A buyer’s guide to memory foam mattresses

What is a memory foam mattress?
Memory foam is a visco-elastic polymer based mattress that conforms to your body curvature. Originally created for pilots and passengers to act as impact buffers in cases of a crash. The civilian industries soon realized the potential and now we have memory foam mattresses.
What kinds of Memory foam are there?
There are basically three types of memory foam on the market; traditional memory foam that came onto the markets in the 90’s, which designed to increase your bodies circulation, it’s a slow acting foam so you get that sinking feeling when you settle down into it, it also maintains heat, so if you prefer a cooler sleep you shouldn’t pick this one. The second material is open cell memory foam which works faster than the traditional so you don’t get that sinking feeling, it also regulates your body heat dispersal so you get a cooler sleep on this mattress. The final type is gel memory foam which uses different gels imbedded into the mattress. This acts as a perfect body conforming material and as a heat diffuser leaving you with a really cool and comfortable sleep.
Is memory foam for you?
Not everyone can enjoy a memory foam experience, so first of all consider if you really need one. They are amazing shock absorbers, so if you sleep with an active partner this would be perfect for you. It also flows only away from pressure points, so whenever you move your body will encounter a higher perspective, and that will flow around you as your bodies weight moves into place too.
Also, due to its semi-viscous nature, memory foam (hence the name) remembers your body, or in reality, it takes longer for a pressured area to flow back to its original state. This is great news for slid sleepers that have a particular position in bed.
Do not buy a memory foam mattress if you have lumbar problems, the mattress is not a medical device and might not place the correct pressure. Also, if you are a hot sleeper, you will need a mattress that retains heat rather than diffuses it.
Stomach sleepers will not enjoy memory foam, and movers (active sleepers) will also find it unsettling.
Benefit for money
Unlike traditional mattresses, memory foam mattresses are a good run for your money, they last longer and need less maintenance. You don’t need to consider material density, the denser the mattress the longer it will last but the more expensive it will be. Densities range in groups of 3.5lbs/ft, 4lbs/ft and 6lbs/ft. A 4lb/ft mattress will last between 10 to 12 years.
Sources
When buying a memory foam mattress, you must check for country of manufacture, China is known for making low quality products but labeling them high quality, so prefer to buy American or European, whilst it is more expensive, it is the real deal. Always check for certification, and not foreign, make sure your certification is domestic.
Prices
Pries rage from $100 to $4,000 depending on the density, the source and the brand. We suggest you only buy around the $600-$1,800 mark since here you will find the largest range of good quality mattresses.