 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Copyright 2011 SD Mattress Man All rights reserved
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| San Diego Mattress Man 8081 Balboa Ave San Diego, Ca 92111 858-569-0890 |
Selecting Memory Foam
While memory foam was developed for NASA in the 1970's, it didn't hit the consumer market until the early
1990's - first as memory foam mattress topper pads. Now since then, memory foam mattresses have
become the fastest growing segment in the mattress industry. With every year, you see more and more
companies selling memory foam mattresses, and it is very hard, even for us bed guys the industry, to keep
up with all the new memory foam products being introduced in the market. What is the average consumer
to do?
On this page, we are going to give you the straight story on what memory foam is, how it works, and what
to look for in memory foam (density and quality, memory foam toppers versus memory foam mattresses,
etc.). For those looking for memory foam mattresses, we offer many different types of memory foam
mattress choices here.
Brief History of Memory Foam
After memory foam was developed as part of a NASA project, some saw the promise of memory foam for
use in the medical industry to relieve pressure sores. Over the years, memory foam was shown to be
unique in the way it responded to temperature and also in its ability to spread pressure over a greater
surface area (and thereby reducing pressure points significantly). While the initial version of the foam
developed for NASA (called T-Foam) did have a great deal of promise as a bed topper or wheel chair
cushion material, it did have issues with wear over time. This first generation of material wasn't very
durable, and would often compress or crack over time.
What you need to remember is that not all memory foams are equal. They differ a great deal in quality -
density, hardness or softness, response to temperature, and also durability and longevity.
Memory Foam Really is Unique, and Has Unique Benefits
I've looked at many bedding materials, from latex to cotton to wool. And nothing compares to memory foam
in the way it conforms to your body and reduces pressure points. However, you wouldn't want an entire
mattress made strictly of memory foam. Memory foam is too soft a material and isn't meant to be
supportive. So it works best when layered over a firm, supportive material.
There are a couple of reasons that memory foam is so unique. First is the way memory foam cells deform
when weight is applied. Unlike standard foams that compress and want to spring back to their original
shape immediately, memory foam cells (open cell foam, which means the individual cells in the foam have
holes in them) compress fully and spread their air pressure to adjoining cells. This spreads the pressure
through a greater number of cells of the memory foam - which decreases the pressure you feel in the cells
of the memory foam that you are laying on. This accounts for the way that memory foam actually reduces
pressure points. And this ability of memory foam to deform also allows it to really conform to your body's
shape and weight bearing areas, thereby reducing these pressure points. No other material has this ability
to shape to your body - this is unique to memory foam.
Second, memory foam is temperature sensitive. Which means that at lower temperatures it is firmer (more
viscous), and at higher temperatures it is softer and more conforming (more elastic). Hence the reason
memory foam is known as visco-elastic memory foam. This temperature sensitive quality accounts for the
melting feeling that you get lying down on memory foam, and also accentuates the custom molding affect of
the foam. Certain memory foams, such as Tempur-Pedic's ® Tempur foam, are quite temperature sensitive
and can get firm even near room temperature. Many manufacturers have begun producing memory foam
in recent years. This has allowed the retail price of memory foam to drop and become an affordable
product. And while this has meant that a good number of quality memory foams have come onto the
market, it also means that a greater number of low quality, cut rate foams have also appeared.
Memory foam is not a commodity, and not all memory foams are created equal. As a general rule of thumb,
you should avoid the noticeably inexpensive pads or pillows you will find on the market. They are generally
made of either low density memory foam or layered with other, cheaper foam products and ingredients.
These inexpensive memory foams just won't give the same comfort as higher quality pads and will wear out
relatively fast.
With a mattress, you should look for at least 3 inches of medium to high density memory foam. 3 inches of
memory foam gives you a proper amount of material to cushion and conform to your body. While you could
get by with 2 inches of memory foam in a mattress, 3 inches is plusher and a more comfortable feel for
most people. It's a nice depth of foam where you wouldn't sink uncomfortably into the bed or lose the
support of the base foam. I've seen memory foam mattresses that offer much thicker memory foam layers
and they feel too cushy - you get sucked in, and adjusting from side to side can be a real problem.
As for densities of memory foam used in a mattress, I've had a change of mind with this over the years. For
a long time, I've often heard from customers that they liked the feel of the "less dense memory foams"
(memory foams 4 lb density or lower) better than that of the high density memory foam of the "leading
brand" (memory foam of 5 lb or greater density). That was because people felt the "less dense memory
foams" had a softer, more user friendly feel while the higher density memory foams could feel stiff and
could be difficult to move around in.
Until recently, though, I cautioned people about buying a mattress with these lower densities because of
durability issues. But as the latest generations of memory foam have become much more durable, I've
found that certain medium density memory foams (I'm talking about those in the 3 lb density to 4 lb density
range made by certain manufacturers) rate just as high in durability testing. And these new generation
medium density foams can have certain advantages over the higher density foams - they tend to be softer.
Higher density memory foams are sometimes firmer and stiffer at room temperatures, and have good
pressure relieving properties.
1990's - first as memory foam mattress topper pads. Now since then, memory foam mattresses have
become the fastest growing segment in the mattress industry. With every year, you see more and more
companies selling memory foam mattresses, and it is very hard, even for us bed guys the industry, to keep
up with all the new memory foam products being introduced in the market. What is the average consumer
to do?
On this page, we are going to give you the straight story on what memory foam is, how it works, and what
to look for in memory foam (density and quality, memory foam toppers versus memory foam mattresses,
etc.). For those looking for memory foam mattresses, we offer many different types of memory foam
mattress choices here.
Brief History of Memory Foam
After memory foam was developed as part of a NASA project, some saw the promise of memory foam for
use in the medical industry to relieve pressure sores. Over the years, memory foam was shown to be
unique in the way it responded to temperature and also in its ability to spread pressure over a greater
surface area (and thereby reducing pressure points significantly). While the initial version of the foam
developed for NASA (called T-Foam) did have a great deal of promise as a bed topper or wheel chair
cushion material, it did have issues with wear over time. This first generation of material wasn't very
durable, and would often compress or crack over time.
What you need to remember is that not all memory foams are equal. They differ a great deal in quality -
density, hardness or softness, response to temperature, and also durability and longevity.
Memory Foam Really is Unique, and Has Unique Benefits
I've looked at many bedding materials, from latex to cotton to wool. And nothing compares to memory foam
in the way it conforms to your body and reduces pressure points. However, you wouldn't want an entire
mattress made strictly of memory foam. Memory foam is too soft a material and isn't meant to be
supportive. So it works best when layered over a firm, supportive material.
There are a couple of reasons that memory foam is so unique. First is the way memory foam cells deform
when weight is applied. Unlike standard foams that compress and want to spring back to their original
shape immediately, memory foam cells (open cell foam, which means the individual cells in the foam have
holes in them) compress fully and spread their air pressure to adjoining cells. This spreads the pressure
through a greater number of cells of the memory foam - which decreases the pressure you feel in the cells
of the memory foam that you are laying on. This accounts for the way that memory foam actually reduces
pressure points. And this ability of memory foam to deform also allows it to really conform to your body's
shape and weight bearing areas, thereby reducing these pressure points. No other material has this ability
to shape to your body - this is unique to memory foam.
Second, memory foam is temperature sensitive. Which means that at lower temperatures it is firmer (more
viscous), and at higher temperatures it is softer and more conforming (more elastic). Hence the reason
memory foam is known as visco-elastic memory foam. This temperature sensitive quality accounts for the
melting feeling that you get lying down on memory foam, and also accentuates the custom molding affect of
the foam. Certain memory foams, such as Tempur-Pedic's ® Tempur foam, are quite temperature sensitive
and can get firm even near room temperature. Many manufacturers have begun producing memory foam
in recent years. This has allowed the retail price of memory foam to drop and become an affordable
product. And while this has meant that a good number of quality memory foams have come onto the
market, it also means that a greater number of low quality, cut rate foams have also appeared.
Memory foam is not a commodity, and not all memory foams are created equal. As a general rule of thumb,
you should avoid the noticeably inexpensive pads or pillows you will find on the market. They are generally
made of either low density memory foam or layered with other, cheaper foam products and ingredients.
These inexpensive memory foams just won't give the same comfort as higher quality pads and will wear out
relatively fast.
With a mattress, you should look for at least 3 inches of medium to high density memory foam. 3 inches of
memory foam gives you a proper amount of material to cushion and conform to your body. While you could
get by with 2 inches of memory foam in a mattress, 3 inches is plusher and a more comfortable feel for
most people. It's a nice depth of foam where you wouldn't sink uncomfortably into the bed or lose the
support of the base foam. I've seen memory foam mattresses that offer much thicker memory foam layers
and they feel too cushy - you get sucked in, and adjusting from side to side can be a real problem.
As for densities of memory foam used in a mattress, I've had a change of mind with this over the years. For
a long time, I've often heard from customers that they liked the feel of the "less dense memory foams"
(memory foams 4 lb density or lower) better than that of the high density memory foam of the "leading
brand" (memory foam of 5 lb or greater density). That was because people felt the "less dense memory
foams" had a softer, more user friendly feel while the higher density memory foams could feel stiff and
could be difficult to move around in.
Until recently, though, I cautioned people about buying a mattress with these lower densities because of
durability issues. But as the latest generations of memory foam have become much more durable, I've
found that certain medium density memory foams (I'm talking about those in the 3 lb density to 4 lb density
range made by certain manufacturers) rate just as high in durability testing. And these new generation
medium density foams can have certain advantages over the higher density foams - they tend to be softer.
Higher density memory foams are sometimes firmer and stiffer at room temperatures, and have good
pressure relieving properties.
While there are countless brands and version of memory foam mattress's on the market we have
made choices with the consumer in mind. Our customers look for a quality mattress at a bargain
prices. Therefore we offer memory foam beds from Silver Rest, Wickline Bedding and Sealy.
We suggest the following beds.
Essence 8" Mattress
Sealy Cedar Point
We have other Latex and Visco Memory foam options. We could write a 5 page artice on memory
foam mattress's but its hard to beat the expertise of a factory trained associate who can offer you a
mattress based upon your needs. We suggest you call the local shop and give your details of sleep
patterns and any concerns you have. The associate can offer you a choice of models that would be
based on an educated result.
made choices with the consumer in mind. Our customers look for a quality mattress at a bargain
prices. Therefore we offer memory foam beds from Silver Rest, Wickline Bedding and Sealy.
We suggest the following beds.
Essence 8" Mattress
Sealy Cedar Point
We have other Latex and Visco Memory foam options. We could write a 5 page artice on memory
foam mattress's but its hard to beat the expertise of a factory trained associate who can offer you a
mattress based upon your needs. We suggest you call the local shop and give your details of sleep
patterns and any concerns you have. The associate can offer you a choice of models that would be
based on an educated result.
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
San Diego Mission Bay
858-569-0890 619-275-2216
South Bay East County
619-216-1697 619-448-0991
858-569-0890 619-275-2216
South Bay East County
619-216-1697 619-448-0991