Memory foam is a blend of polyurethane (a polymer made as a byproduct of petroleum refining) and additional chemicals that give the memory foam its low-resilience. It was originally developed by NASA in the 1970s for airplane cushioning and has since become one of the widest materials used in mattresses and pillows.
In plain English, what makes memory foam is its ability to contour to pressure and return to its original shape slowly after pressure is released. This process allows for it to react to pressure differently across its surface and provide a contoured, but aligned feeling for sleepers.
In mattresses, older or lower quality memory foam may sag from the repetitive pressure of laying or sitting. For this reason, those that are heavier should do additional research about soft memory foam bedding as they will sink more than alternatives and could lead to discomfort for some body types.
Lastly, over the recent years, there has been reports of off-gassing and toxic odors released from memory foam. Some lower quality or treated memory foam may have this problem and cause respiratory inflamation. It is important to make sure that memory foam is high quality.
Pros: Contouring comfort, competitive pricepoints, and widespread options.
Cons: Sagging and off-gassing problems with lower quality foams.
Open coil mattresses are also called traditional innerspring mattresses. They have interconnected coils in a metal mesh that provide even support across the mattress surface.
Many open coil systems use hour glass shaped springs in their interconnected systems so that the evenness is distributed from the top to bottom.
Though this system is good at providing even support, there are complaints of aggravated pressure points and discomfort with open coil systems.
Pros: Durable materials and traditional even feel.
Cons: Pressure point discomfort and motion transfer issues.
Overall Score:
Memory Foam: 9.3/10
Open Coil: 8.7/10
Comfort:
Memory Foam: 9.4/10
Open Coil: 8.7/10
Softness:
Memory Foam: 9.5/10
Open Coil: 8.4/10
Cooling:
Memory Foam: 8/10
Open Coil: 9.5/10
Hypoallergenic:
Memory Foam: 8.1/10
Open Coil: 9.4/10
Odor:
Memory Foam: 8.4/10
Open Coil: 9.4/10
General Support:
Memory Foam: 8.7/10
Open Coil: 8.9/10
Eco-Conscious:
Memory Foam: 8.5/10
Open Coil: 8.7/10
Price Value:
Memory Foam: 9.4/10
Open Coil: 9.5/10
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