Memory foam mattresses are the new sensation in the mattress world and for god reason; there’s no doubting the benefits to be had on sleeping on a viscoelastic mattress. The first to manufacture the memory foam mattress was Tempur-Pedic and the company remains the market leader with this type of mattress. But do other brands, like the Sealy TrueForm Mattress, match the Tempur-Pedic mattress in terms of support, comfort and price?
With most comparisons you must try to compare like with like. Some for the following comparisons I will pitch the Tempur-Pedic CelebrityBed mattress to that of the Sealy TrueForm 11 Series mattress. Both of these mattresses are at the high-end of both quality and pricing for both companies. For the lower-end of the price category one should compare the Tempur-Pedic Classic mattress to the Sealy TrueForm 8 Series mattress but I won’t compare these models.
First off let’s be clear on one point. Both Tempur-Pedic and Sealy have different, patented memory foam; the memory foam is not supplied by a common source rather, both Tempur-Pedic and Sealy have researched, developed and manufacture their own distinct versions. Now let’s take a look at both products.
The Tempur-Pedic Mattress
The CelebrityBed mattress is Tempur-Pedic’s top-end mattress. It’s constructed with the Tempur-Pedic AirFlow System (a convoluted HR base), which is comprised of 2 4.3”support layers of proprietary TEMPUR material. The convoluted base helps to dissipate body heat, something that was always a problem with memory foam mattress. On top of the AirFlow System comes a 2.8" base layer (5.3 lb/ft3 density). Finally, you get one, 2” pillow top comfort layer (5.3 lb /ft3 density) memory foam. The mattress itself is contained in a removable cover; 67.5% cotton, 25% polyester, 7.5% cashmere, which can be easily unzipped for washing.
The Sealy TrueForm Mattress
The Sealy memory foam mattress is also multilayered, consisting of 2 layers of foam. The 9 Series from Sealy consists of a 6" poly core (made of high-density foam), 3.5" of regular visco (memory foam) and 1.5" of convoluted visco. The convoluted later of the Sealy TrueForm, like that of the Tempur-Pedic mattress) is designed to draw away body heat. Interestingly the convoluted layer of the Sealy forms the top layer whereas the convoluted layer of the Tempur-Pedic forms the base of the mattress. Which is more effective is hard to say. The Sealy TrueForm 9 Series also comes with a zip-off velour cover with added cashmere.
So how does each mattress compare. The Tempur-Pedic mattress is slightly heavier than the Sealy mattress. However, as neither mattress requires any flipping, weight is not an issue. You can get a box spring for each mattress – personally, this is a complete waste of money). However, the Sealy TrueForm mattress is compatible with Sealy’s PowerBase, so you can adjust the mattress to various positions, program in your favorite positions and even get a massage – I prefer to get a massage administered by human hand rather than a machine, but I suppose the Powerbase is great for watching television.
Both mattresses come with a 20 year limited warranty.
The most important question though is which mattress gives the best support and comfort. I have tested both mattresses and can honestly say that I could not rate the Tempur-Pedic mattress over the Sealy, or vice-versa. I have heard some comments that the memory foam used in the Sealy TrueForm mattress is slightly softer than that used in the Tempur-Pedic CelebrityBed – I didn’t notice this but perhaps I’m not as sensitive as some.
In conclusion I would rate the Sealy TrueForm higher than that of the Tempur-Pedic mattress, purely based on price. The Sealy mattress is substantially cheaper than that of the Tempur-Pedic, so why pay more? I sometimes wonder if the high price of a Tempur-Pedic mattress is so high because the company advertizes so much or, perhaps, it believes people will pay more because it is the market leader.