Everything you need to know about memory foam- what is it?
Memory foam was originally known as visco-elastic polyurethane foam because it shares properties with a liquid and a solid. Viscoelastic foam or memory foam is made up of open cells, which pass air to adjacent cells when pressed down on. Memory foam is temperature-sensitive, which means that at lower temperatures it is firmer (more viscous), and at higher temperatures, it is softer and more conforming (more elastic). Hence the reason memory foam is known as visco-elastic memory foam. It’s this property that causes memory foam to hold its shape temporarily after pressure is removed and it’s this unique feature that’s developed into the more common name of memory foam.
There are a couple of reasons why memory foam is so unique. First is the way memory foam cells deform when weight is applied. Memory foam is made up of open-cell foam, which means the individual cells in the foam have holes in them. Unlike standard foams, that compress and want to spring back to their original shape immediately, memory foam cells compress fully and spread their air pressure to adjoining cells. This spreads the pressure through a greater number of cells of the memory foam, which decreases the pressure you feel from the cells of the memory foam that you are in contact with. This ability of memory foam to deform also allows it to really conform to your body’s shape and weight-bearing areas, thereby reducing pressure points. No other material has this ability to shape to your body – this is unique to memory foam.
The second feature that makes memory foam so unique is its temperature-sensitive visco-elastic properties. Its open-cell structure reacts to body heat by responding to changes in temperature. As the foam comes into contact with an increase in temperature (from the body), the foam realigns to provide a cushion, softening at the points where the body increases the temperature of the foam. The foam then molds itself to the contours of the human body, providing excellent support and unbeatable comfort.
Where did memory foam come from?
Memory foam was developed in the 1960s by NASA to improve the safety of aircraft cushions and reduce pressure points experienced by astronauts. The G-forces generated during liftoff caused uncomfortable sensations for astronauts in their flight chairs, and viscoelastic foam, as it was initially named, was able to greatly reduce their discomfort and improve their orthopedic support.
Memory foam was subsequently used medically, memory foam mattress pads were developed for patients who used to lie immobile in bed on firm mattresses for unhealthy periods. Before the introduction of memory foam mattress pads and foam pillows, the pressure over some of their bony regions decreased or stopped blood flow causing pressure sores. Memory foam was so successful in improving the comfort of patients, that it was soon developed further for people with back problems and trouble sleeping*.
Can memory foam improve circulation?
YES! The superior support provided by a Hypnia memory foam mattress, not only provides relief for joints and pressure points but the reduced stress on muscles surrounding those joints improves blood circulation and means you wake up properly rested and ready to tackle the day ahead*.
Memory foam and back problems / spinal curvature/hip, knee and joint problems
Memory foam is a temperature-sensitive visco-elastic material, it reacts to body heat and weight by ‘molding’ to and briefly remembering your body shape, helping relieve pressure points. As a result of the foams “memory” molding, a mattress topper or memory foam mattress will automatically adjust itself to your personal shape. Your weight is distributed evenly across the whole mattress, avoiding painful pressure in one particular spot. Memory foam is an insulating material that responds to changes in temperature so as the foam comes into contact with an increase in temperature from your body, it softens at the points where the body increases the temperature of the foam. This causes the foam to mold itself to the contours of the human body, providing excellent support at pressure points along the spine, legs, hips, and knees. This makes it possible to avoid some of the stresses on the skeletal and muscle systems of the body that are incurred during sleep on any other type of mattress. When you shift positions on memory foam, the foam automatically realigns to maintain the cushion effect *.
Can memory foam help with sleep apnea & snoring?
YES! In some cases, snoring can be aggravated by the sleeping position. Memory foam mattresses mold to the user’s body and support them in the ideal sleeping position. If you are finding your sleeping uncomfortable and you’re tossing and turning, then a memory foam mattress can help. A comfortable pillow that properly supports the neck and head is also extremely important, especially since side-sleeping is recommended with a sleep condition like apnea. Visco memory foam pillows come in traditional shapes and a Hypnia memory foam pillows soften at body temperature and closely contours to your neck and head to improve comfort and support *.
Can memory foam help with Insomnia & sleep disturbances?
YES! Memory foam uses polyurethane foam, made up of tiny air bubbles. The air in each cell moves from cell to cell as you lie on it, allowing some cells to compress and other cells to expand. With the pressure distributed evenly across the whole body, there is less of a chance of waking in order to find a more comfortable position. Hypnia memory foam mattresses are so effective at relieving pressure and dispersing your body’s weight over a wider area they have been both clinically and medically proven to reduce tossing and turning through the night by up to 80%. This ensures you get longer periods of undisturbed sleep, which results in you waking more invigorated, refreshed and energized. The end result of using a Hypnia memory foam mattress is that it is possible to achieve deep REM sleep, which is the most recuperative form of sleep*.
Is memory foam hypoallergenic?
Viscoelastic foam products, like memory foam mattresses and memory foam mattress toppers, are less likely to harbor dust mites, which tend to breed, reproduce, and thrive in traditional box spring mattresses. Dust Mites are often found in an environment of high humidity and dead skin cells, which they feed on for nourishment. The end products generated by dust mites create allergic reactions and other respiratory problems. The structure of the viscoelastic memory foam makes it impossible for any kind of ‘bugs’, even including tiny dust mites, to penetrate the mattress. This creates a cleaner and healthier environment, providing the setting for a truly comfortable and therapeutic night’s sleep. Memory foam can also help those who suffer from airborne allergies and hay fever since dust mites are one of the most common causes of allergies in the home.
What’s the difference between a memory foam mattress and a spring-based mattress?
Both mattresses look similar and both aim to get a good night’s sleep, but memory foam material is different. If you lie on a spring mattress the springs push back to support your body. This means that pressure builds on certain parts of your body, specifically your joints, where the springs are pushing back. These are your pressure points. Memory foam eliminates pressure points by not pushing back against your body as you lie down and account for the melting feeling that you get lying down on a memory foam mattress. Contrast this with a normal mattress that is simply flat. However well sprung, it will never precisely mold to the curves of a human body. Memory foam is the future for mattresses; no springs means no pressure points so no tossing and turning.
Should I buy a memory foam mattresses or air mattresses?
Air mattresses have gradually become more popular due to their unique feature which allows you to change the feel of the mattress via a control. Whilst air mattresses have improved over the year, unfortunately, an air mattress has many parts that can and often do break. For this reason, the small print of the guarantees can contain considerably less coverage. In any case, you won’t get the same contouring and cradling of the body that you get with a Hypnia memory foam mattress, as air beds will not make an imprint of your body. Air mattresses are more similar to a spring mattress, in that they will also cause a ‘droop’ effect and sag inward when pressure is applied, without molding to the specific curves of your body. This is because air displaces to the sides of the body, leaving the middle with less support. Memory and to some extent latex foam are the only substances that can accomplish a contouring of the body, without losing support.
Is a memory foam mattress better than a latex foam mattress?
Memory foam is far more comfortable than latex foam and it outperforms latex foam in all recognized comfort tests. Natural latex foam is processed rubber tree sap but most brands refrain from using 100% natural latex in their mattresses as it’s the most expensive bedding material on the market. They usually only include 1 – 2 inches of 100% natural latex on top just to promote its “natural” qualities. Allergies to latex can also be triggered
What is the initial smell that comes from memory foam?
While Hypnia memory foam does not contain toxic ingredients such as formaldehyde or PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether), there can be a “new foam” smell. This can stay for a couple of days, up to a couple of weeks. While this smell does not trigger allergies, it can be a bother initially for people who are sensitive to smells. For those of you who do experience this, here are some tips to help the smell to dissipate quicker. Airing out the room and washing your sheets after the first couple of night’s sleep will help to eliminate the odors. Or use a dish of vinegar on the nightstand, this can help neutralize the odors.
Do memory foam mattresses make you perspire?
The number one complaint made by users of viscoelastic foam products is the excessive heat generated during use because some lesser quality memory foam can be uncomfortably warm to sleep on. Hypnia memory foam mattresses and memory foam toppers have added air channels to the memory foam overlay. This allows the mattress to breathe by allowing air to enter and circulate beneath the sheets, without compromising the support. The result is plenty of ventilation and a sensible balance of compression and support.
Are memory foam mattresses compatible with electric blankets?
In the long term, using an electric blanket regularly can break down the memory cells of a memory foam mattress. However, there is no reason not to use an electric blanket occasionally to warm the bed before sleep, as long as it is not left on all night.
Is memory foam right for me?
*Memory foam is not for everyone. In particular, if you have a back problem or any other medical complaint you should always first consult your doctor for expert information and advice.
Top 5 best memory foam mattress brands and shops
1. Memory Foam Shop Mattress
The Memory Foam Shop is a genuine UK based company, offering high-quality memory foam items at unbeatable prices. We supply, only the very best memory foam mattresses, toppers, pillows, and covers from the leading memory foam manufacturers. At The Memory Foam Shop, we aim to exceed your expectations every step of the way.
The Memory Foam Shop has been supplying the leading memory foam products to UK customers for years and our team is all experts in memory foam. If there’s something we don’t know about memory foam it’s not worth knowing. You can find out everything you needed to know about memory foam from its history to its future in our helpful information guide on our website.
At The Memory Foam Shop, we pride ourselves in supplying only the very best memory foam products. We’ve made your job easy because we’ve searched the whole market to find the very best memory foam manufacture. The Memory Foam Shop is proud to be an official retailer of Hypnia memory foam products. The reasons we chose Hypnia memory foam are the same reasons why we highly recommend Hypnia memory foam to all our customers.
2. Great Memory Foam Mattress
Great Memory Foam was founded on the principals of supplying great quality memory foam products at the best prices available. Our core principals remain but we’ve also added to these and we’re committed to providing the very best customer service and satisfaction.
We specialize in the supply of Visco-elastic memory foam mattresses, toppers, and pillows utilizing a wide range of ethically sourced materials and state of the art technology.
Great Memory Foam mattresses are only available online and all come with our 10 guarantees. But the best way to assess the benefits of a Great memory foam mattress is to try one. Order one today and you’ll be sleeping on it tomorrow night!
Our staff are all trained in every aspect of the foam mattress industry and have a wealth of technical knowledge, please contact us at any time for any specialist advice.
• Luxury grade 75 kg/m3 Visco elastic memory foam
• Exceeds UK fire/ safety regulations
• Moulds to individual body shape
• Pressure Relieving
• Ideal for back pain sufferers
• Reduce tossing and turning
• Anti-Bacterial and Anti-fungal
• Dust-mite resistant
• Ideal for Allergy sufferers
• Hygienic Coolsoft airflow machine washable zip-off covers
• Single, Double, King and Super King Size available
• 10 YEAR Guarantee
• NEXT WORKING DAY DELIVERY! Or the day of your choice
3. Sleeptight Memory Foam Mattress
Sleeptight is committed to offering the best value for money and the best quality memory foam mattresses you can buy in the UK.
Sleep tight was established in the UK and it has remained one of the fastest-growing mattress brands and has consistently achieved record sales – a significant achievement in the present economic climate and an increasingly competitive market place.
We only supply mattresses and mattress toppers through our customer-friendly online shop – we don’t have big expensive showrooms scattered throughout the country. This means we’ve kept our overheads to a minimum so we can pass on a much better price to our customers. As a result of our unbeatable prices and great quality products we also supply many luxury hotels and guesthouses. This has given us huge buying power and again enabled us to pass the benefits and savings on to all our customers regardless of location or buying volumes.
Sleeptight carries a complete range of express delivery memory foam mattresses and toppers in the UK which can be delivered as quickly as the next day. We also offer a guaranteed price match facility so if you happen to find the same item cheaper within 14 days of purchase, we will refund the difference with no quibbles. When it comes to the delivery of your items, we don’t leave anything to chance because there is nothing worse than receiving your new item, only to find some damage was caused in transit. This is why we double wrap every item before dispatch and have specially made mattress bags to ensure your new furniture arrives in perfect condition.
4. Hypnia Memory Foam Mattress
At Hypnia we are specialists in memory foam. We manufacture all of our own products so we can guarantee quality and performance every time. Our aim is to provide not only fast and efficient service but to supply you with the best possible memory foam product to suit your needs. Experience counts for a lot. At Hypnia we currently have 20 years of combined experience specializing exclusively in memory foam. We control and quality check the entire process all the way to your front door.
Hypnia invests a huge amount of time and money on product development, we utilize state-of-the-art facilities and our factory boasts one of the world’s largest and most advanced research and development center and mattress testing laboratory
Every day, we ship hundreds of memory foam mattresses and topper throughout the UK and we are recognized throughout the industry for the quality of our products and service. Our factories contain only modern state of the art equipment that not only helps us to minimize costs and waste but also ensures that our products are finished perfectly every time and that’s why we’ve got the confidence to offer a ten-year guarantee on all our mattresses and toppers.
With Hypnia you benefit by receiving a better quality product at an extremely competitive price!
5. LUCID 12-inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Review
Product Description
Exclusive Lucid-Gel foam is a high-quality mattress made of the finest materials. Its triple-layer design consists of:
- A breathable 4-pound gel-infused comfort layer
- A 3-pound memory foam center
- An 8-inch high-density foam base
It is attainable in an array of mattress sizes and has innovative features that make it the best 12 inch memory foam mattress available in the market, to date. If you buy the Exclusive Lucid-Gel memory foam mattress, you will enjoy the following benefits:
Comfortable
With the LUCID Mattress in your home, you will no longer have to cover yourself with several duvets to stay warm during the winter. This memory foam mattress has three interesting features that help it to retain heat and keep the occupant warm and comfortable, even during cold winter months. First, apart from increasing strength, the open cell and pin core technologies used to make the comfort layer and memory foam center of this one-of-a-kind mattress respectively improve airflow. The gel beads infused in these foams also help to trap heat and distribute it when a person is sleeping.
Durability
The Gel Memory Foam Mattress is by far one of the most durable high-density foam mattresses that you will ever find in the market. Here are two reasons why:
- The foam used to manufacture this mattress is long-lasting. Unlike the materials used in many contemporary mattresses, this foam does not tear or crumble easily, no matter the degree of abuse it gets from its user.
- The open cell construction used on the 4-pound gel-infused comfort layer not only enhances comfort and flexibility but also improves the strength of this gel mattress. If you buy a high-quality design from a reputable online or offline store, forget about buying a replacement mattress soon.
CertiPur Tested
If you buy the LUCID gel high-density foam mattress, you get a CertiPur-US tested product that is safe for use in the home environment. The three layers of foam used to make this mattress, for instance, lack harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde, phthalates, and harmful metals such as lead and mercury. They also lack ozone depleters, CFCs, and PBDEs, which are harmful to the environment. You can rest easy knowing that your kids are safe and you are not contributing to environmental degradation.
Features
Many people love the sliver infused cover on the LUCID 12-inch gel mattress for its appealing design and comfortable cotton feel. However, because of its ability to kill viruses, bacteria, and an array of other microbes, it makes the LUCID one of the healthiest memory foam mattresses that you will ever find in the market. What is interesting is that this silver infused cover does not lose its anti-microbial properties no matter the number of times you wash it.
Support
How many times have you ordered an item online only for it to malfunction within a short duration? This will never be a concern if you buy the best memory foam mattress. Apart from its quality construction and longevity, you get a 25-year warranty for every LUCID mattress that you buy. If the mattress malfunctions of failing to meet your need because of structural and or workmanship flaws or any other defect in its construction, the company will repair, replace, or refund your money. Make sure, however, that you do not stain the mattress or damage its foundation to avoid voiding the warranty.
BOTTOM LINE
Like other high-end gel mattresses, LUCID has very few cons. Some users report that it takes slightly longer to expand, especially during cold weather. Buy this gel mattress now to enjoy the forgoing and many other benefits.