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Quality sleep is one of the pillars of good health, and it comes as no surprise that quality sleep relies on a quality mattress. A good mattress gives your body a chance to rest and recharge without waking up with aches and pains. Which to choose: a spring mattress or memory foam mattress like this? Consider these four points to find the sleep surface that’s a perfect fit for you.
What kind of sleeper are you?
One-size-fits-all does not apply to mattresses, and styles can vary based on how you sleep. Side sleepers should opt for softer options to help keep their spine aligned while they snooze. On the other hand, stomach sleepers need a firmer mattress with more support to avoid neck and back pain in the morning. If you sleep on your back, try to fall somewhere in the middle: not too soft, not too firm.
Material
Firmness levels and mattress material go hand-in-hand. There are three primary mattress materials to consider in the current mattress marketplace: spring, memory foam, and hybrid. Traditional innerspring mattresses have an identifiable bounce to them. Upright springs balance your body weight while you sleep, giving you a more level platform. Spring mattresses also tend to sleep at cooler temperatures because there is less material to trap your body heat.
On the other hand, memory foam mattresses are made of continuous layers of dense foam that contours your body’s natural shape. Because it isn’t forcing your body weight onto the tops of springs, memory foam mattresses are the ideal pick for anyone who wakes up with body aches and pains. The memory foam material of the mattress absorbs your body’s weight, creating a perfect mold of your body while you sleep. Hybrid mattresses utilize both innerspring and memory foam technology and create a mattress that can satisfy anyone– especially if you are choosing a mattress for two.
Where to buy
While a traditional mattress store gives you the chance to try out your prospective choices, online mattress buying has boomed in the last few years. If you are unsure of what to look for, a mattress store will help point you in the right direction—soft, medium, firm, spring, memory foam, hybrid– you name it. The store will have it. While shopping in-store is a good way to gauge your mattress taste, it is not always the most reliable method. One lay-down-try-it-out moment cannot make the promise of quality sleep. Five minutes cannot accurately assess the kind of support you need while you sleep: your movement during an entire night’s sleep is the true test of a mattress’s fitness. Online retailers are aware that you may be wary of buying a mattress without testing it out first, which is why most of them offer free trial periods or money-back guarantees.
Price
Ultimately, every purchase boils down to the cold-hard numbers. For those first-time mattress buyers, know there’s a rhyme and a reason for that hefty price tag eyeing you down. Traditional spring mattresses are cheaper than memory foam mattresses but can wear out more quickly. Memory foam mattresses tend to be on the pricier side but last longer than spring mattresses and provide an overall better sleep performance. Buying in-store may give you more peace of mind, but a pushy salesperson will always be trying to close the deal. When the commission is the mission, you can’t always trust the seller. Online mattress retailers know their brick-and-mortar competition, so they are ready to offer fair prices for a great product.
Final thoughts
Mattress shopping is daunting, especially when arranging your mattress wishlist items. From material to firmness to cost, making such a big purchase is overwhelming. In the long run, the most important thing is that you find a great mattress option you look forward to ending up on every night. While the investment might seem scary, your body will thank you every morning.