It’s estimated that we spend around 30% of our adult lives in bed. Therefore, it’s not surprising that selecting the right mattress is so important to so many people. Given the amount of marketing jargon and sales spin in the world, it can sometimes be hard to see the wood for the trees, so to speak. There are two main types of mattresses available but how do you know which type to choose from. This article will help to explain some of the advantages and disadvantages when comparing spring mattresses and foam mattresses to help you to choose the one that suits you best.

Spring Mattresses

Pros

Spring mattresses tend to have a long life span. Obviously, this will be determined by the quality of the mattress purchased so don’t expect a cheap sprung mattress to last a long time but generally speaking if you are purchasing one of reasonable quality or above you can expect a lifespan of about 10 years.

They tend to retain a cold surface temperature which might be something you place great importance in when selecting a mattress. Factor in the local temperatures alongside your sensitivity to heat and if this is a major concern, spring mattresses should keep you cooler than foam equivalents.

Overall spring mattresses tend to be cheaper than foam mattresses but given the wide ranges within both types of materials, this obviously varies somewhat. Generally speaking, the equivalent standards will often be slightly cheaper than their foam counterparts.

If you prefer to sleep on a firmer bed, then spring mattresses normally feel firmer than foam ones.

Cons

They do not always provide the adequate lumbar support you might be seeking in a mattress. Whilst the benefits of spring mattresses are much greater than they are often portrayed, if this is a major concern of yours often a foam mattress, particularly a memory foam one, will grant greater support.

Often spring mattresses can feel remarkably comfortable initially but deteriorate over time so what once felt reasonably supporting and very comfortable may not be so after a number of years.

Foam Mattresses

Pros

Foam mattresses conform to your body shape and due to this will distribute your weight more evenly across the bed as well as supporting the body better without creating points of pressure.

Due to the lack of moving parts inside of them, foam mattresses create no noise and they don’t experience that sensation of spring back as you move across them.

Spring mattresses sometimes suffer from bowing slightly in the centre causing couples to roll together into the centre. Foam mattresses will not cause this to happen due to the nature of the material they are constructed from.

They are very easy to transport and store away. Folding a spring mattress can break them completely and so they can prove difficult to transport or tidy away if they are only used temporarily, whereas foam mattresses can be rolled up or easily folded up to fit into the back of a car.

Cons

Some users of foam and/or memory foam mattresses have been known to complain about the additional heat of the sleeping surface of these mattresses when compared to spring mattresses. Depending on your location or how sensitive you may be to temperature this could prove to be a factor worth considering.

Generally speaking, foam mattresses, especially memory foam ones, can be more expensive than spring ones. If cost is a major factor, then consider what it is you really need from your mattress and whether the extra cost justifies it or not. However, one compromise to this is to purchase memory or gel foam toppers such as are available, which will allow you to experience much of the benefits but at a reduced cost.