Living in a world divided by those who sleep too much and the ones don’t get enough, we can all agree that there’s something comforting about being able to lay on your very own bed. It’s a proven fact that people get more restful nights of sleep lying in their own bed at the end of a long day.
From tossing-and-turning on an uncomfortable rental mattress, the mattress is the unsung hero in the battle between sleep and lying awake at night. But with developing technology, the mattress industry has evolved itself into an expansive range of different mattress options. From hybrid to pillow top, pocket spring and memory foam mattresses have established themselves as two of the dominant mattress types out there.
With each mattress having its own unique design and properties, we will be delving into what makes these two mattresses so common in the bedroom, and how their inner structures set them apart.
What is a Pocket Spring Mattress?
A pocket spring mattress is a mattress with its coils each wrapped individually in pockets of fabric, usually calico, polyester, or cotton. The pocket spring mattress has its coils spread out flat in a layer and has a section of memory or latex foam in between to give comfort and support. The idea between each individual coil is to have a more responsive motion, only coming from the areas of the mattress with pressure applied to them.
Overview:
● Individual coils
● Added contour and pressure relief
● Reacts only to the pressure applied to that area
What is a Memory Foam Mattress?
Memory foam mattresses are made up of viscoelastic foam, a form of high-density polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foam is one of the most popular materials used in home furnishings, bedding, and underlay for carpets. Polyurethane foam is flexible and light, while durable and comfortable.
For those who are naturally conscious, there are greener versions of memory foam mattresses that use plant-based ingredients such as soybean oil in place of some petroleum derivatives in the foam. Memory foam’s top feature is its ability to soften in response to heat and pressure. This gives it the well-liked body-hugging feel that many sleepers want.
Most memory foam mattresses are not solely made up of foam. Too much foam would result in its users sinking too deeply in the bed. The premium memory foam mattress has multiple layers of various types of foams with different densities and thicknesses. This creates a balance for optimal comfort and support.
Overview:
● Softens to heat and body pressure
● Hugs the body and shapes with it
● Multiple layers of foam create support
What’s inside: Pocket Spring
Pocket spring mattresses simply have the x amount of coils as its user chose. Ranging from 600-3000 pocket coils, the pocket spring mattress has a very unique support system. If its user tends to move around a lot at night, then there will only be movement felt in that area. The other partner will remain in their position, with their sleep remaining mostly undisturbed.
The amount of coils in a pocket spring mattress is to account for the weight and body composition of its users. More pocket springs are better for a heavier pair as it allows for more pressure to be spread amongst all the individual coils inside the mattress. Coil gauges are also varied, which is a good thing to inquire about when purchasing a pocket spring mattress.
Pocket spring mattresses also have multiple layers of comfortable foam padding and fillings of either, polyester, cotton, or other fibers inside. These layers sit up on top of the coil spring system to create comfort and support for its users.
What’s Inside Memory Foam?
Memory foam mattresses consist of various layers of different types of folk in order to
support the weight of its users as well as provide cushioning. Most memory foam mattresses have 3 layers of foam: polyurethane, transition, and memory foam.
Polyurethane foam is the core support system in a memory foam mattress. This layer is the thickest as it is the strongest material there to hold up the body’s weight.
The next layer is transition foam which adds additional support to its surrounding layers. This layer provides deep compression support which is extremely helpful for heavy sleepers. Transition foam, like its name, suggests, add a gentle transition from the softer top layer to the firmer polyurethane support layer. Transitional layers can be cut to create an uneven surface layer with ridges and valleys. These small pockets in between the ridges add breathability by proving open space where heat can be absorbed and released.
The memory foam layer is the top layer, made to be the cushion of comfort for the sleeper. This is the least dense layer, but there are often multiple thinner layers of the memory foam to create a comforting softness.
Support System
Pocket spring and memory foam mattresses each provide their own way of holding up the sleepers. Considering what type of sleeper you are is important when making the decision of why mattress to buy. Both mattresses offer a supportive and firm base but differ in how the support feels when sleeping.
Pocket spring mattresses are excellent for people who enjoy a firmer supportive mattress. The pocket spring mattress feels more firm and hearty. The individual springs make people feel as if they are being held up and supported more than many other mattress types.
On the other hand, memory foam mattresses are the marshmallows of mattresses. Users will sink more into its loving embrace than on a pocket spring mattress, with the support coming from the foam contouring to match the body shape in order to relieve pressure.
Temperature and Motion Transfer
Like bed sheets, mattresses too can interfere with sleep by means of temperature at night. Breathability is key as different body temperatures will respond differently to different mattress types.
Pocket spring mattresses tend to be cooler, although the type of foam used as the topper can make a difference in breathability. Different layers of coils have space left in between that allows air to flow through the material and leave people sweat-free. The foam on top isn’t as thick which doesn’t affect the sleeping surface temperature as much.
Memory foam mattresses have come a long way from being heat catchers and causing their users to break out in night sweats. Some people still find them to be hot, but there have been adjustments made on the inside to help circulate or throughout the mattress. Depending on the quality of the foam and the mattress maker, there will be more spaces available for air to slip in and out.
In terms of motion transfer, the pocket spring mattress is excellent as the individual coils allow for them to respond to pressure from moving, without shaking the entire bed. The memory foam mattress is also fairly good as the thick cushion will sink and reform after the pressure is lifted. There will be a slight movement felt when the partner gets up or shifts around.
Lifespan
While it’s weird to think of inanimate objects having a lifespan, mattresses have a limited period of time in which they can best support and aid in giving the best sleep possible. The lifespan of a mattress is something important to consider when purchasing a mattress as it can be a pricey investment. Depending on how much they are used and how roughly the mattress will be treated, determines the estimated lifespan of the mattress.
The pocket spring mattress with its individual coils does allow for it to respond better to pressure from rolling around or being jumped on. However, at the same time, the coils are also subject to being worn out more quickly in certain areas. The coils can be depressed after years of use, and the bed may feel saggy and feel firmer. Pocket spring mattresses do have variations in the thickness of the coils which can extend the age of the mattress, and of course, refraining from placing immense pressure at once will also help. An 8-10-year-old pocket spring mattress is considered to be old.
Memory foam mattresses tend to last longer with proper care. Lasting up to around 12 years, high-quality memory foam mattresses can be extended with proper care by washing sheets regularly and changing the bedding. As its composition is foam, there will be a buildup of body oils, sweat, germs, and other contaminants from everyday living. Ideally, memory foam mattresses should be changed routinely for the purpose of hygiene and cleanliness.
Cost
Memory foam mattresses are known to be the cheaper option, but how most products work is that “you get what you pay for.” Foam can have various levels of density and thickness. There are often good deals on foam mattresses but the quality of the product matters just as much as the cost. Pocket spring mattresses can be cheap too from the quality of the springs and what types of materials are used to create the comfortable part of the mattress. In the end, it’s about what feels best and matches the budget of the spender. The customer knows what they like and will feel best to them when sleeping soundly at night.