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Memory foam v pocket spring mattresses - which is best?
Pocket Springs v Memory Foam is probably the biggest debate in the thrilling world of online mattress discussions.
I've realised that most of the arguments are made by manufacturers so it's hard to know who to believe (I don't work for either).
After reading dozens of articles (yawn…) my 8 conclusions are:
I've realised that most of the arguments are made by manufacturers so it's hard to know who to believe (I don't work for either).
After reading dozens of articles (yawn…) my 8 conclusions are:
1. More people buy pocket spring mattresses
Popularity is certainly not everything but it is still the case that more people buy pocket spring mattresses than memory foam mattresses.
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Pocket springs were developed more than 100 years ago by Vispring and they remain one of the best brands of luxury pocket spring mattresses.
Other pocket spring brands in our 6 best pocket spring mattresses guide include:
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Mid-priced pocket spring brand Sleepeezee has a Royal Warrant, outstanding reviews and a 60 day trial period
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Memory foam was developed by NASA to help astronauts stay nice and cosy inside their rockets. The technology was later developed into a mattress, with one of the earliest pioneers being Tempur, which is still one of the biggest brands in the market.
Other (cheaper) memory foam mattresses in our top 6 memory foam mattresses guide include:
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The Nectar Sleep memory foam mattress comes with a 365 day trial period and a 'forever' guarantee
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Loads of mattresses nowadays also offer a mix of pocket springs and memory foam, often with springs on the bottom and a 'comfort' topper of memory foam. These are usually called 'hybrid mattresses'.
Award winners and highly rated ones include:
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Hybrid mattresses like the Brook + Wilde Lux include springs and memory foam. This one comes with a 100 night trial.
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2. Memory foam (supposedly) lasts a bit longer
The general consensus online (once I'd ignored all the biased arguments) was that memory foam should last a bit longer than a pocket spring mattress.
In theory, memory foam returns to its normal shape time and time again, whereas pocket spring mattresses start to get a bit stuck in their own grooves. Turning them over regularly helps, although lots of modern mattresses can't actually be turned over because they have a topper on one side, or because the manufacturer has saved themselves some money by only putting the high quality materials towards the top of the mattress.
Honestly, I think you could argue about durability until the cows come home. From what I've read, it seems likely that a high quality pocket sprung mattress which was turned over regularly would outlast a cheap memory foam mattress. Similarly, a high quality memory foam mattress would outlast a cheap pocket spring mattress.
It's certainly true that there are lots of memory foam mattresses with 10 or 15 year warranties (e.g. REM Fit, Simba Sleep, Emma Mattress, Eve Sleep) whereas most pocket sprung mattresses come with 5-10 year warranties. The Nectar Sleep Memory Foam Mattress goes so far as to offer a 'forever' warranty (check the Ts and Cs, of course).
In theory, memory foam returns to its normal shape time and time again, whereas pocket spring mattresses start to get a bit stuck in their own grooves. Turning them over regularly helps, although lots of modern mattresses can't actually be turned over because they have a topper on one side, or because the manufacturer has saved themselves some money by only putting the high quality materials towards the top of the mattress.
Honestly, I think you could argue about durability until the cows come home. From what I've read, it seems likely that a high quality pocket sprung mattress which was turned over regularly would outlast a cheap memory foam mattress. Similarly, a high quality memory foam mattress would outlast a cheap pocket spring mattress.
It's certainly true that there are lots of memory foam mattresses with 10 or 15 year warranties (e.g. REM Fit, Simba Sleep, Emma Mattress, Eve Sleep) whereas most pocket sprung mattresses come with 5-10 year warranties. The Nectar Sleep Memory Foam Mattress goes so far as to offer a 'forever' warranty (check the Ts and Cs, of course).
3. Memory foam can make you feel hot
Heat is probably the complaint that comes up most often in the numerous memory foam reviews and discussions I've read. You won't really get that with a pocket spring mattress (unless it's one with a memory foam layer on top obviously).
Also, memory foam mattresses will get a little bit firmer if your room gets really cold and a bit softer if your room gets hot.
There are fancy new attempts to keep memory foam cool, such as 'gel memory foam'. Similarly, a lot of modern 'bed in a box' mattresses put the layer of memory foam lower down the mattress. The idea is that you get the support of memory foam but with a cooler layer on top. Many of these mattresses get very positive reviews on TrustPilot and have won awards (some feature in our top 10 mattress guide)
Most of these mattresses offer a free trial so if you don't like it, they'll take it back. If you can afford it, and want a more traditional memory foam mattress then perhaps try something like a Tempur mattress which offers a 100 night guarantee. Alternatively, you get a trial of between 30 nights and 200 nights with the Eve Sleep (£699), Emma Mattress (£649), Ergoflex (£739) and several others. Mattress company Nectar Sleep (£569) gives 365 night trials which is the joint longest we know of in the UK market alongside DreamCloud Sleep (£949).
You don't get as many pocket spring mattresses which offer a trial period although respected brand Sleepeezee offer a 60 night sleep trial which offers a swap if you're not happy and Soak & Sleep give you 100 nights to try out a mattress if you use a mattress protector. Obviously it's important to read the terms and conditions before taking out a trial period.
For those who want to dig a little deeper in the science of sleeping, take a look at the 2018 study by Chiba, Yabi et al. They compared rectal body temperature (no, really) of people whilst they slept on 'high rebound mattress toppers' and 'low rebound mattress toppers' (i.e. memory foam). Those sleeping on the 'low rebound' topper were up to half a degree warmer (celsius) during the night.
Also, memory foam mattresses will get a little bit firmer if your room gets really cold and a bit softer if your room gets hot.
There are fancy new attempts to keep memory foam cool, such as 'gel memory foam'. Similarly, a lot of modern 'bed in a box' mattresses put the layer of memory foam lower down the mattress. The idea is that you get the support of memory foam but with a cooler layer on top. Many of these mattresses get very positive reviews on TrustPilot and have won awards (some feature in our top 10 mattress guide)
Most of these mattresses offer a free trial so if you don't like it, they'll take it back. If you can afford it, and want a more traditional memory foam mattress then perhaps try something like a Tempur mattress which offers a 100 night guarantee. Alternatively, you get a trial of between 30 nights and 200 nights with the Eve Sleep (£699), Emma Mattress (£649), Ergoflex (£739) and several others. Mattress company Nectar Sleep (£569) gives 365 night trials which is the joint longest we know of in the UK market alongside DreamCloud Sleep (£949).
You don't get as many pocket spring mattresses which offer a trial period although respected brand Sleepeezee offer a 60 night sleep trial which offers a swap if you're not happy and Soak & Sleep give you 100 nights to try out a mattress if you use a mattress protector. Obviously it's important to read the terms and conditions before taking out a trial period.
For those who want to dig a little deeper in the science of sleeping, take a look at the 2018 study by Chiba, Yabi et al. They compared rectal body temperature (no, really) of people whilst they slept on 'high rebound mattress toppers' and 'low rebound mattress toppers' (i.e. memory foam). Those sleeping on the 'low rebound' topper were up to half a degree warmer (celsius) during the night.
4. Memory foam mattresses are lighter
Memory foam mattresses are a bit lighter, so they are better for transporting or if you have trouble flipping a pocket spring bed, or if you've get a slatted bed which can't take much weight.
It seems to be a more noticeable difference at the cheaper end of the mattress market though.
For example, I looked at two high quality mattresses and they were pretty similar. A 21cm deep King Size Vispring pocket spring mattress on John Lewis weighs 52kg whilst a 21cm Tempur Memory Foam mattress weighs 48kg.
It seems to be a more noticeable difference at the cheaper end of the mattress market though.
For example, I looked at two high quality mattresses and they were pretty similar. A 21cm deep King Size Vispring pocket spring mattress on John Lewis weighs 52kg whilst a 21cm Tempur Memory Foam mattress weighs 48kg.
5. Memory foam feels a bit strange
This might sound a little nutty, but some people find that memory foam feels like they are sinking into quicksand, which is a bit unnerving.
Pocket springs don't tend to give that sinking feeling and it is easier to toss and turn in the night with a pocket spring mattress. So, if you're a fidget Bridget then you might find memory foam hard work.
Pocket springs don't tend to give that sinking feeling and it is easier to toss and turn in the night with a pocket spring mattress. So, if you're a fidget Bridget then you might find memory foam hard work.
6. Memory foam is supportive and good for joint pain
Back in the day, people used to think that a really firm bed was the answer if you have back pain.
From what I've read, that theory doesn't hold water any more. Nowadays, people just advise that 'a supportive and comfortable mattress is the best option – it doesn’t matter what type of construction it is' (that's according to the Sleep Council).
According to the Sleep Council 'When you lie on your side your spine should be horizontal' which is something that good quality Memory Foam is generally very good at.
A good quality pocket spring mattress can certainly offer decent support, but I've read lots of articles saying that Memory Foam is particularly good for joint pain. For example, the charity Versus Arthritis says ‘many people find memory foam mattresses or toppers helpful’ although that advice is just specific to arthritis, of course.
See our guide to mattresses for bad backs.
From what I've read, that theory doesn't hold water any more. Nowadays, people just advise that 'a supportive and comfortable mattress is the best option – it doesn’t matter what type of construction it is' (that's according to the Sleep Council).
According to the Sleep Council 'When you lie on your side your spine should be horizontal' which is something that good quality Memory Foam is generally very good at.
A good quality pocket spring mattress can certainly offer decent support, but I've read lots of articles saying that Memory Foam is particularly good for joint pain. For example, the charity Versus Arthritis says ‘many people find memory foam mattresses or toppers helpful’ although that advice is just specific to arthritis, of course.
See our guide to mattresses for bad backs.
7. Memory foam is better for allergies than pocket springs - but it is less 'natural'
Most guides I've read say that memory foam is better for allergies because it doesn't contain natural fibres and doesn't collect dustmites.
Pocket spring mattresses often contain lambswool which are a real trigger for some people with allergies.
Lots of websites make it very hard to find out what materials their pocket spring mattresses are made from. One of the clearest bed sellers I've found is John Lewis & Partners. It doesn't list percentages, but it does list fabrics.
On the downside, lots of articles and reports say that cheap memory foam smells bad when it is new and it can be a bit 'artificial' smelling because it is made from polyurethane (a form of plastic) rather than 'natural' materials.
There's another factor which you might want to dismiss or worry about, depending on your approach to life. This article by WebMD suggests your body heat whilst sleeping may 'trigger the release of potentially harmful chemicals from your mattress'. It suggests that it's more of an issue with foam mattresses ('These Volatile Organic Compounds come mainly from the polyurethane used in the mattress, but also from other chemicals used in flame retardants and plastics').
It later says that it's less of an issue in the natural materials which you tend to find in expensive pocket sprung mattresses ('Mattresses containing cotton, wool and natural latex will all produce lower levels of gases'). However, it also says that 'The estimated doses of most VOCs remained well below the levels that could cause health effects' although 'some compounds did reach levels of concern for infants and young children'.
Pocket spring mattresses often contain lambswool which are a real trigger for some people with allergies.
Lots of websites make it very hard to find out what materials their pocket spring mattresses are made from. One of the clearest bed sellers I've found is John Lewis & Partners. It doesn't list percentages, but it does list fabrics.
On the downside, lots of articles and reports say that cheap memory foam smells bad when it is new and it can be a bit 'artificial' smelling because it is made from polyurethane (a form of plastic) rather than 'natural' materials.
There's another factor which you might want to dismiss or worry about, depending on your approach to life. This article by WebMD suggests your body heat whilst sleeping may 'trigger the release of potentially harmful chemicals from your mattress'. It suggests that it's more of an issue with foam mattresses ('These Volatile Organic Compounds come mainly from the polyurethane used in the mattress, but also from other chemicals used in flame retardants and plastics').
It later says that it's less of an issue in the natural materials which you tend to find in expensive pocket sprung mattresses ('Mattresses containing cotton, wool and natural latex will all produce lower levels of gases'). However, it also says that 'The estimated doses of most VOCs remained well below the levels that could cause health effects' although 'some compounds did reach levels of concern for infants and young children'.
8. Pocket springs and memory foam are good for covering up 'rebound'
I wasn't sure quite what rebound was either - it sounded like it was something to do with breaking wind.
It actually means feeling when someone else in the bed is moving. Cheaper open coil spring mattresses aren't so good for this, but a decent pocket spring or memory foam mattress seem to be similarly rated in this category.
It actually means feeling when someone else in the bed is moving. Cheaper open coil spring mattresses aren't so good for this, but a decent pocket spring or memory foam mattress seem to be similarly rated in this category.
Highly-rated memory foam mattresses
Memory foam mattresses featured in our guide to 6 of the best memory foam mattresses, include:
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Budget mattresses:
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Silentnight offers a cheap and cheerful memory foam which impressed experts
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Mid-priced mattresses:
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The Ergoflex 5G is a high scorer with customers
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Luxury mattress:
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Tempur can take a lot of credit for pioneering memory foam mattresses
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Highly-rated pocket sprung mattresses
Pocket spring mattresses featured in our guide to 10 of the best mattresses include:
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Budget mattresses:
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Happy Beds have good specifications for the price
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Mid-priced mattresses:
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Sealy's Teramo/Nostromo 1400 got a great review from expert testers
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Luxury mattresses:
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Vispring is the original pocket spring mattress brand
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Quite a few mattresses have a bit of both - they have pocket springs, but they also use memory foam. Personally, I tend to buy pocket sprung mattresses just because I don't like the sinking feel of memory foam and am prone to feeling too hot in bed, but there are clearly loads of good arguments for memory foam. I also like some of the 'bed in a box' mattresses which are made of foam, but don't sink in quite the same way.