Question:
I’ve Heard That Memory Foam can Be Hot… Is That True?
Short Answer: No, not if you buy modern, 2nd
Generation Foam.
The most common
complaint about memory foam in the past, was that it held too much
heat. Memory foam is pretty dense stuff, so as a general rule, it
doesn’t allow heat to dissipate the way other materials do. Early
formulas for memory foam were terrible at heat distribution, and had
no ventilation of any kind. As with almost everything else though,
memory foam has been improved significantly in recent years. The
advent of new formulas, as well as the addition of new ventilation
systems keeps the new 2nd generation memory foam from
holding so much heat.
Like a lot of guys, I
tend to “sleep hot,” so it took some time to find a mattress that
didn’t make me sweat. A lot of the “mall brands” still use an older
formula for memory foam, and haven’t really addressed the ventilation
issue. I would definitely recommend that you look into a mattress
topper with some kind of channeling for air flow. I think the Sleep
Aid people have addressed this issue most effectively. They’re the
only ones with a serious ventilation system that really works.
Question: Is All Higher End Memory Foam The Same?
Short
Answer: Absolutely not.
Memory foam is a
process-intensive product. That means that it takes time, technology
and money to produce. Be very wary of discount foam mattresses and
toppers… if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. That being
said, the most expensive brand isn’t necessarily the best, either.
One of the most
important differences among foam companies is how they process their
product. Some of the lower cost companies produce foam sheets through
a pouring process. Liquid foam is poured into a large tray to cool,
and, of course, gravity then acts on it.
As the foam settles,
certain inconsistencies appear in the density of the product.
Ironically, some of the higher priced manufacturers, like the mall
brands, also use this older method of producing foam.
A much higher level
of consistency is achieved with a newer production process, vacuum
injection. Rather than relying on gravity, this newer process uses a
vacuum chamber to keep the foam at a consistent density, eliminating
variation. This allows the manufacturer to produce a consistent,
reliable product. Sleep Aid gives an interesting and very clear
account of this new process on their website.
Conclusion
I hope this buyer's guide will
be helpful for readers trying to navigate the world of memory foam. It
can be confusing, and there are a lot of things to consider, but it
will be worth it when you lay down on that new memory foam mattress or
topper or whatever you choose. Every day memory foam is changing lives
for the better, and it could change yours too.
