Air mattresses are becoming increasingly popular. When you know what to look for in an air or foam bed, you can find one which provides you with a restful, comfortable night's sleep.
Air Mattresses
Air mattresses don't have the springs used in traditional mattresses; they use air chambers which can be adjusted for comfort by letting air in or out as needed. The lower-end air mattresses use manual controls, while the pricier models have automated air intake and much more adjustability for the sleeper's comfort.
If you share a bed, you'll appreciate that most air mattresses have two sets of air chambers so that each person can adjust the firmness to their individual preferences. AeroBed and other economical models of air beds are comfortable, but they are not as durable as many other types of air beds since they have no built in padding for their air chambers.
The better air beds including brands like Select Comfort include layers of foam padding around their air chambers, which makes these air beds much more durable and lends them the look of a regular mattress - better yet, these air beds come with warranties of up to 20 years.
Basically, the budget air beds are probably best suited for the guest room. If you're looking for something which will be used daily, then you'll want to go with a airbed that has dual chambers, is fully customizable and has a shell which has the look of a traditional mattress. As with any mattress, look at the construction and go for a model which has a good warranty.
Foam Mattresses
Basically, there are two types of foam mattresses. The cheaper foam mattresses are made from poor quality materials, meaning they won't last as long as higher quality models. Low quality foam breaks down and leads to an uncomfortable mattress in only a few years' time.
Higher end foam mattresses made from quality materials like memory foam are much longer lasting and the material molds to your shape, then returns to its original shape and firmness. These foam mattresses may require a little adjustment to get to the softness you prefer - read the instructions to see how this is done.
Another thing to keep in mind about foam mattresses is that they are sensitive to temperature. Foam tends to soften under body heat, so they will be softer or firmer depending on where your body is warmer or cooler. The better quality foam mattresses are usually treated to make them inhospitable to dust mites and reduce their ability to trigger allergies.
One drawback to these memory foam mattresses is that it does take a little time for them to return to their original shape when you move around while sleeping. If you tend to toss and turn in your sleep, you should take this into account. Many mattress manufacturers and retailers offer trial periods, although keep in mind that the cost of delivery and returning a mattress you find unsuitable is generally not included.
By:Phillip Gasvar
| 