Foam has became a popular material in furniture over the past 30 years ago. Specifically, memory foam with its desirable slow response and contour has made sofa cushions, car seats, and of course, mattresses more comfortable and pressure relieving. However, this 20th century revolution of foam has also brought challenges, such as lack of support, heat retention, and high prices for quality products.
Over recent years, however, there has been numerous advances in the construction process such as gel infused foam and open cell technology that fight against heat retention and also lower prices for manufacturing. Mattresses that use these newer foams tend to be less costly and also just as comfortable as the higher quality foam mattresses of the past. However, there are still some considerations...
Most foam, including memory foam, is a synthetic blend of polyurethane, which is a polymer still generally derived in part from petrolium. While quality foams do a good job scrubbing out toxicity, some of these synthetic compounds may not be the best for your health. Over recent years, there has been increased scrutiny put on foam that off-gass toxins. There are a few independent organisations that certify low emission foam, such as the CertiPUR standard. If you are sensitive to chemicals, make sure to check the certifications before buying!
Support
The best foam mattresses aren't purely one type of foam. Their top layer is generally soft to the touch, but their middle and bottom layers offer higher density and firmer support to properly cradle the spine. The most comfortable foam mattresses are medium to medium firm so they don't swallow your body, but provide a gentle pressure point relief that help the muscles relax. Emma's mattresses do a great job at this with their adaptive top foam layers. Ecosa is another top contender with its multiple layers of open cell foam, gel infused memory foam, and HD breathable foam..
Cooling
Traditional memory foam tends to trap heat, but there have been manufacturing techniques that help alleviate this, like gel infusion and open cell technology, which is also a top differentiator in the Emma and Ecosa mattresses.
Trial
Choosing a memory foam mattress can be a difficult decision and sometimes the feel of the mattress doesn't agree with your body. Make sure to select a mattress with a generous trial and return policy.
Slumber Search is supported by readers. Some links on Slumber Search are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, Slumber Search may make a small amount of money. More info.
Emma is a popular European mattress brand with four special mattress offerings for the Australian market. Their all-foam Emma Comfort mattress, hybrid Emma Comfort Premium mattress, Emma Diamond Hybrid, and newest Emma Zero Gravity mattresses include superior cooling with temperature regulating foam as well as zoned support systems. Customers report overwhelmingly happy experiences for the price and value of their mattresses. Live in New Zealand? Check out Emma's Original mattress.
Overall Score for Foam: 9.6/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.4/10
Price Value: 9.7/10
Back Support: 9.5/10
Price: $1149-$4869
Ecosa is one of the most popular mattress in a box companies in Australia. As they continue to grow, they have expanded worldwide into the United States, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. Their original Ecosa mattress features three comfort layers with open-cell technology for better air flow and cooling and adjustable firmness. Following the popularity of their original mattress, Ecosa launched two hybrid mattresses, the Pure mattress and the Align Firm mattress, to meet the ongoing demand from customers who love this brand.
Overall Score for Foam: 9.5/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.5/10
Price Value: 9.3/10
Back Support: 9.4/10
Price: $700-$2475
Ergoflex™ is a UK-founded company that launched in Australia in 2010. Their main goal was to build a high quality mattress like those offered by TEMPUR®, but for a fraction of the price. They have done well with customers overall and offer a higher quality product than many mattress in a box companies on the market.
Overall Score for Foam: 9.5/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.5/10
Price Value: 9.4/10
Back Support: 9.4/10
Price: $999-$1849
The Koala mattress is one of the most popular mattresses in Australia. They were one of the early companies to revolutionise the direct-to-consumer mattress in the box space in the country. They have optimised their mattress designs over the years with 3 well-rated foam mattresses to choose from. Buyers mostly have good things to say for the brand with select negative feedback mostly mentioning delivery and long-term feel mishaps.
Overall Score for Foam: 9.4/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.4/10
Price Value: 9.2/10
Back Support: 9.4/10
Price: $750-$2950
Greywing is an all-foam mattress that is sold at popular store, Brosa. It features a latex-like responsive foam that provides a responsive feel with balanced pressure relief. Overall, these mattresses get good ratings, but with limited feedback from customers.
Overall Score for Foam: 9.1/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.1/10
Price Value: 8.8/10
Back Support: 9.1/10
Price: $649-$2099
The Onebed mattress is a all-foam mattress in a box that features high quality Dunlop latex. They get good reviews from customers overall and have a competitive price versus the other popular versions with similar materials. Although not as popular as others, they are worth a second look.
Overall Score for Foam: 9.1/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.2/10
Price Value: 9/10
Back Support: 9.1/10
Price: $650-$1800
The Jellyfish mattress is one of the leaders in providing mattresses for those that suffer from allergies and asthma. They treat their mattresses with Ultra-Fresh PF1, which controls against micro-organisms, mould, mildew, and fungi. They also use high quality Dunlop foams as well. If you are concerned about mould and other allergens, Jellyfish is definitely worth a second look.
Overall Score for Foam: 9.0/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9/10
Price Value: 8.8/10
Back Support: 9/10
Price: $750-$1250
The Juno mattress is focused on providing better sleep for athletes and active people around Australia. They have some great materials, such as Celliant® that helps with muscle recovery and blood oxygenation. It also keeps cool by diffusing heat by coverting it into infrared light. Most like their Juno mattress, but some experts felt the build quality and durability was lacking.
Overall Score for Foam: 8.7/10
Customer Satisfaction: 8.7/10
Price Value: 8.8/10
Back Support: 8.4/10
Price: $1095-$1595
Sommuto makes its mattresses in Australia from Australian-made and certified foams. Although this is more expensive than buying from overseas, they still sell their mattresses at budget conscious prices and offer a great deal to customers. They have 2 mattresses in two firmness options. Most customers love their mattresses, but there are some durability concerns long term.
Overall Score for Foam: 8.6/10
Customer Satisfaction: 8.6/10
Price Value: 8.7/10
Back Support: 8.5/10
Price: $699-$1049
The Naptime® mattress is an extremely affordable all-foam mattress that is sold in the Australia. Their mattress is not as popular as other more expensive versions. Experts and customers that buy a Naptime find that they have good initial comfort and spinal support. There are doubts, however, about the long term durability of these products.
Overall Score for Foam: 8.5/10
Customer Satisfaction: 8.6/10
Price Value: 8.6/10
Back Support: 8.5/10
Price: $998-$1998