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[T292]The Best Memory Foam Mattress

by Chuck Harmon, Chu

With unknowledgeable or even unscrupulous sales people, unless you're armed with some degree of knowledge, you'll end up with an inferior product regardless of how much you spend.

However, if you display a little knowledge of memory foam to the sales person, you are less likely to be taken advantage of and to come away with the product that is best for you.

First, let's discuss exactly what memory foam is.

Visco elastic foam, or memory foam, as it is more commonly called has become very popular in the last several years. Some companies have set up shop in malls, offering products from pillows, neck rolls, and mattresses.

Commercials with celebrity spokespersons and infomercials are on TV, claiming that memory foam is the key to relieving general aches and pains and to procuring a better night's sleep.
Secondly, what exactly is memory foam supposed to do and who started the trend?

Visco foam was initially developed by NASA to relieve the discomfort of extreme pressure created by G-force during shuttle take-off and landings. It was extremely expensive to manufacture and thus impractical for many years to market to the public. Once the cost became more manageable, however, a Swedish company became the first to offer it to consumers.

Many other companies have since joined the memory foam band wagon and the market has become flooded with products such as mattresses, pillows, and mattress toppers. And of course, they all claim to manufacture the best memory foam mattress available on the market. But how does the consumer tell a good product from an average or even an inferior one?

There are several web sites and brochures available that claim to help you decide on the best memory foam mattress, but some of these are actually published by manufacturers and therefore, have hidden agendas. There are a couple of good web sites, but you'll need to be cautious when doing internet searches.

There are different degrees of density and thicknesses to these products. The foam comes in 2 lb. to 5 lb. density and the toppers range in thicknesses from 1-5 inches. The best of these is the higher density and the thicker memory foam layer.

There is also something called the Indentation Load Deflection (ILD) rating which indicates mattress firmness. Most memory foam mattresses on the market have ILD ratings ranging from 10-16 (although higher ILD ratings are available). The higher the rating, the firmer the mattress. If the ILD rating is too low, the mattress may not provide adequate support and comfort. Memory foam density refers to the weight of one cubic foot of that particular foam. So for example, one cubic foot of foam with a 5 lb. density rating would weigh 5 lbs. The denser the foam, the longer the "recovery time", or time that it takes for the foam to spring back into shape.

A larger, heavier person would probably be most comfortable with a 5 lb. density rating, while a lighter person may feel like they are sinking in quicksand. So to recap: Thickness, density, and ILD are all things to consider when shopping for memory foam products. Armed with this information, you'll be well equipped to locate the best memory foam mattress that fits their needs.

First, let's find out what was so different about a Tempur-Pedic mattress. Quite simply, it was a revolution in the mattress world. The Tempur-Pedic mattress was made like no other mattress, being made from one piece of visco-elastic material called TEMPUR. Originally, NASA had created visco-elastic for use in astronauts? seats to help absorb G-forces. The material would yield to the exact shape of the astronaut thus helping to alleviate pressure points on the body. A small Danish company was quick to realize that, if visco-elastic could help protect astronaut's bodies from extreme G-forces, it could also help people with back problems get the support they required for a comfortable night's sleep: the world's first memory foam mattress was born.

The therapeutic benefits of a Tempur-Pedic mattress have been attested by healthcare professionals. Testing by the Institution for Clinical & Physiological Research at the Lillhagen Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden of 23,000 patients for a period corresponding to approximately 8 years of clinical and in-home use concluded that the patients suffered from less pain and experienced greatly enhanced and deeper sleep. Over 30,000 medical doctors, chiropractors, physiotherapists and osteopaths world-wide recommend the TEMPUR Mattress and Neck Pillow. Many experts agree that a memory foam mattress delivers the best, orthopedically correct alignment of your neck and spine. When you sleep, your spine should be in the same position as when you're standing up: this is what a memory foam mattress does.

The Tempur-Pedic responds to both temperature and weight. When you first lie down on a Tempur-Pedic mattress, the first thing you feel is the lack of springiness that you will be used to from spring mattresses. Instead the Tempur-Pedic mattress feels firm. However, almost immediately, your weight and body heat cause the mattress to yield and form to the exact contours of your body.

So, what are the advantages of a Tempur-Pedic mattress? Unlike conventional spring mattresses, the Tempur-Pedic is suitable for all weights; you don't need to buy a firmer mattress for someone heavy and a softer mattress for someone who is lighter. This also means that partners can do away with buying twin mattresses. As you've read above, memory foam mattresses are thought, by many healthcare professionals, to be the best type of mattress for providing optimum support. Many sufferers of back-pain have experienced the enormous improvement in their sleep when sleeping on a Tempur-Pedic mattress. Because a memory foam mattress doesn't have springs, they are an excellent choice for people who suffer from being woken up from their partner's movements; with memory foam there is no ?wave? motion that is experienced with innerspring or air mattresses.

Are they any drawbacks? Well, memory foam mattresses aren't to everyone's liking. Many consumers don't like the lack of springiness, or fluffiness, compared to traditional innerspring mattresses. In colder conditions, some have reported that the Tempur-Pedic mattress stays quite firm. There have been reports that there is an unpleasant smell from the Tempur-Pedic mattress. Tempur-Pedic says that the smell comes from their manufacturing process and fades away after a few days; some disagree with this. Finally, Tempur-Pedic mattresses are more expensive that their competitors.

But, does Tempur-Pedic make the best memory foam mattress? Are Tempur-Pedic mattresses overpriced? When buying a memory foam mattress you should buy one made from visco-elastic. You can buy memory foam mattresses made from latex - a good choice for allergy sufferers as latex is hypo-allergenic. However, latex doesn't conform to your body shape as well as visco-elastic. You can also buy polyurethane, which is less expensive, however it doesn't last as long and will soon ?compress?, thereby losing its support. Not all visco-elastic is made the same. Each company uses a different manufacturing process to make their own version of e memory foam mattress. Many companies make cheaper memory foam mattresses than Tempur-Pedic, but remember this: who do all companies compare their version of memory foam mattresses to? Does Serta compare their memory foam mattress to Bergad, Does Simmons compare their memory foam mattress to Sealy. No. They all compare their mattress to that of the Tempur-Pedic. Why? Because the Tempur-Pedic mattress is the bench-mark that all other manufacturers aspire to.

In life, you get what you pay for. The Tempur-Pedic is the most expensive memory foam mattress, but many consumer reviews have rated it as the best. The Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattress was the original and remains the best memory foam mattress on the market today.

Article Source : Pg. 110

About Author

Both Chuck Harmon & Robin Obrien are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Chuck Harmon has sinced written about articles on various topics from Network Marketing, Home Management. . Chuck Harmon's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.

Robin Obrien has sinced written about articles on various topics from Modelling, Prom Dress and Kids and Teens. Robin O'Brien is founder of a website that compares to help consumers choose the. Robin Obrien's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.