The Ultimate Memory Foam Guide
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Quick Guide to Memory Foam Essentials!
Most manufacturers today incorporate memory foam (or viscoelastic foam) in their mattresses. Whether it's made of latex, air or conventional foam, you can bet that a bed has some visco foam in it.
Did you know that memory foam is used for a wide range of things including ear plugs, laptop cases, slippers, pet beds, ear speakers and so on?
Did you know that memory foam is used for a wide range of things including ear plugs, laptop cases, slippers, pet beds, ear speakers and so on?
How Memory Foam Works
Memory Foam Is Softer When Warmer and Firmer When Colder
When you lie down on a memory foam mattress, your body heat begins to soften it to the point where it flows around your body, cradling your curves and supporting your body weight.There are two reasons this type of foam is supportive:
1. Better body contouring resulting from the softening means your body makes more contact with the mattress. More contact means your body weight is spread better over a wider area which improves support.
2. Memory foam softens for about 3/8 of an inch where it makes contact with your body. Deeper down, it remains colder and, therefore, firmer.
What To Look For In A Memory Foam Mattress
It's easier sleeping on the floor than buying a memory foam mattress but here are some tips on what to look for.
- The memory foam layer should be on top of all other foam layers and should not be insulated from the body by pillowtops or padding.
- The viscoelastic foam should be the heat-sensitive type which softens in contact to body heat (some foams react to temperatures much higher or lower than your body can generate)
- The memory foam layer should be the open-cell, high-density type (at least 4lb but 5-5.5lb is recommended).
- The mattress should have a firm, high-resillience foam core as visco memory foam is not firm enough to make a bed entirely of it.
- The firmness of the memory foam layer (or memory topper placed on top of a mattress) should be 14-15 ILD (ILD being the standard indicator for measuring firmness).
- The viscoelastic foam mattress layer should be at least 3-4" thick.
- Popular memory foam mattress brands include Tempur-Pedic, Sensus. Isoform, Novaform, Isotonic. Sealy, Simmons and Serta also have models that incorporate heat-sensitive viscoelastic foam.
In-Depth Articles On Visco Foam
- Memory Mattress Findings
- Tons of info on the best density, firmness, health benefits, lifespan and more. By yours truly.
- Buyers Guide
- By Healthy Foundations, the memory foam specialists.
- Wikipedia Article
- Not very comprehensive but fairly good.
- Berkeley Parents Network Recommendations
- Real opinions and reviews.
- Custom Bed Kits
- This company makes custom bed kits. You can exchange foam layers until you find the perfect sleeping surface.
- Tempurpedic Problems
- Consumer complaints
- Amazon Memory Foam Wishlist
- The best memory foam toppers and pillows on Amazon.
Epinions Reviews
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Pictures of Viscoelastic Foam
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Liz has one mission as webmaster. To find the perfect mattress. more »
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