Types of Mattresses

F. Scott Fitzgerald said: The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to.

A mattress that does not give enough comfort can ruin your sleep and make you feel tired and fatigued. A good sleep is essential to maintain sound physical and emotional health. So, the best type of mattress is one that gives you maximum comfort. Mattress has an Arabic origin, meaning "to throw ". Let us now have a look at different types of mattresses that are available.

Innerspring Mattresses
Innerspring mattresses are the most common and popular type of mattresses. The support structure of these mattresses are made up of coils. The shape of the mattress is retained with the help of this border wire. The perimeter of each coils is connected to a wire that borders the mattress. Special springs are used at the edges to give a firm support to the edge. The upper layer of the mattress is separated by a tough padding or insulator, or a layer of wire netted together that prevents it from settling into the springs. The number of coils that may be present in the innerspring mattresses varies from 300-800 and largely depends on the size of mattress. The relation between the thickness of the coil wire and the number of coils used is inversely proportional. However, more the number of coils, more comfortable will the mattress be. There are different types of coils that can be used in innerspring mattresses. The technique used to connect the coils greatly affects the shape, comfort and durability of the mattress. The list below gives a brief idea about these coils.

• Pocket Coil: These are cylindrical in shape and each spring is independently wrapped in a fabric. Each spring supports only the weight on it. Thus, every coil works independently and the weight is not distributed. This type of coil used in innerspring mattress, is the best choice for people who turn too much while sleeping, as this will not disturb their partners.
• Open Coil/ Bonnell Coil: These coils have a shape of hourglass and each coil is joined to the adjacent coil by a wire that is helical. Initially these coils provide good support, but they gradually fatigue with time.
• Offset Coil: These are similar to open coil, but they are square shaped at the top and are more expensive.
• Continuous Coil: A row of coils is made up of a single wire and this row is connected to adjacent row using a helical wire. The innerspring mattresses made up of such coils can maintain their shape for a longer period.

Foam Mattresses
These were initially manufactured for astronauts of NASA, in 1970, to help them get relief from the gravitational force they experienced during the takeoff of a spaceship. The typical characteristics of these mattresses is that they take a shape in the way the pressure is applied and come back to their original form after removal of the pressure. In 1980, these mattresses were introduced in the market for consumers. The foam mattresses are made from either of the three types of materials: viz. viscoelastic material, latex or polyurethane.

The viscoelastic foam mattresses are expensive, but durable and are more popularly known as memory foam mattresses. Latex mattresses are comparatively popular as they make the sleeper feel warm in winters and cool in the summers. The viscoelastic mattresses are sensitive to changes in the temperature. Latex mattresses are recommended for asthma and allergic people as they resist dust and are hypoallergenic. Foam mattresses are difficult to adjust with, in the initial period of use and are not a good choice for heavy people. Consumers always get confused while opting for latex or memory foam mattress.

Air Mattresses
These mattresses provide the facility to adjust the comfort level. The air in the mattresses can be adjusted to change the firmness. Air mattresses with dividers are available and air in both the sides of these mattresses can be adjusted to different levels. Air mattresses are portable and are chiefly used for camping or outdoor trips. They look similar to innerspring mattresses, but in these mattresses, the coil is replaced by air. Air mattresses are also used to a great extent in hospitals as they can be used for pain relief. Initially, these mattresses were very costly, but have gradually become economical.

Water Beds
Water beds are not very popular as compared to other types of mattresses. A unique feature of water beds is that their temperature can be controlled. People living in cold regions would always prefer water beds. Soft-sided and hard-sided are two types of water beds. The hard-sided water beds have a wooden frame that provides rigidity to the bed. Soft-sided water beds have recently been invented and so are hybrid beds that use other conventional techniques and water bed. Water beds are recommended for allergic people as the bed can be cleaned very easily with just a wipe. However, there is always a fear of leakage with water beds.

Previously, a consumer had very few choices while buying a mattress. However, these days a wide variety of mattresses is available and a choice can be made depending on one's liking and comfort. Happy Sleeping!!