Mattress Types

The purpose of a mattress is to provide you with comfort and support that will help you relax and rest. Research has shown that people then to sleep better when they are using a newer mattress. Overall, your sleep quality improves if your sleeping surface relieves pressure from your joints and other areas of your body. Mattress choice is very specific with comfort and needs coming down to personal preference. If two partners are sleeping in a bed with different sleeping styles, it tends to be best to find one that falls in the middle of both.

A mattress does not last forever. It is suggested that you shop for a new mattress every seven to ten years.  The following is a brief overview of the four main mattress types. These types are standard and are what you will see in any mattress store or website.

Innerspring

Steel coils make up an innerspring mattress. There are several different types of spring systems ranging from a single unit to individually wrapped pocketed coils. The shape, gauge, design and coil count can vary from mattress to mattress. All innerspring systems are covered with padding and upholstery, normally a foam or fiber.  The myth is that the higher the coil counter the better contouring support the sleeper is going to get. Coil size and type all play a part in your personal comfort level.

Foam

Foam mattresses use one or more different types of foam systems for support. The foam can be polyurethane, visco elastic (memory foam) or latex. Often, you will find that the foams contain gel materials. The shapes and densities of the foam can come in a variety of different levels, with features to disperse heat and different comfort levels.

Air Bed

Air beds are a lot less common and can be quite hard to find. Air beds us an adjustable air chamber as their support system. The air chambers on mattress that are used long term (unlike camping mattresses) are covered by padding or upholstery. Air beds allow you to constantly adjust the firmness and normally have the ability to control each side individually.

Hybrid

A hybrid mattress is a combination of steel coils and foam. When there are two partners with different sleeping styles, a hybrid mattress can often be a middle ground for both styles. When utilizing a hybrid mattress the level of support can be a bit higher, because you have a solid coil base that the foam is resting on. With less foam in the bottom of the mattress, it has been said that the hybrids tend to sleep a bit cooler.  

To get more information that can help you choose the right mattress for your needs, check out the Mattress Buying Guide here.