Which mattress is better to buy: a review of modern models

A mattress is one of the basic household items used every day. The rest, performance and health of the user depend on the quality and convenience of this purchase. Therefore, you should not save on a product that is purchased for several years and provides physical comfort: it must be reliable, safe and versatile. Here's what you need to know before choosing a mattress for adults and children.

Criteria for choosing mattresses

Even knowing their orthopedic requirements, not everyone can afford a luxury Italian design that looks more like a separate sofa or bed than a lush sleeping mat. When choosing a mattress, you need to consider the following criteria:

• rigidity;
• length and width parameters for different beds;
• the presence of a spring base/thinness;
• possibility of double-sided use;
• features of materials that may cause individual discomfort;
• price.

The most important thing is that the mattress suits the individual needs of the body and is affordable.Therefore, many experts strongly recommend trying mattresses in person in salons to evaluate their comfort. After all, what is good for one is sometimes torture for another. If prices in salons and hypermarkets are steep, after such a “trying on” you can order the mattress you like via the Internet. It is only important to find your type of bed base. Now about everything in more detail.

Material characteristics

Modern mattresses are made mainly from natural and synthetic materials that retain their shape well due to a hard or foam base, retain heat, are ventilated and prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms. As a rule, a mattress includes several functional layers made of different materials.

Foam bases

Natural latex is considered the most popular and expensive porous material. It is made from plant materials, producing soft, very elastic and resilient rubber. This material does not cause allergies, “breathes”, does not deform under body pressure for years and provides varying degrees of rigidity from high to medium.

There is also a more affordable analogue - synthetic latex, which lasts a little less - not 15, but up to 10 years - but repeats all the other characteristics of natural rubber. Latex mattresses are durable, quite hard and fluffy.

The material “smart foam” (Memory Foam, Foam, Form, Memorix, etc.) has become popular in the orthopedic field. This is a synthetic springy “sponge” with such a structure that it seems to envelop the body when a person lies down on the mattress. As a result, the contours of the sleeping figure remain on the surface, the foam fills the bends, which means it supports the spine well without additional pads in a normal position.Thanks to this, a person takes a natural position while sleeping, the blood vessels are not pinched, and in the morning there are no headaches or muscle tension.

In addition to latex and “smart” compounds, warm hypoallergenic holofiber, polyurethane foam (PPU) and other synthetic mixtures are popular. They are used to add softness and volume to the mattress. With elasticity and good compressibility, such materials do not lose their shape for up to 10 years, do not absorb dirt and moisture, therefore they are environmentally friendly and universal.

Other fillers

In addition to foam bases, the following are added to mattresses:

• coconut or synthetic coir - coarse compressed fibers for rigidity;
• batting, padding polyester, foam rubber - for softness;
• struttofiber or natural wool - for insulation.

Synthetic coir is more fragile, does not bend and lasts up to 4 years. In thin mattresses, it is better to use natural material so that it can be rolled up and used longer, including for children who like to jump and squirm on the beds.

People prone to allergies should abandon wool mattresses in favor of artificial ones. Modern materials are not only not inferior, but sometimes even superior in quality to their centuries-old counterparts.

Mattress design

There are base and surface mattresses that vary in height and flexibility. The first ones are a continuation of the bed - a high springy structure. Nowadays, a system of woven Bonnel springs is also found, usually in medium-high mattresses for one. The disadvantage of this design is pushing towards the center.

The most commonly used system is independent springs. They are located vertically and packed in separate cases, so they do not fail for a long time.The peculiarity of this bed is its smooth supporting surface, which is pressed only at pressure points. Ideal for large double beds.

Fillers with various properties are laid on top of the springs - for insulation, rigidity, softness, volume, with orthopedic functions. This part of the mattress replicates springless structures. Surface mattresses are usually not so high and have coir or elastic foam layers at their core. There are thin “guest” models that can be rolled up without losing their shape. They are easy to transport and store, which is suitable for people who move frequently.

Modern mattresses come in covers, so that, if necessary, the outer material can be washed and the base layers can be ventilated. It is better to choose covers made from natural cotton of coarse fabric or luxury silk models, although there are good synthetic covers. Before purchasing, you should inspect the seams for strength.

How to choose a mattress

For people with upper back pain, healthy blood vessels and for children, hard and medium-hard coir-based mattresses are recommended. For older people with slow blood circulation and pain in the lower back, experts recommend soft mattresses with polyurethane foam, batting and other fillers.

In case of crooked posture and increased fatigue, people often buy “smart” designs with memorix. You can pay attention to massage relief inserts made of polyurethane foam and artificial latex - they will improve blood circulation and relieve headaches.

Medium soft mattresses are recommended for healthy people. There are also optimal solutions:

• Double-sided winter-summer designs.On one side there is a soft, insulated surface that creates an excellent air cushion in winter, on the other there is a hard, ventilated summer lining with coir, which is not stuffy in the heat. The mattress is turned over throughout the year or as needed.
• Two-way - for spouses with different needs. The left and right sides are made of different layers. One can be massage, the other can be universal (or soft and hard strips).
• Multi-tiered. In such designs, special linings are attached to the main mattress. For example, a soft feather bed for a hard base or a massage layer for an optimal model.

They even produce electric mattresses with vibration massage, wave effect and heating. It all comes down to cost and the question of whether the consumer needs it.