Finding the appropriate mattress depends on many factors, including your sleeping position, temperature preferences and firmness preferences. Here are some helpful hints for selecting one that works for you.
This mattress features individually wrapped coils on top of organic cotton and ecofriendly memory foam for an ideal medium soft feel, making it suitable for back and side sleepers who favor medium firm comfort.
Memory Foam
Memory foam is a dense, soft material that molds to your body for contouring and pressure point reduction, helping relieve back ache, hip ache, shoulder ache and knee ache as well as improving posture by aligning the spine’s natural curve and providing additional lumbar support.
Memory foam mattresses consist of three layers: the cover, gel-infused or copper-infused memory foam and high density core. Usually made of cotton-based fabric and featuring removable washable covers for easier maintenance, memory foam mattresses are designed with special gel or copper infusion into its memory foam to regulate temperature while you sleep and keep you cool at night.
Foam cores are the heavyweight layer in any mattress and provide stability and support to all other layers. They may consist of polyfoam or latex foam or combination thereof; in hybrid mattresses the core may even consist of innerspring coils for additional support and bounce. Many memory foam mattresses use fillers to increase fire retardancy, aid the manufacturing process or add desired sensations; these fillers may alter its density making the mattress appear softer or firmer than its actual properties.
Foam ILD can give an indication of density for mattresses, though its precise feel will depend on various other factors. Additives like gel microbeads may alter its density. Furthermore, not all manufacturers measure ILD consistently so this should not be taken as an accurate gauge of firmness – thus why it is crucial to take note of other elements discussed and read reviews on various mattresses before making your final choice.
Latex
Latex, a natural material harvested from Hevea brasiliensis rubber trees, is a milky white emulsion known as latex which makes one of the most eco-conscious materials used in mattress production, made up of soft elastic foam layers. There are two forms of latex production; Talalay and Dunlop; both processes utilize natural rubber tree sap in different ways – Talalay uses whipped foam to fill its mold while Dunlop requires pouring, flash freezing and steam baking for consistency.
Memory foam mattresses tend to be more resilient and provide a springy, innerspring-like experience, with latex being particularly known for its breathability – its open cell structure punctuated with pinholes allows airflow for cooling sleep.
Latex mattresses can come in various firmness levels, just like memory foam. A medium-firm option is great for side sleepers and back sleepers who balance softness with support to ease hip and shoulder ache and pains, while firm options provide extra lower back support.
Hybrid mattresses can also offer those searching for an optimal sleeping experience a more balanced sleeping experience. These hybrid models typically combine memory foam, latex and pocketed coils in order to offer both support and comfort in one mattress.
Before purchasing a mattress, it’s a smart idea to visit multiple stores and try out various styles in person to see which feel best. Bring along your usual pillow to get an accurate sense of how it will fit on the mattress; additionally check with retailers’ return policies as some offer generous risk-free trials lasting 90-365 days.
Natural Materials
At times, opting for natural mattresses may be the better choice in today’s synthetically manufactured environment. Natural mattresses made of sustainable organic materials often come without chemicals – an appealing proposition indeed!
These materials also have minimal environmental impacts when they’re disposed of, since they’re biodegradable or recyclable. A few examples include:
Wool: With its naturally breathable and temperature-regulating properties, wool makes for an excellent option if you tend to overheat easily. Furthermore, its moisture absorption properties prevent mold growth. Cotton: Cotton has long been considered durable and comfortable – however organic cotton requires less water usage as well as no toxic pesticides being applied during production.
All-Natural Latex: Produced from rubber tree sap, natural latex is chemical-free and hypoallergenic, highly durable, and works to regulate body temperature during sleep.
Natural mattresses can meet varying preferences as its multiple layers of latex can be combined and swapped out to provide soft, medium or firm surfaces. Natural mattresses distinguish themselves from synthetic ones in two key ways. First, their versatility sets them apart. Second, natural mattresses do not promote fungal growth like synthetic mattresses do. As fungal spores can lead to respiratory conditions like asthma, natural mattresses can provide essential relief from allergies while decreasing medication requirements for better, healthier rest for everyone in the household. By being able to rest peacefully themselves and help their loved ones do the same, natural mattresses make sleeping easier for all involved.
Coils
As their name implies, coils are an integral component of innerspring mattresses and provide traditional feel for sleepers who like springy mattresses with fast responses and good bounce. Coils also tend to sleep cooler than foam mattresses due to their open, air-filled structure which allows airflow between each coil.
Consider both coil gauge and count to evaluate an innerspring mattress’s quality of construction. Higher metal coil gauges tend to be thicker and more resilient, as are more coils overall; additional factors include their type – Bonnell coils, offset coils, Marshall (also called wrapped or enclosed coils) or continuous (also called Mira-coils).
Bonnell coils are knotted hourglass-shaped steel wires connected in a helix design. This coil style is one of the most widely used among mid-range innerspring mattresses; however, its presence may cause pressure point discomfort for those suffering with back issues. However, offset coils offer similar performance without creating pressure point discomfort for sleepers with back issues; their flattened top and bottom edges create an offset hinge effect which makes for quieter sleeping conditions than their rounded Bonnell counterparts; thus becoming the preferred choice among many sleepers.
Marshall coils are made up of multiple, individually enclosed fabric coils designed to reduce motion transfer by eliminating friction caused by other individual coils moving in their entirety, enabling more conformance with user bodies while providing superior back sleeping comfort. Continuous coils consist of one piece of wire bent into an S-shape for durability compared to other coil types.
Firmness
Consider your body weight and sleeping position when selecting the firmness level of a mattress. A mattress that feels good to someone lighter may feel too soft, while one suitable for someone heavier may lack sufficient support.
Firmness in mattresses is determined largely by its comfort system, which typically consists of several layers layered over an inner core designed to provide structure and support. A thicker comfort layer will tend to produce a softer surface feel while thinner ones contribute more firmly. Material used in the comfort system also has an impactful role; foams like polyfoam and memory foam conform closely to body contours while latex or fiber mattresses have more of a steady feel.
Some manufacturers offer beds with different firmness levels, from soft mattresses to those that are extremely firm. Though harder to set up and move than soft beds, these exceptionally firm models may have advantages such as less wear or the ability to easily adjust firmness throughout the night via manual controls, remote, or app. Removable comfort layers may also allow users to customize firmness levels according to individual firmness preferences; and flippable mattresses allow two people to select their ideal sleep surface while leaving one side firmer than desired.
