Memory Foam VS Spring Mattress, Which Is The Best

Memory Foam versus Spring Mattress: Which is better?

If you’ve been mattress shopping, you’ll know that there are two broad categories out there – spring and memory foam. There’s a lot of marketing noise that comes with hawking the benefits of both and some of these points are warranted, but the savvy shopper will want to peel back the spiel and use mattress science as the only reliable indicator.

When it comes to deciding between spring mattresses versus foam mattresses, you’ll want to consider the nature of the materials themselves. This is typically what you will find within:

 

Spring mattress

Widely believed to be invented in 1871 by German Heinrich Westphal, the spring mattress – or sometimes known as the innerspring mattress – contains coiled metal springs to provide bounce and overall support, and is often padded with other materials for comfort. Each mattress brand offers varying configurations of coils; with a differing number, thickness and type of coils (such as the heat-treated coils in LMG mattresses) used for their product.

 

Foam mattress

The use of foam for mattresses was started in 1929 by Dunlop, and latex rubber also became rapidly popular in the 1940s after. The material provided support and adaptability and provided less motion transfer than standard spring mattresses. Overall they were cheaper too until NASA released the more premium memory foam material to the public domain in the early 1980s. These were then introduced to mattresses in 1991. Today, memory foam is commonly used as the main form, but varying types of foams and sometimes even a mix of several are used to create foam mattresses.

The main difference between memory foam and spring mattresses is really in the way they support the body. And both options have their strengths and weaknesses. Let’s look at some of them.

 

Spring mattress

Pros: 

• A cooler mattress because the coils allow airflow within.
• Generally lighter than full latex mattresses.
• Generally more durable, especially when the coils are heat-treated.
• They can also withstand more weight and sink less and are great for those with more weight.
• Most adapt to spring mattresses more quickly.

 

Cons:

• If large Bonnell springs are used, may not contour to the body as well as foam.
• Bonnell springs lack of precision may also mean less back support.
• Bonnell springs can be noisy and even painful to sleep on.
• Pocket springs can be expensive.
• Pocket springs can be overly firm for some.

 

Memory foam mattress

Pros: 

• Conforms and adheres better to the body as the heat warms and moulds it to shape.
• Is more gentle on pressure points such as elbows, hips etc and so is also good for side sleepers.
• Reduces motion transfer so it’s good for those with light sleeping partners.
• Generally doesn’t sag easily and can have a good lifespan if used correctly.

 

Cons:

• Traps heat and can become hot to sleep on.
• Lacks the gentle bounce of springs.
• Can be slow to contour so might not be the best for those who move a lot in their sleep.
• Heavier folks may sink more deeply into foam than spring, which may also make getting out a challenge if not reinforced at the sides.

 

So which is better? The answer lies in one’s needs.

For example, foam mattresses are great for sleepers in temperate countries because they retain heat, but someone in the tropics (like Singapore) would want to avoid a hot mattress. For those who are a bit more heavy-set, foam mattresses may be too soft but will be ideal for average folks – especially if they sleep with little movement.

Rather than choose between the two, most top mattress brands will combine them to leverage their strengths. So rather than spring mattresses versus foam mattresses, they create foam-topped spring mattresses.

Tapping into the buoyancy and structure of the springs to provide durability and airflow, while using the adaptability of foam to provide more precise support, superior mattress makers work out their own formulas to combine the two methodologies into one fine mattress. So really, there’s no need to debate and force yourself to decide between a spring mattress versus a foam mattress – just look out for both in the next mattress you buy. It’s truly the best of both worlds.

End your hunt for the perfect mattress with LMG, where every model is made with both materials for the premium sleep you deserve.

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