Egg Crate Foam vs. Orthopedic

Egg Crate Foam

Egg crate foam can be any type of foam where one side has an 'egg crate' shape. The purpose of this kind of foam is two-fold. It tends to be more responsive and distributes weight better than a thick layer of foam, and also it has cooling advantages because of the air flow that it provides.

Egg crate foam can be either memory foam or reflex foam, which are both blends of polyurethane foams and could be prone to off-gassing and odor.

The egg crate foam is generally found in the top comfort layers of the mattress, though they could be used in the base layer as well.

Pros: More response and more airflow than flat foam layers.

Cons: Comfort is entirely dependent on the quality of foam -- lower quality foams can be uncomfortable and break down faster.

Orthopedic

Orthopedic is a term that in the context of mattresses means supporting joints, bones, and the overall body. It is commonly used for mattresses that help with spinal alignment and recovery from joint or back issues.

In this way, there is no one material that is certified orthopedic, and the term can be used my manufacturers and marketers to help sell their mattresses.

For this reason, it is important to do additional research on any bed that claims to be orthopedic to make sure that it will actually help straighten the spine and alleviate pain.

Pros: For mattresses that stand true to the name, pain alleviation and better posture are some of the benefits.

Cons: It is difficult to decipher the truth from marketing on orthopedic mattresses.

Learn More About Egg Crate Foam

Learn More About Orthopedic

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Material Scores

Overall Score:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Orthopedic: 9/10

Comfort:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Orthopedic: 9.1/10

Softness:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.4/10
Orthopedic: 9.1/10

Cooling:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Orthopedic: 9/10

Hypoallergenic:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.6/10
Orthopedic: 9/10

No Odor:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.6/10
Orthopedic: 9/10

General Support:
Egg Crate Foam: 9/10
Orthopedic: 9.3/10

Eco-Conscious:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.7/10
Orthopedic: 8.9/10

Price Value:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Orthopedic: 8.8/10