What is the diff
The age-old debate on which the better mattress is between memory foam or spring is still ongoing. Each mattress has its share of pros and cons, so we’re bringing both mattresses to a showdown to help you come to a decision.
We know a table doesn’t look as exciting as a real showdown, but we promise you it’s the best way to compare them.
Memory Foam VS. Spring Mattress
| Spring Mattress | Memory Foam Mattress | |
| What is it? | A spring mattress contains metal coils within its frame and then wrapped in fabric. Despite it being a ‘dated’ mattress, it’s still a popular choice among mattress buyers who like going for a more traditional feel with their bed. | A memory foam mattress moulds to the body shape as it responds to heat in just a few minutes. It’s usually made with several layers of foam comprised of different densities – with a comfortable top layer and a supportive bottom layer. |
| Pros | ✔ Cheap. It’s a fairly easy mattress to make, so it will sell for a cheaper price.✔ Sleeps Cool. A spring mattress will have many spaces in between the coils and fabric for air to flow freely.✔ No break-in period. Spring mattresses don’t conform to your body, so it doesn’t need time to study your body shape and sleeping style. | ✔ Very Supportive. Memory foam mattresses relieve pressure points by letting the body sink a little and moulding to it – all while offering great support.✔ Even weight distribution. Unlike spring mattresses, memory foam won’t push against your body. It will study your body shape and sleeping style and adapt to it.✔ Anti-microbial. Memory foam mattresses are more compact – prohibiting dust mites/bacteria to travel further down the mattress.✔ Durable & Low-maintenance. When properly cared for, memory foam mattresses can last between 10-15 years. It’s suggested to rotate the mattress only every six months. |
| Cons | × Uneven weight distribution. This is not the mattress for people with chronic back, shoulder, and neck pain. It pushes against your body with the same force you put onto it. (Hence the bounce)× High-maintenance. It’s best to flip and/or rotate the mattress every 3-6 months.× Prone to sagging. Spring mattresses are known to lose support in their first few years alone.× Can be noisy. These mattresses are quite notorious for their squeaky sounds. | × Can be pricey. Some memory foam mattresses will sell for a more expensive price because of the cost of technology and materials to design it.× Can sleep hot. Because memory foam is temperature-sensitive, some mattresses will feel ‘hot’ to sleep on. High-quality mattresses will have remedied this with a ventilation system and/or gel-infused beads.× Requires a break-in period. Memory foam conforming to your body will take time (as all other great things do) because it needs to study your body shape. |
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Mattress
Sleeping Style & Weight
It’s a good call to choose a mattress suitable for all shapes and sleeping styles. Whatever your sleeping position, your perfect mattress ought to match it. Side-sleepers prefer a slightly plusher mattress to avoid too much pressure on the hips and shoulders, while stomach and back sleepers love a firmer mattress for the great support it offers.
You wouldn’t want to sink in too deeply to a mattress either – so factor in your weight when mattress-shopping. The heavier you are, the more pressure you put on the mattress. Generally, a lightweight sleeper will be fine on a low to medium-density mattress, while a heavier sleeper could range between a medium and high-density mattress.
Firmness Requirements
If you suffer from any chronic pains or have any sore pressure points, memory foam is a no-brainer. A spring mattress can be dangerous and unsupportive when it comes to bad backs, shoulders, and necks. The perfect mattress is one that can keep your spine in a neutral position all-night long.
Mattress Quality
Whether it’s spring or memory foam, you can’t reap each one of the pros in all mattresses – you have to find one with the best quality. Low-quality mattresses more often than not sacrifice support/comfort, just so it could sell you a cheaper mattress.
