Unlike standard foams that compress, Memory Foam deforms in shape under pressure and doesn’t want to spring back to its original shape straight away this is because its cells spread the air pressure from one to another which is why it is so good at reducing pressure points.

In addition to this the foam is heat sensitive and in colder temperatures the memory foam is harder than in warmer temperatures when it becomes softer and bouncier. This temperature sensitive feeling accounts for melting feeling you acquire when lying on the foam. Different types of memory foam can have different reactions to the heat with some staying firmer until higher temperatures have been reached.

Due to nearly every manufacturer producing a range of memory foam mattresses the good news is the price has fallen quite dramatically over the last few years! The bad news is there are a lot of low quality memory foam products on the market as well so picking the right one is essential.

When buying memory foam mattresses the rule of thumb is you get what you pay for, finding a low cost memory foam will not mean you have found a bargain more the memory foam will be of a low density and probably layered with a cheaper foam underneath. This generally means the foam won’t be as comfortable and will wear out quicker.

So what should you be looking for?
We would recommend at least 3″ of memory foam to start with. This amount of memory foam will give you a good cushioning and will allow the memory foam to conform to the contours of your body and support the necessary pressure points.

The density of the memory foam is also very important and I would recommend at least 5lb. Anything less than this will shorten the life expectancy of the foam and you will find the lower density foam will soften and compress quickly and loose its overall shape. 5lb density memory foam should last a lot longer and hold it’s shape better while having an over more comfortable feel

So how does density work?
When you buy a memory foam, you will pay more for a denser foam. It just costs more to make a denser foam - more raw material goes into making a denser substance. But density alone doesn’t tell you about the feel or comfort of a memory foam. In it barest terms, all density tells you is how much the foam weighs. A 5 lb. density simply means that a cube of this material, which is one foot in each dimension, would weigh 5 lbs. The memory foam feel is all in the density so I can’t stress enough the lower density you buy the less it feels like memory foam.

How Long should it Last?
One last thing to consider is how long a foam will last. This is an important consideration, because some memory foams feel great initially, but break down fairly quickly over time. Because memory foam can have durability issues, we would caution you to stay away from formulations that are new and haven’t been time tested. You’ll avoid a lot of problems by sticking with a memory foam that has a proven history of real world durability

Find out more about the history of memory foam, then browse our great range of memory foam products.

One last thing to consider is how long a foam will last

Different types of memory foam can have different reactions to the heat with some staying firmer until higher temperatures have been reached.

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