Best Memory Foam Mattress Buying Guide

What if there was way that would allow you to select a few brands of mattresses, that interest you and perform your own test. You could pit them up against a hard and fast checklist, of the things that make up quality memory foam, and then, make your selection based on these facts.

That's what this article is all about and I hope you gain the insight you came for.

There are tons of things you need to know but the essentials are:

In what country was the foam manufactured?

What is the density of the foam?

What is the thickness of the memory foam layer itself?

Is there a low risk test period?

Knowing these things will certainly help you in the decision because getting any one of them wrong could ruin your day.

Do you know that foam manufactured in foreign countries has been known to smell horribly?

Because of the different toxic chemicals that are allowed in other countries, you might never be rid of the smell. Foams manufactured in the USA have strict guidelines regarding non-toxic ingredients. Check with the company you're considering buying from and make sure they use American foam. Some firms buy foreign foam, make a cover in America and advertise it as American made, so be careful.

Next, foam density is critical. (I go into the way that it's measured in other articles)

Just be aware that anything less than 4 lbs. density isn't suitable for a mattress or topper.

The mattresses with the best support for your body will be made using the 5 lb. density foams.

Another benefit of the higher density foams is that they last much longer. A rule of thumb is 10 years for 4 lb. and 20 years for 5 lb.

The thickness of the memory foam is critical. I see 14" thick mattresses with only 3" of memory foam on top.

That's just totally unnecessary. You're being led to believe that a 14" mattress is better and you're being charged as though there was a lot of memory foam in it.

In actuality, an 8" mattress with 3" of memory foam would be just as good as they 18" because it's the memory foam that makes it so comfortable.

Base foam is necessary for proper support as well but no more than 5 to 6" is necessary under the memory foam layer(s). You might want a taller mattress so that's OK if you are charged a little more for that height.

All of this won't matter a bit if you don't like your mattress.

That's why I always insist on a dealer who allows for a low risk return of the mattress with at least a 30 day test period.

You don't want to spend a gazillion dollars on a mattress that you hate only to find out that you can't return it.

I've ran into this many times with people who contacted me for help but there was nothing to be done even though they had spent in excess of $4,000.

I hope this memory foam mattress buying guide has been helpful.
 

Jessica Harrisson is a free spirited lover of all things rich. Fine wine, elegant china and anything else that pampers. Her search for better sleep brought her to the wonderful world of memory foam and she has been spoiled ever since. She now wants everyone to experience the best memory foam mattress to spoil their body. Jessica may receive compensation if you purchase your mattress at the above website.
 

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Memory Foam Mattress: A Major Determinant To The Health Of Your Backbone

Your backbone plays a vital role in the proper functioning of all body parts. There are 33 vertebrae in the spine. Your backbone is so sensitive that a sudden jerk or your inappropriate positioning can be detrimental to your backbone.

The determinants of your back's health

There are many factors that can badly affect your backbone directly and indirectly. Some of the primary factors are listed below:

· The quality of your mattress.

· The sleeping position.

· The sitting posture.

· The walking and standing style.

Let's explain them in detail. Mattress is one of the key determinants of the health of your backbone. A good mattress is the one that strengthens the muscles of your back whilst a poor quality mattress is the one that ruins the health of your backbone. The quality mattress keeps your backbone in its natural position whilst an inferior mattress fails to maintain the natural order of your backbone. An inferior quality mattress is uncomfortable because it is designed without considering the shape of the human backbone.

The second factor which can adversely affect your backbone is your sleeping posture. If you want to avoid back pain, then you have to stop sleeping on your stomach. The best position is to sleep on your sides or on your back because it relaxes the backbone.

A man has to spend most of his time in sitting position due to the nature of his daily activities. A poor sitting posture directly hits the lower portion of your backbone. As the result of this, you have to suffer from lower back pain. The rate of the lower back pain attack is very high as compared to the attack of the upper back pain. Usually, orthopaedic doctors recommend back pain patients to buy a quality mattress instead of inferior because the later adversely affects the health of the backbone.

On the same lines, improper and sudden movements while standing, running or walking can also cause you a lower back pain.

Forms of the mattresses

A mattress is the most important commodity of the bedroom because it makes your bed a comfortable piece of the furniture. There are numerous types of the mattresses available in the market, today. Some of the common forms of mattresses are: spring mattress, air mattress, and a foam mattress.

The memory foam mattress

The memory foam mattress is the foam mattress which is made of polyurethane. The polyurethane is a polymer, which is used in a high resiliency seating because of its high viscosity and density. This foam offers many advantages as it was basically designed for NASA astronauts. Later, people started using it in the foam making.

In few words, you should not even think of a poor quality mattress as it does not only harm you but also your kids, who need a lot of care. So, there is no reason, why you should buy an inferior quality mattress if you value the health of your backbone in a real sense.
 

To know more about the memory foam mattress visit: http://www.memoryfoamexpress.co.uk/
 

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Memory Foam Mattress Toppers

Memory foam may seem like a totally new product to most people, but in fact it has been obtainable commercially for more than forty years. From the early days until quite recently it was mainly obtainable in the form of mattresses, pillows, cushions and the type of padding that you get on doctors' couches and wheel chairs. It was very expensive, so it was not considered to be commercially viable for the mass market.

That has all altered over recent years as production costs tumbled. These days, almost anyone can afford a mattress, mattress topper or cushion manufactured out of memory foam.

Memory foam mattresses and mattress toppers help many people to rest comfortably and sleep well because memory foam moulds itself to the contours of the body, thus supporting the body on a greater surface area than a standard mattress or cushion would.

Memory foam mattress toppers are a means of converting your present regular mattress into a memory foam mattress and they are cheaper than the full job as well. They can help people with bad backs or sore joints, sufferers of arthritis and gout and people who perspire a lot. These toppers can help those who perspire a lot because memory foam 'breathes' unlike traditional foam.

A true memory foam mattress is designed to give maximum comfort in the way described above and is the correct thickness for that purpose, but a mattress topper is like a conversion kit, so can it honestly convert a regular mattress into a memory foam mattress? This is a tricky question, because the answer, as it so often is, is that it depends.

It depends on two things: the sort of mattress that you are setting the topper on and the quality of that topper.

Firstly, in order to be effective the topper has to be on a fairly firm surface or it will only sink into the existing mattress and most of the advantages it can supply will be lost or absorbed into the mattress beneath.

Secondly, the topper has to be deep enough so that you can sink into it without hitting the bottom so to speak. If it is not thick enough, it would be like trying to float in a bath tub. If you have to, you could place a sheet of plywood on your mattress first to stiffen it up.

Most memory foam mattress toppers on the market are two inches thick and this is certainly the minimum you need for it to be effectual. Less than that is probably a waste of money, unless it is intended for a baby. By the same token, three or four inches is a lot better, particularly if the user is on the weighty side.

The foam also has differing density. The low density foams, 2.5-3.5 lb foam, reacts more to body heat and so is usually better for light people, whereas the high density foam, 5 lbs and above react to heat and pressure (or weight) so are more effectual for heavier people.

One last point, if you use an existing mattress topper manufactured from something else, you will not be able to place it on top of your memory foam mattress topper.
 

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a number of subjects, but is now involved with the Visco Elastic Mattress. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Egg Crate Mattress Pad for sale.
 

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Things to Consider When Buying a Memory Foam Mattress

The question of which mattress to buy is one that can trouble even the most experienced shopper. Your mattress is the foundation of a good nights sleep, and memory foam mattresses and toppers, also known as visco elastic foam, are an excellent replacement to a traditional sprung mattress.

There are many options to choose from, but knowing which to buy is a significant challenge. To help you weigh up the options this article will give you key information on memory foam and dispel some myths that you may have heard.

So what does memory foam do? Basically it responds to your body shape, moulding to fit your shape to give you even support. As your body heat warms up memory foam it softens and deforms to the shape of your body. This enables mattresses to remain firm without being hard.

Bed bugs, mites and dust is a big problem with traditional sprung mattresses. We've all seen the TV programmes where scientists use microscopes to show us what is lurking in our beds, scary stuff! The great thing about memory foam is that its closed cell structure prevents dust and bugs to penetrate into the mattress, hence it remains clean and fresh forever. Another fantastic benefit is that it improves your circulation and relieves stress on your joints and muscles.

Two top tips on which mattress to buy relate to the density of the mattress, and what guarantee the company selling it will give you. Density is measured in weight per cubic metre, and a great medium-firm density is 75Kg/m3. If the mattress is a lower density then less foam is used in its construction, if it is higher it is likely to be too firm for your comfort. A reasonable guarantee for a mattress is 10 years, with anything over this being a bonus.

Two complaints that I've often heard about memory foam is that is has a chemical smell, and that it is very hot to sleep on. Actually these complaints relate to earlier versions that were not as refined as today's products. The heat issue specifically relates to a type known as egg-box design, this is no longer used by most reputable companies. The chemical smell exists because memory foam is a manufactured product, but in quality versions this should disappear after one or two days. If it persists you should return the mattress and have it replaced as it is defective.

So how much does it cost? A tough question to answer precisely because there are so many manufacturers and different types of product. For a benchmark though current prices for double bed-sized memory foam mattresses, ranging from 200 to 400. A cheaper option is to buy a mattress topper to place on top of your existing mattress. These range from 75 to 150, again for a double bed size.
 

Joanna Henderson is a recognised product reviewer of household products in the UK, and owns a Hypnia memory foam mattress
 

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The Best Kind of Memory Foam Mattress

Despite the advertising blitz, especially around the holidays, the best choice for a new memory foam mattress is not the brand of memory mattress. There are several other choices that offer superior features at a much more affordable price.

Eco Appeal:
Did you know that most memory foam is made entirely from petroleum-derived products? This gives you a product that works very well, but with a large carbon footprint, is made from a non-renewable resource and is prone to off gassing. Off gassing is the gradual release of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other unpleasant odors. Some memory foam will leach these unpleasant odors and dangerous chemicals for 3 months or longer.

There are two main reasons that "old-line" memory foam does this. The chemicals with which it is made, petroleum compounds, as discussed above, and the way the material is formed. Closed-cell foam traps billions of tiny air bubbles in the structure of the foam. This exacerbates the problem of off-gassing. When you lay on the bed, the trapped bubbles are deformed, this gives the foam its famous feel, but some of the trapped air is also squeezed out. This allows the trapped VOCs and manufacturing by products to seep toward the surface, and into your body as you sleep.

Eco-friendly memory foam mattresses overcome many of these issues. Using soy-based polyoil overcomes the dependence on non-renewable petroleum. Although the soy oil cannot replace all the petroleum oil needed to make memory material, it can replace much of it and help the material to be a much more carbon neutral product.

Open-cell memory foam design prevents the way the mattress is manufactured from trapping as much of the by-product gas that is generated in the creation of the mattress. Open cellular structure allows that mattress to air-out much faster, often a matter of hours (days at the most) as opposed to waiting months for your mattress to stop smelling.

Cost:
While buying eco-friendly and sustainable products is a noble aspiration for many of us, it is not always possible to afford them. If the sustainably produced item is not comparably priced, then it is doomed to relegation as a niche item. Fortunately this is not case with eco-friendly memory mattresses. Many of the most popular memory foam mattresses can cost $4000 or more! Some of the most expensive Eco Memory Foam options available cost $2500 at most, while many Eco Memory Foam offerings can be purchased for much less.

The Anatomic Global (formerly Ecomfort) mattress is one of the best choices for well-made eco-friendly memory foam. Combining excellent mattress construction with soy-based oil makes for one of the finest, and most affordable memory beds on the market today. Anatomic Global beds are not prone to off gassing, due to their open cell foam construction and sleep cooler.

The closed cell foam that I mentioned above has the unfortunate side effect of acting like a heat trap as you sleep. Many people find their tempur-style mattress to be unbearably hot, especially in the summertime. Anatomic Global EcoMemoryFoam, with its open cell structure is up to 900% more breathable than comparable memory foam and sleeps much cooler. The cost of the Anatomic Global Eco Series 1 memory mattress is only $1299 for a queen size. If cost is your only concern, there are other options. The Eco Saver and Slumber Saver memory mattresses are available for as low as $359.99.

No matter what criteria you are using to select your new memory foam mattress, there are options available to suit your needs. Whether your concern is price, eco appeal or sleep comfort, there are choices beyond what is advertised, and overpriced, on TV. With a little bit of research, you too can find the mattress of your dreams.
 

Christian Koch is an author and product reviewer with over 5 years of experience analyzing and reviewing products. Many of the products he reviews can be found at Slumber Experts and at the Eco Mattress Store.
 

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Memory Foam Mattress Firmness Guide

Many shoppers looking for a memory foam mattress believe firmness is the same thing as density. But they are 2 very different things and are not directly related. Foam firmness is straight forward; it's how hard or soft the foam is. Foam density is only a little more difficult to conceptualize. It is a measure of weight and volume that tells you how much material is in 1 cubic foot of foam. High density foam will last longer and is more expensive than low density foam, but can be either firm or soft.

Foam bed firmness is measured in a lab by pushing a rigid, flat surface into the surface of foam. The units of measurement are expressed as a numerical value of Indentation Force Deflection (IFD). IFD is defined as a measure of the load bearing capacity of flexible polyurethane foam. IFD is generally measured as the force (in pounds) required to compress a 50 square inch circular indentor foot into a 4 inch thick sample, typically 15 inches square or larger, to a stated percentage of the sample's initial height. Initial Load Deflection (ILD) is another term meaning the same thing.

Lower IFD = softer foam

Higher IFD = firmer foam

Common values for the top layer of a memory foam mattress range from 12 - 15 IFD. Foam bed base layers typically range from 20 - 40 IFD

Foam Bed Firmness versus Support

Firmness is not the same thing as support. Good foam beds should be both soft and supportive, but some bad mattresses are both too firm and offer little support. The most common IFD value
measures indentation to 25% of the total height of a piece of foam. This is called 25 IFD and tells us how soft or firm the surface of a particular foam feels. If a retailer can give you an IFD, this is the value he will give you.

While you want a foam bed to softly contour to your body, you don't want it to completely compress or "bottom out." Good foam does two things; it contours and supports. Support is determined by taking measurements deeper into the foam and is called support factor. Support factor is important for telling mattress makers how much weight a memory foam layer will optimally support.

Firmness and Flex Fatigue

Flex fatigue is the normal softening of foam beds with use and over time. You can expect your mattress to get 5-15% softer by the end of its useful life. Higher density foams (3 lbs and up) hold their original firmness best. In general, the higher the density, the better it will retain its firmness.

Be Aware of Firmness and Support When Shopping

IFD values are generally not available from your retailer, and they would not help you decide which bed is for you anyway. Often IFD values are different from one manufacturer to the next, but feel very similar. They are not a good way to compare mattresses. But understanding IFD will help you be aware of comfort and support when mattress shopping.

When testing mattresses, be aware of how soft or firm the bed feels when you first lay down. Then think about how the bed supports your lower back and neck. Is there an even pressure applied across the surface of your body, or is there most pressure on your hips and shoulders? Regardless of firmness, a memory foam mattress should conform to your body and reduce pressure points.
 

Will Robertson is owner of MyLuxuryMattress.com, a specialty sleep shop featuring latex and memory foam mattresses, and luxury bedding including: down comforters & pillows, Egyptian cotton bed sheet sets & duvet covers, quilts, memory foam pillows, and bedding ensembles. Will answers his customers frequently asked luxury bedding questions at MyLuxuryMattress.com/Blog
 

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Why Does My Lower Back Hurt More After Getting a Memory Foam Mattress and How Can I Fix It?

Memory foam mattresses have been touted as the best mattress choice to relieve back pain. The technology incorporated in this is supposed to help eliminate pressure points and correct sleep posture. However, not everyone feels it is the right mattress that can do those things.

Despite the heightened publicity of this mattress in getting rid of back pains, some people who have tried it still did not feel any comfort. If anything, their back pain even got worse.

Sleep experts say it is better to choose a semi-firm mattress rather than a very firm one which is often the case for memory foams. These foams have more than 5 pounds of density. There are also density levels less than that available in the market but they are heralded as the "poorer" quality of memory foams.

If you want to alleviate lower back pain, get a foam mattress that has more support to your upper back but has a cushioning effect to your lower back. This gives a correct balance to your body. Why not change your mattress.

If you want to stick to this technology, go for those with lesser density. Pick 4 pounds or less of density. In fact, companies who introduce a bouncier type of memory foam mattress have received more good reports with its comfort than those companies who produce mattress with a high level of density.

Latex mattress is also a good option. This provides the balance I talked about earlier. It cushions your lower body and supports your upper body. This way, right amount of support is necessary.

This has a semi-firm mattress comfort and support that is required. However, they are as expensive as a memory foam mattress. You can always go for a latex mattress pad and put it on top of your mattress. This will help cover up the firmness of the mattress you are currently using.

You can also try selling your old mattress and get a new one. This time, pick the one with the right comfort. Just because it has been purported to alleviate body pains does not mean it really works. Consider your body type too. If you have a thinner frame, you might need a 5 pounds of density. If you have less angles and bones sticking out, a semi-firm mattress is right for you.

Choose your mattress carefully and pick the right one that is best for you. This way, you can have the comfortable sleep that you have always wanted.
 

For more colgate foam mattress, tips and advice on choosing a mattress for you and your baby, please visit http://www.bestmattressratings.com now.
 

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The Importance of Memory Foam Mattress to One's Health

Memory foam was first developed in the 1970's for NASA, but it was not until the early 1990's that it hit the market, first as a mattress topper pads, and later on as foam mattresses solely for used in medical settings.

In the early stages of its development, it has seen tremendous potential for alleviating pressure points on patients precisely due mainly to its unique ability to spread pressure over a wide surface area and its unique ability to respond temperature changes. But like every product in its infancy, this type of foam mattress also encountered initial setback with wear and tear over time because of questionable durability of the first generation material it used that would often compress and break over time.

However, that initial setback did not deter Tempur - Pedic, the very first company to appreciate the great potential of this product innovation that they developed their own version called Tempur foam, primarily intended for the medical industry. This new product innovation was more durable with still the same features of pressure reducing benefits of memory foam. Thereafter, they began hearing encouraging feedback from patients who used the memory foam did have slept better, have significantly reduced back pain, and have the refresh feeling every morning.

Upon knowing the positive results and the consumer markets becoming more aware of the benefits of the memory foam as reported from the medical institutions, more and more foam manufacturers are becoming interested in developing and producing their own versions. This time they are producing it for the bedroom furnishing industry. This strategy results to a more competitive cost structures with prices much less than that of the Tempur - Pedic brand foam. The reason for this is because these manufacturers came from the foam industry and not from the medical industry. But, whatever this product may bring, the consuming public must remember that due to its inherent unique characteristics, it has also corresponding unique benefits. They may be similarly created but absolutely they are not equals. It may have different range of foam density in its composition, had different degree in hardness or softness to the touch, have varying responses to temperature and they may have varying degree of wear and tear capacities. But, due to the fact that it is originally intended for the medical industry, it became very expensive until to this day.

But even though of the reported high market price, it still one of the fastest growing segment in the bedroom furnishings or more precisely in the foam mattress industry, that it is now becoming very hard to keep pace with all the new memory foam mattress products introduced every year from so many manufacturers.

Also, every consumer should take into account that these are not commodities. While at present, many manufacturers have diversify its usual foam line productions to memory foam productions significantly resulting to price drop, product availability and affordability, which is good to the memory foam mattress industry, it is also certain to mean that a great number of poor quality and cut-rate foams will also appear. As a general rule, you should avoid purchasing conspicuously low-cost memory foam mattresses you would found in the market for it's often made of low density foams or even layered with other cheap foam products.
 

The author, Jose P. Archival has more than 35 years of home and office furniture experience in manufacturing, exporting and designs, is an Electronics & Communications Engineer by profession with a Master in Business Administration, has been blogging and writing articles for web sites in the field of information & technology, home furniture, health, business, electronics technology, electronic gadgets, lifestyle and shopping. Lately, the author have also engaged in works in Non-voice BPO Outsourcing, Web Designs, Advertising, Internet Marketing, Web Contents Management & Development, E-commerce Retailing and Apps Programming. For his work in furniture, everybody is welcome to visit the site at http://www.abcapitaldesigns.com. For health blogs and updates, please visit http://emberbranch.wordpress.com/
 

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