Once you decide it's time to replace your old mattress, you’ll immediately be bombarded with numerous online offers for mattresses. All the ads talk about advanced technology, innovative developments, and a variety of terms for foam, but beyond the creativity of the copywriters, it’s unclear what they actually mean. Every company heaps praise on itself and its products, yet often provides little concrete information, forcing you to choose based on branding rather than quality.
It doesn’t have to be this way! With a basic understanding of mattresses, you can request the information needed to compare different mattresses and select the best one for you. So, before you confuse the salespeople—and mostly yourself—it’s worth knowing what’s really important to ask. By asking these four questions, you’ll know exactly—yes, exactly!—which mattress is recommended for you:
- What is the density of the memory foam layers?
- What is the thickness of the memory foam layers?
- Is the memory foam open-cell or closed-cell?
- Does the mattress contain flame retardant materials?
What is memory foam and why is it so important?
It turns out that most mattresses are built in roughly the same way. One or more layers of high-quality, dense foam at the top and a base made of simpler foam or springs at the bottom. The base provides volume and elevates the mattress, while the top layers directly support body weight during sleep and have the greatest impact on sleep quality. These top layers contain the premium foams, foremost among them being viscoelastic foam.
Globally, it’s known as memory foam, but in Israel, the cute nickname Visco has stuck, derived from the scientific description of its properties—viscoelasticity. The original foam is called Tempur, and that was its general name until its patent expired. This is the same foam developed for NASA, creating a mold of the person sleeping on it. Thanks to its viscoelasticity, the body’s weight is optimally distributed, which reduces pain throughout the day and helps you sink into deeper, more nourishing sleep at night. While there are other factors in choosing a mattress, memory foam has the most significant influence on sleep quality.
Why is it important to know the density and thickness of the memory foam layers?
The denser the memory foam, the better and firmer support it provides over time. Low-density foams, unsurprisingly, wear out faster. Additionally, you should check the thickness of the memory foam layer. It’s essential for the layer to be thick enough to mold to your body. If the layer is too thin, more of your body weight will be supported by the layers beneath, and you won’t benefit from the pressure distribution of the memory foam. Knowing the thickness and density of the Visco layers also helps you assess the value for your money.
Foam, like whipped cream, is a product of whipping raw materials. You measure whipped cream by weight, not volume, and the same goes for foams.
How do you differentiate between regular and advanced memory foam?
Once you know how much Visco you're getting, it's equally important to check what type of Visco it is. That’s the third crucial point.
It seems every mattress company claims their foam is the "most advanced." There are indeed differences between types of memory foam, with newer generations offering many advantages. But how can you tell? One key aspect to check is whether the foam has an open or closed-cell structure.
Despite its many benefits, classic memory foam has one significant drawback: It doesn’t allow airflow, causing heat to build up during the night. There are various technologies aimed at solving this—some more effective than others—but they generally only address the symptoms, not the root problem of the foam's cell structure.
The issue is resolved with a newer, more advanced generation of foams. In these foams, air bubbles expand until the cell walls break, allowing the bubbles to merge. This enables airflow through the foam. Mattresses with open-cell memory foam create a more ventilated, cooler, and comfortable microclimate for sleeping. Knowing your mattress has open-cell foam means it’s part of the latest, most technologically advanced generation of foams.
In addition to airflow, these advanced foams are more durable, environmentally friendly, and maintain a consistent firmness over a wide range of temperatures. Traditional memory foam softens as it gets warmer. The result is that as heat builds up around you during the night, the mattress softens slightly, causing you to sink deeper, which leads to more heat.
What’s the deal with flame retardants?
The final and important point to check: Ensure your mattress does not contain harmful flame retardants. Some flame retardants have been found to be carcinogenic, while others are suspected of being so. These substances are primarily used in mattresses sold in the U.S. While most of the world only requires mattresses to be non-flammable, in the U.S., where most homes are built of wood, manufacturers are required to add flame retardants.
If you choose a mattress with flame retardants, it’s crucial to ensure it meets the American CertiPUR-US standard. This certification confirms the absence of certain known carcinogenic flame retardants. However, be aware that this standard does not guarantee the safety of other flame retardants in the mattress.
In fact, flame retardants that once met the CertiPUR-US standard are now classified as carcinogens. Therefore, Israeli and European standards do not require flame retardants at all, and most mattresses sold in Israel are free of them.
This article was prepared with the help of the recommended "Mattress Comparison Guide" available on Soham Mattresses' website. You can view the full guide on their site.