATTRESSES Latex — whether in gloves, mattresses, or other items — can be derived from natural, plant-based materials or a synthetic petroleum base.
Once the source is selected and processed into foam, mattresses are created by pouring the liquefied latex into sheets and applying different treatments to control durability, airflow, and rebound. As a mattress material, latex became popular as an alternative foam because its heat regulating properties help keep the bed cool, unlike memory foam. It is naturally resistant to mildew, mold, bed bugs, and dust mites. Mattresses made with latex are extremely durable, yet consistently springy, and offer a structurally sound sleep surface. • If it’s derived from natural materials, latex can contain allergens that cause latex allergies. It’s important to note that this isn’t generally a problem with synthetic latex. • By itself, the material can lack the support you’ll get in other foam beds. • It’s expensive to produce, especially naturally, so you may end up paying more. • It’s difficult to find an entirely latex mattress on the market.
SHOULD YOU COMMIT TO A MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS? When you can expertly balance a glass of red wine next to a bouncing bowling ball — you know you’re looking at a memory foam mattress. Memory foam is a dense, elastic polyurethane foam. These types of mattresses are made in a similar fashion as latex: liquified foam is poured into sheets, with different methods to control firmness and longevity. Memory foam mattresses contour to your body, creating support that feels tailored to you. • Overheating is the most common complaint with memory foam mattresses. Though the contouring effect is cozy at first, over the course of a night it traps heat. • The contouring feeling can quickly feel like you are sinking and make it hard to get out of the bed in the morning. • Not all memory foam is created equally comfortable, and there’s a lot of variations comes in a lot of densities. • The ingredients often cause an odor that makes many consumers wary.
In our design process, we experimented with hundreds of materials on the market and weighed the benefits and drawbacks of each. However, settling on one single option wouldn’t give us all the qualities we wanted in a mattress: amazing comfort and support, temperature stability, and long-term durability. Instead of using an imperfect material, Casper designed a mattress with a blend of materials to achieve the best of both worlds. The top comfort layer emulates the bounciness of the springs, while our memory foam layer underneath supports you through the night. Best of all, it keeps you cool while most foam mattresses sleep hot. Our final product feels unlike anything on the market — it’s both soft and cushy, while also providing excellent support and staying cool all night. Best of all, it’s built to last (and comes standard with 10-year warranty.)If you have trouble getting a good night's sleep on your mattress, a mattress topper might be the perfect solution. It can boost the comfort level of an old mattress for a fraction of the price of buying a new one.
Sometimes called a pillow-top mattress pad, a topper is a cushion you place on top of the mattress to add softness or support. The terms "mattress topper" and "mattress pad" are often used interchangeably, but the latter also refers to a thinner type of cover that's placed over a mattress to protect it from stains. This report focuses mainly on the type of toppers used for added cushioning, but we do recommend waterproof and non-waterproof mattress pads as well. The most common reason people decide to add toppers to their mattresses is to add new life to an older bed. Innerspring mattresses in particular tend to compress over time, losing their ability to shape themselves to a sleeper's body. A mattress topper can add an extra layer of cushioning, relieving pressure points and enhancing sleep quality. However, mattress toppers can't compensate for major problems such as sagging, sinkholes or springs poking through the mattress cover. If your mattress is that bad, you need a new one.
We have recommendations for the most popular types in our separate report on mattresses. Mattress pads aren't just for old mattresses, though. People often add a mattress topper to adjust the firmness level of a newer mattress. If you buy a new mattress and determine after a short time that it's too soft or firm for your taste, adding a topper can make it softer or firmer without the hassle and expense of trading in a nearly new model (returning a new mattress often involves shipping and restocking fees, not to mention the logistics of dealing with returning a large item). Placing a topper on just one side of the bed can also help couples who prefer different levels of mattress firmness. Memory foam is the most popular type of mattress topper, and it tends to be the most effective at improving mattress comfort. Made from polyurethane, memory foam contains millions of open, spherical cells that respond to pressure and heat. It comes in many thicknesses and densities: In general, a thicker topper will have a softer feel, while a denser foam will provide more support.
However, memory foam can trap body heat, and some say that the way it cradles the body can make it difficult to move around on. Many memory foam toppers also give off an unpleasant odor when new, although a good airing usually takes care of that. Latex foam is similar to memory foam, but it's made of either natural or synthetic latex rubber. It comes in many grades of thickness and firmness like memory foam, but generally tends to be a bit firmer. It's also somewhat less likely than memory foam to trap body heat and emit an unpleasant odor, but the "new mattress smell" can still be a problem for some users. Latex excels at providing both softness and support and it's a good choice for allergy sufferers because it's resistant to both mold and dust mites. However, latex itself can be an allergen for some people and latex toppers are among the most expensive. Featherbeds are basically cushions stuffed with feathers or down. These add softness to a mattress, but not support. While they don't retain body heat as much as foam toppers do, they tend to compress under a user's weight and must be fluffed or shaken regularly to restore their shape.
Featherbed mattress toppers are usually less expensive than foam ones. If you're sensitive to feathers, fiberbed and wool mattress toppers are very similar to featherbeds, but are made from hypoallergenic materials. Mattress pads are not mattress toppers, they are just a thin pad, with corners like a fitted sheet that go over your mattress to protect it from moisture and stains. Deep-pocket mattress pads can even fit over both a mattress topper and a mattress. Mattress pads are very affordable and there's little variation in quality. With the high cost of mattresses, we highly recommend that everyone protect their investment from spills, stains and other accidents. analyze thousands of owner reviews and break down the data to provide specific information about different mattress topper types and brands. Our research turns up three main factors to consider when shopping for a mattress topper. Since a topper's job is to improve the comfort of a mattress, we give particular importance to how well each pad cushions and supports the body, as well as such criteria as whether it retains body heat.