A good night’s sleep starts with a quality mattress. But, with so many options available at specialty outlets and department stores, choosing the right one can be tricky.
Consider factors like edge support, motion isolation, temperature regulation and more when shopping. And if you’re sharing the bed with a partner, be sure to discuss your preferences and sleep positions.
Material
The material used to make a mattress has a direct impact on the quality of the sleep it provides. While sleep comfort is a personal thing, it’s important to consider your unique needs and sleeping style when choosing a mattress.
Memory foam and latex are good choices for people with back pain, as they contour to your body and promote proper spine alignment while you sleep. They also help alleviate pressure points and reduce tossing and turning, which leads to a better night’s rest.
A transitional layer of medium firm latex or poly-foam adds extra cushioning and padding between the comfort layers and the support core. This helps prevent your body from sinking too deep into the bed and touching the base materials. It’s also important to keep in mind that your weight plays a role in how firm or soft your mattress should be. The heavier you are, the more you may need a firmer mattress to prevent excessive sagging.
Firmness
The firmness of your mattress has a huge impact on the quality of sleep it provides. According to experts, it’s important to consider your sleeping position and pain or discomfort to determine the best level of firmness for you. For example, side sleepers need a softer mattress so it conforms to pressure points like shoulders and hips. Back and stomach sleepers, on the other hand, need a firmer mattress to keep their hips and pelvic area from sinking too far which can cause spinal misalignment.
It’s also important to note that firmness and support are two different things. Firmness refers to the comfort feel of the mattress, while support refers to how well it promotes spinal alignment. Fortunately, mattresses come in a wide range of firmness options, and many feature adjustable levels so you can change the level of firmness depending on your preference throughout the night. For instance, flippable mattresses have two comfort layers over a shared core, allowing you to switch between firmness levels easily.
Breathability
When it comes to mattresses, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The right mattress for you depends on your sleep position, body type and budget. You also have to consider whether you’re a hot sleeper or suffer from back pain. In addition, if you have to share your bed with a partner, you may want to prioritize motion isolation.
The breathability of your mattress can greatly affect the quality of sleep it provides. Mattresses with high breathability allow air to flow freely, wicking away moisture and preventing heat from building up. This is particularly important for people who live in warm climates or sweat more at night.
Many people have a hard time finding the right mattress for them due to the overwhelming selection available. To help narrow down your options, make sure you recline on each mattress for at least 10-15 minutes before making a decision. This may seem like a long time, but remember that you’ll be spending 6-10 hours in your bed each night for years to come.
Weight
When shopping for a mattress, it’s important to understand that weight is just one aspect to consider. You also need to evaluate other important factors like comfort, support, and durability.
For example, if you’re a side sleeper, you may prefer a soft to medium-firm mattress that helps relieve pressure points on the shoulders and hips. In contrast, back and stomach sleepers may benefit from a firmer bed to help keep the spine properly aligned.
If you and your partner have different sleep needs, you might want to consider a hybrid mattress that combines foam with inner coils. These mattresses tend to feel more similar to traditional foam mattresses and offer good motion isolation and edge support. However, they are heavier than all-foam options. If you’re interested in a hybrid mattress, check out the coil gauge and count, as well as the foam density and ILD rating. All of these factors will affect the overall weight of a mattress.
