You spend a third of your life sleeping, so naturally, you want the best tools to ensure your sleep is comfortable, restful and healthy. Nothing plays a larger role in this than a mattress, so it’s vital you choose the appropriate type: Memory Foam vs Hybrid Mattress…
What Are Memory Foam Mattresses?
Pros:
- Keeps your spine aligned—spine misalignment can lead to chronic pain, decreased mobility, sciatica and more.
- They cradle your body, relieving pressure on your joints.
- Highly popular, so widely available.
- Relatively popular.
- Easy to clean.
Cons:
- Shorter lifespan—they sag over time.
- Not particularly breathable.
- Inconvenient to transport.
- No bounce, if you like that sensation.
Memory foam mattresses are crafted from polyurethane, a dense foam that reacts to heat and pressure. It cradles objects placed upon it, sinking in relation to their weight, and rises when the pressure is gone.
They’re slow to sink and rise again, so you’ll never feel a sudden drop when you get into bed, unlike softer hybrid mattresses which are full of coils. Memory foam mattresses are pure foam that relieves pressure on your joints, keeps your spine aligned and ensures you have a restful, healthy night.
However, there are also some drawbacks to consider.
Eventually, the mattress stops rising, so you have to replace them frequently. Plus, as they’re so dense and pure foam, they’re a nightmare to transport. There’s no way to bend them, and there’s no bounce to them as you try to maneuver them around tight corners.
The foam also holds heat, which can be irritating in summer—but wonderful in winter months. Thankfully, heat is the only thing they hold.
They’re dust and mite-resistant, making them easy to clean. You wipe them down with a damp cloth, and they’re perfect again. This makes them fantastic for people with allergies and sensitive skin.
What Are Hybrid Mattresses?
Pros:
- Bouncy and responsive.
- Can be highly supportive.
- Breathable—they keep you cool and don’t retain heat.
- Longer lifespan than memory foam.
- There’s an array of firmness options.
Cons:
- Heavy, and can be difficult to move.
- May disturb your partner when you move around thanks to the high motion transfer.
You may know about innerspring mattresses, which are all coil, little foam. Hybrids feature this construction under the surface, but it’s all about comfort on top.
Some hybrid mattresses have a layer of memory foam, but it may also be polyfoam, latex or a combination of various cushioned materials.
The combination of coils and comforts makes these mattresses pricey, but versatile.
The versatility comes in when you consider the rigidness of the coils. Some can be designed to compress easily, but others hold their shape under more pressure. These coils have some bounce to them, so it can be a great help to someone with mobility issues who struggles to get up.
However, the bounce is a hindrance when sleeping with a partner. Softer mattresses have high motion transfer, so your movements will radiate.
Keep in mind, the firmer the mattress, the less motion transfer there’ll be. Plus, firmer mattresses like you’ll find with hybrids have great health benefits for heavier people.
Who Should Purchase a Memory Foam Mattress?
According to Leigh Hanke, MD, MS, BA, assistant professor of clinical orthopedics: “Unfortunately, there [are] no set algorithms or scales with which everyone can choose the perfect mattress.”
That said, you can still examine your lifestyle and habits to figure out if a memory foam mattress is an optimal choice.
1. Partnered People
Memory foam mattresses isolate motion better than other mattresses. This means if you move around at night, your partner won’t feel it much. It’s down to how memory foam mattresses work by detecting your heat and energy—unless you and your partner sleep closely, the mattress will detect your mass separately from theirs.
2. Side Sleepers
Your body sinks into memory foam, the heavier parts more than the light. This alleviates pressure on your hips and shoulders letting you fully relax into a sleep restful for both body and mind.
According to the experts at Harvard Health, it’s crucial to keep your shoulders healthy and pain-free—it ensures you’ll stay mobile into your older years.
3. People Who Wish to Save Money
Memory foam mattresses are typically more cost-effective upfront, but they don’t often last as long as hybrid mattresses.
If you prefer budget-friendly, but more frequent spending, consider a memory foam mattress.
4. People Who Like to Sink Into the Mattress
Your body sinks into memory foam, so the mattress cradles you as you sleep. If you enjoy this sensation, then consider a memory foam mattress.
Weighted blankets are fantastic for people with anxiety—they creature pressure that triggers the body to rest. Perhaps your mattress cradling you can mitigate some minor stresses, too.
5. Sleep Apnea Sufferers
As memory foam mattresses keep your body aligned, it helps prevent your airways from narrowing and thus reducing the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Who Should Purchase a Hybrid Mattress?
1. People Who Like a Sturdy Mattress
Hybrid mattresses come in a range of firmness options, and you’ll never find a memory foam mattress that’ll match. If you like to sleep on a flat surface, no sinking or cradling, then you want a hybrid mattress.
Alternatively, if you want your entire body to sink into one dip in the mattress, you’ll find that in a soft hybrid, too.
2. People Willing to Invest
No mattress comes cheap. Hybrid mattresses are a prime example of that—they’re an investment more than a casual purchase.
However, they’ll last longer than a memory foam mattress. They’re made with coils, which are usually durable and metal, springing back with ease even as time passes. Meanwhile, memory foam mattresses eventually become forgetful and stop bouncing back.
3. Muscular or Overweight People
If you carry extra weight—regardless of the cause—a hybrid mattress is likely better for you.
You will sink into the foamy embrace of a memory foam mattress. However, strong coils can keep you on top of the mattress, supporting heavier people with relative ease.
Many experts around the web state that heavier people need more support in sleep. One study even links obesity to sleep deprivation. This may be because being heavier can lead to chronic back pain—which you can alleviate by sleeping on a firm mattress, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
4. People Who Overheat
Memory foam mattresses are dense foam, leaving little room for heat to travel and dissipate into them. Coils are open, providing adequate relief from excessive heat. If you suffer from night sweats or you just run a little warm, then consider a hybrid mattress to help.
What to Consider When Choosing a Mattress?
The criteria above are crucial to consider when shopping for a mattress. However, there’s more that goes into it than that. The video below will provide more information on the topic.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right mattress for your needs is a challenge. Hopefully we’ve helped you mitigate some of your woes. If you’re still undecided, feel free to comment your questions below and we’ll get back to you. Until then:
- Take preference into consideration.
- Consider your health issues.
- Figure out your sleep habits—do you move around a lot?
- Think about the cost and your preferred spending habits.
With those elements in mind, there should be no confusion surrounding what mattress you need.
