Whether you prefer a spring or foam mattress depends on many factors. When choosing, you need to take into account your body weight and health restrictions, but also, for example, the bed frame. If the room is poorly ventilated or you sweat a lot when you sleep, you need a mattress that is as breathable as possible. Find out how to make the right choice.
If it’s time to replace your mattress, there are two basic designs on the market. Either a comfort foam mattress or a spring core mattress. Each mattress has its pros and cons. Always choose the right mattress according to:
You can also have your mattress made to measure.
A few general facts will help you decide whether to look for a spring or foam mattress right from the start.
If you have opted for a spring core, you will be choosing between two types of mattresses:
Spring mattresses have undergone an impressive development. Thanks to new materials and new technologies used in the manufacturing process, you no longer have to worry about springs pushing into your back, shooting out or pushing through your sleeping surface over time. In fact, springs are combined with other materials, especially comfort foams, but also with natural materials (coconut boards, latex foam, horsehair) that guarantee a comfortable sleep for many years.
Springs are made of steel or metal wires of various thicknesses. Depending on the type of springs, mattresses are divided into bonell and pocket springs.
If someone is talking about a spring mattress, it is probably a bonell mattress. It gets its name from the springs, which are called bonell springs. They are made of a single thickness of wire and look like an hourglass.
There can be 100 to 200 springs in one mattress, and the more springs, the more comfortable the sleep. The springs are connected to each other by wire to form a compact, rigid surface. Because the springs are connected to each other, they guide the movement. Imagine you have a large double bonell mattress in your bed. If one of the partners turns over, the other sleeper will feel the movement because of the springs’ interconnection. That’s not a very appealing idea, is it? That’s why it’s recommended to put two separate mattresses in double beds.
Because of the interconnection of the springs, the mattresses do move, which is a disadvantage, but on the other hand you can rely on the firmness remaining the same throughout the life of the mattress.
Bonello mattresses have a load capacity of around 130 kg, so even “heavier weights” can sleep on them. Their advantage is perfect breathability. The mattresses do not hold moisture, so you can use them even in rooms with higher humidity or where there is irregular ventilation, for example in cottages. The perfect air circulation eliminates the risk of mould. Bonell mattress is one of the harder mattresses and it cannot be zoned, so it is not the best choice for people who suffer from joint and musculoskeletal pain.
Bonell mattresses belong on boxspring, slab, slatted and slatted mattresses. They definitely must not come on reclining mattresses. Positioning could cause the springs to deform.
Bag mattresses are a younger and more modern version of the classic spring mattress. They differ from bonell mattresses mainly in the size of the springs. They are smaller and can be hundreds to thousands of springs high in a single mattress. In addition, they are not connected to each other. Each spring is hidden in a fabric pouch. The pouches are connected to each other, so this mattress does not conduct movement. When you lie down or sit up, only the springs that are being pressured are compressed. The others remain unchanged.
The springs can be made of wires of different thicknesses and therefore these mattresses can be zoned. Zoning means that each part of the mattress has a different firmness. This stiffness corresponds to the load that occurs on a particular part of the body. For example, the hips and shoulders are the most loaded, so the mattress is stiffer there. In the ankles and head, the pressure is less, so the mattress is softer in these areas. Thanks to the different firmnesses, the mattress can keep your spine in a healthy position while you sleep, so you won’t wake up in the morning with back pain or a stiff cervical spine.
Bag mattresses are suitable for all generations. Their load capacity is higher than bonell springs. Sleepers weighing up to 150 kg can sleep on it.
Like bonell mattresses, pocket mattresses are perfectly breathable, so you can use them even in less ventilated areas. They are compatible with all types of mattresses, including boxsprings, with the exception of reclining mattresses.
How do they differ and how are spring mattresses the same?
With foam mattresses, you have more choice. While only bonell and pocket sprung mattresses are available, foam mattresses offer a much wider range.
Single-species mattresses are available, which means that they are made from only one type of foam. However, you can also opt for sandwich mattresses, which consist of several types of foam. Each foam has different properties, so the mattress will match your exact requirements. In addition, medical mattresses are also made from foams.
At Materasso, we not only manufacture beds, but also customized mattresses. We use both foams and springs for production. It is entirely up to you what kind of mattress you want. We can make your mattress softer or harder, a mattress with allergy treatment or a mattress that is as breathable as possible. In addition, you can also choose the size or shape. In addition to standard sizes, we also produce mattresses in extended or lengths that are simply atypical.
While previously only foam mattresses were offered, today the range is much wider. At Materasso, we produce mattresses made of:
As far as the foams are concerned, they too have been upgraded, just like the springs. Whereas they used to make people overheat and sweat, today foams are manufactured to have the most open structure and allow maximum air circulation.
Foam mattresses can be zoned to keep the spine in a healthy position. Fits most mattresses including boxspring and reclining mattresses. They are not suitable for a slab mattress as they are not as breathable or resilient compared to spring mattresses.
Take a look at a quick comparison of the most important features of spring and foam mattresses.
Choose the mattress that best suits your requirements. Don’t forget to take into account the type of mattress or the humidity and ventilation of the room.
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