Which Mattress Type Is The Best Fit For You?
When we talk about types of mattresses, we are specifically referring to the mattress source of support.
Innerspring Mattress
Innerspring mattresses are the most common type of mattress. They are composed of a layer of springs covered with layers of various “comfort” materials. The innerspring is the source of support and provides proper spinal alignment while you sleep.
Sitting above the innerspring are the comfort layers that cushion your body throughout the night. The combination of various foams and fibers provide different levels of softness and comfort.
You may have heard that the more coils a mattress has in its innerspring, the better the mattress will be. The reality is that it’s the combination of coil count, coil gauge (thickness), and the construction of the coils that determine the overall comfort and support of a mattress. Also available is the innerspring with individually wrapped coils which allows each spring to adjust independently to your body for more comfort and support.
Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam mattresses feature a visco-elastic memory foam core as their support system instead of a traditional metal innerspring unit. Like latex foam, memory foam is able to deliver both comfort and spinal support.
Memory foam responds to your body temperature by softening with warmth, allowing the foam to contour to your body when you lie down. This property can, however, cause a memory foam mattress to sleep warmer than other mattresses. When looking at a memory foam mattress, be sure to look for foam technologies that minimize the residual heat.
Memory foam can help promote a more restful sleep because it provides significant pressure relief to help reduce tossing and turning. It also drastically reduces motion transfer from one partner to another.
Memory Foam Hybrid
A memory foam hybrid mattress combines the support of a traditional steel coil innerspring with the comfort of memory foam.
Comfort Layers
The feeling you get when you first lie down on a mattress comes from the foams and fibers used in the comfort layers above the innerspring or foam support system. Most mattresses include a combination of special fibers and responsive, body-conforming foams to ease pressure points along the body. These mattress comfort layers reduce tossing and turning promoting a better night’s sleep.
The comfort layers vary from one mattress to another. They are often referred to as the “firmness” of a mattress – ranging from Firm (the hardest) through Plush, Pillow Top, Euro Top, Ultra Cushion Top, and Super Pillow Top (the softest). Remember – the comfort layers provide the feel of a mattress, not the support. You may have heard that you need a “firm” mattress if you suffer from back pain. In reality, you need a mattress with a supportive innerspring or foam support system that provides proper spinal alignment.