Buying a new mattress is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. However, it can be very confusing once you start the shopping process. There is an endless selection of mattress models to choose from and then there are the salespeople that will say all the right words that sell and dress up their 3 to make it look like a 9. This can be very overwhelming.
We at Foam Toronto are backed up with over 30 years of experience, in foam and mattress manufacturing. You can rely on us to help you make the right decision for your mattress application. Foam, sleep, and comfort can be very technical, scientific, and complicated but it does not have to be that way. Let us break it down for you and help you choose the right foam grades for your sitting or sleeping requirements.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Foam
Foam is the key comfort ingredient used in all mattresses. If you want to buy a good mattress get to know your foam first. The right foam (at the right price) will help to determine how long your mattress will last before sagging. Another misconception is that firm foam will last longer than soft foam, but that is not the case. It is the weight of the foam, its density, that will determine the quality or durability and not its firmness. The heavier the foam, the longer it will last before sagging or softening with use.
Choosing the Right Firmness
According to a BSC Survey, 68% of people sleep on a mattress which is the wrong firmness. This percentage increase, even more, when you take into account all the spring mattresses that have lost their top comfort layers after a short period of time. Many people choose a mattress that is too soft or too firm for their body weight.
If you sleep on something too soft, you will hammock into your mattress. This in turn causes lower back pain. An overly firm mattress will create pressure points, in your shoulders and hips. This will make you toss and turn throughout the night as your body constantly adjusts to relieve the pressure and find a more comfortable position to sleep in.
Keep in mind, a softer mattress is more comfortable but you still need a firmer core for proper support and to maintain your spine in its natural alignment. Just as important as choosing the right grade of foam is choosing the right mattress firmness. This is how you do it, if you want to improve your quality of sleep.
The Latest in Sleep Technology
Comfort is objective and measurable. It’s a maximum of 0.5 lbs. of pressure on a square inch of the body surface. Regardless of your size or shape, any increase beyond that begins to restrict circulation and starts the muscle tension that produces restless tossing and turning. Absolute physical comfort is nothing more than the absence of pressure points.
Up in our Vaughan Factory, we have conducted Body Pressure Mapping to determine the right firmness for you. This scientific testing uses a specially designed pad with hundreds of individual sensors that actually measure the physical pressure between the body and specific mattress firmness. Pressure areas registering above certain levels (indicated by the different colors – navy blue, green, yellow, and red) can actually shut off capillary blood flow, causing muscle aches, tossing, turning, and other sleep-related discomforts.
After conducting these tests on hundreds of different people in different weight ranges, we came up with a chart that will help you determine the right firmness for your size. You can also choose something a little softer or firmer based on your preference or back condition.
In summary, an overly firm mattress creates uncomfortable pressure points that cause restless tossing and turning, whereas a mattress that is too soft causes back ache from not having enough support. The right firmness is determined based on your weight, back condition, and preference. more relaxing and restful.
