It’s easy to think of memory foam mattresses as being new and cutting edge. Traditional spring mattresses have been along for so long and are so pervasive that any different kind of bedding comes across as thoroughly modern. In truth, though, memory foam has been around since the 1960s, when NASA developed the technology to make aircraft cushions safer. Eventually, the technology was commercialized and found its way into mattresses and many other consumer products. Today, memory foam mattresses or memory foam mattress pads and toppers are everywhere. The question is, which type of mattress is ideal for you?
Memory Foam vs Spring Mattresses: What’s the Difference?
When considering the “memory foam vs spring mattress” question, it’s useful to know how these different types of mattresses are constructed and what those differences mean for the overall comfort and support of the bedding.
Since they’ve been around for longer, let’s start by talking a bit about spring mattresses. These mattresses are constructed around a core of steel coil springs, wrapped in fabric pockets. How comfortable a spring mattress is, depends on the amount of padding between the springs and the surface of the mattress itself. Features such as soft pillow tops are often added to maximize comfort.
Memory foam mattresses are distinctly different, in that they contain no springs at all. Instead, these mattresses are made up of memory foam and air. Memory foam itself is a type of polyurethane that has been combined with specific chemicals to achieve a certain level of density and viscosity. The result of these properties is that memory foam responds to pressure uniquely. When you push your hand down into a memory foam mattress, the foam will compress and form around your hand. Even when you remove your hand, its shape will remain visible in the mattress for a few minutes, before the foam returns to its initial shape.
Memory Foam Benefits
Even the most comfortable, well-padded spring mattresses are merely fabric on top of steel springs. These mattresses can’t achieve the same fit-to-body results of a memory foam mattress. The way that memory foam fits and forms around your body, meanwhile, can provide a custom-like level of comfort. Especially for sleepers who struggle to get comfortable at night, a memory foam mattress can do a lot to reduce consistent tossing and turning.
Those who struggle with chronic pain (such as back or neck pain) or who are recovering from injuries can also benefit significantly from memory foam mattresses. Where traditional mattresses often put unwanted pressure on injured or painful points throughout the body, memory foam reduces that pressure to minimize pain. This reduction in pressure can even help foster faster healing for some injuries because the injury sites won’t be stressed or strained. Besides, memory foam mattresses are a lot less likely to cause chronic back or neck pain problems, in part because they distribute and support your body weight more evenly than traditional spring mattresses ever could.
The list of memory foam benefits goes beyond mattress comfort, too. These benefits include:
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Longer lifespan
Memory foam mattresses are known to last considerably longer than standard spring mattresses. High-end spring mattresses will last about seven or eight years before they need replacement. On average, a memory foam mattress will last ten years or longer. -
Convenient online ordering and delivery
Getting a traditional mattress delivered to your home isn’t easy, simply because mattresses are so large, heavy, and cumbersome. Memory foam mattresses can be vacuum-packed into boxes that are much smaller than the mattress will look once it’s on your bed. This factor makes these mattresses easy to ship, deliver, move into your home, and unpack. -
Fewer allergens
Memory foam is more resistant to allergens than most standard mattresses. A pillow top spring mattress will build up a ton of dust, dead skin cells, dust mites, and other allergens over the years. Memory foam won’t free you from these issues completely, but it is resistant to allergens and won’t experience the same large-scale build-up. This factor is a big part of the reason why memory foam mattresses last longer than standard spring mattresses.
These perks make memory foam the ideal mattress type for many consumers and households. If you are looking for a memory foam bed, check out what we have to offer at a Home Zone Furniture Store near you.
Are There Drawbacks to Memory Foam Mattresses?
While memory foam mattresses win quite a few points in the memory foam vs coil spring mattress debate, the fact is that a memory foam mattress won’t be right for everyone. Here are a few drawbacks that you should consider before deciding which mattress to purchase:
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Allergies
Did you know that some people are allergic to memory foam? If you aren’t sure whether you are part of this population, you might want to spend some time around memory foam before pulling the trigger and purchasing a memory foam mattress. -
Fewer options
There are still more standard spring mattresses out there to choose from than there are memory foam mattresses. If you want the most comprehensive selection possible, you will likely need to look into getting a pillow top mattress.
At Home Zone, we can help you explore both memory foam mattresses and traditional spring-based mattresses to figure out which is right for you. If you have any questions, start by getting in touch with us directly.