Now that you know what memory foam is, the differences between memory foams, and some possible issues, it’s time to select a memory foam top layer for the bed. All of this wouldn’t be much good if they didn’t sell memory foam by itself. Luckily enough, they do – as mattress toppers. We know we’re looking for open-cell viscoelastic polyurethane foam, with a minimum density of 5lb/ft3 (80 kg/m3) . It should be reviewed well for comfort, as well as come with a wicking cover to ensure comfort in humid or warmer conditions. The only thing left to decide is size and thickness. Mattress size is completely up to you, but I suggest getting as much quality memory foam as you can afford. A thickness of 4 inches appears to be the sweet spot in terms of cost versus benefit. Anything beyond that provides little benefit, and cost increases drastically. I’ll save you the research trouble, and just tell you who I found that satisfies our conditions. That’s not to say there aren’t a ton of vendors out there with great products – this is simply one I’ve used personally and can vouch for.
Finding the best deal at any given time is going to be a little bit of work – prices and products change rapidly, but at least your evaluation method will not. In 1Q 2008 when I built my bed, Bergad Inc’s Isoform mattress division provided a very high quality, well reviewed memory foam for a very reasonable price. I purchased a 4″ queen mattress topper with a wicking (“CoolMax”) cover for approximately 215 USD. The price has increased since that time, but remains a very good value. As of the time I ordered, shipping was free to the US and Ontario. I cannot vouch for any other provinces as I live in Ontario, but to be frank I cannot believe I was not charged extra (or anything!) for cross-border shipping. I would not recommend Ebay or other assorted sites. The deals present can be matched easily by careful shopping with more established merchants, and any deals “too good to be true” usually are. The advantage of having a company you can phone up and contact for issues such as warranty is invaluable.
Here are some major manufacturers to get you started. There are actually very few companies manufacturing their own memory foam, and even fewer who do it domestically. Foam is rebranded and resold, and it can be very difficult to trace where your memory foam product really came from. If you’re aware of other companies that actually make their own foam as opposed to brokering it through other sources, please leave a comment! There are a few things you should be aware of. One, the thing is going to be heavy. Remember our density calculations in the differences between memory foams section? A 4″ queen topper will be almost 60 pounds! Make sure you’re home the day of delivery so you don’t have to go pick it up yourself, and let the delivery guy drop it in your bedroom, not your front door. This isn’t a major issue for younger people, but if you have difficulty lifting and moving heavy awkward objects, recruit a helper! Additionally, memory foam, due to it’s open-cell foam structure, can be compressed quite compactly.
This saves on shipping, but often causes people to get confused when they see a compressed shrinkwrapped thing that looks more like a Pilsbury roll than a mattress cover. It will take several hours for the topper to unroll itself and expand. Don’t attempt to “stretch” it back into shape, you could damage it. Just let it be. As the pictures show, it can take a while, especially if delivered in the cold which will cause the memory foam to stiffen up significantly. The mattress topper cover can be a pain to put on too. Easiest way I found way to lay out the cover flat, put the mattress topper on one side of it, then fold the cover over and zip it up. The weight of the mattress topper makes typical approaches to zipping it up very awkward. Remember there will be a mild odor to start. My mattress topper had no appreciable odor after 2 days. Ratings >> Memory Foam Based on 1,649 Actual Consumer Experiences THE GOOD: Affordable • often well suited for those seeking a firmer mattress • limited off gassing odor • Costco return policy for Novaform models • "B" company rating.
THE BAD: Too firm for some • mattress does not always fully decompress / regain shape after being unpackaged. THE MATTRESSES: Sleep Innovations & Novaform mattresses (made in USA) consist of memory foam over support foam (most models) over base foam. They ship compressed / vacuum sealed, expanding when opened. THE COMPETITION: Other low-priced mattresses. See how Sleep Innovations / Novaform compare at the memory foam mattress ratings – summary and side-by-side mattress comparison.(See buying a mattress online: what you should know.) Sleep Innovation & Novaform Mattress Ratings Sleep Innovations Company Ratings Model Ratings, Prices, Specs Person Size and Sleep Position Suitability The ratings show how Sleep Innovations / Novaform memory foam mattresses rate compared to the average mattress. Sleep Innovations / Novaform mattresses overall have 77% owner satisfaction. Durability / longevity overall is at least fair (six-year lifespan on average) but can vary by model.
Prices are $350-$950 depending on model and size with the average queen costing about $577. The beds moderately conform to the curves of one's body, resulting in somewhat better than average distributed support and pressure relief. Pain sufferers report fair or better relief, including back pain relief. However, about 5% report new (back) pain. (See mattresses and pain relief for general analysis.) Easy to move on The beds tend to provide no more than moderate resistance to body movement including changing positions and getting up. Like memory foam beds in general, moving or getting up tends to cause little disturbance to one's partner – assuming that a firm, solid-surface, non-spring foundation is used. The various models tend to perform at least average for most owners in regard to the support they provide at the edges of the mattress. No initial odor / off gassing About 6% of owners (1 in 17) report a significant problem. (See memory foam off gassing for general analysis.)
About 6% of owners (1 in 17) report significant and bothersome heat retention. Memory foam mattress owner opinion is generally split on this issue. (See mattresses and sex for general analysis). The mattresses are quiet when lied on or compressed. About 9% of owners (1 in 11) report needing to add a topper to improve comfort. The mattresses come compressed and vacuum sealed. There is an unusually high number of owners – at least 8% – who report that their mattress does not fully decompress / regain its shape. This can result in uneven support, discomfort and a poor appearance. As is true for firmer memory foam beds in general, break-in time is often longer than average especially for side sleepers. Rotating the mattress occasionally can help maintain comfort and support, say owners. The beds have a no-flip, one-sided design. Easy to move, handle, lift Weight ranges 59-140 lbs depending on model and size with the average Sleep Innovations model weighing 94 lbs.
Given their weight and lack of handles, they can be difficult to move and maneuver. The ratings below – based on consumer experiences and the evaluation of Sleep Like The Dead – show how Sleep Innovations Inc. compares to the average mattress manufacturer. "Main Competition" in the charts refers to mattresses that when compared to Sleep Innovations / Novaform have mostly similar feel, prices, owner satisfaction, benefits, construction, and return policies. Sleep Innovations / Novaform has 77% owner satisfaction overall. This rate is very similar to that of main competitors overall and higher than that for all mattresses (74%). See satisfaction ratings for specific Sleep Innovations / Novaform models. Learn how owner satisfaction is determined. Sleep Innovations / Novaform mattresses overall are significantly less expensive than both the average mattress and most mattresses with generally similar specifications. However, about 9% of owners report the need to buy a mattress topper – priced $35 to $500.
Durability / longevity for Sleep Innovations models overall is about fair (six-year lifespan on average). 12% of owners report significant sagging, excessive softening / loss of support occurring within three years of ownership – a rate similar to that of the average mattress. Durability / longevity for Sleep Innovations appears to improve as price / thickness increases. In other words, the least expensive models (namely the Shea / 10 inch) appear to have no better than fair durability / longevity, while the more expensive models (namely Alden / 14 inch) appear to have above-average durability / longevity. More info: mattress type longevity comparison. About 9% of Sleep Innovations / Novaform mattress owners add a topper to the mattress (often priced $35-$500) to lessen firmness and create acceptable comfort. About 6% of owners report bothersome heat retention – a rate similar to that of main competitors overall as well as the average mattress. Models with gel-infused memory foam likely sleep about 30% cooler longer.
More info: mattress heat retention. Sleep Innovations performs better than all mattress companies overall and its main competitors overall based on warranty coverage, customer service, return policy, time in business, marketing accuracy, review access, specifications disclosure, and BBB ratings. Like many mattresses under $1000, Sleep Innovations / Novaform mattresses are used lightly (limited adult use or everyday child use) in a significant number of cases. Sleep Innovations / Novaform Usage Owner Satisfaction Comparison: Regular Use Vs Light Use Prices below are for a mattress only. A foundation is often $150-$400. Firmness provided below is the firmness as evaluated by owners overall, not as provided by manufacturer. * For 1 to 10 firmness scale, 1 = very soft, 5 = medium, 10 = very firm. ** See memory foam density comparison to learn about characteristics of 3 lb/ft density. *** Base foam density is an estimate. The stated firmness levels provided by Sleep Innovations / Novaform tend to overstate mattress softness.