EmailBest Reviewed
Mattresses
- Best mattress for most Innerspring Mattress *Est. $300
- Memory foam has some drawbacks Memory foam Mattress *Est. $800
- Latex mattresses are durable but expensive Latex Foam Mattress *Est. $900
- Mattress for couples who prefer differing firmness levels Air Mattress *Est. $800
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Memory foam has some drawbacks
- Better support for some
- Conforms to body shape
- Isolates motion
- More durable than innerspring mattresses
- Doesn't breathe, retains body heat
- May be too firm for some
- New mattresses release odor
- May be uncomfortable for heavier people
Tempur-Pedic is perhaps the best-known manufacturer of memory foam mattress, but they're not the only one. Less expensive offerings from companies like Bergad, Leggett & Platt and MerchSource are often described by owners as being comparably comfortable. Memory foam mattresses offer excellent support, so people with joint pain might find them more comfortable. Memory foam mattresses are also less likely to harbor allergy-triggering dust mites and less likely to sag than innerspring mattresses. But they're not for everyone; some find them too firm, and memory foam tends to absorb body heat, making them cozy in the winter but too warm in summer. Plus new memory foam mattresses need a few days of airing, as they can give off odors when new. As with all mattresses, it's important to try out a memory foam mattress before you make the switch from another type.
Mattress buyer's guides tend to focus on innerspring mattresses, but many include information on memory foam as well, and a few focus entirely on this type of mattress. We found universally applicable advice on mattress shopping at ConsumerReports.org, Which? and Choice magazines, along with more detailed information about memory foam mattresses at SleepLikeTheDead.com, WhatsTheBest-Mattress.com and MyFoamMattress.net.
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org's mattress buyer's guide focuses on traditional innersprings, but most of the advice on shopping for a mattress is equally applicable to memory foam mattresses. No specific mattresses are rated.
Review: How to Buy a Mattress without Losing Sleep, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Jan. 2008
According to this article -- which editors say is based on data from more than 1,500 owners -- about 81 percent of owners find memory foam comfortable. The most common complaints about memory foam include that it is too hot, too hard to move on, and that it smells bad initially.
Review: Memory Foam Mattress Reviews and Ratings, Editors of SleepLikeTheDead.com, Updated June 24, 2009
3. Which? magazineDetails/Subscribe
Though not quite as detailed as ConsumerReports.org's mattress buying guide, this article from the U.K.'s Which? magazine does provide an array of practical tips for mattress buyers. The information here is targeted towards British consumers but is equally applicable to shoppers in the U.S.
Review: Choosing the Best Type of Mattress, Editors of Which? magazine
4. Choice magazineDetails/Subscribe
Like ConsumerReports.org and Which? magazine, Choice doesn't rate specific mattresses but it does provide a detailed and helpful buyer's guide. While targeted towards Australian mattress buyers, most of the information included is just as useful for American readers.
Review: Buying Guide: Mattresses. How to Buy a Mattress You'll Love Sleeping On, Editors of Choice magazine, July 2008
Buyer's guides -- including numerous tips for negotiating a better price on a mattress -- abound on this website, as do user reviews for specific mattresses and a mattress discussion forum. Forum users seem to prefer latex mattresses, but the buyer's guides include plenty of information on memory foam.
Review: Mattress - Which One's Best?, Editors of and contributors to WhatsTheBest-Mattress.com
Daniel Burrows and Liz Hoffman have compiled several pages of information on memory foam mattresses here, along with a side-by-side comparison of memory foam and latex foam. Although no specific brands are particularly recommended, the site has good information on memory foam densities, temperature sensitivity, types and construction.
Review: Memory Foam and Latex Mattresses, Daniel Burrows and Liz Hoffman
