Advertising Disclosure: We receive advertising fees, which impact the ranking, from the brands reviewed below. Full Disclosure
Memory foam mattresses have become a popular choice for different types of sleepers all over the world. In this guide, we’ll explore the particulars of memory foam, and see what features the best memory foam mattress should have!
Memory foam is primarily comprised of polyurethane, a flexible polymer that does not melt when heated. It also contains additional chemicals to increase its density and make it more viscous.
You might be surprised to learn that memory foam was initially designed for NASA! In 1966, the aeronautics and space agency sought a means for improving the safety and comfort of their airline seats. Fortunately, Charles Yost, an aeronautical engineer based at North American Aviation Inc., came to their rescue. Yost developed a new open-cell material, originally termed as “temper foam.” After some rebranding, the substance eventually became known as “memory foam.”
Over the years, many industries have found uses for memory foam. The material is sometimes used inside bulletproof vests, and vehicle creators have found safety applications for it as well. Memory foam has even proved useful to the medical industry, such as for padding wheelchairs. Of course, alongside all of these versatile applications, let’s not forget another widespread use for memory foam; for creating the best foam mattresses!
There are three main types of memory foam: the traditional kind, gel-infused, and open-cell. Each variant has unique properties, so let’s take a look at what they bring to the table.
Traditional memory foam is designed to enhance your sleeping experience by contouring to fit your body. Unfortunately, conventional foam traps body heat, which can make sleepers uncomfortable after a while. For this reason, two more variants were developed to combat the heating problem.
This type of memory foam has been infused with gel and has two further varieties of its own.
The first kind contains gel with cooling properties; the material will absorb your body heat to keep you fresh. The second type, however, follows a simple principle for temperature regulation; the material continuously absorbs and releases heat while you sleep.
A gel-infused twin memory foam mattress of either kind is a good choice because of its cooling properties!
This type of memory foam shares the same materials as traditional foam, but its internal structure is different. Open-cell foam breathes better because it contains pockets that facilitate ventilation and better airflow to release heat.
Thus, if you are looking for a mattress with cooling properties, then open-cell and gel-infused memory foam are options that you should pursue. Of course, mattresses of these kinds vary in performance, too – some regulate temperature better than others. So, if you’re looking for a good king size memory foam mattress, then be sure to read the reviews and compare the performance of different models.
Memory foam mattresses aren’t popular for nothing; they have many useful advantages. The best memory foam mattresses have a lot to offer for different types of sleepers, which includes:
Thus, purchasing a memory foam mattress can be an excellent investment. However, there are some potential drawbacks that you should be aware of, although they’re nothing too serious! Which brings us to the next section.
Memory foam mattresses are pretty great, but they can’t solve every sleeping problem. It’s for you to decide whether a foam mattress is right for you or not. Let’s take a look at where a memory foam mattress may fall short.
Weight
Memory foam mattresses are typically quite dense, which is beneficial in many ways. However, this also means that a king size memory foam mattress will be heavy and awkward to move around. Thus, installing the mattress onto your bed can be challenging.
To combat this problem, you can order a memory foam mattress from a brand that offers mattress removal services. Such companies will send field staff to remove your old twin memory foam mattress and replace it with the new product.
Heat Retention
The biggest complaint about a memory foam mattress is how it traps your body heat. This is a pressing issue for warm sleepers, especially – feeling hot and uncomfortable makes it very difficult to fall asleep.
Open-cell and gel-infused memory foam mattress models are significantly cooler than the traditional variants. However, even the cooling properties of these mattresses have limitations; people living in hot, humid climates may still find them to be ineffective.
Slow to Adapt
Do you toss and turn a lot while sleeping? Do you fall asleep on one side of the mattress and wake up on the other? If this sounds like you, then even the best memory foam mattress may not be your cup of tea.
Memory foam, while excellent at contouring your body to make you comfortable, takes its time to do so. If you move around a lot during sleep, then memory foam may not be your best bet. You will have changed positions before the mattress can adapt, and as such, you might feel uncomfortable throughout the night.
Do you want to pick the best memory foam mattress 2020 has to offer? Well, to do so, you’ll need to choose a mattress that ticks certain boxes.
Is the mattress thick enough?
All of the best memory foam mattresses boast appreciative thickness; a thin mattress is indicative of low-quality. High-quality memory foam mattresses are typically around 30cm; mattresses on the lower end, of about 15cm, generally are cheaper and of poor quality.
Does the mattress cover breathe well?
Since memory foam sleeps hot, the best memory foam mattresses 2020 come with breathable mattress covers. These covers, made from materials like cotton, encourage airflow and protect you from becoming too hot. Try to steer clear of mattresses with poor quality covers, e.g., ones made of polyester, as they will only make the heating problem worse!
Is the mattress dense enough?
Top-quality foam mattresses are especially dense, around 50kg/m3-60kg/m3 or more. Mattresses with a low-density rating are typically low quality, and its best to avoid them altogether.
What are people saying about the mattress?
To put it simply, if a mattress is exceptional, then people will be talking about it. That means customers will rave about how they found the best memory foam mattress, and critics will hand out awards.
Some of the best, award-winning mattress brands offer products that don’t have the typical drawbacks associated with memory foam. For example, Nectar UK produces memory foam mattresses with exceptional cooling properties, while Emma UK products don’t cause too much sinkage. So if you’re searching for the best memory foam mattress, then check top-rated products out!
Memory foam mattresses are an excellent pick for most types of sleepers. While traditional variants come with potential drawbacks, many top-quality models offer optimal levels of comfort. Read the reviews here on our website to see some of the best memory foam mattresses in the market right now and find one that suits your needs!
