We spend a third of our lives in bed so it’s important to choose the right mattress to support your body while you rest. Inefficient support can lead to back pain and sleepless nights. It is important not only to choose the right mattress, it is also important to replace your mattress after using it for eight to 10 years. So what’s the ideal mattress? There is no one perfect mattress for all. It boils down to your preference and sleeping patterns.
Inner spring
Great for: Back sleepers and people who prefer firm support
Image credit: Courts
Perhaps the most popular type of mattresses out there, innerspring mattresses feature a steel coil support system built in. These types of mattresses offer medium to firm support. However, look out for inner spring mattress with enough coils built in so that that they can offer proper support while you sleep.
Pocket spring
Great for: People who prefer all-over support and comfort; light sleepers
Image credit: Simmons
These days, more mattress manufacturers are offering the more advanced pocketed spring mattresses. These are considered to be more comfortable as individual springs provide more comfort and support to the body. Independent coils are also more suitable for light sleepers as they will not feel disturbed if their sleeping partners roll over or get up from bed.
Latex
Great for: People with skin and respiratory allergies; side sleepers
Image credit: Canningvale
Made from the sap of rubber trees, latex is environmentally friendly and comfortable. Good-quality latex mattresses are made with pin-core holes in their design to allow the material to “breath”. This also allows users to feel cooler and supported while they sleep. Another feature of this material is that it is resilient and highly elastic – it has the ability to push up the body and create a buoyant effect that distributes weight evenly to relieve pressure while maintaining a soft touch. Another benefit to latex mattresses is that they are naturally resistant to dust mites.
Memory foam
Great for: People who are looking for pressure relief; back and side sleepers
Image credit: Tempur
First developed by NASA to relieve pressure experienced by astronauts during lift off, this polyurethane material is designed to conform to the body. Because of this ability, memory foam mattresses can relieve stress in the body by eliminating pressure points as you lie down. However, due to its dense form, memory foam mattresses can be too hard for some people. This material also retains a lot of heat, and may lead to users feeling hot and uncomfortable during the night.
Hybrid
Great for: People who like medium support and comfort; back and side sleepers
Image credit: Tempur
These kinds of mattresses combine a coil support system with one or more types of memory foam or latex layer to provide both the support and comfort found in the different materials. This means that if you enjoy the support and comfort of innerspring mattresses but would like the pressure relieving properties of memory foam or latex mattresses, a hybrid combines the best of both worlds.
This was adapted from an article originally published in Key To Your Home 2017.
