When choosing a mattress, you must consider the type of sleeper you are, as well as your budget. Foam mattresses are available at a range of price points, although certain construction types can add significant cost premiums. Whether you choose a foam or spring mattress depends on your sleeping preferences and priorities, as there are advantages and drawbacks to both options.
There are several different materials used to construct a foam mattress, and companies often utilize multiple different layers within a single bed. Polyurethane (poly) foam is a common and popular choice, used in both modern all-foam beds as well as the top comfort layer of many spring mattresses. Poly foam is relatively soft and is known for its bouncy feel, but it does not provide the same level of body contouring that memory or latex do.
Latex is a natural rubber-like material that is both softer and more durable than polyurethane foam, but it is much more expensive. For these reasons, most foam mattresses do not use latex as a primary component.
Memory foam is a viscoelastic polyurethane foam that was originally developed to improve aircraft safety cushions. It is denser than reflex foam and offers better body contouring with less response, but it also has a slower bounce back. This is described as a time lag, or hysteresis, and it is what makes memory foam so popular for mattresses. Memory foam is able to mold around the curves of your body and distribute your weight evenly, providing excellent pressure relief for those with joint or back pain.
Viscoelastic foam is also very breathable, which means that it can disperse heat and help you to sleep cooler. It also has the added benefit of preventing motion transfer, which can be an important factor for those who share a mattress with a partner or co-sleeper.
Many foam mattresses include additional features to enhance the performance of this already versatile material. One of the most common is open-cell memory foam, which has openings in the tiny cells of the memory foam that allow for greater airflow and cooling. Another option is gel-infused memory foam, which contains tiny beads of a gel material that are embedded into the memory foam and can further reduce overheating. Some manufacturers also use infusions of copper, graphite or other elements to combat the tendency of memory foam to trap and retain heat, which can lead to a warmer sleep surface.
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