The right mattress

About every ten years, the time comes: the old mattress has had its day and a new one is needed. That's all well and good, but which one? The most common models are innerspring, cold foam, visco foam, gel foam and latex mattresses. Each of them has special properties that are reflected both in the lying comfort and in the price. But not every mattress is suitable for every person. Which type of mattress suits you depends on several factors.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

What type of sleeper are you?

Before you start your search, you should think about your personal sleeping habits. These will determine which requirements the new mattress has to meet. In particular, your preferred sleeping position should be taken into account when deciding which mattress to buy. Do you lie on your back a lot?
Do you sleep mostly on your side? Or do you sleep best on your stomach? The right mattress must either offer sufficient support or be flexible and adaptable. While stomach and back sleepers need a mattress that prevents sagging in the middle of the body, side sleepers need a mattress that allows their hips and shoulders to sink into the mattress. Even seemingly banal things like the bedroom temperature and tendency to sweat play a role in the choice of mattress.

The spring mattress

LADE ...
congerdesign von pixabay auf Alterix

Construction: The core of this mattress contains steel springs that give way when stressed and return to their original shape when relieved. A distinction is made between a bonell, pocket or barrel pocket spring core. In bonell spring mattresses, the steel springs are connected to each other by wires. This means that the entire surface yields under pressure (surface elasticity). In pocket spring mattresses, the springs are sewn together in small, separate fabric pockets.
This means that the mattress only yields where pressure is applied (point elasticity). Barrel pocket spring mattresses have belly-shaped springs that can be pressed in more easily. As a result, they adapt to the body even better when lying down.

Advantages: Innerspring mattresses are a good choice for people with a high body weight, side, back and stomach sleepers, as well as people who frequently change their sleeping position at night. The more springs the mattress has, the more adaptable and elastic it is. Innerspring mattresses also score highly for good air circulation, which prevents moisture build-up and mould.

Disadvantages: It is precisely because of the air circulation that an innerspring mattress can be perceived as uncomfortable by people who freeze quickly. However, people who sweat a lot at night will love this mattress. Due to their construction, innerspring mattresses are somewhat heavier than other types of mattresses.

The cold foam mattress

Structure: Cold foam mattresses consist of a highly elastic foam that has good adaptability. The so-called HR value (High Resilience) indicates how much foam is processed in the mattress. The higher the value, the more elastic and durable it is. The volume weight (RG) says something about the resilience of the mattress. If the value is low, the mattress will only slowly return to its original shape after being stressed. Mattresses with a high volume weight (more than 40 - 50 kg/m3) have good dimensional stability.

Advantages: The cold foam mattress has a low dead weight (makes it easier to change bedding) and offers good point support. This is particularly advantageous for stomach sleepers but also for back and alternating sleepers. Because of their open cell structure, the mattresses are very breathable and still have good thermal insulation (ideal for people who shiver quickly). In addition, the cold foam mattress is suitable for adjustable slatted frames.

Disadvantages: Heat and moisture change the support and sink-in behaviour of cold foam cores. Only when the lying surface has been warmed up by the body does it unfold its full adaptability.

The visco foam mattress (memory foam mattress)

Structure: A visco foam mattress usually consists of a cold foam or polyether foam core with a visco foam layer, a special foam that quickly and precisely adapts to the contours of the body. Sometimes visco foam is also called memory foam.
This is because the foam retains its original shape for a few seconds when pressure is released and then slowly recedes. The higher the visco foam layer, the better the memory effect.

Advantages: Due to the high adaptability of the foam, the mattress is very advantageous for side sleepers. An almost pressure-free, weightless lying feeling is achieved, from which people with orthopaedic problems or muscle tension also benefit.
Moreover, visco mattresses do not provide a breeding ground for dust mites, which should please allergy sufferers. Use with an adjustable slatted frame is possible.

Disadvantages: Visco foam is thermoelastic, so the firmness of the mattress depends on the temperature. The pressure-relieving effect is only fully effective when the mattress has been warmed up by the body. A short lying test in the shop is therefore not meaningful! Because of the thermoelasticity, restless sleepers or people whose bedroom temperature is below 18 °C should better choose a different type of mattress.
Due to the rather poor ventilation properties, visco mattresses are also not suitable for people who sweat a lot at night. A very high foam layer can make it difficult to turn over at night.

The gel foam mattress

Structure: Gel foam mattresses are filled with a viscous, foamed gel. For a point-elastic support effect, the approximately 2 to 8 cm high gel layer is combined with a substructure of (cold) foam. The higher the gel foam padding, the softer the mattress feels.

Advantages: Especially back sleepers, side sleepers and alternating sleepers benefit from the soft and adaptable gel foam. Due to the very good body adaptation, a pressure-relieving, ergonomic lying feeling is created. This is ideal for people who have to lie down a lot for health reasons, suffer from joint problems or often wake up with tension and back pain.
Gel mattresses are temperature-neutral, which means they do not lose their adaptability even in cooler bedroom temperatures. In addition, the gel mattress is resistant to dust mites and has no problem with a strongly inclined slatted frame.

Disadvantages: For stomach sleepers, the gel foam mattress is rather unsuitable due to the lack of support.

The latex mattress

Structure: Latex is created by foaming synthetic or natural rubber. The more rubber used in the mattress, the heavier and firmer the mattress becomes. The holes and channels in the latex core make it flexible and give it good point elasticity, no matter how you twist and turn. Nevertheless, it remains dimensionally stable.

Advantages: Latex mattresses are ideal for side sleepers as they are particularly soft and adaptable. The pelvis and shoulders can sink in well, which prevents tension. Ventilation channels ensure good moisture transport and an optimal sleeping climate.

Disadvantages: Latex mattresses have a high weight of their own, which makes it difficult to change bed linen and turn the mattress regularly. The mattress is not suitable for overweight people and latex allergy sufferers.

LADE ...
HeartlandMom / Pixabay auf Alterix

Finding the right degree of hardness

The degree of firmness of the mattress is based on the body weight of the user. The higher the degree of firmness, the firmer the lying feeling. The firmness level is optimal when the spine forms a straight line while sleeping. Firmness level "H1" is suitable for light people or children up to a maximum body weight of 60 kg, "H2" is ideal for people weighing between 60 and 80 kg, firmness level "H3" provides good support for people weighing between 80 and 120 kg and "H4" is suitable for a body weight of more than 120 kg. There are also mattresses with firmness level "H5". However, these are seldom in demand, as they are only of interest to people weighing 150 kg or more. The manufacturer's specifications do not correspond to any standard and can therefore fluctuate. They only serve as a rough guide.

In addition to the degree of hardness, the personal feeling also plays a role in the selection. You will feel differently on an innerspring mattress than on a foam mattress. Many shops offer their customers an individual body analysis and a satisfaction guarantee with a return policy of several days. If you can sleep soundly on your new mattress and wake up without pain, you have probably found the right model!

What does a good mattress cost?

The price range for mattresses is wide. An average single mattress costs between €200 and €600. With very cheap models, you may have to compromise on quality and the mattress may have a shorter lifespan. In addition, inexpensive mattresses often do not adapt well to the body, which can lead to back pain. Nevertheless, good sleep does not have to be expensive. Sometimes mattresses in the high price segment even perform worse in tests than medium-priced mattresses. The decisive factor when buying a mattress should be its suitability for your own body. After all, a mattress will accompany you through the night for many years.

Cleaning and care

With a few simple basic rules, you can increase the lifespan of your mattress. On the one hand, it is recommended to air the mattress daily. To do this, turn down your duvet in the morning after sleeping and put up your pillow. In addition, you should turn the mattress every time you change the bed linen (at the latest after every second change). This guarantees even wear and tear and the mattress will not become worn out so quickly. For reasons of hygiene, you should regularly vacuum the mattress and occasionally remove and wash the cover. A mattress protector can also be useful.

Do I need a mattress topper?

Hygienic requirements for senior citizens may make it necessary to purchase a special moisture protection topper. However, many people also use mattress protectors and molleton toppers to protect the mattress from wear and tear, mite infestation and the formation of mould stains. The toppers or fitted sheets are usually boil-proof and are attached to the mattress using elastic bands or elastic corner straps.
If you are asthmatic or have a house dust allergy, you can equip your mattress with a special mite cover. So-called "encasing covers" prevent mite excretions in the mattress from causing allergic reactions.

The mattress is divided into lying zones to ensure that individual areas of the body are supported ergonomically during sleep. The aim is to stabilise the spine and relieve pressure on areas such as the shoulders and pelvis. There are 3-zone, 5-zone, 7-zone and 9-zone mattresses. A good mattress should have at least 5 lying zones.

A slatted frame supports the function of the mattress. Especially for side sleepers with broad shoulders, the adjustment of the mattress is not sufficient under certain circumstances. In this case, a flexible slatted frame can be used for readjustment. An adjustable slatted frame is also an advantage for thin mattresses and cold foam mattresses. They then sag less quickly.

The mattress may be too soft if your pelvis and shoulders sink in a lot, your body sags in the middle, you find it difficult to stand up or you experience back pain and tension.

The volume weight (RG) is particularly important for cold foam, visco foam and latex mattresses. The higher the volume weight, the higher the elasticity and durability of the mattress. A low volume weight can lead to the formation of cavities more quickly.

With proper care (regular turning, flipping, airing) and good hygiene (vacuuming and washing the cover), a high-quality mattress can be used for up to 10 years on average. At the latest when permanent cavities have formed, a new purchase is recommended.

Conclusion

There is probably no "one" mattress that is suitable for all people. But if you try out all the models in the bed shop, you won't feel anything at all in the end. Therefore, it's best to think about your sleeping habits, preferred lying position, body weight and bedroom temperature in advance and limit yourself to only the suitable mattress types when trying them out. This way, you are sure to find the right model for you and nothing will stand in the way of a restful night's sleep!

Please calculate 2 plus 2.
Please add 1 and 1.
A
A
A