Bed Mattress Guide

Innerspring

• The most traditional mattress is an innerspring. Innerspring mattresses have a support structure that consists of a multitude of wire coils and a strong border wire that is attached around the perimeter of the coils. On top of the coils lies a pad, wire or layer of netting that prevents the upholstery from sagging down into the innerspring coils. The top layer of an innerspring mattress consists of upholstered padding that makes the bed soft enough to sleep on.

Memory Foam

• Memory foam mattresses have evolved from the 1970s and were NASA developed. At that time, NASA created a material that would help cushion astronauts from the impact of the G-forces they felt during liftoff. This material conformed to the shape of an astronaut's body. Mattress manufacturers didn't take long to realize how this technology might work as a mattress material, and memory foam beds were born. One downside of memory foam is that some consumers complain that it absorbs and holds their body heat, making it a hot surface to sleep on.

Air

• A well-made air mattress distributes weight across the surface of the mattress, making the mattress ideal for the elderly or anyone recovering from an injury that might be exacerbated by the firmness of a regular innerspring mattress. While air mattresses were once used only as an extra bed for guests, new models are much more durable and are designed for everyday use.

Water

• The water bed is so closely associated with the 1970s that appreciating its advantages is difficult. A water bed can safely be heated to a comfortable sleeping temperature, providing a warm sleep surface for those in cold climates. Many mattresses now referred to as water beds are actually a hybrid of sorts, mixing a more traditional mattress with a water-filled bladder.

Latex

• Latex mattresses are similar to memory foam with a couple of distinct differences. As you change positions on a latex mattress, the material needs less recovery time than foam does, meaning that it takes less time to spring back into shape. For this reason, it also retains less of your body heat, making it a cooler surface to sleep on.

Adjustable

• An adjustable mattress works in concert with an adjustable bed. These beds allow you to bend and elevate your bed into whatever sleeping position is most comfortable for you. The mattresses come in a variety of materials, including innerspring, memory foam and latex. What's different is the "give" in the center of the mattress that allows it to bend.