Thoughts on "Memory Foam" Mattresses?

[Bongolation]

My immediate suspicion is that these are hyped because they have a higher profit margin and are cheaper to manufacture, but some people seem to think they are the stuff.

I'm a big old fellow with joint pain and a sensitive back. There are two lines of talk on this, (1) that it's just the thing for me and (2) that I should avoid it at all costs.

It also seems to be an uncomfortable mattress for hot weather. Or not.

I have to replace the worn-out conventional mattress/springs set, so I'm giving these things a look. Any helpful data will be appreciated.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

When it comes to matresses, go any try out as many as you can!

I'm a big lad and I like as solid a mattress as I can get. Not a fan of the memory foam ones, they just feel wierd!

[Jools4001]

I have had a Tempur memory foam matress for the last 10 years. I like it. I always had firmer matresses before and I don't find it too soft.

[6jase5]

I barely slept, always tossed and turned. I got a Tempurpedic....and now I sleep. I'm never switching back, best money every spent. Ok, well, I like my 71 blueline SVT, but this is a close second.

I'm in supply chain logistics....the memory foam beds are much heavier by average so they are much more expensive to transport...which is a big part of the cost. It's all trickle down and I know the Tempur folks as well as Leggett & Platt well. When you buy a bed, a big part of that cost is getting it from manufacturer to your bedroom.

[MJ5150]

We have a Tempupedic, had it for about five years now. Our chiropractor recommended it to us.

It's great, but it is hard to readjust once you get nestled in your indentation. We'll get another one when this one wears out. If you like a firm mattress, then you may want to avoid getting one. What about trying a memory foam topper first?

-Mike

[fenderhutz]

I have been sleeping on one for about 6 months now, I haven't noticed any improvement in my memory at all.......

[Johnny Crab]

Bad hip(motorcycle accident in the early 70's) and vertebrae 3-4-5 getting beat on for decades = backache and hip arthritis pain every morning with a "normal" matress.
Tempur = not in pain every morning.
We like them here.

[P. Aaron]

Want one!

[Ben Lesser]

The nice memory foam mattresses (Tempurpedic and the Serta iComfort series) are all really nice mattresses. Memory foam feels entirely different from a coil mattress, so it's definitely recommended to try one out in the store and/or find one that has a 'comfort' warranty so you can actually try it out for an extended period of time.

If you're worried about heat issues, try some of the ones that use the gel-infused memory foam. They stay a lot cooler. Another alternative is a latex mattress (I know Sealy make them, but I'm sure other companies do, as well). Virtually all of the same properties as memory foam, but a more natural product, and they have a great natural resiliency.

[Texan]

I'm a big guy and I have been through 3 beds in 7 years. I wake up in pain everyday. I am very curious about the memory foam. Do any hotels use memory foam? I'd be willing to pay for a night in a hotel to try one out.

[Kwesi]

I can't stand memory foam. Then again my friends all think I'm weird because I like mattresses that fight back.

[carlos840]

I have a 50/50, its a good old spring mattress with a 2"layer of memory foam on top!
IMO it is amazing, i did not like the 100% memory foam as i sank to deep into it and felt like i couldn't move around during the night!

The thin layer is the right compromise i think..


Heat wise, i am always to hot when i sleep but i don't think the mattress made it worst!

[HaMMerHeD]

I had one, didn't like it. I woke up sore and super-sweaty every morning.

[Rob22315]

We have a temperpedic and love it. we later got a memory foam mattress from overstock.com to replace a different mattress that cost one tenth the Temperpedic. The cheap memory foam one was just as good as the expensive one IMHO.

[WildWes]

I've had a 4" memory foam topper for 5 years now and love it. I sleep on my side, always tossing and turning during the night due to hip pain. I barely move now with the memory foam and can't see ever going back to a regular mattress. WW

PS: Get the memory foam pillow too.

[Solarmist]

My brother has one, and I didn't like it because it's harder to roll out of the mold, and it seemed hotter than a conventional mattress.

[delta7fred]

I have had one for about 3 years and never slept better. I will definitely get another when this one needs replacing.

They are warmer than a conventional mattress and this might be a problem in warmer climates (IDK) but here in the UK heat is rarely a problem at night.

They do stop you moving about so much as once you settle into them they make rolling over more difficult. I have never found this to be a problem.

It does feel a bit strange for a night or two but you soon get used to it.

The recommendations are to go for a good thick layer of memory foam, the cheaper ones only have a thin layer.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by HaMMerHeD

I had one, didn't like it. I woke up sore and super-sweaty every morning.

This is my great fear.

Of course, people have to adapt to new beds, but I'm afraid of the sweat factor (summer is long and brutal here) and plain permanent incompatibility with my hips and back.

[()smoke()]

my father in law has one in his guest bedroom that i've slept on a couple of times, and i enjoyed it.

i prefer a very stiff mattress and do not like 'sag' at all, and although there is a little 'indentation', i don't sink deep into the mattress at all, and i didn't find it hot nor hard to roll out of the indent...we have memory foam pillows at home, and i really like them a lot--they feel cooler temperature to me than other pillows, almost always cool to the touch, which i prefer

[bassteban]

We had one for a short time- it very quickly developed deep furrows where wifey & I laid. We are both average size/weight(6'2"/175, 5'4"/150)- maybe we got a lemon but I did not like it.