You have lots of different options when picking out what kind of mattress to purchase. Since you’ll use a bed for years, it’s essential to make the right decision. Online shopping experiences have given those on the market for a new mattress even more options than ever before when it comes to finding their next bed.
While these shopping options give you the convenience of being able to find a new mattress without ever stepping out of your home, it can be tricky to know just what products are worth the purchase. If you’ve set your sights on memory foam as your mattress of choice, then this article’s for you—we bring you our complete guide of memory foam mattress reviews.
COMPARISON TABLE
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Things To Consider When Purchasing A Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam is one of your excellent mattress material options, bringing a consistent level of comfort throughout the years. However, not all these mattresses are equal, and you need to shop smart to get the best results. Since the quality of your bed is going to affect how well you sleep and your health along with it, keep an eye out on these aspects when shopping.
Different Types Of Foam
While you may think that there’s only one type of memory foam, there are in fact several. While they all have the same features as returning to their original forms after you get up from bed to remove pressure, the four main categories have distinct features:
- Traditional. The first type of foam introduced in the mid-90’s, it helps enhance circulation and decreases stress on joints while sleeping, but it absorbs and gathers heat, which can be uncomfortable.
- Open Cell. This foam has a much quicker response to pressure, so you don’t feel like you’re sinking into the bed, like what can happen with traditional foam. This type also handles temperatures better and can even regulate your body for better rest!
- Gel. With gels infused into the foam, these mattresses respond better to pressure, and disperse heat even better than open cell models, allowing for a comfortable night’s rest.
- Plant-Based. If you’re environmentally conscious and want to avoid toxins in your mattress, plant-based foams are suitable for both you and the planet, though they do tend to be more expensive.
The type of foam you choose will depend on your personal sleep preferences, so it’s right for you to understand just what each of them does.
Thickness Of Layers
When you’re buying a memory foam mattress, you aren’t just getting a single block of foam. These mattresses have several layers that serve different purposes. At a minimum, your bed will have a base, support, and top/comfort layer.
Mattresses with several layers or with greater thicknesses tend to be more expensive because they have more comfort points. However, you also need to pay attention to your type of bed and the variety/thickness of each layer to find one that best fits your sleeping preferences.
Size Of Your Bed
Memory foam mattresses may be a type of specialty mattress, but they still come in standard sizes, so you don’t have to worry about not finding one to fit your bed. If you’re getting a new bedframe at the same time, you can quickly match the two together. Memory foam mattresses even work with adjustable beds, letting you get the best position of comfort for sleep.
Durability
Any mattress purchase should be ready to last for years, and memory foam is no exception. Thankfully, these types of layers hold up longer than other comfort layer materials, such as polyfoams. Still, some mattresses last longer than others, even within the memory foam category.
Memory foams can spring back from pressure, but they start to lose effectiveness as time passes. You need to be sure that you’re getting a mattress that will lose appropriately long for the cost you put into it.
Density
Understanding density gives you a clue of how much your mattress will weigh. It also helps you understand how soft or hard the bed feels. Everyone has different preferences while sleeping, so you’ll want to keep in mind what serves as a comfortable level for you when picking a mattress out.
The density also helps give you an indicator of how long your mattress will last; higher density foam has more extended durability than a less dense material. However, the thicker the bedding is, the less ventilation it has, which means that it gets much hotter as you sleep.
Consider A Mattress Topper
You’re likely shopping for a memory foam mattress because you want to sleep comfortably. You can potentially add more comfort and levels of firmness with a mattress topper as well. If your desired mattress is close but not quite at your ideal level, pairing it up with a topper can make that final push to your ultimate bed.
Sleeping Position
While we’ve mentioned that a lot of your sleeping preferences will play a role in how you sort out which mattress to pick up, your sleeping position is a significant one to consider. Back sleepers and side sleepers benefit the best from memory foam, as the material helps better support joints than traditional mattresses. However, the sinking support may not do well for stomach sleepers.
Firmness Level
This measure applies to how fast the memory foam responds to pressure, not how the mattress feels. Even so, it can help you get an idea of what your bed will feel like, especially if you’re purchasing one online.
You can figure this out by checking the indentation force reflections (IDF) value. Mattresses with IDFs under 18 are soft, while those 30 or higher are firm. Based on the combination of the different layers’ IDF values, you can get a good idea of what the mattress will feel like before your order.
Responsiveness
If a memory foam quickly returns to its original shape after you remove pressure, then it has high responsiveness. A mattress with quick responsiveness allows for easier changing of positions and getting out of bed, while mattresses with slow responsiveness conform better to body shape.
Traditional memory foam mattresses tend to have lower responsiveness, while newer materials adjust back much quicker.
Memory Foam Mattresses Reviews
Now that you know what we look for in a great memory foam mattress (and what you should look for, too), check out our compilation of memory foam mattress reviews to help you pick out your best sleep experience!
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First up on our list are Nectar memory foam mattresses, which are available in all bed sizes from twin to Cal King. When you look at the layers, you have five in total: the cooling cover, quilted gel memory foam, standard gel memory foam, adaptive hi-core memory foam, and a breathing base layer, from top to bottom.
One of the stand-out features of this mattress is that you have one of the most extended free-trial periods available at a full calendar year, which is more than enough time to figure out if this mattress is what you want. It also has a low customer return rate, so there’s a strong chance this one will be a winner for you, too.
One of the potential downsides on this mattress is that Nectar doesn’t make them entirely in the US, which may be a deal breaker for you. You also might notice a mild scent after unboxing it, but this does fade within a few hours.
PROS
- Gel foam allows for exceptional comfort and breathability
- Year-long return period
- Resistant to bed bugs
- Easy setup
CONS
- Not wholly manufactured in the US
- A slight smell upon opening
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If you’re uncertain if a mattress will be suitable to your comfort concerns (especially if you’re ordering online), Layla memory foam mattresses have a great thing going for them in that they’re two-sided. All you need to do is flip the bed over to the opposite end to swap between the firm and soft material.
Another unique feature of these mattresses is that they have copper infused into the material. This innovation is a newer innovation that pairs well with the layer of air flow foam, helping dispel the usual heat problems of memory foam mattresses. The copper may also provide additional health benefits, but there’s still a lot of questions out there on that topic.
If you’re someone who needs a lot of pressure relief, Layla mattresses are likely a good bet for you. However, you should keep an eye out because they are a bit higher on the price spectrum than some other options. As a newer brand that hasn’t gathered much steam, there aren’t as many customer reviews out there, either, but so far Layla seems like one you should at least consider in your search.
PROS
- Great pressure relief
- Has both soft and firm sides
- Copper-infused memory foam helps disperse heat
- All foams are CertiPUR-US certified
CONS
- More expensive
- Not many customer reviews available
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This hybrid mattress makes use of both memory foam and coil on coil to give exceptional edge and lumbar support. The dual coil system lets the mattress support more body weight over time and gives it a higher durability rating, meaning you have an investment that will last with Saatva.
This mattress isn’t entirely organic, but it does make extensive use of eco-friendly materials and doesn’t have any harmful chemicals in the foams. It’s also an all-American made product, and you can even customize everything about the mattress, from the firmness to the height of both the bed and the foundation.
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of a new mattress set up, Saatva offers free in-home set up and old mattress removal—services that other companies tend to charge additional fees to provide. On the other hand, Saatva isn’t as kind when it comes to their return policy. You have a 120-day trial period, but your refund will be short the $99 return fee.
PROS
- Dual coil and memory form support
- Durable
- Eco-friendly
- Free in-home set up
- Customizable on all aspects
CONS
- $99 return fee taken out of mattress reimbursement
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If you’re pickier about your mattress firmness needs, then the Novosbed might be the place for you to look. These mattresses come with three different firmness levels that all test closer to the medium range, which is excellent news for people who don’t want anything too hard or too soft. You can get a firmer or softer option with this brand if that’s what you need, though.
But the firmness adjustments don’t stop there, as all Novosbed mattresses come with the free Comfort+ layers if you want them. These layers allow you to make your bed softer or firmer, letting you pick out an in-between comfort level not available with the base models. This service is excellent for people who have more specific mattress tastes.
The mattresses provide significant support for all sleeping positions, plus they even have constant edge support and excellent motion isolation for those who share beds. This mattress does have that classic memory foam feel, which means that you’ll sink into the surface and may have a more difficult time moving.
PROS
- Three main firmness options
- Free Comfort+ layers provide even more comprehensive firmness
- Good edge support and motion isolation
- Likely to be durable
- Provides comfort for stomach sleepers
CONS
- Can be hard to move in
Wrapping Up
These four brands are some of your available memory foam mattress options, though there are much more available on the growing online market. All these companies will give you a product worth your money that should provide the great support and comfort you expect when purchasing a memory foam mattress.
With these memory foam mattress reviews in mind, you can start to get a good idea of what to look for in your purchases. Your specific sleeping needs will determine the level of firmness and support you want, but know that there’s no shortage of options. Even better is that these companies all provide trial periods, so you can get a good idea of whether your purchase is a dream come true.