Battle Of The Beds: Spring vs Foam Mattresses

With hundreds of brands, sizes, firmnesses, styles and prices to consider - shopping for a new mattress is no easy feat. You need to be able to get it right and make the best investment choice for you. With most lasting up to 10 years, this decision is going to stick with you for a long time and probably follow you to new homes.

The battle between spring and foam mattresses is one that sees many people stuck in their ways. Depending on what you’ve grown up with - you’re more likely to find one more comfortable than the other. The same goes for firmness. Unless you have a medical issue that requires you to have a specialised bed, chances are you won’t want to stray far from what you know.

The other complication comes when there are two of you sharing a bed! Now you don’t just have to worry about yourself being comfy, but the other person too. And let me tell you, it’s not very often that couples can agree on this sort of thing…

But not to worry, that’s what our team is for at The Bed Shop Halifax. We can walk you through all of the price points, pros and cons of each option and allow you to make a properly informed decision.

If you’re like us and can’t wait to snuggle up for a nap after a long day, then keep reading. This article is going to go into more detail about the comparisons between spring and foam mattresses and what to look for when choosing the perfect bed.

Foam Mattresses Were NASA’s Idea…

That’s right! You’ve got the kings and queens of space to thank for your super squishy, comfy and supportive bed.

Fun fact: NASA was the first to develop memory foam back in the 70s. It was originally used for seat cushions in space crafts to offer extra support against the ridiculous G-force experienced by astronauts.

So, although it’s unlikely we’ll be experiencing high G-force in the land of nod, you can be sure that your memory foam mattress has the ‘Certified Space Technology’ stamp of approval!

Health Benefits Of Foam Mattresses

A lot of our customers come looking for these products due to the proven health benefits and support they provide for our bodies. Their unique selling point is the ability to mould to our body and reduce strain on our joints.

This means that when we nod off, our muscles can fully relax and be cradled by the foam mattress without disturbing our sleep with bumpy springs. As a result, we are less likely to wake up with strange aches and pains that can turn even the best morning people into anything but!

Pressure Relief

Furthermore, the material is said to promote a naturally beneficial spine alignment. This allows you to sleep in a position that is both comfortable and supportive. So starfish as wide as you like - you’ll wake up feeling refreshed!

This ability to spread your body weight evenly across the foam mattress relieves pressure from your hips, shoulders and other points that usually stiffen or become sore during the night.

In the long run, this can help people who suffer from back and neck pain or those who are just fed up with aching joints after a strange night's sleep!

Hypoallergenic

If you suffer from allergies or always feel like you’re bunged up of an evening - it might be worth investing in a memory foam mattress.

Most of them are naturally hypoallergenic and so do not attract or collect dust in the material. As we can’t clean our mattresses in a conventional way, they can quickly become laden with dust and dirt found in the air and on our bodies. This is what sets off people’s allergies and can cause itchy skin.

Similarly, pet hair can cause the same reaction and easily become em-bed-ded (see what I did there…)

The dense structure of memory foam makes it very difficult for pesky dust mites to get comfy! This is why the warm, humid areas within a spring mattress make great homes for these pests and why we’d recommend an alternative for those who struggle with the sniffles.

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Uninterrupted Snoozing

Broken sleep can leave you feeling groggy and unsociable in the morning. So being able to sleep soundly through the whole night comes with a range of benefits. Traditional spring mattresses don’t have the same technology as foam mattresses do - meaning that you can often feel every wiggle or sneeze from the person on the other side!

If you’re a light sleeper this can make for a miserable night and will affect you even more in the long run as you’ll begin to lose focus and find it hard to concentrate during the day. To have the best chance at feeling like the Duracell bunny each morning - you’ll want to look into foam mattresses.

You must have seen the cheesy TV adverts where the couple jumps up and down in slow motion while a glass of red wine is balanced precariously on the edge of the bed. Well, that’s a little dramatic but gives you an idea of how much the foam mattresses can reduce movement.

Instead of transferring the movement of your partner and keeping you awake with constant tossing and turning - the material absorbs it and leaves you perfectly cushioned and supported. So it might not be worth fighting over the firmness after all if it means you’ll both sleep soundly anyway!

Side, Back Or Stomach Sleeper?

It doesn’t really matter what position you find yourself in, memory foam mattresses work to support you however you are most comfortable. It will react to the weight and heat of your body - moulding itself to you like a giant hug.

By filling in all of the gaps between you and the mattress, there will be no unnecessary strain on your body.

For example, many of us like to curl up tightly on our sides and drift off. However, a spring mattress won’t necessarily provide support for your hips and shoulders here. By letting the foam cradle your whole body - it will support your joints all the way down.

And stomach sleepers will be met with reduced back strain as the mattress helps to maintain that natural curve - rather than letting you sleep in the shape of a banana!

So however you sleep, a foam mattress will support you and offer the best comfort in comparison to spring mattresses. Give us a ring today to find out about our range!

Not For Everyone

As we mentioned at the start of this blog, it is common for people to prefer the feel of a mattress they grew up with. This means that if you have been using spring-based beds for years and years, you might not like the moulded feeling of a foam mattress.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! If you’re not having any problems or achy joints, then there are plenty of spring options too. They also come with some benefits which we’ll look at shortly.

As well as this, memory foam is known to smell a little funny for a while once it’s been unpackaged. If you’re not up for letting this settle over a few days, then springs might be a better choice for you. While it will go away, it can be quite potent at first and off-putting for some.

Should We Spring Into Action?

This depends… if you are looking to spend a little less on your new purchase then spring products often come out cheaper than the ones with all the bells and whistles like we mentioned above.

Shopping on a budget is common and something that you’re asleep on for 90% of the time may not seem worth splashing out on. In that case, spring mattresses can keep you comfy and offer a great snooze for you too.

The coils inside were actually designed to support your body weight. This means that there’s less of a sinking feeling that may make people a little claustrophobic. (And let’s be honest - they are super fun to jump on!)

As the bed has more bounce, it will move with your body and you wriggle through the night. This ensures you have the freedom to get comfortable and change position as much as you need to.

Squeaky Springs

One off-putting thing about these types of bed is simply the fact that after a while they can become creaky and loud. Foam will be quieter here and it might be a sign that your mattress is on its last legs if you’re being woken up by the noise.

This does mean that they may not last as long as a foam mattress and so you should think about changing them more often. Not only because of the noise, but because of their lack of hypoallergenic properties too.

As you move around, you will notice the motion of anyone sharing the bed too. So have a think about how important isolation is before purchasing your spring mattress!

Round 1 Goes To…

Beds are all about personal preference. This is why we recommend trying a few different types and styles before settling on your next mattress. Spring and foam mattresses both have their perks - but will feel different depending on the brand and make you go for too.

Don’t forget that the more you snooze and the longer your naps are - the softer a foam product will get. This may determine how firm you should go at the start as down the line, you may find your bed too soft before it's time to replace it.

However, if you need any more help deciding who won this battle and what’s going to be the best option for you - get in touch today!

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