Kayla Hobbs

Kayla holds a PHD in Kinesiology which is a study of the way in which the body moves. She sleeps on a Koala Mattress and loves to research topics. This makes her a credible author contributing to our blog.

Mattress Memory Foam 101: What Is Memory Foam?

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What is memory foam and why is so important in the world of mattresses? Memory foam is a material that is used to make mattresses in a box, pillows, and other items. It can be made of natural or synthetic materials. A type of polyurethane plastic called viscoelastic polyurethane foam was developed in the 1960s by NASA for use as seat cushioning. The material was then adapted for medical purposes before it became popular with sleepers because of its comfort, support, and ability to relieve pressure points on the body.

Memory foam can help provide relief from pain caused by arthritis or joint problems due to its conforming abilities which reduce pressure on painful areas while also providing support where needed and that’s why so many mattress in a box providers make use of this material in their mattresses.

memory foam
What is memory foam? Credit: Deposit Photos (paid)

What is memory foam made of?

Memory foam is a very soft type of plastic that conforms to your body and provides support. The material has been known as viscoelastic, meaning it will return to its original state after pressure from the body is removed. This makes it ideal for those looking for relief from pain or discomfort because it moulds to your body’s shape, ensuring proper support and pressure relief.

How does memory foam work?

Memory foam was once only used in the health care industry for patients with special needs but has since become popular among consumers who are looking for a comfortable mattress that helps relieve pain or discomfort due to arthritis or other joint issues. This is because memory foam creates a comfortable and pain-free sleeping surface by moulding to the sleeper’s body.

The material helps keep your spine in alignment, reduce pressure on painful areas of the body while simultaneously distributing weight evenly for optimal comfort so you’ll wake up feeling refreshed instead of stiff or sore.

Are memory foam mattresses too hot?

Some people are concerned that memory foam causes a warm or hot bed and for those living in warmer climates such as NT or WA, you may find a memory foam mattress is too hot in comparison with a traditional springed mattress, as there’s less area for the warm air to escape, and cooler area to come in. Even those that are moving to a memory foam mattress for the first time, may notice this increase in sleeping temperature. If you love a cold bed, then this may not be the material of choice for you.

This is why mattress companies are constantly bending the rules and tinkering with their mattresses to offer the best features over the competition. Emma Sleep for example has a new version called Diamond ACT Hybrid which stands for Active Cooling Technology, where millions of graphite particles in the foam, work hard to get rid of heart for a better night’s sleep. In hotter climates, spending a bit extra on such a mattress over the original mattress would be money well spent in my opinion.

Can you adjust the firmness of memory foam?

It’s a common question and the answer is, yes you can but it comes at a cost, often too high for the average mattress buyer. Memory foam mattresses that allow customisation of the firmness usually involves buying replacement blocks or layers that are inserted into the mattress lining. This requires additional material, along with the effort involved with doing this.

Different mattress in a box providers offer different level of firmness levels, so it may pay to shop around and find the best one for you. Memory foam is a lot less firm a pocket spring mattress, so choosing a firmer memory foam mattress would be the best option if you’re concerned about this. Those that love a deep sleep, moulded into a mattress should choose a less firm memory foam mattress.

The new Emma Sleep diamond hybrid mattress offers superior comfort and changeable firmness levels to suit your style of sleeping. It’s more expensive than the original, but more customisable.

Do memory foam mattresses wear out easily?

Another factor you need to consider is how often does the mattress wear out? As mentioned, some memory foam mattresses can be replaced with additional layers or blocks. However, this will only work if your mattress still has life in it and is not so old that replacement parts are no longer available for your particular model of bed.

Most manufacturers of memory foam mattresses give a 10-25 year warranty period, allowing you to swap your mattress at any time if the memory foam wears out.

Equally, they give you a 100-120 night trial, to ensure you’re happy with your purchase, which gives you ample time to test it out and ensure the quality of your memory foam mattress is high and won’t wear out easily.

7 Reasons Why You Should Buy a Mattress in a Box

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How many times have you gone into a mattress store and felt overwhelmed by the selection? There are so many different types of mattresses, brands, prices. It’s no wonder that most people end up walking away without making a purchase. Don’t walk away from your dream bed!

You can find an affordable mattress in a box online without having to go through the stress of shopping for one in person. We’ve compiled everything you need to know about buying a mattress in the form of this article! Read on below for 7 reasons why you should consider buying a mattress in a box – including what it is, how it works and who sells them!

mattress in a box

Mattress-in-a-box companies are popping up all over the place, and all over the world too, including Australia and New Zealand, but while there’s many fly-by-night businesses in this industry, there are many stand out sites that have been around for years. Brands such as Koala, Emma Sleep and Ergoplan have been dominating this industry and are all well known for their high quality mattresses.

7 Reasons Why You Should Buy A Mattress In A Box

It’s Super Affordable

The first reason you should consider buying a mattress in the form of a box is that it’s an affordable way to get your hands on one! Most retailers sell these mattresses for less than $1000, which makes them incredibly budget friendly. However, if you buy at the right time, and in one of their regular sales you can usually get discounts of up to 50% on the RRP. Emma Sleep for example, regularly has such sales.

Easy Delivery Process

Another reason for buying a mattress in a box, is the most obvious, it comes in a box and you don’t need to take a day off work, waiting for a mattress company delivery van to show up with your traditional mattress that requires 2 men to lift into your home.

I don’t know about you but this is the most painful part of any large ticket delivery as it’s time consuming and unreliable, and that’s why most mattress in a box companies use local couriers to deliver your mattress, faster and most likely free of charge, and you drag your box into your bedroom, ready for inflation in your own home.

Often with such delivery companies you can actually track your delivery, and may even know what time the driver of that company is likely to show up at your place if you are like me and regularly get your online shopping delivered. Compare that to a warehouse deliver driver for a big name mattress company, it’ll be on their schedule and you will have no idea when they’ll show up. Not home? Well you better book another day off. Mattress in a box means just that, it can be left in the box at your front or back door, ready for you to come home. If it rains, it’s not going to damage your mattress in a box.

Choose Your Mattress Comfort Level

A third reason for buying a mattress in a box is they are available in different styles and comfort levels. While most companies feature memory foam, there are some that come with memory foam and pocket springs, offering a more traditional mattress experience without paying the high fees of a traditional mattress. It does pay to check the material of each mattress, as some people will love memory foam, whereas others hate it and this leads me to the next point.

100+ Night Free Trial

The fourth reason for buying a mattress in a box is that you’ll get a free trial. Nearly every company in this industry offers a trial and that is because they value their customer satisfaction. If you’re unhappy with your mattress you’ll contact them and they’ll try and help out, but you’re entitled to a full refund should you wish.

Often the only requirement is that you’ll need to donate your mattress to charity. This is to ensure your mattress isn’t being kept as well as your money, and also goes to a great cause, helping the homeless with a place to sleep. For those in urban areas, the mattress company will often collect the mattress free of charge, while other areas you’ll need to arrange a collection from a local charity and provide proof to the mattress company. Some rural customers, it’s just not worth the hassle, so they’ll often let you dispose of the mattress yourself.

Compare that to a traditional mattress retailer, you definitely won’t be getting a no questions asked refund if you’re unhappy with your mattress.

10-25 Year Warranties

The fifth reason is that you’ll get a huge warranty, although these often come with caveats so be sure to read the terms and conditions clearly. It’s also likely to be for the life of the company, which may not be around in 25 years, so I’d take those long warranties with a pinch of salt, however boxed mattress companies will definitely outperform your traditional mattress warranty of 5 or 10 years.

Minimal Partner Disturbance

The sixth reason is that memory foam mattresses have a much better approach to minimal partner disturbance. If your partner is tossing and turning all night, struggling to sleep, this should have minimal, if any impact on your quality of sleep, due to the way the memory foam moulds around your body as you sleep.

Complimentary Memory Foam Products

And finally, the seventh reason for buying a mattress in a box is that you can take advantage of additional products such companies offer such as memory foam pillows which give you the freedom to adjust height and firmness on demand, mattress protectors for crinkle-free, breathable protection against dust, spills and pets on your bed, and even powerbases, which allow you to completely change how you sleep by customising ergomotion to create personalised comfort to suit every style of sleeper. Buy from the right company and you can often get a great deal on these prices too during Black Friday, Singles Day and Boxing Day Sales.