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.Memory foam mattress buying guide Memory foam is a revolutionary way to rest. With advanced pressure relief and support, memory foam will help you to wake restored and refreshed for your day. What memory foam offers. Memory foam offers multiple benefits over traditional mattresses. The major benefit is the cellular structure that memory foam consists of.
While typical coils are spaced throughout a bed, memory foam cradles your body at every point so you feel supported and relaxed. We're so confident you'll love it, we offer a money-back guarantee. Better Pressure Relief & Support. With its continuous, full bodied design, memory foam envelops your body and provides unmatched pressure relief and pushes against your body to support it. Faster Relief for Aches & Pains. By conforming to your body at your pressure points, memory foam can alleviate stress and pain you collect during the day. With its advanced cell structure, memory foam subtly absorbs your motion so you can easily get in and out of bed without disturbing your partner. Getting the right pressure relief & support. When choosing a memory foam bed, it is important to consider what mattress will provide the proper pressure relief and support for your weight, sleeping positions, and chronic pains. Certain chronic pains make sleeping a challenge.
If you suffer from hip or shoulder pain purchasing a mattress with more pressure relief can help to relieve these pains. If your back bothers you from day to day, consider upgrading to a mattress that is more supportive to help make sure that your back doesn’t move into an uncomfortable position. The position you find most comfortable at night has a large impact on the amount of pressure relief and support your mattress will require. If you don’t know your most common position, take a mental note of how you fall asleep and how you wake up. The position you wake up in is most likely your dominant sleeping position. Knowing your sleep style. People who tend to fall asleep on their side need more pressure relief. When sleeping on your side, you put a all of your weight on your hips and shoulders, and need the most pressure relief. Our best mattress for side sleepers: Colonial While sleeping on the back, support and pressure relief are both needed. Large amounts of support are needed to keep the spine in its natural alignment while pressure relief keeps pains and a sore back calm.
Our best mattress for back sleepers: Revere Stomach sleepers need a moderate amount of support to ensure that their neck is aligned correctly and hips stay in their natural position. Our best mattress for stomach sleepers: Americana Sleeping in a combination of positions is extremely common. Purchase a mattress that is designed to give you enough support and pressure relief regardless of how you sleep. Our best mattress for combination sleepers: Liberty After getting a new memory foam bed it takes time for your body to become accustomed to the proper support and pressure relief that it provides. This adjustment period varies anywhere from two to four weeks. When purchasing a mattress, make sure that the company’s return policy allows you to fully become accustomed to your new mattress. Concerns circling memory foam. While every mattress material has particular concerns associated with it, most problems surrounding memory foam have been solved by new innovative production processes and cutting-edge technology.
What to look for Memory foam sleeps too hot With new advancements in production, memory foam can have a large, open-cell structure that allows for better airflow within the mattress, to let you always sleep cool. If you usually sleep warm, regardless of what you’re sleeping on, you should look for memory foam that has been processed to remove the foam’s cell membranes. This let's memory foam breathe even more efficiently. Memory foam is expensive When memory foam mattresses first came on the market, they were prohibitively expensive. Now, thanks to direct-to-consumer shipping, you won’t have to worry about retail markups and be able to order an affordable memory foam bed straight to your house. I don't want to feel stuck in bed Slow response times within the foam cells can make moving around in bed a nightmare. Large, open-cell memory foam responds to the body quickly so that when you move, your bed will easily move with you. Memory foam smells bad and produces harmful chemicals
With the new production processes Variable Pressure Foaming, memory foam can be produced without any harmful blowing agents and a finished product low in VOCs. VPF is the world’s cleanest way to produce foam. Unfortunately, the majority of companies still produce foam in open chambers. Buying a memory foam bed, especially online, can feel risky, but a risk-free trial is extremely important. A trial period should be at least 30 nights so you fully become accustomed to your new bed. The longer the trial period the better. We offer 100 nights to try your mattress. Take that time to test your mattress however you see fit. If you don’t love how you’re sleeping, call us and we’ll arrange for your mattress to be picked and refund you in full. If you're still unsure before purchasing, read our mattress reviews to see what others have experienced with our beds. Our reviews are verified through a third-party service so you know they're real. After testing dozens of mattresses, leading review site Mattress Clarity rated Amerisleep the #1 Overall Mattress for 2016.
Because of the way memory foam compresses into itself to provide consistent support, many people (including verified reviews from Amerisleep customers) say it helps relieve pain and pressure points. Is memory foam safe for children? For infants and toddlers, memory foam is not a great idea. However for older children and teens, memory foam is a safe and smart investment in improving your children’s sleep. Look for memory foam free of harmful chemicals like formaldehyde or CFCs to ensure that your child isn’t breathing in toxic chemicals. When you’re ready to purchase a mattress, pay attention to what is supporting your bed. Having improper support can make memory foam sag or, in rare cases, cause damage to your mattress. You can use an existing box spring if it's still in a good working condition. It may require placing a 3/4” piece of plywood on top to ensure the stability and support. If the foundation is sagging, it may be time to replace. A flat, solid platform will support your Amerisleep mattress perfectly.
When using a slatted foundation, we require that your slats are no more than 3" apart and at least 0.5" tall. Pairing an adjustable bed with our mattresses elevates your comfort and puts you in control of how you sleep. Common questions regarding adjustable beds. With new advancements in technology, memory foam spans all budgets. Price does not always equate to a better product. The sweet spot is a technologically advanced mattress that doesn't cost a fortune. If you suffer from chronic allergies a memory foam bed is great to sleep on. Because of its resistance to dust mites and common allergens, memory foam will stay clean and won't affect your allergies. Density refers to how heavy a cubic foot of foam is. The higher the density, the more costly it is to produce. Extremely high dense foam, around 8lbs, can be hard to move around in, and give a quicksand feeling. Too low of a density, less than 3lbs, will breakdown with normal use at an accelerated rate. Density is usually a good way to determine the quality of memory foam.
A medium density foam, about 4lbs, will accommodate most people's needs of durability. With advancements in foam production, lower density can outperform foam of a higher density. When produced using a closed chamber, variables can be tightly controlled and produce a more consistent product making it more durable. Since the support core does not interact with your body, the density should not be lower than 1.5 density. This way your body is supported properly while still able to hold up normal wear and tear. With innerspring mattresses, coils would wear down and be extremely prone to sagging where you lay at night. High quality memory foam mattresses don't require flipping or rotating because they aren't prone to sagging. While the memory foam itself shouldn't be cleaned, the cover surrounding your mattress may need light washing. Cleaning this cover is as simple as spot washing affected areas with warm water and soap. Certain covers, like ours, should not be washed in your home washing machine.