The pros and cons of pure foam mattresses

Pure foam mattresses offer unrivalled motion isolation and consistent support across the whole mattress. The foam squishes under your body and contours, helping keep your spine and hips aligned for a comfortable sleep.

Pure foam is the way to go if your mattresses have no bounce with a stable and squishy feel. However, there are things to consider before buying.

You need to know that there are three types of pure foam mattresses – memory foam, latex foam, and reflex foam – offering different feels.

When we talk about pure foam, we often use memory foam as an example, but latex and reflex foams offer many benefits and shouldn't be ignored.

Here's everything you need to know:

Benefits of foam over sprung mattresses

Compared to sprung mattresses, pure foam mattresses have a few advantages:

No springs that can break
Less bounce
Better motion isolation
Better body contouring overall
High density means mattresses can be thinner

However, the individual quirks of pure foam mattresses depend on the foam in question.

Types of pure foam mattresses

All pure foam mattresses use a combination of different materials. Manufacturers label them 'memory foam', 'reflex foam' or 'latex foam' based on what the top comfort layer is made from - or whichever foam is dominant.

In any case, these foams offer different characteristics:

Memory foam – responds to heat and pressure, contouring your body perfectly with an extended expansion/recovery time. It provides unrivalled energy absorbance with no bounce, making it perfect for couples.
Latex foam is a flexible and energetic material that responds to pressure only, instantly returning to its original shape. Greater resilience than memory foam means it provides better support, especially at the edges of the mattress.
Reflex foam – responds to pressure only. Firmer than memory and latex foam, making it ideal for firmer mattresses. The foam has tiny holes that compress and contour your body yet springs back almost instantly.

Memory foam pros and cons

Unrivalled body contouring and pressure relief
Sink-in cosiness feels like a hug
Hypoallergenic
Movement isolation
The softer initial feel is perfect for side sleepers

Cons

Lack of edge support unless the mattress is encapsulated
The softer initial feel is no good for tummy sleepers
No bounce makes tossing and turning harder
Poor breathability (look at memory gel or bamboo-charcoal memory foam for heat dissipation

Latex foam pros and cons

Pros

Breathable
Natural and recyclable
No smell from chemicals
Best foam for edge support
Supportive and squishy
Good motion isolation
Bounce assists with mobility
Ideal for back and front sleepers
Studies show latex is excellent for back pain

Cons

The bouncy feel isn't perfect for everyone
More expensive than other pure foam mattresses

Reflex foam pros and cons

Pros

Cheap
Good motion isolation
Firm support for heavy sleepers
Highly breathable
Firmness allows mattresses to be thinner

Cons

Less responsive than latex
Less cushioned than memory foam
More off-gassing (due to chemicals used during manufacturing)
Not as suited to side sleepers but ideal for front and back sleepers

Overall

Pure foam mattresses are simpler than sprung mattresses in construction, yet they offer superior motion isolation and body contouring.

Memory and latex foam mattresses are the best types, with reflex foam being a cheap and cheerful alternative most suited to extra firm mattresses.

Out of all these mattress technologies, latex foam has the most desirable characteristics - incredible edge support, responsiveness, and body contouring. Still, it is less popular than memory foam because it's more expensive.