Onsen Air mattress specs breakdown: Quality product or marketing fluff?

Mattress Talk 4) The Mattress Industry ~ 101 basics
,
1

I’m looking at a mattress from a small European producer called Onsen. The company is trying to educate consumers about mattresses and provides detailed specs for its product. I’d like some help determining if their claims hold up or if it’s just marketing fluff.

Here’s a quick rundown of the mattress (sourced from the producer site):

It’s a highly elastic foam mattress with medium firmness (6.5 on the American mattress firmness scale), reinforced with viscoelastic foam. It’s constructed with four layers of high-quality open-cell polyurethane foams (HR and V) and includes an innovative Aero 3D mesh.

Here are the specs provided (I converted the SI units to lb/ft³):

  1. HR30100 is a high-resilience foam with a density of approximately 1.873 lb/ft³ (30 kg/m³) and a firmness of around 100 N according to the ILD method, and about 2.0 kPa according to the CLD method.
  2. V50075 is a memory foam with a density of approximately 3.12 lb/ft³ (50 kg/m³) and a firmness of about 75 N (ILD), and around 1.5 kPa (CLD).
  3. HR35120 is a high-resilience foam with a density of 2.185 lb/ft³ (35 kg/m³) and a firmness of about 120 N (ILD), and 2.4 kPa (CLD).
  4. HR50190 is a high-resilience foam (Richlux® High Resilience HR50038) with a density of around 3.12 lb/ft³ (50 kg/m³) and a firmness of about 190 N (ILD), and 3.8 kPa (CLD).

Additionally, the HR35120 foam layer features transverse ventilation channels and an Aero 3D mesh with microfilaments. Together with the three-dimensional ventilation openings in the mattress cover, this system is designed to remove excess heat and moisture, improving air circulation and sleep comfort.

The mattress is priced around $1150, which is considered relatively expensive (upper-mid range) in my country. How does this product compare to mattresses made by major brands in the USA?

3 Likes
2

Hi Tytanuser,

Welcome to our Mattress Forum! :slight_smile:

Thank you for sharing the details and density conversions for the Osaka Air Foam Mattress by the Polish manufacturer Onsen. It’s great to see that they provide comprehensive specifications, helping consumers make informed decisions. I also appreciate that they openly address some of the drawbacks of memory foam and explain their strategies to mitigate them.

“How does this product compare to mattresses made by major brands in the USA?”

No amount of “marketing fluff” can compete with factual data and with the quality of materials used. My concerns on the site stem from the fact that many well-known brands often use less durable materials in their mattresses compared to most of their smaller competitors. Also, there are many online companies that use lower quality materials and ship compressed “bed-in-a-box” mattresses, which would compromise the durability and useful life of a mattress. Much of the marketing tends to highlight and latch on specific features while overlooking any trade-offs associated with those benefits.

Osaka’s claim to fame is centered around its breathability and ventilation. Among the three main types of foam—memory foam, polyfoam, and latex—memory foam is typically the most insulating and least breathable, followed by polyfoam, with latex being the most breathable. Variations within each category exist; less dense foams are generally more breathable than denser ones, while firmer foams tend to allow less “sinking in” which can mean there is less insulating foam material against your body.

The Osaka mattress features a lower-density memory foam layer, enhancing breathability. Placing this layer slightly lower in the mattress design further contributes to reduced heat retention. The trade-off is that while lower-density foams can be more breathable and responsive, they will also be less durable than a denser foam of the same type. Although the placement of the memory foam, 1.2" lower in the mattress helps a bit slow the foam breaking over time, it is still too close to the surface and subject to pressure and mechanical stress from body weight. This leads to foam breakdown, especially with a density of 3.1 lbs/cuft. Some manufacturers still prefer a slightly lower memory foam density than the minimum recommended of 4 lbs/cuft for the above-mentioned better temperature performance even though the durability is lower, but I would advise caution especially if you weigh over 200 lbs (90 kg) due to potential durability concerns.

The microfilament mesh, however, is effectively utilized to help reduce heat retention. It prevents the memory foam from collapsing into the transversal channels, allowing for improved airflow, and moisture wicking. However, it’s essential to remember that there are various other interrelated factors—such as body weight, sleeping position, movement on the mattress, etc. —that will also influence heat ventilation.

Depending on your criteria, the durability guidelines here are a good way to help narrow down mattress options. When shopping, I suggest focusing on PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your Personal preferences) as key factors in choosing a mattress. No marketing in the world can tell how well a mattress matches your specific needs and preferences. I also wouldn’t assume that the price of a mattress relates to how “comfortable” it will be or whether it will be a good “match” in terms of PPP or how durable it will be compared to many major brand mattresses that don’t disclose the details of what’s in their mattress.

I hope this information helps guide your decision!
Best,
Phoenix

3

Hi Phoenix,

I just wanted to share my own experience because I’ve been sleeping on the Osaka Air mattress from ONSEN for about two years now. I purchased it directly from the manufacturer (onsen.eu/materac-piankowy-osaka-air).

Honestly, I can recommend it wholeheartedly - it’s been perfect for me. No visible wear or breakdown so far, and the manufacturer provides a 10-year warranty, which already says something about the durability expectations.

Regarding your comments. Before buying, I did a lot of research, including consulting directly with foam producers. I was looking into HR, V, and T foams in detail to understand the differences.

The V-foam (memory polyfoam) in Osaka Air mattress is not on the top but in the second layer. Its density is around 50 kg/m3, which is not low at all compared to many foams on the market. For reference, typical T-foam (conventional polyfoams) are often sold with densities as low as around 25 kg/m3. In my opinion, the layer structure in Osaka Air mattress is really well thought out.

One point where I would challenge your statement a bit is the breathability of latex. From what I’ve learned, latex itself (natural or synthetic rubber) doesn’t really breathe in the sense of airflow. It’s a closed, dense material. The perception of breathability usually comes from perforations or channel structures cut into the latex blocks. In fact, I’d rank materials this way:

  1. springs - by far the most breathable, but also with significant downsides as a material

  2. HR-foam (high resilience polyfoam) - very open-celled and great airflow

  3. V-foam (memory polyfoam) - still breathable if not compressed

  4. T foam (conventional polyfoams) and latex - least breathable.

So overall, from both my research and my personal experience, I’d say Osaka Air mattress has an ideal layer design. It balances ergonomics, breathability, and durability really well.

4

You make a good technical point about the cell structure of foams. In isolation, HR polyfoam’s open-cell design does allow for greater intrinsic airflow compared to latex, which is denser and doesn’t have the same naturally porous structure.

Where Phoenix’s perspective comes in is on the practical, in-mattress experience. Latex layers are almost always manufactured with perforations or channels and don’t allow as much deep “sink” as memory foam, so the body is in contact with less insulating material. As a result, even though HR foam may technically breathe better under lab conditions, latex often feels cooler to sleepers in a finished mattress.

So it’s not that one of you is “wrong” it’s that HR polyfoam wins on airflow by structure, while latex wins in real-world usage because of its construction, responsiveness, and how it interacts with body weight and sleeping surface conditions.

5

Of course, but let’s clarify that the above comment did not mention support. In this regard, there is no doubt that well-made latex provides solid spinal support. However, the argument about ventilation channels is largely a marketing ploy. From a physics standpoint, warm air rises rather than sinks, so vertical channels have no real impact on mattress ventilation. Their function is mostly to reduce the firmness of the material and give it a certain appearance.

As for foams… Memory foam tends to sink in, which is why it should not be used as the top layer of a mattress. This has long been known. However, its use in the second layer is justified. There, it can serve a comfort function without sacrificing stability and breathability. This is exactly how the mattress in question is constructed. I’ve been using it for two years and can wholeheartedly recommend it. Before purchasing, I also read their blog (hundreds of articles) and watched the brand’s YouTube channel (dozens of videos).

Another aspect should also be kept in mind. Latex, despite its advantages, also has limitations. I happen to work in the medical field. In hospitals, latex gloves have largely been phased out due to allergy risks. Latex is a strong allergen and can eventually trigger contact allergies. This effect worsens over time, as natural latex dries out, crumbles, and releases proteins into the air. One should also consider the large amounts of chemicals used to stabilize and vulcanize rubber milk, as well as the issues surrounding rubber harvesting itself. There are so many arguments against latex that I would never choose it. Its only real advantage is stable support.

6

Latex pinholes aren’t about hot air rising. They help with airflow and moisture release when you shift on the mattress, which is why latex typically sleeps cooler than solid polyfoam. Support is not in question since latex is one of the best materials for spinal alignment and resilience. On the allergy concern, bedding latex is thoroughly washed and cured, so the proteins that cause reactions in medical gloves are essentially eliminated. Latex allergies from mattresses are extremely rare. As for chemicals, all foams require processing, but polyfoam and memory foam rely on far more petrochemicals, fire retardants, and additives than natural latex. And while you may personally dislike latex, that does not make it worse. It remains one of the most durable, supportive, and clean sleep materials available.

7

Final thoughts here. Although you have a background in the medical field as I in heathercare (mine limited to the eyes), it’s worth noting that mattress materials function quite differently from clinical products like gloves. The latex used in bedding is specifically processed to eliminate the proteins that typically trigger reactions, and real-world cases of latex mattress allergies are extremely rare. When it comes to airflow, the focus isn’t so much on where heat rises but how air moves through materials when compressed and released, which is why ventilation channels do serve a real function. Just a final thought to say it’s great that your mattress works well for you, but some of the broader claims don’t quite match how these materials perform in practice. Additionally, you may see in the near future where higher density V foam will be able to become quilted in the the cover panel, so the idea of higher density V foam not being at the top of the mattress could change. Technology and innovation is always just around the corner.

All the best,

Maverick