memory foam guide

What is Memory Foam?

Visco elastic foam, memory foam or space foam is a process of creating a cushioning foam product using a high density foam with an open air cell design to absorb energy, dissipate pressure and provide a comfortable cushioning effect; making it a great choice for use in medical cushions, mobility seating, mattresses, mattress toppers, pillows and other items.

View the Top Rated Memory Foam Mattress Companies of 2010

As chosen by Users and our Edtitors based on:

Comfort     Value     Reputation     Quality of Sleep     Price and Value

The Beginnings: The History of Memory Foam Mattresses

In 1966, NASA commissioned an engineering firm to develop a new product to aid in supporting astronauts during space travel, minimize crash and impact injuries. Using polyurethane and other elements the process created an air cell that would allow support without the contact pressure points of innerspring, coil and other support processes. This design made it a natural for padding and the original uses for memory foam included medical cushioning, egg shell style mattress toppers for long term immobility support and wheelchair seating. It wasn’t until the 1990s that the consumer product mattresses, mattress toppers and pillows were developed. The industry was originally dominated by Tempurpedic® but over time other vendors emerged offering the same technology with different features and other price points.

Today’s Memory Foam Mattresses are being made with a range of processes and elements. For some, cheap fillers and petroleum products are being used to create the appearance of density. In the US, Canada and Sweden the quality of manufacturing for memory foam is much higher.

Concerns about allergens and the release of odors has created changes in the manufacturing process for some manufactures of memory foam mattresses including the development of Soy based processes that are being used to create a more eco-friendly memory foam, by passing the petroleum process that creates noxious fumes. Hypo-allergenic, dust mite resistant and soy based products line offer a supportive, comfortable mattress with all the health benefits while being environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Wide Range of Memory Foam Products

Memory Foam products extend from the standard mattress, to a large line of accessories and premium or luxury products. Memory Foam Mattresses can range in profile from a few inches in a mattresses topper to the premium and luxury lines of mattresses with a 12-15” profile combining support, comfort and lavish comfort.

In addition, a wide variety of other related products have been developed in the Memory Foam industry. Camper or campus toppers to add comfort to dorm beds and RV or camping beds are available in a variety of sizes. Pet beds to allow your family pet to experience the same health benefits are now available as well. Pillows, bed rests and other sleep accessories are often part of the inventory of most memory foam mattress manufacturers.

Health Benefits of Memory Foam Mattresses

The American Psychological Association, reported more than 70 different kinds of sleep disorders keep more than 40 million awake at night . The makers of memory foam often report the reduction and elimination of many of these sleep disorders.

In some cases the design of the memory foam mattress layers is such that the support and contour are especially well suited for chronic pain sufferers and those recovering from injury or with chronic mobility issues. Memory foam mattresses are free from pressure point contact issues and do not create injury for sleepers unable to move, toss or turn in the night.

For back pain, joint and muscle pain as well as specialized conditions such as fibromyalgia sleepers, the support, comfort and contouring allow relief and freedom from conditions that may have stopped sleep for years.

The greatest benefit to the Memory Foam Mattress sleeper is a night of pressure free sleep. The design of memory foam uses the high energy absorbing visco elastic to create a contoured, supportive and comfortable mattress design.

Future Trends and Emerging Products

Exciting new products are on the horizon. New layer designs, new processes and more consumer designed products are about to explode on the market. Keep checking with this site for an exciting new product designed to give you unsurpassed sleep.

Memory Foam Mattress Reviews: Tempur-Pedic®, Select Foam ® and MemoryFoam.com®

Since more than a third of your life is spent in bed, the Better Sleep council recommends that you shop carefully for your mattress and spend time testing the bed. It is easier than ever to research the selection you have made and compare the selection to other options before making your selection. The typical memory foam mattress will have an expected 5-20 year product lifespan as opposed to the traditional coil spring mattress with a 5-7 year lifespan. Picking the right mattress can be important to your overall health and well being.

Tempurpedic® while clearly one of the more traditional household names in memory foam mattresses, offers similar construction but at the highest prices in the marketplace. In some cases, Tempur-Pedic® beds are 40-50% higher in price than Select Foam® or MemoryFoam.com®. If you are concerned about price over brand recognition, you may want to consider Select Foam® or MemoryFoam.com®.

Select Foam® claims in lab tests simulating 15 years of use, its Venus™ memory foam has proven the most durable memory foam on the market, retaining 100% of its structure (meaning no depressions) and 99% of its firmness. While this is comparable in design and construction to Tempur-pedic®, it is significantly lower in price (nearly 40% lower in most cases). Select Foam® offers a wide variety of products in its line, lining up well with Tempur-Pedic® in terms of choice, design and construction, the predominant difference with Select Foam® seems to be in the price-value comparison, as it comes in considerably less on price on virtually every product.

The MemoryFoam.com Company® uses soy based foam, which is eco-friendly, allergen free and free from noxious fumes that are a common complaint in some memory foam mattresses. It is comparable in price to Select Foam® with similar product models and options. The eco-friendly company uses less waste in its production, soy in its foam design and has less fume output than the traditional manufacturing process of Memory Foam.