A few decades ago, nobody would have given much thought to what material a mattress was made of. This has changed over the years, and we currently have two main classifications of mattresses based on the base material. These are memory foam mattresses and hybrid mattresses.
The two mattress types have specific characteristics that adapt each for a particular type of sleeper. Each of these mattresses has its advantages and disadvantages. These aspects dictate what mattress fits you best, and that makes our agenda today.
What is a Memory Foam Mattress?
By far, these are the most common types of mattresses. Just about when the mattress material became a rather known thing, the term "memory foam' sufficed and became standard.
If you have struggled with back pain problems or spine alignment complications, you're in a better position to understand what memory foams are.
Memory foam mattresses are made of polyurethane material. This is the material you'll find in sofas, cars seats, and most beds in general. Polyurethane dates back to the '60s when NASA scientists were researching an ideal cushioning material for the aircraft industry. Since the material entered the mainstream market, it has found many applications from hospitals to the shoe industry.
Memory foam rose in popularity with the advent of bed in a box due to its pain-relieving abilities. When you sleep on a memory foam mattress, the mattress contours itself to take the profile of your body. This results in uniform support around the body.
Memory foam mattresses use only foam, although the foam may be in several layers of different densities. For instance, a typical memory foam mattress combines two layers; the top comfort layer and a base supportive layer. It is also common to find mattresses with a third denser foam layer meant to improve the overall responsiveness of the mattress, hence the term' memory.' Such mattresses will quickly regain their form once you get off the bed and still prevent you from sinking too deep into the mattress.
What is a Hybrid Mattress?
A hybrid mattress, just as the name suggests, combines two support materials into a single mattress. The result is an excellent balance between support and comfort, which is also the main aim of developing these mattresses. Sleeping on a hybrid mattress brings back the old-school vibes while offering the level of comfort only possible with modern technology.
Hybrid mattress construction consists of a top comfort layer and a base layer of support coils or springs. The top layer is typically made of memory foam, latex, or a blend of the two. It could also be made of a different grade of polyfoam, depending on the desired feel. Some manufacturers go to the extent of combining several foam grades for the top layer to enhance the overall sleeping comfort.
The base layer of a hybrid mattress consists of springs. Initially, manufacturers paid attention to the spring constant (a number indicating the compressibility of the springs), but significant changes have since been introduced.
In today's production, each individual coil is wrapped in a sleeve fabric to form pocket coil springs. The reason for this design is to ensure each spring responds to pressure independently. Nevertheless, motion transfer remains a considerable challenge in coil mattresses which makes it harder for restless couples to enjoy a calm night. One partner's movements will transfer to the neighboring springs and thus disturb the other sleeping partner.
Pros of a Memory Foam Mattress
* Better pressure relief
Memory foam molds to your body contour under your weight and body weight. This provides consistent support around your body. There is thus less pressure on joints and other key areas such as the hip and the shoulder. A memory foam mattress can alleviate the pains resulting from spine misalignment if you are a side sleeper.
If you want better spine alignment, place a thin pillow between your legs when you side-sleep or under your legs, just below the knees if you back-sleep.
* Reduced motion transfer
Memory foam mattresses absorb motion at the point of impact, thus limiting motion transfer. This is usually the point in those commercials where you see someone jumping on their bed while a glass of wine on the other side of the same mattress remains unshaken.
The reduced motion transfer means lesser disturbances to other sleepers whenever you turn, and thus a lesser chance of waking them up.
* Not noisy
A memory foam mattress doesn't have springs that usually squeak whenever you turn. A poorly designed spring system can be a nuisance over time.
* Are hypoallergenic
Memory foam mattresses are dense. This prevents the entry of allergens like dust, molds, and mites from getting into the structure, unlike other mattress materials. This way, memory foam acts as a hypoallergenic material.
* Budget-friendly
Compared to hybrid mattresses, memory foam mattresses are less costly. However, this is not always the case because some premium memory foam mattresses can cost a small fortune.
Cons of a memory foam mattress
* Retain body heat
Memory foam mattresses cradle your body, making the foam dense and thus retaining body heat. The mattress is cozy for people living in cold climates but can really be uncomfortable for those living in hotter climates. Heat retention can, however, be alleviated with modern cooler open cells.
* Takes time to respond to movements
Memory foams have poor response ability when you move around in them. This is due to its slow sink as it cradles your body rather slowly compared to hybrid mattresses.
* Lacks edge support
Lack of edge-to-edge support means that when weight is added to the mattress's edge, it sinks in quickly. That means when you sleep on your bedsides, you cave in and will have to roll out of bed. It can be challenging for someone with mobility issues to get out of the bed due to the sinking characteristic.
* Sag easily
Memory foam mattresses have no spring or coils for support. After some time, the mattress gets a saggy point that doesn’t go away. This saggy point appears at the spot you lie on for long.
Pros of a hybrid mattress
* Better edge support
Hybrid mattresses are designed with firm foams to protect the coil system. This ensures easier slip-out-of-bed time, and you can sit on its edges without sinking in.
* Superb breathability
The coils fitted in the mattresses prevent too much heat retention. Its best for a cooling effect for the hot sleepers. The mattress also has a comfort layer with breathable cotton that aids in dispersing body heat.
* Do not wear out quickly.
Hybrid mattresses can handle heavyweights, thanks to the coils. The mattress provides extra support, especially for back and stomach sleepers. The coil design ensures you use your mattress for quite a long time.
* Have bouncy effect
Hybrid mattresses have a springy lift that easily responds to movements. So you can comfortably adjust to different sleeping positions.
* Wide selection of options
Hybrid mattresses have several layering combinations that you can choose from. So you can go for what will suit your needs. These layers provide better support for joint and back support in all sleeping positions. The layers are neither too firm nor too soft, guaranteeing you a relaxed sleep.
Cons of a hybrid mattress
* Pricey
Hybrid mattresses are pretty expensive when compared to memory foam mattresses. You have to dig deeper into your pockets to purchase one. The good thing is that they are very durable, and you will get to use them for quite a long time before you require another mattress. Although they are pricey, their cost is very worth it.
Even so, Avenco's hybrid mattresses cost half the price of other heavily branded and insanely advertised brands like Casper and Purple. Our mattresses are within the $300 range. You could certainly buy a lot of other stuff with the $300+ you save by buying from us.
* Heavy
Hybrid mattresses are hard to move across a room and transport to a different town.
* High risk of sagging
After some time, the coils wear out, leaving the mattress all saggy. The bed in a box are mainly prone to wear and tear as they are designed with lower quality coils that don't give good compression.
* Motion transfer
Hybrid mattress coils are designed to isolate motion, but as the mattress ages, there is increased transfer of movement, which can disturb your partner if you are sharing a bed.
* They can be noisy
Coils break down with time, making the mattress produce squeaky sounds. This can be a concern, especially when engaging in nighttime activities when sharing the house with kids.
* Off-gassing
Mattresses with a memory foam layer may have a smell similar to regular memory foam mattresses.
What's the difference between memory foam and hybrid models?
Memory foam and hybrid are famous mattress choices. They may have different builds, but they are both designed to provide support. Some of the differences between these two mattress types include:
1.Construction
The typical construction of memory foam mattresses has several layers. The first is a memory foam layer for comfort. The base layer supports the other layers of the mattress that consist of a mix of memory foams, latex foams, memory foam hybrid mixes, just to mention a few.
On the other hand, the Hybrid mattress includes three foam layers; gel-infused memory foam for pressure relief, responsive foam for easy movement adaptation, and a coil layer for better isolation of movements.
2.Prices
In most cases, the price of memory foam mattresses is usually a bit lower than that of hybrid mattress.
3.Breathability
Hybrid mattresses regulate temperature better than memory foam mattresses. The coil designs allow free air circulation and prevent you from having sweaty nights. The memory foam mattresses’ design is too dense to let go of the absorbed body heat quickly, and you keep waking up due to overheating.
4.Support
Traditional memory foam mattresses have a slow response to body weight, and it takes a minute or two to conform to the body. It bounces back to place after the weight is removed. The modern versions take only seconds to get to their usual shapes after adding weight.
The Hybrid mattresses coil system, on the other hand, pushes against the bodyweight giving support to the back and preventing sleepers from feeling stuck.
5.Durability
The coils in hybrid mattresses enable them to handle more wear and tear effects than memory foam mattresses. The hybrid can therefore hold for longer periods without needing a replacement.
6.Sound absorption
Mattresses with spring systems squeak when one adjusts a sleeping position in bed. Both the memory foam mattress and Hybrid mattress absorb the sounds well. However, as the hybrid mattress ages, the coil system breaks down, and noises may be heard as it bears weight.
7.Motion isolation
The elastic material in memory foam is perfect for absorbing shock when impacted and is an excellent option for restless sleepers. On the other hand, the hybrid connection coils may transfer motion which might cause sleep disruptions at night. The pocketed coils are much better in isolating motion than other coils, but either way, you still feel the movements of a restless partner.
What is the right mattress for you?
Honestly, there is no one type-fit-all mattress. Both memory foam and hybrid mattresses have their ideal use case scenarios. Here is a breakdown of who should consider each type for the best results:
Who should consider a memory foam mattress?
* If you prefer the feeling of sinking into the mattress and feeling it hug you, you should go for a memory foam type.
* Side sleepers will also find memory foam ideal for uniform support and lesser pressure on joints.
* If you sleep with a partner or a pet, a memory foam mattress is the better option due to the reduced motion transfer.
* A limited budget makes a memory foam mattress a better choice due to its affordability.
* Also, if you wish to stay in one position overnight, a memory foam mattress is ideal for you.
* Memory foams trap and retain heat. They make the perfect choice for cool sleepers.
Who should consider a hybrid mattress?
* If you like the feeling of floating or sleeping 'on top' of the mattress, you should choose a hybrid mattress for superior support.
* People who like moving and turning around while sleeping should also opt for hybrid mattresses since they won't feel stuck at one point.
* A hybrid mattress will also make more sense if like the balance between support and comfort. This is particularly so if you like sleeping in all positions.
* If your body weight is high, a hybrid mattress will offer you the necessary support for a comfortable nap.
* Hot sleepers will like a hybrid mattress due to its high permeability and heat dissipation.
* Finally, if you want a mattress that will last over a decade, the high upfront cost of a hybrid mattress will undoubtedly be a worthy investment.
