How to Choose a Mattress

Recently, I’ve embarked on a journey to find the perfect mattress for myself. Since I am always geeking about everything, I’ll be documenting the process in this blog post.

Types of Matresses

A mattress is essentially a fabric covering filled with various materials. The most popular types today are:

1. Innerspring mattresses: Available across all price ranges.
2. Foam mattresses: The least expensive but also available in high-end models.
3. Hybrid mattresses: Mostly found in the higher price ranges.

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Mattress Construction

Matresses are created in layers:

Mattresses are made up of different layers:

1. Comfort Layers or Upholstery layers: From 4cm to 8cm depending on the type and confort level of the mattress.
   • Memory Foam: A viscoelastic polyfoam that contours to the body.
   • Adaptive Foam: More responsive than Memory Foam.
   • Latex: Less heat retention, resistant to bacteria.
   • Wool or Cotton Batting
2. Transitional Layer
   • Medium to High-density Polyfoam
   • Latex
   • Microcoils or Nanocoils
3. Support Core Layer
   • Coils
   • Foam: High-Density Polyfoam
   • Latex: Dunlop Latex

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Types of Matress coil

1. Bonnell coil: Inexpensive and widely used.
2. Offset coil: Costlier, provides better support.
3. Continuous-Wire coil: Durable.
4. Pocketed coil: Most expensive, isolates motion, used in higher-end mattresses.

Microcoils, Nanocoils, and Minicoils are also found in hybrid mattresses.

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Factors affecting innerspring coil performance:

• Coil Gauge: Lower gauge means a thicker coil.
• Coil Count: Should be high for larger sizes (e.g., over 400 coils for Queen size).
• Coil type and metal quality also influence performance.

Innerspring mattresses are ideal for heavier individuals since the coils offer better body support and stabilization.

Types of Foam

There are various types, including:

• Polyfoam
  • Adaptive Foam (HR)
  • Regular Polyfoam (higher density means better quality)
• Latex:
  • Natural Latex: Better for those with allergies.
  • Synthetic Latex

Here a video in darija about the different types, and a video by Swinga about Foam quality.

How to choose a Matress

Firmness

There are 10 levels of firmness, but the most common are:

• Soft: 3
• Mid-Firm: 5
• Firm: 8
• Extra Firm: 10

Range and Luxury

Luxury varies based on the inclusion of special materials or technologies.

Criterea to choose the matress

• Person’s weight: Heavier individuals should opt for firm mattresses with innerspring support, while lighter people can choose softer ones.
• Sleep habits: Side-sleepers need softer mattresses, stomach-sleepers require firmer ones, and back-sleepers can go for either.
• Usage: For heavy use, innerspring mattresses are recommended.

Temperature

If the mattress tends to heat up with use, it depends on the materials used in the top layers and sometimes in the core. Latex generally stays cooler.

Mattresses available in Morocco

Simmons

Beautyrest: