Tempur vs. Visco Elastic Foam

Tempur

Tempur material is memory foam manufactured by Tempur-pedic. Tempur-pedic owns the original formula of memory foam developed by a NASA contract.

Tempur-pedic offers a variety of mattresses from firm to plush that use varying degrees of Tempur material along with higher density foams.

The main difference between Tempur and other types of memory foams that have been developed by competing foam manufacturers and mattress makers is the blend of substances in the memory foam.

Pros: Tempur material is the 'original' memory foam and has been refined by Tempur-pedic's scientists over the years specifically for mattresses whereas other types of memory foam may not have been as well developed.

Cons: Like other memory foams, Tempur material is a polyurethane foam blend and prone to claims of off-gassing.

Visco Elastic Foam

Visco elastic foam is another term for memory foam. It is a blend of polyurethane foam that was developed for airplane cushions by a NASA contract in the 1970s.

The difference between visco elastic foam and other types of polyurethane foam is its slow response and low resistance. Its soft surface allows for contouring and its slow response lowers bounce.

Visco elastic foam, like all polyurethane foam, is made from a blend of substances and has a tendency to off-gas. Those with lung sensitivities should do additional research about the quality of foam to ensure that it won't aggravate them.

Pros: Contouring comfort, competitive pricepoints, and widespread options.

Cons: Sagging and off-gassing problems with lower quality foams.

Learn More About Tempur

Learn More About Visco Elastic Foam

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Material Scores

Overall Score:
Tempur: 9.4/10
Visco Elastic Foam: 9.3/10

Comfort:
Tempur: 9.4/10
Visco Elastic Foam: 9.4/10

Softness:
Tempur: 9.3/10
Visco Elastic Foam: 9.5/10

Cooling:
Tempur: 8.8/10
Visco Elastic Foam: 8/10

Hypoallergenic:
Tempur: 8.1/10
Visco Elastic Foam: 8.1/10

No Odor:
Tempur: 8.4/10
Visco Elastic Foam: 8.4/10

General Support:
Tempur: 9.1/10
Visco Elastic Foam: 8.7/10

Eco-Conscious:
Tempur: 8.5/10
Visco Elastic Foam: 8.5/10

Price Value:
Tempur: 8.5/10
Visco Elastic Foam: 9.4/10