Background:
Chances are that you first rested on a "Swedish" style mattress, also known as memory foam mattress, during one of your shopping sprees at the local mall. One's first experience resting on a memory foam mattress is that it has a unique "feel" that melds to and envelops your body as compared to traditional spring mattress. For those who prefer the "feel" of a memory foam mattress here is a brief history and selection guide so you, the consumer, can make intelligent purchasing decisions. Memory foam had its origins in the NASA space Program. Memory foam was initially designed for the Space program because of its unique ability to evenly distribute and absorb the G-force pressures experienced by astronauts. The technical term for Memory Foam is "visco-elastic" foam. The initial commercial application for Memory Foam was in the medical field for patients who had severe sores or had to be bed-ridden for long extended time.
How is Memory Foam Mattress made:
Memory Foam Mattress is made from polyurethane foam and is constructed of 2 key sections: 1) Memory Foam (top layer) is located at the top layer adjacent to the body in order to sense the pressure and contours of your body. The memory foam is the essential component that gives memory foam mattress its unique "feel." 2) Beneath the Memory Foam is a layer of High Density Foam. The role of the High Density Foam is to provide structural support. The bottom of the memory foam mattress is lined with "non-slip" material to reduce any horizontal movement when installed. A ventilated bottom also provides outstanding air circulation for the optimal temperature. The hybrid combination of a top layer Memory Foam with a bottom layer High Density Foam gives memory foam mattress its unique pressure sensing, body conforming characteristics and outstanding overall support.
How does Memory Foam Mattress differ from a traditional mattress:
A traditional spring mattress depends on finite number of springs to support your body. Unfortunately, the limited number of springs can only approximately adjust to your body. Often there will be pockets of space between your body and the traditional mattress which is unsupported. Memory Foam is a visco-elastic foam material and for comparison purposes can be thought of as having infinite number of tiny "springs" which supports your body to much greater detail than can be offered by a spring mattress.
What are the benefits of Memory Foam Mattress:
Better fit:
Memory Foam senses pressure and molds its shape perfectly to your body. You can think of Memory Foam Mattress as a custom mattress for your body. The benefit is that every part of your body will be evenly supported by a memory foam mattress. Memory Foam will adjust its shape to the fine contours of you body to the minutest detail and its "memory" characteristics help reduce extraneous movements.
Reduced movement: Memory Foam's visco-elastic properties greatly reduce unwanted movements and "bounce" caused by your partner's movements. If you have a partner who moves during the night, memory foam will "absorb" the unwanted movement so you remain undisturbed.
What to look for when selecting a memory foam mattress:
Memory Foam Thickness: The unique feel and fit of a memory foam mattress is characterized by the top layer of the mattress. It is recommended that one select a mattress with a 3" thickness memory foam. Although some thinner memory foams are available, they are simply too thin and often "bottom out" and unable to support properly. A 3" memory foam top layer will ensure that you get the optimal support for the lifetime of the product.
Memory Foam Density: The density of the memory foam is measured in pounds/cubic feet. It is recommended that one select memory foam with a 5 lb density. Although heavier, the 5 lb density will have a longer lifetime than a low density foam and also will have the optimal "firmness". A lower density foam mattress usually will feel too "soft."
Packaging: Proper packaging and shipping of a memory foam mattress is important. Look for one that has been Vacuum packed and is "rolled" instead of folded. The rolling process is superior to folding because of its gradual bending and minimizes any sharp folds to the mattress. Vacuum packing ensures that the mattress is free from debris and reduces any chemical odors since all residual air is removed from the packaging.