If you are shopping for a new mattress, it will soon become clear to you that the choice on offer and the options available are simply staggering, making it more than a bit confusing when trying to decide which one is best for you.
When you are attempting to review mattresses, there are a few things to look out for, and it pays to understand some of the terminology, so that you know whether features like air core and going to be of interest to you.
Try before you buy
You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it for a test drive, and even if your mattress is going to cost a lot less than that, it is just as important to try before you buy, if you can.
You will spend a considerable amount of time on your new mattress, so it makes a lot of sense to see whether it feels right for you, before you commit to a purchase.
Aim to spend about 15 minutes or so lying on the mattress, in order to get a better idea of whether it is not too firm and not too soft. It should be remembered that it is often better to choose a medium firm mattress rather than a really firm one, if you suffer regularly from back pain.
The main thing to remember is that if you can take your mattress for a test drive beforehand, it is going to help you to confirm that it is the right one for you, or not.
Air core or memory foam?
If you are trying to get to grips with some of the terms and different features, you might comes across mattresses that are billed as air core or memory foam.
Air core means that you are looking at an adjustable air mattress which gives you the flexibility of being able to adjust the firmness, by either adding extra air, or deflating it slightly.
If you see a mattress that offers memory foam as a feature, you may well get some idea from the name as to what it can do.
A memory foam mattress won’t feel springy. How it works, is it uses heat sensitivity to allow the mattress to conform to your body shape, which can be a good feature if you suffer from back pain, as it helps to distribute the weight so that you are able to get comfortable.
If you are looking for something that feels a bit more springier than memory foam and more like a traditional mattress, you might want to consider a latex version. Latex is generally marketed as a hypoallergenic product, which might be important to you, if you suffer from allergies.
If you are really not sure if the mattress you are considering buying is just right for you, it is worth inquiring whether there are any comfort guarantees or trial periods being offered, so that you can be sure that the mattress is just right for you.
Daniel Humphreys has worked for a furniture store for some years, recently having achieved the role of assistant manager. He writes a variety of lifestyle articles in his spare time, usually focusing on DIY.
