Mattresses of the 16th century consisted of mats made of straw or down that were placed on top of rope laced into a lattice form. The late 1700s brought the invention of cotton mattresses held on cast iron framework. This was heavenly to sleepers that were accustomed to sharing their space with bugs and assorted vermin. Today’s mattresses have advanced even more with selections available to suit almost any type of body form and restless sleeper. Knowing what kind of mattress is best suited for you and your lifestyle takes a bit of study but once you find a favorite mattress, you’ll never want another.
The Innerspring Mattress
The Innerspring Mattress has been around for 140 years but has improved dramatically. Technically advanced coil shapes, materials and the increased knowledge of spinal alignment and ergonomics have changed the support to limit motion transfer. The coil construction can vary depending on the manufacturing process, shape of coils, continuous or separate construction and the number of coils used. Having a larger coil count does not necessarily make an innerspring mattress more supportive and comfortable but with the combination of tempering coils for added strength, improved construction and coil gauge, a coil spring mattress remains a popular choice for a good night’s sleep.
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Memory Foam Mattresses
photo credit: bedzineMemory foam was first developed for NASA in 1966 to improve the safety of aircraft seats. The mixture of a polymer matrix and gas created a spring back that is slow and much denser than other foam products. Due to the open-cell structure of this foam, it reacts to body heat and weight, molding to the shape of one’s body. By the 1980s, the medical community had begun using as wheelchair seat cushions and padding for persons suffering from long-term illnesses. By the 1990s, mattresses were being produced and called memory foam or temper foam, a relief for those who found themselves tossing and turning. By cradling the shape of the body in a soft shell, movement is kept controlled and soothed while being supportive.
There are a few disadvantages to memory foam mattresses. Memory foam can sleep hotter than other forms of mattresses. Some companies are taking steps to alleviate this problem by placing a cooling core beneath the foam. Another problem with foam mattresses is the weight. Because of the denseness, the heaviness is extreme compared to other models. Mattress manufacturers are addressing this negative feature also by making the foam density less.
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Natural and Synthetic Latex Mattresses
Latex became a trendsetter among the elite in the early 1960s and quickly spread to mattresses as a form of material that was resilient and breathable. Replacing the innerspring with a latex core brought a superb level of comfort that promoted proper spinal alignment. Today there are two types of latex used in mattresses – natural and synthetic. While the synthetic type is more durable, natural latex is hypoallergenic, anti-microbial and dust mite resistant. The cost is also higher than synthetic. Manufacturers have discovered that by combining the two in tested laboratories, sleepers can have the best of both worlds.
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Air Mattresses
There are high-end air mattresses that appear very similar to the
Innerspring models but are quite different in construction. The difference is air chambers that make up the core. Controlled by an electric air pump, the amount of firmness can be controlled by the user by remote control. Surrounding the air chambers are foam encasing and layers on top that resemble other mattress types. A precise level of comfort can be controlled by the individual that requires different levels of support over the course of time or during different activities.
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Waterbed Mattresses
Waterbeds are no longer a moving ocean of water beneath a film of plastic that threatens to spring a leak at the first sign of a slight puncture. Progress over the past 30 years has produced a full line of different waterbed mattresses designed with comfort and support in mind. Moisture barriers, non-skid bottoms, and supportive thermal fiber guarantee a lasting enclosure. Used in conjunction with air chambers, free flow or wave-less tubes and semi-wave less bladders, there is no recognition of the models from the early 1970s. Surfaces that feels as soft as cashmere and regulated heat brings a space-like suspension that reduces pressure from major areas of the body.
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Adjustable Beds
The purpose of the adjustable bed began with hospitals that could manipulate different positions depending on the illness or injury of a patient. People in private homes began finding a need for adjustable beds to aid in back problems or feet and leg swelling. Today, many people enjoy watching TV or working on a laptop while in bed and the mattress industry was more than willing to create new lines of adjustable beds for anyone wishing to spend “awake time” while in the comfort of their bed. While the frame operates the movement of the upper, middle or lower portion of the bed, mattresses are not compromised. Innerspring, memory foam, latex or air mattresses can be found on adjustable frames so your favorite mattress is not compromised.
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Dual Purpose Beds
photo credit: bradywahlSofa beds or more popular futons have a two-fold function of acting as a couch or folding out into a comfortable bed. Futons often contain cotton, foam, latex and polyester but lack the springs associated with the innerspring mattresses. Not meant as a permanent type of mattress, they are still quite comfortable for visiting guests and an occasional night in front of the TV. Many sofa beds are equipped with everything from innerspring to latex core for supportive, comfortable sleep.
Lifestyle, personal preference, and physical ailments will dictate what type of mattress is right for you. The vast selections of today provide a perfect model for anyone wanting to rest in absolute comfort.
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