Memory foam vs spring mattress: what are the key differences and which one is better for you? The short answer is that memory foam gives better support for your spine and is hypoallergenic. However, spring mattresses are cheaper and sleep cooler. Keep reading to find out how these two compare in construction, motion transfer, back support, durability, allergy-friendly, cost, maintenance, and smell.
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Memory Foam vs Spring Mattress: Comparison Table
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Types of Memory Foam Mattresses
They are three types of memory foam based on their construction materials. They are;
Traditional Memory Foam
The traditional memory foam is synthetic and is made from petroleum-based products. It has viscoelastic properties and takes the shape of the body when you lay on it.
They are great for sleeping because they provide you with proper support and give relief to pressure points in your body. Users, however, complain of the heat this foam generates and this led to the production of the second type of memory foam.
Gel Infused Memory Foam
This type of memory foam was made to improve the inner air circulation of traditional memory foam so as to provide cool sleep to users.
It’s a combination of traditional memory foam and gel microbeads infused in the memory foam. Although this type of memory foam sleeps cooler than the traditional type, it tends to disintegrate faster than the traditional foam.
Plant-Based Memory Foam
The other types of memory foams are made with chemicals that may be a pollutant of the environment. And so for the comfort and support that memory foam offers, while still being environmentally friendly, environmental enthusiasts can sleep on this foam.
They make use of coconut foam, soy and other plant materials in the making of this mattress. An added advantage of this foam over the traditional type is the spring back. It springs back faster than traditional mattresses.
Pros of memory foam
- Provides you with comfort which reduces tossing and turning at night, giving you a better sleep quality
- Supports your spine and other pressure points, giving you a pain-free sleep
- Supports fast healing of injuries
- Hypoallergenic
Cons of a memory foam mattress
- Sleeps warmer
- Chemical smell in the first day or two
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What Is Spring Mattress?
Spring mattresses have been around for longer than the foam mattresses. They have lots of metal coils suspended in the foam and together they all make up the spring mattress.
They offer a lot of support and bounce and are very beneficial to heavier people. A good spring mattress, however, should provide comfort to everyone irrespective of the weight.
Spring mattresses have good temperature control and bounce. They offer support with the use of springs and depend on the pushing back of the springs against the body weight.
Pros of Spring Mattresses
- Cheaper
- They are durable and can last for as long as 10 years if maintained properly
- Good temperature regulation
Cons
- They do not offer proper back support
- Poor weight distribution
- Not hypoallergenic
What Is Coil Mattress?
Coil mattresses make use of coils inside the mattress to provide support. The coils are metallic and are placed in lines all through the length of the mattress and then covered with a layer of padding.
The design of coil mattresses is such that the mattress can respond quickly to changes in weight and offer you great comfort and support.
Different types of coils are used and each provides its own features. Standard coils are open coils and are placed throughout the mattress without special compartments. They are the most responsive kinds of coil mattresses.
Pocket coils are like standard coils but are placed in their own compartments within the foam. Continuous coils are another type and are connected to one another. Both pocket coils and continuous coils offer firmness.
Pros of coil mattress
- Highly responsive
- Not expensive to buy
Cons
- There is no equal distribution of weight
- The coils can be noisy while you sleep
- The support from the coils gets weaker with age
- No motion isolation
Memory Foam vs Spring Mattress – Differences
Construction
Memory foam mattresses are made of layers of polyurethane foam which have the viscoelastic property. This causes the foam to mold around the body when you lay on it and bounces back after a while of getting up.
It relies on the air trapped within the foam substance to provide support and comfort, unlike spring mattresses which rely on springs for these.
Spring mattresses are made of a layer of coils of different densities at the center. The coils are suspended within the foam and are responsible for the comfort and bounce of the mattress.
Cooling
Memory foam sleeps warm because due to its viscoelastic property, it can retain heat which it uses to stretch and conform to the shape of the body.
Spring mattresses, on the other hand, are way cooler as the internal air circulation is great. This allows for heat to be taken away, allowing you to have a better and more comfortable sleep.
Motion transfer
The use of memory foam will save you from a lot of discomforts especially if you share a bed with a restless sleeper. This is because the foam absorbs motion transfer, allowing you to sleep peacefully without being disturbed by the movement of the other person lying next to you.
Spring mattresses, on the other hand, are quite poor in the absorption of this kinetic energy. And so any movement on one side of the bed is felt on the other side.
This can be a huge problem and hindrance to good quality sleep and so if your partner doesn’t sleep peacefully, spring mattresses will do you no good in this aspect.
Back support
Memory foam remains the best option for those with back pain, especially due to bad sleeping posture. This is because memory foam offers the best support especially as it conforms to the body contours.
This way, it gives relief to pressure points and allows your back to lie in a neutral position, bearing no weight.
Spring mattresses are very poor in regards to offering support. As the springs do not equally distribute your weight, some points of your body still bear weight and are put under pressure.
Durability
Memory foam mattresses generally last longer than other types of foam. They retain their shape for longer and continue to offer support and comfort, giving you the bliss of quality sleep.
Spring mattresses, on the other hand, do not last as long usually. The springs tend to depreciate quickly, and the comfort and support it offers reduce after a short while of usage.
Allergy-friendliness
For those who are prone to allergies from dust mites and other allergens, memory foam is the best choice for you. This is because it’s single block construction doesn’t give room for the accumulation of allergens, allowing you to sleep well with no allergic reactions.
The spaces between springs make for a good breeding ground for allergens, and they accumulate here causing you much discomfort. Spring mattresses are not appropriate for allergy sufferers.
Cost
Both memory foam mattresses and spring mattresses are affordable. So if you are looking for something affordable, they are both right for your pocket. However, memory foam mattresses are usually a bit more expensive. They do tend to last longer though.
Maintenance
Memory foam doesn’t require any special maintenance other than keeping the sheets and covers clean. This is not the case with spring mattresses however as they require turning over from time to time, so as to ensure even wear.
Also, spring mattresses should not be folded for any reason if not the springs will be compromised.
Smell
Memory foam is made from chemicals that release bad smell when unpacked. This smell can linger for the first couple of days depending on the type of memory foam.
Spring mattresses do not have this problem.
Polyurethane foam vs spring mattress
Polyurethane foams are good with the absorption of kinetic energy when someone gets in or out of bed. This allows you to sleep undisturbed unlike with spring mattresses.
You get good back support with polyurethane foams and they last for longer periods than spring mattresses. A downside however to foam is that it sleeps warmer than a spring mattress.
Also, you can make use of spring mattresses without having to be exposed to the unpleasant smell that comes with the unpacking of polyurethane foams.
Latex foam vs spring mattress
Between these two, latex produces very little to no smell when used indoors. Both mattresses have the same amount of airflow, giving you a cool and good quality of sleep.
The support from latex mattresses is better than that offered by spring so you get to sleep on a mattress that offers you good support and wake up with no pain.
The motion transfer absorption, durability, and friendliness of use by allergy sufferers as provided by latex foam are better than that offered by spring mattresses.
Natural memory foam vs spring mattress
Natural memory foam is by far a better option for spring mattresses. This is because it has excellent cooling as you sleep, due to the far better air circulation.
There is no motion transfer at all and so you can sleep undisturbed even if your partner does not sleep still. With perfect back support, great durability and allergy friendliness, you can have great sleep quality and make use of your mattress for long without having to worry about getting a new one.
Gel-infused memory foam vs spring mattress
Gel-infused memory foam is way more durable than spring mattresses, but they sleep warmer even with the infused gel beads and are often more expensive.
And so depending on your preference, you should make the best choice for you. In order to ensure that you get a good night’s rest, gel memory foam gives you better back support and absorbs motion transfer.
Gel foam is more friendly with allergy sufferers, but spring mattress smells less, making it more comfortable for use when brand new.
FAQ
Memory Foam or Spring Mattress for Back Pain?
Memory foam is best for back pain. This is because memory foam shares your weight equally and effectively gives relief to pressure points on your body.
This form of support takes away pain caused by poor support and allows you a healthy sleep.
Does Spring Mattress Cause Back Pain?
Since spring mattress doesn’t provide adequate back support, the pressure isn’t completely taken off your spine and so you don’t sleep with your back in the neutral position.
What this means is that your back still has an unnatural twist and still bears some weight, leading to back pain.
Do Foam Mattresses Sag?
Yes, foam mattresses do sag. But they take a very long time before this takes place. With the use of good quality foam and proper care, they will only sag after a very long time.
How Many Years Does A Foam Mattress Last?
A foam mattress of good quality and proper maintenance can last for as long as 10 years. Within this period, you still get good comfort and support from the mattress.
Conclusion
Memory Foam vs Spring Mattress: And the winner is…
Memory foam mattress. Although it’s true that it sleeps warmer than spring mattress, memory foam wins in pretty much every other category. It provides great support, relieves back pain, is hypoallergenic, durable and doesn’t break the bank.
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