Memory Foam Versus Adjustable Air Mattresses

Benefits of Memory Foam

• Memory foams are comprised of a number of chemicals, making a very dense, weight-responsive material that has had a large impact on the bedding industry. Memory foams form to your body, creating support throughout. When you lie on memory foam, your body compresses the foam, this foam counteracts, and applies pressure by pushing back up, this is how the body is supported. Memory foams, such as Visco, are some of the most durable material that can be placed into a mattress.

Benefits of Air Beds

• The biggest benefit of an air mattress is that you can choose your style of firmness. All adjustable air mattress are split in the middle, and have two air bags, one for each side of the bed allowing each person to customize how firm the mattress is. Sleeping on an adjustable air mattress gives you the feeling that you are sleeping weightless.

Problems

• Problems are found in both air beds and memory foam mattress. Memory foam mattresses tend to sleep a little warmer than a conventional mattress, because the foams work with your body heat. They sleep firm and will only get firmer during the life of the mattress. Air beds do not give the body much support, which can lead to stiffness in the morning. The air pockets will deflate during the course of an evening, so refilling the pocket to your comfort level may need to be done.

Cost

• Costs of the beds are going to vary store by store. An air bed made by Select Comfort, starts at $1,000 and can work up to $4,500. Memory foam beds will start a little cheaper, for a queen its about $600 and can go all the way up to about $5,000. The reason for the increase in price for memory foam beds is the amount of the foam in the mattress. Foams will range from 1/4 inch in thickness, all the way to a solid foam mattress such as Trueform, made by Sealy.

Location

• Memory foam mattresses can be found at about any furniture store. All the stores will have different variations and amounts of foam. Adjustable air beds are more difficult to find. Select Comfort is the largest manufacturer of air mattress and it usually has its own stores, with 500 stores nationwide. However, some companies like Sealy will make a model or two of the air mattress.