Memory Foam vs. Spring Mattress

If you’re on the hunt for a new mattress, you have some great options out there. The two main competitors for your sleep are specialty foam and traditional spring mattresses. Which mattress is best for you?

Gotta Sleep has provided some information on each mattress type to help you make an informed decision. Let’s start with how each mattress is made.

Basics of Memory Foam & Spring Mattresses

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam was first developed under contract by NASA to cushion the high G-force astronauts were subjected to during take-off re-entry. Memory foam can completely conform to and cradle the contours of your body while you’re asleep. Because this reduces or eliminates pain on pressure points such as shoulders, ribs, elbows, hips and knees, medical facilities use it as an option for patients in pain.

Memory foam on its own is great, but memory foam mattresses seldom consist of just memory foam. Typically, memory foam is the top layer and a layer of high-density polyurethane support foam is beneath it. This lower layer is generally referred to as polyfoam. The top comfort layer of memory foam is designed to pressure off pressure points. The high-density support foam is designed to provide support to your spine and to extend the lifespan of your mattress.

Spring Mattresses

Your typical innerspring mattress is made up of metallic springs, joined together with a type of lacing. The firmness of the spring mattress is determined by how thick and how many coiled springs there are. Thicker coils are firmer, where thinner is softer. Sometimes spring mattresses can have a combination of coil gauges, some tighter or higher, to modify the firmness.

The coil structure is surrounded by materials, fabric and sometimes a pillow top to make the mattress more comfortable. Specialty foams such as memory foam and latex are also used on top of coils to provide a degree of comfort and support.

Sleep and Support

Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam enables sleepers, especially back sleepers, to get proper spinal alignment. It’s almost impossible to get proper spinal alignment on a spring mattress. Unless it’s a pocket coil, the mattress will not rebound against your weight, which can result in pain and soreness on pressure areas. And when the sleeping body indicates discomfort, it tosses and turns, disrupting your good night’s rest.

A high-quality memory foam mattress is key. It’s essential that the underlying polyfoam support layer is dense, and that the top memory foam layer isn’t too thick. Otherwise, you’ll sink in too far. Gotta Sleep’s quality mattress ensures proper support.

When it comes to motion transfer, memory foam performs best. It responds to any motion or pressure locally, which means your partner can toss and turn without you feeling it. This is ideal for light sleepers who are disturbed by movement, or a partner getting in and out of bed.

Spring Mattresses

Spring coils offer harder support. Some can shape to your body contours when you first lay down but will give limited localized support to pressure areas. If you want a spring mattress, splurge on a pocket coil. Investing in a good pillow-top mattress can also assist in pressure relief, but it won’t have the same superior back alignment qualities as a memory foam mattress. For those that don’t like the feeling of memory foam, a pocket coil innerspring mattress would be your best option.

Higher-quality pocket coil inner-spring mattresses offer less motion transfer than other inner-springs, but they still won’t measure up to sleeping on a quality memory foam mattress.

Durability

Memory Foam Mattress

The denser the memory foam mattress, the longer it will last. Our Gotta Sleep memory foam mattress is made of high density, high-quality materials that will provide you with years of great sleep.

When memory foam starts to break down underuse, it will get softer compared to how it was when it was new. Although it will never wear out completely, if you’ve had your mattress for a long time and it’s starting to sag, it might be time for a new one.Spring Mattresses

Just like any product, the durability of a spring mattress depends on the quality of the mattress and the materials used in the coils. Larger, thicker coils made of tempered steel will last longer than thinner non-tempered coils. 

Maintenance

Memory Foam

It’s good practice to rotate your memory foam mattress head to foot, every three months. This can reduce uneven side to side body impressions. You can also protect your memory foam mattress from spills, stains, moisture, dust mites and other allergens with a removable and washable mattress cover.

Memory foam is sensitive to temperature and humidity. It’s recommended that you keep your bedroom at a moderate temperature. Spring Mattresses

Just like memory foam mattresses, an innerspring mattress should be rotated every three months to reduce impressions from your body. 

Cost

Both memory foam and inner-spring mattresses vary in price depending on their quality. It’s always a good idea to invest in the best quality mattress. 

Conclusion

Memory foam mattresses are the best option if you’re looking for a mattress that offers superior spinal alignment, pressure point relief and minimum motion transfer. If you prefer a harder, springy feel, you might want to purchase a pocket coil inner-spring mattress.

Give memory foam a try! Purchase a mattress from Gotta Sleep and you’ll get a 101-night trial.                                                                                                  

Share:

Recent Articles

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter

No spam, notifications only about new products, updates.