If you have been looking for a new mattresses, you might have come across the variety of types available right now. With these many types available, mattress shopping can be overwhelming and confusing.
Here we’ll discuss two most common mattress types, memory foam and innerspring mattresses:
Innerspring Mattresses
Innerspring mattresses comprise a layer of metal coils that offer support and an additional padded layer for comfort. Innerspring mattresses have metal coils that act as support core, which are solid and resilient. The coils are then followed by a relatively thin comfort layer, approximately two inches or less. If the comfort layer exceeds two inches, it categorizes as a hybrid mattress.
Innerspring mattresses have graced bedrooms and have been popular for over 100 years, and they are even relevant today as a popular budget-friendly option. Also read, Innerspring mattresses – Pros & Cons.
Pros
Temperature: Innerspring mattresses allow airflow through the coils helping the sleeper to sleep cool throughout the night. So, an innerspring mattress is your best bet if you are a hot sleeper.
Responsive: Innerspring mattresses are highly responsive to body movements, and the incorporation of coils helps all the movements take place with ease. So, if you are a combination sleeper, an innerspring mattress will support you well for a long time.
Cons
Motion Isolation: Because of the inclusion of connected metal coils, there is low to medium motion isolation. That means if movement is there on one side of the mattress, you can easily feel it on the opposite edge. So, if you share a bed with a partner, unfortunately, you might share every toss and turn.
However, some modern innerspring mattresses come with pocketed coils, which means they are wrapped separately. This helps stop motion from moving between the coils and spreading it to the whole mattress.
Pressure Relief: Unlike memory foam mattresses, the bouncy feel of the coils keeps the sleeper lifted, putting pressure on the shoulders, hips, and spine. So, sleepers with chronic aches and pains may consider other options.
Recommended for
Hot sleepers: Innerspring mattresses are thinner, and there is ample airflow because of the inclusion of metal coils. This airflow throughout the mattress helps the sleeper sleep cool throughout the night.
Combination sleepers: An innerspring mattress's bouncy lifting feature helps the sleeper move in between sleeping positions easily.
Back and stomach sleepers: Unlike side sleepers, back and stomach sleepers require firm and more support. Back sleepers need extra support for their lower back, and stomach sleepers require support for their hips so that the spine alignment is in its natural curve throughout the night. Find the best innerspring mattress for back pain only at your nearest Mancini's Sleepworld.
Memory Foam Mattresses
Memory Foam mattresses do not utilize coils are their core support; instead, they are entirely made of foam. These mattresses comprise multiple layers of dense and durable foam.
Memory foam has become a popular choice among sleepers. Memory Foam refers to viscoelastic polyurethane foam. The foam material used is adaptable, meaning memory foam slowly conforms to the body shape when met with body heat and body pressure. Therefore, memory foam mattresses are characterized by excellent body-conforming properties.
Pros
Motion Isolation: Memory Foam mattresses are known for their excellent motion isolation properties, meaning if there is motion on the side of the bed, it cannot be felt throughout the bed. Memory foam mattresses are ideal if you share a bed with a partner, and you will not get disturbed by all the tossing and turning.
Pressure Relief: Memory foam mattresses are exceptional in pressure relief. If the right firmness is chosen according to the body type, sleepers with aches and pains will find relief in a memory foam mattress.
Cons
Temperature: Memory Foam mattresses generally sleep hot, so if you sleep hot, a memory foam mattress may not be ideal. But it doesn't have to be a dealbreaker because you get cooling memory foam and cooling mattress protectors that counter the heat absorbed, keeping you cool throughout the night.
Off-gassing: Off-gassing is a phenomenon that is essential to a new mattress; which when unboxed releases a smell. These are found only in memory foam mattresses because they are machine compressed and rolled into a box. Memory Foam mattresses are smellier than other types, which can be off-putting for a few.
Recommended for
Side sleepers: Side sleepers who need support for the spine, hips, and shoulder, they cannot ask for a better mattress than a memory foam mattress. A memory foam mattress's body-hugging and conforming feel supports the sleeper when sleeping on their side.
Aches and pains: Sleepers suffering from aches and pains generally require a super conforming and low firmness mattress that a memory foam offers. There are no hard points on a memory foam mattress that helps alleviate aches and pains.
Couples: A memory foam mattress is a winner for sleepers who share a bed with a partner, especially if you have one who moves a lot during the night.
Comparison
Innerspring
Support layer: Metal coils
Comfort layer:Polyfoam or cotton or latex (usually thin layer)
Feel: Bouncy
Temperature: Sleeps cool
Motion Isolation: Medium
Pressure Relief: Medium
Lifespan: 5-6 years
Memory Foam
Support layer: High-density foams
Comfort layer: Memory Foam
Feel: Body-hugging
Temperature: Sleeps warm
Motion Isolation: High
Pressure Relief: High
Lifespan: 7-8 years
Temperature
Innerspring mattresses are known to sleep cool, while, memory foam mattresses have a reputation for overheating. Because of the foam, heat is trapped inside, and this can be a bummer for hot sleepers who tend to sweat a lot at night.
However, modern memory foam mattresses have infused cooling technologies such as gel and copper layers to dissipate trapped heat.
Feel
Memory Foam mattresses offer a lot of sinkage; a body-conforming feel unique to each sleeper. This quality ensures comfort and excellent pressure relief. Memory foam mattresses do not feature any buoyancy.
On the other hand, an innerspring mattress is incredibly bouncy, hence does not feature much sinkage. For the same reason, an innerspring mattress is buoyant, allowing the sleeper to rest “on the bed” as opposed to “in the bed.”
Durability
Durability depends hugely on the materials and quality chosen. Investing in any high-quality mattress, whether innerspring or memory foam, is bound to last longer than a low-quality mattress.
It is strongly recommended that all warranties and guarantees are thoroughly checked before purchasing any mattress. A tip to remember is that the longer the warranty, the more durable the mattress.
Don’t forget to check out our recommendations and guide on Memory foam mattress vs Innerspring mattress
At the end of the day, a great mattress should offer great sleep, whether it is an innerspring or a memory foam. Remember to choose a high-quality mattress that will last you in the long run. Plus, buying a mattress based on your body type, sleep position, and other important parameters is crucial for a good night’s sleep.
Still unsure? Visit your nearest Mancini’s Sleepworld and explore the wide range of the best innerspring mattresses and best memory foam mattresses. Talk to our Sleep Specialists and try out SleepMatch to know which mattresses suits you the best.