For more, watch our interactive video. You can skip to chapters on the different types of mattresses, tips for test driving a mattress, and more. Common claims that haven’t held up in our tests: Foam Layers Make a Better Bed More innerspring mattresses now include foam on top. But the foam is often too thin to make a difference on some of the hybrid models. Hybrid innerspring models that scored well in our tests had a foam layer several inches thick, though performance still varied. More Coils, the Better The better innerspring models we tested had 600 to 1,000 coils. But even if one mattress has more coils than another, the coils could be made of thinner-gauge metal. You’ll also hear about coil variations such as Bonnell (hourglass type), continuous wire, and individually pocketed springs. None of those is inherently superior. Gel Provides a Cooler Sleep Some mattresses (noted in our Ratings) have a layer of gel-infused foam that’s supposed to provide a cooling effect.
But that layer is buried beneath other layers. While our tests have shown that innerspring mattresses containing gel did tend to sleep slightly cooler, the reverse was true with gel-infused foam beds. Extra Lumbar Support Helps Back Sleepers A special lumbar-support zone is one of many ways manufacturers try to differentiate their product lines. But there’s no guarantee that it makes any real difference, and it hasn’t shown significant benefits in our tests. Forget About Comparison Shopping If you like a mattress at one store and ask elsewhere for something similar, you're likely to be steered toward a same-brand mattress claimed to have the same construction, components, and firmness. But they’re probably not the same. Mattress makers offer some lines nationally, but when those brands are sold through major chains such as Macy's, Sears, and Sleepy’s, they're for lines exclusive to those chains. And manufacturers don't publish a directory of comparable mattresses.
When we went to three bedding chains and asked for mattresses similar to those we’d bought at three department stores, five of the six were way off the mark. So use our Ratings as a guide, and insist on the precise make and model that scored well in our tests. Also check our Ratings of mattress brands and stores, based on subscriber surveys. If possible, lie on any mattress that you’re considering. Wear loose clothes and shoes you can slip off. Make yourself comfortable, and shoo away the salesperson if you’re feeling pressured. Salespeople should expect you to take your time. Spend at least five or ten minutes on each side and on your back (your stomach, too, if that's a preferred sleeping position). Panelists who took beds home for a month-long trial rarely changed the opinion they formed after the first night. Shopping online or at a warehouse club? Tryouts aren’t usually an option, so checking return policies before you buy is extra important. Make sure the store offers a full refund or credit toward another mattress.
Return periods, often called “comfort guarantees,” range from a couple of weeks to 120 days. Some retailers, including Macy’s and Sears, charge a 15-percent restocking fee. Costco and some online sellers provide free pickup if you want a refund or exchange, but otherwise, you’ll have to pay for it—or cart the mattress to the store. And you’ll be responsible for any damage. Once you’ve settled on a model, try to bring the price down. Many businesses, such as warehouse clubs, have fixed prices and won’t budge. But for retailers that do negotiate—particularly specialty chains—huge markups allow them to lower prices by 50 percent or more during their frequent sales. Our recommendation: Any time of year, insist on a sale price you’ve seen for the mattress you know you want, and don’t be afraid to walk out if you feel you’re getting a raw deal. Don’t Be Bullied Into Buying a Box Spring You might not need it. For an innerspring mattress, the box spring (also called a “foundation”) is a wood frame enclosing stiff wire and covered with fabric to match the mattress.
For foam or adjustable-air mattresses, it’s a box several inches high. If you're switching to a foam or adjustable-air bed from an innerspring, you'll need a boxy foundation that lacks springs and wire. Otherwise, if your box spring isn't broken and is still structurally sound, consider keeping it and saving money (roughly $150 to $300 for a queen-size). One caveat: Some brands require you to buy their box spring to receive full warranty coverage. It can range from 10 to 25 years and covers only manufacturing defects such as sagging and loose or broken coil wires. Coverage is frequently prorated, meaning that it decreases over time. Never accept delivery without inspecting the mattress (and the box spring, if you buy one) for stains and other damage. Also be sure that the mattress has a label that states “all-new material” before you send the driver on his way. If it’s not there, refuse delivery. And keep it on afterward in case you do have to file a warranty claim in the future.
Top Findings In A Memory Foam Comparison Many people wonder what makes visco memory foams unique (Tempurpedic foam is supposed to be the best). After all, foam is foam, how different can it be? The main difference lies in its structure. Regular foams are made exclusively of closed cells, billions of balloons tightly squeezed together with very little air between them. Heat tends to get trapped, because there are very few routes for warm air to escape. Tempur foam (one of the best memory foams around), however, is made of open cells, billions of balloons with holes in them. There are millions of tiny air passages in and around them where warm air can escape. This makes a visco memory foam mattress less warm to sleep on than other foam toppers or mattresses, but generally warmer than conventional, spring mattresses. How Open-Cell Foam Works To Relieve Pressure The open-cell structure of visco foam also explains how a mattress made of it shapes to our body in such a unique fashion, relieving pressure points and supporting your weight.
When you place a load on a standard foam mattress, it compresses but wants to spring back to its original shape immediately. The air in sealed foam cells has nowhere to go, so it pushes back to the same extent pressure is applied. Basically, the foam in the mattress will not just want to spring back in the direction of your pressure, it will also want to spring in the opposite direction. A visco elastic foam mattress reacts differently. Its unsealed cells 'collapse' under a load, compress fully and spread the air pressure within to adjoining cells. A viscoelastic foam mattress only wants to spring back in the direction of the pressure. Because of the way visco-elastic foam deforms, it tends to shape to whatever is applying pressure, but it does not have the strength of spring-back pressure a more conventional foam with air-filled cells has. It is this ability to conform to our body's shape that makes visco memory foam beds feel so unique. When you lie on a regular foam mattress, the air in compressed cells pushes back against you as well as downwards.
This causes pressure points, which constricts circulation at the area of contact. The result is discomfort and even pain over time. When you lie on a good visco foam mattress like Tempurpedic there is no air left in the cell to push back and cause discomfort. The air is spread to adjoining cells and the foam simply 'melts' under you to provide long-term, balanced support and comfort. My Foam Mattress Has Memory! A Critical Eye On The Latest Mattress Technologies 2.5 lb vs 4 lb densityWhich to choose from a 2.5lb visco foam topper 4lb visco elastic foam mattress comparison? Higher density alone does not make a quality sleeping surface. The formula behind the best sleeping surface uses best quality, high-density foam that responds to body temperature. Known BrandsWhat is the secret behind Tempur-Pedic mattress technology and why is it in the top 5 most popular brands alongside the likes of Sensus, Isotonic, Bergad and Sealy? The answer is that it uses good quality, high density, heat responsive foam.