When looking at a mattress, the easiest thing to focus on is what you can see, it’s cover, padding, color and other physical attributes. But it’s most important to focus on a mattresses core, or support structure. So we always say it is best to look (or consider) the mattress from the inside out.
Does the mattress have springs or not?…
Innerspring mattresses have been in existence for over 140 years, and continue to undergo change and improvement. Still the most common design of mattress in the country, the structure of the innerspring can be made in two ways, either wire-tied or wrapped individually.
The wire-tied innerspring, most common of which is called the bonnell spring, is a traditional spring signified by a grid of hourglass-shaped springs that are connected to each other. The wrapped (or pocketed) innerspring, introduced by Simmons over 80 years ago, differs from the wire-tied in that the spring is wrapped in a duon (or other fabric) pocket, keeping the springs separate from one another. This allows for more individualized support, as well as less movement transferred between partners.
Memory foam mattresses were introduced around 20 years ago, after first being designed for use in the NASA space shuttle to help astronauts with joint pain relief. Memory foam mattresses contain no springs, contour to the shape of your body, and are designed to reduce pressure points and minimize the movement transferred between partners to improve an individuals sleep quality.
Latex foam rubber mattresses have a longer history than memory foam, having seen it’s peak in popularity in the US in the early 1960’s. Unlike memory foam, which is petroleum (or oil) based, natural latex rubber is derived from the rubber tree, and is natural. Latex is one of the most resilient products in the sleep industry, has an uplifting support that many consider bouncy compared to memory foam, and is known to sleep cool.