memory foam choices

[phoenix]

Hi JohnB,

Hey, Phoenix. Is there really a big difference in temperature sensitivity, when it comes to the gel foam vs. memory foam?

Yes … there can be a big difference between gel foams (which are generally less temperature sensitive and faster responding) and also between “regular” memory foams as well (see post #9 here and post #8 here). Temperature sensitivity and response time is a side effect of the chemical formulation of the memory foam so it can vary widely from foam to foam.

Gel memory foams can also be a little more “supportive” (have a higher compression modulus) than regular memory foams and can have a little less foam creep (which is the tendency of memory foam or any viscoelastic material to continue softening over the course of the night with continuous compression which means you can start off in good alignment when you go to bed but wake up in the morning out of alignment).

Is the memory foam that much warmer, that it’s impossible to sleep?

Some people are more sensitive to pressure issues and as a group memory foam tends to have less airflow than other types of materials so a larger percentage of people will have temperature issues with memory foam than other types of foam. There are also many other variables that can affect sleeping temperature though that can play just as big a role as the type of foam used in a mattress (see post #2 here).

@JohnB

Some of the chemicals used in memory foam mattresses are toxic, even to those who do not immediately feel like they are being gassed while sleeping.

It’s certainly true that the chemicals used to make memory foam (or any other foams as well such as latex or polyfoam) can be toxic (and I wouldn’t eat any of them) … there are also foams of all types that are “safe” once the raw materials or chemicals have been polymerized, cured, and aired out in terms of any harmful chemicals that can leach out of the foam and enter the body or that are emitted as VOC’s.

Finding accurate information about the “safety” of different types of foam can be difficult and frustrating and the most reliable way to know how “safe” a foam is would be through any certification that it has. It’s also true that that some people can still be sensitive to some types of foam materials even with foam that has been certified and that it’s more common to see this with memory foam than other types of foam. There is some memory foam (and polyfoam) that has an Oeko-Tex certification which is the same “safety” certification that is used with most latex foams but these are much less common in North America.

Phoenix