The Best Memory Foam Mattresses

Buying Guide

Getting a good night’s sleep starts with the perfect mattress. Many people choose memory foam, but there are many different variations of this kind of material. While this material was created for use at NASA in the 1970s, it has since come a long way. Originally, memory foam material was designed to help astronauts sustain crashes and injuries more safely. The soft but supportive material conforms to the natural curves of the human body, in addition to isolating motion. While this may be helpful for NASA, it also results is a restful sleep.

Memory foam is a visco-elastic material. A memory foam mattress is made up of a several different layers of foam material, which together provide the beneficial properties of memory foam. Traditional memory foam is designed to offer support, decreasing the amount of stress on your joints. This also helps to increase blood circulation. However, it can absorb heat, which may not be the best option if you sleep warm at night.

Open-cell memory foam has a quicker response to movement, so it doesn’t give you the feeling of sinking into a mattress, as traditional memory foam often does. It’s also better at regulating heat, so it can help those who get warm and sweaty at night.

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Gel memory foam is another unique option. It’s ideal for those who sleep warm because the design of this mattress is specifically engineered to help keep the body temperature down. Cooling gel is infused into the different layers of the mattress, which helps to regulate body temperature.

Deciding what kind of mattress is best for you also depends on the kind of sleeper you are. If you mostly sleep on your back at night, then you’re going to need a memory foam mattress that is medium-firm. If you’re a stomach sleeper, then a firm memory foam mattress is best because it will not give the feeling of sinking in around your face. If you’re a side sleeper, then opt for a softer memory foam mattress. This will provide the right support for your shoulders and knees.

• When you’re buying a memory foam mattress, consider the density level. This affects the durability of the mattress. A memory foam mattress that is high density is good option if you share the bed with a sleeping partner. The higher density helps to isolate motion better, so you won’t get woken up in the middle of the night if your partner is tossing and turning. Lower density and medium density memory foam mattresses are easier to get used to, but they may not be as durable.

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• Shopping online can make it difficult to understand how soft or firm a mattress will be. Look for an IDL rating, which stands of indentation load deflection. A memory foam mattress that has a low IDL, like 12, will be soft. A memory foam mattress that has a high IDL, around 50, will be very firm. For most people, opting for something in the middle, around 25, is best.
• Take a look at the height of the memory foam mattress, particularly if you’re on the shorter side. Higher mattresses can make it difficult to get into bed. Most memory foam mattresses are between six and 14 inches high. Typically, a thick mattress will be soft, while a thin mattress will be firm.

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• If you or anyone in your family has allergies, a hypoallergenic memory foam mattress is best. Opt for a high-density memory foam or a gel-infused memory foam, as those are best for deterring dust mites and allergens. Some people are allergic to latex, so avoid latex memory foam in this case.