When it comes to investing in a mattress, the amount of choice on offer can feel overwhelming. A good quality mattress should last the distance, so it’s important to find your perfect nighttime companion to achieve a great night’s sleep every day of the week.
From traditional spring mattresses to memory foam mattresses and hybrid mattresses, we’re here to help find the right type of mattress for you.
To help make your decision easier, we’ve gathered all the information from our many years of expertise to conclude, once and for all, what is better; memory foam or spring mattresses.
What is the Best Type of Mattress?
Before we get stuck in, let’s be clear on what we’re actually talking about. There are lots of different types of mattresses available, and the distinctions between them can get confusing. We’ve listed the different types of mattresses with a brief description of each one. First up, memory foam.
Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam is a very dense foam that softens on contact with body heat and pressure. Made from a blend of polyurethane foam and additional chemicals that give the memory foam its low resilience, this mattress moulds to the contours of the body, while the elasticity of the foam allows it to spring back into shape when you get up in the morning.
Spring Mattress
A spring mattress, commonly known as an open coil mattress or innerspring mattress, is made up of interconnected metal coils to provide resistance and support, covered by a layer of padding.
Pocket Spring Mattress
What is a pocket mattress? The difference between a traditional coil mattress and a pocket sprung mattress is that the latter is made up of individual springs or pocket coils, contained in their own pockets. This allows each to move individually for more personalised support.
Hybrid Mattress
A hybrid mattress combines two types of mattresses in one. They usually consist of a memory foam layer with a spring system underneath.
By covering a pocket sprung mattress with a memory foam comfort layer, you can enjoy the comfort and support of memory foam as well as the breathability of springs.
Mattress in a Box
A mattress in a box allows you to buy a mattress online and get it delivered straight to your front door in a conveniently sized box. This eliminates the hassle of transporting your new mattress and is easily unpackaged at home.
Orthopaedic Mattress
An orthopaedic mattress is specifically designed with sufferers of back pain in mind. Strategically placed grooves in the memory foam soften the mattress around the major pressure points for pain and joint relief.
Now to get down to which is best: memory foam mattresses vs spring mattresses;
Best Mattress for Support and Comfort
In terms of comfort and support, a lot of it comes down to personal preference. Here are the main differences between memory foam and spring;
Spring
- A spring or coil mattress offers firmer support, with a springy feel.
- However, if you tend to sleep in one position throughout the night, you could find a spring mattress uncomfortable on your pressure points.
Memory foam
- Memory foam, on the other hand, moulds to the shape of your body and spreads your body weight evenly.
- This specialised support can feel more comfortable and softer on the hips and spine.
Best Mattress for Sharing a Bed
Sharing a bed with a partner can result in all sorts of sleeping issues. From snoring to conflicting bedtime schedules, navigating sleep together can require careful planning.
Spring
- One issue with spring mattresses is that they can get squeaky over time. Not ideal if your partner tosses and turns in the night!
Memory foam
- Before you give up and head to the sofa, a memory foam mattress could solve some of your problems. Excellent movement absorption means that those with restless sleeping partners can get an undisturbed night’s sleep.
Do Foam or Spring Mattresses Last Longer?
One of the main concerns customers have when buying a mattress is how long it will last.
When comparing the durability of spring and memory foam, it’s a no brainer. While spring mattresses can start to develop dips and sagging after just a few years of use, a quality memory foam mattress can last up to 15 years!
Best Mattress for Joint Pain
For those of you suffering from joint pain caused by conditions such as arthritis, your choice of mattress could make all the difference between waking up refreshed or in pain.
Spring
- Thick springs have less give and can cause discomfort around pressure points, so coil mattresses are best avoided for those with sensitive joints.
Memory foam
- Thanks to the individualised support memory foam brings, sufferers of joint pain can rest easy. Hips, shoulders and ankles are cushioned, spines are fully supported, and your weight is spread evenly.
- If you have severe joint pain or back issues, an orthopaedic memory foam mattress could help. We provide medical-grade mattresses to help those with chronic conditions get a better night’s sleep.
Best Mattress for Regulating Body Temperature
If you often wake up sweating at night, this is an important point to consider. Let’s compare;
Spring
- The type of springs used in pocket mattresses allow air to circulate through the mattress, so getting too hot shouldn’t be a problem.
Memory foam
- Due to the heat retaining properties of some memory foam, it has been known to get hot during the night.
- Despite this reputation, modern memory foam has come a long way, with air pockets within the foam helping to circulate airflow and cool things down.
- Our range of Coolmax mattresses, for example, comes with a removable cover made with breathable, hypoallergenic fibres to reduce heat and moisture build-up.
- While the 4G Aircool range features an innovative design with an open cell structure to allow airflow for a cool night’s slumber.
Which Type of Mattress is Best for Health?
From bad backs to allergy outbreaks, your choice of mattress could make a big difference to your quality of sleep.
Spring
- The springs within an open coil mattress are a breeding ground for dust mites and bed bugs.
- These compact spaces are difficult to clean and a nightmare for those with allergies or asthma.
Memory foam
- Hypoallergenic memory foam provides a welcome relief for allergy sufferers. The high density makes it difficult for dust to enter, resulting in a restful night.
- Memory foam can also aid back health with targeted support.
Best Mattress for Firmness Variety
Spring mattresses come with four different types of coils, each measured by gauge. Put simply, the thicker the coil, the firmer the feel of the mattress.
Memory foam tends to feel medium to firm. As the foam softens on contact with your body heat, you should feel cushioned yet fully supported.
Best Mattress for Easy Maintenance
No one wants to spend their time caring for their mattress. It’s best to choose a mattress that doesn’t require too much upkeep.
Spring mattress
- It’s recommended that you rotate a spring mattress every 3 months to avoid dips and sags.
- Spring mattresses cannot be bent or folded as this could break the inner springs.
Memory foam
- Memory foam mattresses do not need to be flipped.
- We recommend rotating your mattress from head to foot occasionally.
- If your memory foam mattress needs cleaning, use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of crumbs or try a quick wipe with a mild detergent and air dry.
To keep your mattress fresher for longer, it’s worth investing in a mattress topper or protector for optimum protection.
Best mattress for different sleeping positions
We all sleep differently. That’s why it’s so important to choose a mattress that fits our own sleeping styles and habits.
Back Sleepers
Sleeping on your back is great for your spine alignment. Whether you choose spring or memory foam, just go for a medium-firm mattress and you should be able to sleep easy.
Side Sleepers
If you sleep on your side, your hips and shoulders come under more pressure. That’s why opting for memory foam is better, as it’s cushioning on your pressure points.
Front Sleepers
Sleeping on your front can cause back issues as it places added pressure on your lower spine. Whichever mattress you choose, try sleeping on a firm mattress to avoid aches and pains.
Best Mattress for Price
We understand that cost plays a big part in your mattress buying decision, and we strive to deliver quality mattresses at low prices. However, a mattress is an investment and it’s worth going for quality to save money in the long run.
Spring
- Spring mattresses are low cost as they can be manufactured cheaply.
- However, you may have to fork out for a new one sooner than other types of mattresses.
Memory foam
- Although slightly more expensive than spring mattresses, a memory foam mattress doesn’t have to break the bank.
- We offer our customers genuine factory-direct savings of up to 70% compared to high street retailers, meaning you can make big savings on memory foam that can be expensive elsewhere.
- A good quality memory foam mattress can last up to 15 years, making your investment well worth the money!
- For those on a budget, try out our Essentials range of memory foam mattresses.
Memory Foam vs Spring
To conclude, we’ve rounded up all the pros and cons of each type of mattress to help you make your final decision;
Memory foam mattress pros and cons
Pros
- Targeted comfort and support
- Hypoallergenic
- Relieves pressure on the spine
- Reduces motion transfer
- Long-lasting
- Low maintenance
- Great for side sleepers
- Easily transported and delivered
Cons
- Some memory foam can get too hot
- It can take a little while to soften after purchase
- Some memory foam emits a slight odour. But don’t worry, this soon fades away after it’s unpackaged.
Spring mattress pros and cons
Pros
- Affordable
- Breathable
- No odour
Cons
- Cannot be vacuum packed for easy delivery
- Shorter lifespan
- Springs can put pressure on hips and joints
- Needs to be flipped regularly
- Not suited for allergy sufferers
The Best Mattress for Getting a Great Night’s Sleep
Across the board, memory foam comes out on top as the best for overall comfort, support and durability.
If you’re looking for a mattress with individualised support and hypoallergenic properties, memory foam is for you. Or, for a breathable night’s sleep, a pocket sprung mattress hybrid combines the benefits of both into one, high-performing mattress.
After weighing up the pros and cons of each type of mattress, it’s down to you to make the final decision.
That being said, we’re on hand to give you all the advice you need.
Why Choose Memory Foam Warehouse?
Here at Memory Foam Warehouse, we’re dedicated to helping our customers find their perfect mattress.
As one of the longest established online mattress retailers, we’ve spent years perfecting our broad range of mattresses to ensure we have something for everyone, regardless of budget, style or specialist requirements.
To find your perfect fit, browse our range of memory foam mattresses here.
