Is A Full Memory Foam Mattress The Right Mattress For You?


by Joshua A Harding - Date: 2010-02-12 - Word Count: 663 Share This!

Memory foam is produced from visco elastic polyurethane foam and has several one-of-a-kind traits. Snoozing on a full memory foam mattress causes it to conform, or mold, to the shape of the body, but it will afterward go back to its original shape, consequently the name memory foam. It was first created for NASA roughly 40 years ago, but as manufacturing prices fell it was introduced to the public in the 1990s. Ever since then it has enjoyed tremendous popularity.

The memory foam topper was the very first product marketed in the public arena, but it was not long before the full memory foam mattress was taking the bedding industry by storm. Due to its unique character it quickly became a top selling product. As sales climbed other foam products were produced. There are so many great foam products offered today the consumer can very easily get bewildered attempting to determine the type that will be best for them. Additionally, we have the latex mattress which only adds to the bewilderment. A buyer must read a few foam and latex mattress reviews to understand the various differences.

A great deal of the uncertainty with visco memory foam is a result of the large number of firmness levels and densities that are for sale. Density is the weight in pounds of a 1 cubic foot piece of foam. If a 1 cubic foot piece weighs 5 pounds it has a density of 5 pounds. Typically, if the foam is denser it will have a longer lifespan, but it will not feel as soft.

Firmness is specified as an ILD rating. ILD is short for Indentation Load Deflection and is the amount of force in pounds it takes to bring about a 1 inch indentation in the foam. Measuring ILD is done by laying a 50-inch disc on a segment of foam that is measured at 4 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches. The amount of weight in pounds it takes to drive the foam down a single inch is its ILD rating or score. In other words, if it takes 14 pounds to push the foam down an inch its ILD rating or score is 14. A mattress that has a smaller ILD rating or score is softer.

Lying on a standard spring mattress will cause an increase in the amount of force on certain body parts such as the hips or shoulders. A memory foam mattress will spread out the weight of a person more uniformly and over a larger area. This will reduce the degree of weight in any particular area which can lead to a more relaxing siesta and decreased joint soreness.

One of the negative aspects to this kind of mattress is its high price as they can get somewhat high-priced. This is the reason why the mattress topper is so widespread, because it is a lot less expensive than a full mattress and can be positioned on top of your bed you already own. Unfortunately, because of their narrowness they can wear out sooner. If you are not sure about shelling out the extra money to buy a full memory foam mattress you can initially start with the bed topper to see if you like it. If you are impressed with the bed topper you can always take the next step and get the full mattress.

Memory foam retains heat and is the reason why some people do not like it. If an individual sleeps on a foam mattress it will at first feel firm. Afterward, once the heat from the body is transferred to the foam it will begin to become softer, which will cause it to conform, or mold, to the individual's body contour. The foam underneath the heat will remain cooler and stiffer, giving good support, while the warm foam will be softer and less stiff, providing more comfort. Many people with back aches will notice that their discomfort disappears after they begin sleeping on a full memory foam mattress.

Related Tags: memory foam, memory foam mattress, latex mattress, memory foam topper

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