Memory Foam Toppers or Memory Foam Mattress?
June 2, 2009 – 2:19 pmMemory foam is one of the best choices for sleep system. Once you are convinced about the advantages of memory foam and have decided that you are going to buy one, the next question or decision will be to buy either a full memory foam mattress or one of the various available memory foam toppers.
A full memory foam mattress is the ideal sleep system, and only a full memory foam mattress will provide all of the benefits of memory foam. In addition to being the healthiest sleep systems available, memory foam mattresses are also far more durable than traditional inner-spring mattresses, lasting up to twenty years without flipping.
A good memory foam mattress has between two and three layers of foam of various densities that are designed to work with each other. More than just the sum of their parts, these various layers provide the perfect balance of support and body-conforming softness.
Three layer mattresses are typically better than two layer mattresses; however some companies are now producing up to six layer mattresses. Anything more than three layers is mostly just a marketing gimmick, and won’t provide any extra benefits for sleep. Mattresses with numerous layers also have more seams to tear and more layers to break down. For these reasons, a simple two or three layer mattress is usually the best bet.
Topper Selection
Toppers are an affordable alternative to a full memory foam mattress. A topper is a layer of memory foam designed to fit over an existing conventional mattress. They come in a variety of thicknesses and densities, and are capable of providing many of the same benefits as a full mattress at a fraction of the cost of a full mattress.
Memory foam mattress topper pads are great at making a firm or overly firm mattress much more comfortable. They also work very well with a mattress that seems fairly comfortable, but causes aches or pains or just isn’t giving you the kind of restful sleep you want. The most important thing to remember about memory foam toppers is that they are only as good as the foundation they’re sitting on. If your old mattress has sags or other inconsistencies, this may cause your memory foam topper to sag as well. This can diminish the topper’s ability to provide the support that memory foam is famous for. As a general guideline, if you’ve had your mattress for five years or more, you should look into a full memory foam mattress system, rather than just a topper.