Memory Foam vs Springs
- Written by Chiropedic
A long battled question, are memory foam mattresses better than spring mattresses? It’s hard to decide, especially when most people don’t have the luxury of buying the two to compare them over time.
With so much at stake (the comfort of you and the ones you love), it’s time to figure out which mattress is best suited for you.
The key differences between foam mattresses and spring mattresses
When trying to decide which mattress is best for you, you will need to consider a few things based on your preference and what suits you.
1. Reliability
A model that created since the 1800s, spring mattresses are made of metal coils within its frame. These coils may be wrapped in fabric and layered with additional cushions for comfort and extra support.
Spring mattresses are more established than foam and still make a popular choice among buyers who are looking for reliability.
2. Support
Spring mattresses have a widely credited in the industry for their superior support designed to ease into the curvatures of the human body. The springs are set up in a way to help relieve the tensions in your pressure points, thus allowing you to feel rejuvenated after a good rest.
Different zones of the spring support play different roles in enhancing your comfort. Higher resistance springs are used in areas such as your head, lower back, hips, calves, feet which focus on more support for pressure relief. For your shoulders, upper back and knees, lower resistance springs are used.
In contrast, memory foam mattresses take some time to respond positively to your body’s shape. Over time, the foam conforms to your sleeping style and gives you the support you need to feel well-rested.
3. Comfort
Creating a breathable environment, spring mattresses help prevent heat retention allowing air to flow freely. You won’t feel hot and stuffy with a spring mattress as they are designed for a cooling sleep.
Although foam mattresses don’t bear the advantage of maximum air circulation, they are widely credited for preventing dust mites from travelling further down the mattress due to their compact structure. As heat retention is a downside to owning a foam mattress, you may want to think twice if you live in areas where heat is a problem.
4. Durability
If you’re looking for a mattress that will stand the test of time, then spring mattresses may be your preference. With a general life expectancy of more than 5 years, the higher grade the steel coils, the better its longevity.
On the same field, a high-quality foam mattress can also last anywhere between 10 to 15 years, making them comparable in durability to a spring mattress.
5. Costs
As with all things, costs may be a factor when deciding between a foam mattress and a spring mattress. When investing in a quality memory foam mattress, you will generally have to spend more upfront.
Spring mattresses have the advantage of typically having wide cost point options which will have their own pros and cons.
Don’t worry, the myths about squeaky springs in spring mattresses are not true given how modern technology has combated that issue. Other factors to consider when deciding whether a foam mattress or a spring mattress is right for you include how you sleep. If you’re a side sleeper, a foam mattress may be ideal. If you’re a back sleeper, most spring advocates would tell you to go spring.
