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To my kid-eyes, the glasss lack of wobble seemed like magic.
Courtesy of the brand / Catherine Clark
Memory foam beds also tend to be softer and less bouncy than hybrid mattresses or traditional innerspring options.
This is because the responsive materials help distribute your body weight more evenly, he tells SELF.
There are a lot of types of memory foam that can wind up in your mattress.
A side-sleeping tester tries the Nectar Memory Foam mattress
Most will have these layers:
Sound dreamy?
We also put popular memory foam mattresses through rigorous hands-on testing, taking careful notes along the way.
The Nectar is soft and doughy, one tester says.
When I’m lying on it, it feels like I’m being hugged by a giant teddy bear.
How it stacks up:Its 12-inch loft height is made up of three layers.
The Bear also received high scores for responsiveness, or bounciness.
The GravityLux mattress from WinkBeds, however, has layers of support to keep you from getting swallowed whole.
In fact, one tester says, I feel like Im dreaming on a cloudliterally.
Who its for:The mattress comes in two firmness optionsrelaxed firm and firm.
Our team even noted that the outer cover of the bed is the coldest theyve ever felt.
This picks motion isolation is top notch.
The Nolah Signature is on the softer end of the firmness scale, while still delivering plenty of support.
One tester says it felt like sleeping a supportive cloud.
Its also CertiPUR-US- and GreenGuard Gold-certified.
If youre looking for a cooler bed with a similar feel, opt for the Nectar above.
Our fave features:The Siena uses CertiPUR-US Certified foams, meaning its materials are free of harmful chemicals.
This mattress gives the perfect amount of support for what I need.
What are the benefits of memory foam mattresses?
Thats a result of its materials, Dr. Russo says.
The material may also do your spine a solid.
Types of memory foam
Memory foam mattresses arent a monolith.
Nowadays, many brands have their own spin on the material.
Below, weve broken down some of the most common types of memory foam available.
Traditional foam is a doughy polyurethane-based material that might conjure the feeling of quicksand.
It conforms to your bodys shape and is often pressure-relieving.
Basically, if youre a hot sleeper, be sure to keep a fan on standby.
Proprietary foams often aim to add a cool feel to the bed or bounciness to the surface.
Dr. Russo says that memory foam mattresses can trap heat, which can lead to asweaty wake-up call.
Who should not buy a memory foam mattress?
Memory foam is a popular choice for many, but its not for everyone.
There are a few factors to consider when deciding whether foam is the best fit for you.
Below, check out three testing factors that are particularly relevant for picking a great memory foam mattress.
And for a full breakdown of how we test all sleep products, heres ourfull methodology.
Responsiveness refers to how bouncy a mattress feels.
Cushy, memory foam beds often have low responsiveness compared to springy, well, innerspring mattresses.
To measure it, our testers lie down on a bed and move through different sleeping positions.
Mattresses with more rebound that make it easier to move around will get higher responsiveness ratings.
A mattress thats good for pressure relief can mean the difference between waking up feeling spry or stiff.
To check pressure relief, our testers lie on a blanket-like pressure-mapping tool that covers the bed.
A side-sleeping tester tries the Nectar Memory Foam mattress
When those colors show up on the screen, mattresses are ranked lower for pressure relief.
FAQs
TL;DR?
We get that sometimes you just want fast facts to help you make a quick choice.
As part of our testing process, we literally cut into beds. Here’s the inside of a memory foam mattress.
Mattresses may last anywhere from three years to a decade before showing signs of wear and tear.
Some have lifetime warranties, however, which are worth pursuing if youre concerned about your mattresss longevity.
Theres a wide span of price points for memory foam mattresses.
As Dr. Russo says, memory foam mattresses are known to get toasty.
But know that they arent as crucial for many modern mattresses.
Memory foam mattresses do not require a box spring, Dr. McLaughlin says.
Memory foam comes from polyurethane.
