The Memory Foam Buyer's Guides

memory foam buyers guide

Don't Be Fooled by Cheaper Memory Foam Imitations!

(Links to our other buying guides are located at the bottom of this page)

memory foam buying guide While a "rose is a rose" no matter what it may what the type (hybrid tea, shrub, grandiflora, climbing), the same can not be said about all memory foam mattresses. Not surprisingly, you will discover that all foam products are not created equally. There are a number of well known manufacturers who construct their memory foam mattresses in the United States, but as for the foam that it contains-well, that particular task was outsourced to another country as a cost saving measure. We have no way of knowing about the features, composition and quality of the products that these countries use when creating the foam that is used in many mattresses. This means that we are being very wary when offering any recommendations for most mattresses which contain memory foam that has originated overseas. The one exception to this tight and fast rule is the memory foam mattresses that are made by Tempur-Pedic.

At present this Swedish company is the only foreign based production facility that we can give high marks to for quality, materials and manufacturing standards. Other overseas companies that produce memory foam material are known to create mattresses that seem relatively comfortable upon initial examination but this little love affair is over quickly.

Cheaper memory foam imitators can only produce a product that flattens with the least compression, offers little true spinal support and the materials begin to wear out and break down rather quickly. In fact there are documents that prove many of these overseas memory foam mattresses are not even judged safe to use by US standards.

The problem is that many of the manufacturing and distribution companies selling these beds are still labeling them as having been made in the US simply because the construction of the mattresses is being done in the States. What they are not telling you is that the product contains substandard foam that was manufactured in another country at low cost and then integrated into the mattress.

The Features You want in a Memory Foam Mattress

memory foam mattress Foam mattresses allow you the best support and alignment when you are lying in bed. Foam is a product that contours to the shape of your body and this means that your weight is dispersed evenly. This means that you there will be equal amounts of pressure to all areas of your body when you are relaxing or sleeping.

When you select a top quality memory foam mattress for your bed there is no need for a box spring because you will have the comfort you need with just one mattress. Some people may want to add some extra height to the bed by using a platform base.

Still, it is important for you to know that the best mattresses will provide superior comfort and support if they are just placed on a solid concrete floor. One of the best ways for you to check the strength and quality of any type of mattress foundation such as box springs is by standing on the product.

You should try sitting and standing on the set of springs and check to see if the surface is being compressed severely by your weight. While many of these supporting products can have weak areas you can boost the amount of support by placing 1-2 sheets of plywood ( ½ inch-1 inch thick) on the top surface before positioning the foam mattress onto the box springs.

Be sure and check for the company warranty before purchasing visco elastic memory foam mattresses and box springs. This will let you get the best mattress and the highest degree of support without worrying about whether you will be satisfied or not. The best mattresses and box springs will have full warranties concerning the quality and dependability of these products.

Memory Foam Mattresses or Spring Coils?

memory foam or spring coil

For generations of consumers the box spring mattress sets were the golden standard. Now it is the memory foam mattresses that are surging to the front of the popularity polls. You simply cannot match the support and undeniable comfort that foam mattresses offer.

Although those innerspring mattresses are also reasonably firm and comfortable they just cannot provide the same individualized contouring and back support that you get when you use foam mattresses. Of course there are layers of cotton, or other materials built into box spring mattresses but the coils of a "spring built" mattress bend under body weight and they can only return to their normal shape if the body weight is removed.

There is no way for the old fashioned coils to mold themselves to each body. With spring coils you can expect them to lose their strength and resilience before too long but with a foam mattress you do not have this problem.

Comparing Air Mattresses and Foam Mattresses

memory foam or air bed

Let's consider the air mattress for a moment since these have begun to become another popular option. People like the idea of having the ability to control the firmness of their mattress with a simple switch.

There are some air mattresses that even allow individuals to choose their own firmness level for their side of the bed. The drawback to these products is that there are a number of parts involved and if one of these parts should break or come loose then you will have a mattress that no longer works. If you check the warranty for many of the air mattresses you will even discover that there are certain items that are not fully covered.

With an air bed you will still have a sleeping surface that bends inward under the weight of your body and does not contour itself to match your body shape. You will also find that much of the air in the mattress is displaced to either side which means your back and spine will have less support. The only materials that can give you the supportive alignment and body contouring you're you need are latex foam and memory foam.

Memory Foam or Latex Foam?

memory foam or latex foam

A comparison of memory and latex foam mattresses shows that latex produces a higher amount of elasticity and resiliency than does memory foam. This means that you will have a spongier, springier feel with latex foam mattresses while the products made from memory foam will be more sturdy and solid.

This is why you will not feel the memory foam mattress push up in response to pressure. In fact there are a number of manufacturers that have decided to combine both latex and memory foam together to create an "ideal" mattress that has the best features of both types of materials.

There have been a few instances when the latex foam triggers an allergic reaction. These reactions have mostly been noted when skin contact with the mattress surface occurred. The chance of any allergic reaction to latex components has now become almost nonexistent when the mattress contains one of the synthetic latex formulations such as Talay. The Talay formula is a newer latex version that is made in the United States and the allergy triggering proteins of this ingredient are eliminated through a special "washing" process. Read more about Latex Mattress vs Memory Foam.

Combine Quality and Lower Cost with the Choice of a Memory Foam Mattress Pad

mattress pad

You should now decide whether you need a mattress or an upgraded memory foam mattress pad. The first step for you is to determine if you even need one of these products based on the present performance of your own mattress set. When bedding sets have become so outdated that there is no longer a great deal of firm support and comfort remaining then you could benefit from the addition of a foam mattress pad. This will give you the necessary body support and relaxing comfort that you have been missing without the cost of replacing the complete mattress set.

That mattress you have now with its coils and springs will have a lumpy feel after a certain number of years. This means that any type of regular mattress pad that you try to cover it with can be subjected to this same pattern of lumps and bumps. There is also a good chance that your mattress has already developed a deep well in the middle which increases the "trampoline" effect for the springs that is so uncomfortable. Having a poorly performing mattress such as this can definitely contribute to backaches, spinal discomforts and a number of other muscle and bone complaints.

Once you decide that your best choice for a good night's sleep is a foam mattress pad then you only have to choose the right one for your needs. Just make sure that you are basing your selection on the same characteristics that you would want in a memory foam mattress; proper density, ample thickness and incredible softness to the touch.

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