What is better? A foam mattress or a spring mattress?

When it comes to choosing a new mattress, you would be forgiven for getting confused. There is such a huge variety of mattresses out there today, so the decision might not be as easy as it seems. That’s especially true when we remember that some mattresses can actually cause harm. We know you want to do what’s right for your family, and we hope we can give you some valuable advice here on what decision to make if you’re looking to choose between a foam mattress and a spring one.

Some people might say it doesn’t matter which one you choose, but we think it does. There are many studies that show some mattresses bring many benefits, whilst others can have a negative impact on your quality of sleep, and even your health.

We’d choose pocket springs over foam. Here’s why.

Support

Pocket springs

Pocket springs are designed to ease your body into a natural sleeping position, so you can relax. They relieve pressure points, because the springs vary the distribution of your weight through zones of different spring resistance. This happens no matter how heavy or light you are.

When you lay on your pocket springs mattress, the springs compress to meet the demand and offer a comfortable level of resistance. Part of your body – like your head, lower back, shoulders, knees, and calves, have lower resistance and need less pressure. The heavier parts of you push the springs down further than other areas, keeping your body in a natural line.

In sleep, the body goes through different stages, and all of the muscles in your body relax. Without this relaxation, your body would act out dreams. This could harm us and others around us. When we’re in this state, it is really important our body is supported, because we aren’t in a position to support ourselves. Pocket spring mattresses have got your back (literally!).

Pocket springs have the added benefit of being great shock absorbers, so you shouldn’t feel too much movement from the person beside you, even if they’re a fitful sleeper.

Foam

Foam is not as stable. Because it is one slab of material and not individual springs, it doesn’t respond to your pressure points in the same way a spring pocket mattress will. This makes them particularly unsuitable for people with muscle or joint issues, or those who have disabilities or are elderly.

Durability

Pocket springs

A good set of pocket springs can last ten years or more, because they have been heat treated or tempered. Of course, the better care you take of them the longer they will last, but they are relatively durable on their own. Pocket sprung mattresses have between six hundred and six thousand individual springs, which means that even if the odd one goes, you aren’t going to feel it.

Foam

Eventually, foam mattresses start to sag through excessive body impression. People might tell you that the more expensive or better quality foam mattress you buy the longer it will last, but this isn’t necessarily true. If you find you’ve made a permanent impression in your mattress, you’re going to struggle to change positions, or to move around freely. This is no good for comfort, and you might find yourself looking to change your foam mattress early.

Materials

Pocket springs

Natural materials are best when it comes to mattresses. They are breathable, more hygienic, and tend to be more environmentally friendly. They’re also easier to recycle, which is great because millions of mattresses end up in landfill every year. In a world full of man-made materials, switching to more natural stuff can only be good.

Foam

Foam cannot be natural, because by definition it is a manmade material. Polyurethane foam is a synthetic containing chemicals. Customers often say they can smell these chemicals emitting from the mattress. Foam is also harder to recycle. It’s not as breathable, which means it isn’t as hygienic because it struggles to wick away moisture. Bad news for sweaty sleepers!

The Ely natural mattress

Ely pocket sprung mattresses are made from natural materials, so they’re not only comfortable, they’re hygienic, breathable, and recyclable. Our thirteen layers are made from high quality materials and responsibility sourced, so you’ll know you aren’t causing any damage to the environment when you’re purchasing.

They wick away moisture and come with a ten year guarantee. They’re also affordable, and you have the option to split repayments for your mattress across a time period that suits you.

We’ll deliver your mattress to a room of your choice and because it isn’t foam there’ll be no off-gassing, which means you can use it right away without the funky smells.

We’ll even take away your old mattress.

For more information, shop our range.