Memory foam mattresses have become very popular over the last ten years. What started off as a product seen only on late-night television has migrated to stores and the internet. Memory foam used to only be one memory foam company, tempurpedic, and prices were astronomical, with people paying over $2000 for the most basic bed. Today there are many memory foam companies, and it has been the price of a quality bed down significantly. Unfortunately, not all memory foam is created equally. In this guide we will help you understand what to look for in memory foam and give you our recommendations on memory foam mattresses.

Memory foam is defined as a foam that has a resistance to change. This is why it is so conforming and why it has such amazing health benefits. It has been proven to help relieve back and joint pain, and  in a scientific test 89% of respondents reported experiencing better sleep on a memory foam mattress.

When buying a memory foam mattress there are two issues to consider: Quality and Firmness.

Quality can be defined as density and durability. Memory foam varies in density between 2lb and 6lb per cubic foot. The ideal density for the average person is 5.3lb. 4lb foam is a decent alternative if you don’t mind the bed only lasting three or four years. 5.3 lb will last much longer, and is more conforming. 6lb foam is a good foam for those very overweight, as it provides a little more support, but for the average person it tends to be too dense. If you cannot find the density of the foam, or you find your sales rep reluctant to tell you the exact density, odds are it is a low density bed that you should not purchase.

NOTE: I was in a furniture store the other day, and I asked the density of the memory foam mattresses I was looking at, and the sales representative told me it was “9 pound foam”, which doesn't exist. The point of this story is to illustrate how incompetent some sales people are, and how many will say anything to make the sale, so make sure you pick the mind of your salesman to ensure they are knowledgeable.

Durability is the other factor to consider, and a good way to check the durability is to the length of the warranty on the mattress. Low quality mattresses will have 5 year warranties while high quality mattresses will have 20-25 year warranties. A Memory Foam Mattress Topper should be warrantied for three years.

Firmness is the other important factor. There is no one perfect firmness for everyone. Firmness, measured in ILD, varies between 9 and 20. Most memory foam mattresses fall in the 11-16 range. Tempur pedic’s Original bed, for example is a 14-15 ILD. Many find this a bit firm. Select Foam  memory foam mattress range start at 13-14 ILD and get softer from there.

Where to order?

We recommend viewing memory foam mattresses in furniture stores, finding an exact model that you like. At this point, start looking for models with similar specifications on the internet. This will save you hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars and more importantly, the web companies generally allow a free trial period of 30 to 90 days, where as furniture stores do not let you sleep on them at all. You can tell much easier whether a bed is good for you after spending a few nights on it than you can by spending a couple of minutes on it.

Here are handful of rules you should follow when purchasing a bed.

So remember…

1) Check the Density

2) Check the Firmness

3) Check the Warranty

4) Ensure there is a Free Trial

5) Make sure you are dealing with a reputable company.

...And remember don't go into the mattress store tired!! They will all feel great then!!

For more general information on sleeping and memory foam check out some of our partner sites:

For general sleep information: sleepfoundation

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