You’ve been grafting hard at work, you smashed a gym class and started on your never-ending list of household chores. It’s finally time to jump into bed, but the excitement is short-lived when you realise your mattress springs are poking you in the back.
The time has come to invest in a dreamy night’s sleep, but which mattress will give you the comfiest slumber? Will it be memory foam, or are pocket sprung mattresses the best? We take a look at the difference between pocket sprung and memory foam mattresses, as well as the pros and cons to hopefully help you decide which will give you the rest you’ve been dreaming of!
What is a Pocket Sprung Mattress?
A pocket sprung mattress is made from densely packed individual spring, contained within their own fabric pockets. The lone springs move independently so they only react to weight or pressure that is applied to that specific area, unlike a traditional spring mattress. In a conventional open coil mattress, every spring moves as one unit meaning you will feel the effects of a partners movements in bed and you might experience “roll-together”.
Pros of Pocket Sprung Mattresses
- Pocket sprung mattresses don’t transfer movement as they support each sleeper’s bodyweight individually, you are less likely to disturb your own or your partner’s sleep
- If you struggle to regulate your body temperature during the night, pocket sprung mattresses are breathable to give you a cooler night’s sleep
- The high spring count offers great total support and there is a range of spring counts and ratings of pocket sprung mattresses for you to choose from
- The individual springs in a pocket sprung mattresses provide great bodyweight support, which helps to reduce pressure point build-up and maintain good posture
Cons of Pocket Sprung Mattresses
While there are countless benefits of a pocket sprung mattress, sleepers sometimes find the response to pressure is not as great as a foam mattress. When force is applied to a spring mattress, it doesn’t respond by pushing equal pressure back against the body, so the parts of your body that weigh down the hardest on the mattress (typically your hips or head), will feel more pressure and some people find this uncomfortable. If you have serious issues with your back or joints this might become a problem for you. They are also more expensive than a traditional open coil mattress.
What is a Memory Foam Mattress?
Memory foam mattresses are constructed with a man-made viscoelastic that was originally designed for use in aeroplane seats but was quickly introduced into hospitals as the properties of the foam made an excellent orthopaedic mattress and provide unparalleled levels of comfort. A luxury memory foam mattress moulds to the contours of your body providing optimum comfort and support, particularly beneficial for people with back or joint problems, and it very slowly bounces back to its original form when the pressure is removed.
Pros of Memory Foam Mattresses
- Memory foam moulds perfectly to the shape of your body and distribute weight evenly. Exceptional support and comfort for all body types helps to calm aches and pains and they are frequently used as orthopaedic mattresses
- There isn’t any motion transfer with a foam mattress, so you won’t disturb a partner’s sleep when moving during the night - also perfect for couples of varying weights!
- Memory foam mattresses are often regarded as the most comfortable mattress type on the market! (we’re inclined to agree…)
- A memory foam mattress should last longer than other types of mattresses and there is no need to flip them, but the occasional rotation is encouraged for even wear
Cons of Memory Foam Mattresses
While memory foam mattresses are one of the most favoured mattress types on the market, one issue that stands out is heat retention. The foam is very densely packed, which means the air circulation is minimal and sometimes makes sleepers hot and bothered. If you don’t have issues with overheating while you sleep or if you live in a cold climate, this probably won’t be a problem for you.
But, many mattress brands have cottoned onto the issue of temperature sensitivity, so it’s worth noting that you can buy additional cooling toppers to solve this problem. Cooling mattress toppers use an open-cell structure that allows air to flow through the memory foam layer much more effectively, keeping you nice and cool while you sleep! They also help to eliminate any natural body heat or moisture that might start to form during the night.
Another downfall to foam mattresses is they tend to be quite expensive, but there are definitely cheap memory foam mattresses out there that don’t compromise on quality!
Pocket Sprung or Memory Foam: Which is the Best?
The difference between a pocket sprung and memory foam mattress and which reigns supreme is down to personal preference. The qualities you look for in a mattress, the type of sleeper you are and any ailments you might have will all affect whether memory foam or sprung mattress is the best for you.
Here’s a quick roundup of the main differences between the two types of mattress to help you decide who wins the battle.
Pocket Sprung vs Memory Foam:
Composition
Pocket sprung mattresses are made up of 1000 to 2000 springs and the best pocket sprung mattress should be at the higher end of that scale. Pocket mattresses are then stuffed with either synthetic or organic materials, so be sure to check this for allergens if needed!
Memory foam mattresses are made with polyurethane and variations of other chemicals to create different density and viscosity levels, which is the better combination if you have problems with your spine or joints. Unlike some pocket sprung, foam mattresses are also hypoallergenic.
Longevity
The lifespan and durability of a pocket sprung mattress isn’t as impressive as memory foam. Of course, you will experience years of wonderful sleep from your pocket spring mattress, but generally speaking, it won’t outlive foam.
The springs of a pocket mattress will begin to sag after years of wear, and to marginally extend this lifespan you will have to frequently flip your mattress. On the other hand, a foam mattress can last over 12 years, and often become better over time as the foam softens and takes the shape of your body. You also don’t need to flip a foam mattress, just rotate it every six months or so to even out the wear.
Heat Transfer
If you find yourself tossing, turning and sweating during the night, a hybrid pocket sprung mattress is likely to be the better choice for you. Due to the extreme density of the traditional foam mattress, proper air circulation is prevented, creating a “warmer” mattress. Whereas the pocket spring mattress offers greater breathability and is more temperature-sensitive, offer a cooler night’s sleep than some foam mattresses. Having said that, there is a good selection of cooling memory foam mattresses being introduced to the market.
Movement
How much movement a mattress should have is another subjective quality to the sleeper. If you move a lot during the night, and you want to do so freely, the pocket sprung mattress allows this and still has properties that cause minimal disturbances from movement.
The foam mattress might absorb movements a little bit better than pocket sprung, but it will also be harder to roll around in the night. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is up to you!
Preferred Mattress Feel
The final consideration in our pocket sprung vs memory foam battle and possibly the most important - how do you want YOUR mattress to FEEL.
If you prefer a bouncy mattress with a slightly firm and supportive feel, you might prefer a pocket sprung mattress!
If you prefer a firm mattress with minimal movement, a memory foam mattress is for you!
But, what about if you want the best of both worlds? Hybrid mattresses have all of the comfort and supportive feel of a memory foam mattress, but with the light bounce and cooling properties of a pocket sprung mattress.
Now that you’ve probably got a good idea of which mattress is best suited to your preferences, needs or medical requirements, all that’s left to do it buy your new memory foam or pocket sprung mattress!
We offer a wide range of mattress types from many mattress brands, in sizes from single to king-size, euro and super-king, so we’re sure we can help you find that perfect night’s sleep! Buy a mattress online here to discover yours!