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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. Fortune Business Insights claims that about two thirds of mattresses sold around the world are either pocket sprung or 'coil' which are the cheaper alternative (2019 data). IbisWorld research suggests sprung mattresses are also still number one in the UK.
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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:
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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- Silentnight 3 Zone Memory Foam mattress (£199) - at the budget end of the memory foam mattress market is this model from mega-sized brand Silentnight. For a couple of hundred pounds you get an award winning double mattress from a brand you've heard of. The main downside is that it is a lot thinner than more expensive mattresses. The actual layer of memory foam is only 3cm deep, whilst the overall depth is 18cm. By contrast, the Nectar Sleep is 25cm deep including a 9cm layer of memory foam.
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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'. See our guide to the best hybrid mattresses if that's what you're after.
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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 (£699), Ergoflex (£739) and several others. Mattress company Nectar Sleep (£699) 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 (£699), Ergoflex (£739) and several others. Mattress company Nectar Sleep (£699) 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.
Some research has been carried out into whether you sleep better on a memory foam mattress or a sprung mattress. One study worth discussing was called 'Comparative Effects of Sleep on a Standard Mattress to an Experimental Foam Surface on Sleep Architecture and CAP Rates' which was published in 1997 by Scharf, Stover et al. The study refers to 'innerspring' mattresses, which is the name for a sprung mattress in the USA.
The study explored the 'CAP rate' which is the cyclic alternating pattern and relates to patterns of how we sleep. In summary, poor sleep is often associated 'with elevated CAP rates'.
Researchers enlisted 10 participants and got them to spend several nights of an 'experimental foam surface' and on a 'high quality innerspring hospital mattress'.
The study found 'no differences in sleep stages, number of wakes, or total sleep time between the two conditions.' However, they did find that 'CAP rates were significantly reduced on the foam surface' which should be seen as a victory for the foam mattress.
Another study worth mentioning is that carried out in China and published in 2009 by Wang, Zhou et al called 'Quality of sleep, as influenced by mattresses with various degree of firmness'. The study compared mattresses including a soft 'sponge mattress' a medium firmness 'innerspring mattress' (i.e. a sprung mattress) and a firm 'wooden board mattress'.
30 people took part and tested each mattress for one night. They were then asked to give their opinion of how well they had slept ('each subject accepted sleep quality evaluation with Sleep Quality Questionnaire and Self-feeling Scale of Sleep').
On every area, the medium firmness sprung mattress was the winner. Participants gave higher scores to the sprung mattress on the 'Sleep Quality Questionnaire' and the 'Self-feeling Scale of Sleep'. They also found that 'The amount of body movement of the subjects were less when using innerspring mattress' and that the body was better supported ('The pressure and support of the buttocks,scapular and low back of the subjects to the mattress showed more desirable when using innerspring mattress than those when using board mattress or sponge mattress').
Finally, they found that the position you sleep in didn't affect the result ('No matter lying on the back or on the side,the body mattress interface area on the innerspring mattress showed more acceptable').
My feeling about this particular piece of research is that it tells us more about how people responded to soft, medium and firm mattresses than it does about memory foam v pocket springs. However, it was a study which put both mattress types side by side in a controlled academic environment so it's still worth a mention.
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.
Some research has been carried out into whether you sleep better on a memory foam mattress or a sprung mattress. One study worth discussing was called 'Comparative Effects of Sleep on a Standard Mattress to an Experimental Foam Surface on Sleep Architecture and CAP Rates' which was published in 1997 by Scharf, Stover et al. The study refers to 'innerspring' mattresses, which is the name for a sprung mattress in the USA.
The study explored the 'CAP rate' which is the cyclic alternating pattern and relates to patterns of how we sleep. In summary, poor sleep is often associated 'with elevated CAP rates'.
Researchers enlisted 10 participants and got them to spend several nights of an 'experimental foam surface' and on a 'high quality innerspring hospital mattress'.
The study found 'no differences in sleep stages, number of wakes, or total sleep time between the two conditions.' However, they did find that 'CAP rates were significantly reduced on the foam surface' which should be seen as a victory for the foam mattress.
Another study worth mentioning is that carried out in China and published in 2009 by Wang, Zhou et al called 'Quality of sleep, as influenced by mattresses with various degree of firmness'. The study compared mattresses including a soft 'sponge mattress' a medium firmness 'innerspring mattress' (i.e. a sprung mattress) and a firm 'wooden board mattress'.
30 people took part and tested each mattress for one night. They were then asked to give their opinion of how well they had slept ('each subject accepted sleep quality evaluation with Sleep Quality Questionnaire and Self-feeling Scale of Sleep').
On every area, the medium firmness sprung mattress was the winner. Participants gave higher scores to the sprung mattress on the 'Sleep Quality Questionnaire' and the 'Self-feeling Scale of Sleep'. They also found that 'The amount of body movement of the subjects were less when using innerspring mattress' and that the body was better supported ('The pressure and support of the buttocks,scapular and low back of the subjects to the mattress showed more desirable when using innerspring mattress than those when using board mattress or sponge mattress').
Finally, they found that the position you sleep in didn't affect the result ('No matter lying on the back or on the side,the body mattress interface area on the innerspring mattress showed more acceptable').
My feeling about this particular piece of research is that it tells us more about how people responded to soft, medium and firm mattresses than it does about memory foam v pocket springs. However, it was a study which put both mattress types side by side in a controlled academic environment so it's still worth a mention.
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.
On a related note, a study in China was carried out in 2020 to see how well people responded to different types of mattress, based on their age and their sleeping position. It was carried out by Hou and Zhang and was called 'The Influence of Mattress Material on Sleeping Comfort of Different Age'.
A notable conclusion was that younger age groups had a positive response to memory foam and latex mattresses whether they slept on their back or side ('The young and middle-aged subjects had high evaluation on memory foam, and latex mattress in supine and lateral position'). Slightly older participants 'had higher evaluation on memory foam, and coir mattress' in both back sleeping and side sleeping positions. Meanwhile, 'elder subjects preferred coir and cotton mattress' when sleeping on their back and 'preferred memory foam and coir mattress' when sleeping on their side.
Spreading your weight out and relieving pressure points is another area where memory foam tends to perform well. In one study, researchers Gunningberg, Lindholm et al gave visco elastic foam mattresses (i.e. memory foam mattresses) to patients in hospital. They found that 'patients on standard mattresses tended to develop more severe pressure ulcers' than those on the memory foam mattresses (see 'Effect of visco-elastic foam mattresses on the development of pressure ulcers in patients with hip fractures', published in 2013).
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.
On a related note, a study in China was carried out in 2020 to see how well people responded to different types of mattress, based on their age and their sleeping position. It was carried out by Hou and Zhang and was called 'The Influence of Mattress Material on Sleeping Comfort of Different Age'.
A notable conclusion was that younger age groups had a positive response to memory foam and latex mattresses whether they slept on their back or side ('The young and middle-aged subjects had high evaluation on memory foam, and latex mattress in supine and lateral position'). Slightly older participants 'had higher evaluation on memory foam, and coir mattress' in both back sleeping and side sleeping positions. Meanwhile, 'elder subjects preferred coir and cotton mattress' when sleeping on their back and 'preferred memory foam and coir mattress' when sleeping on their side.
Spreading your weight out and relieving pressure points is another area where memory foam tends to perform well. In one study, researchers Gunningberg, Lindholm et al gave visco elastic foam mattresses (i.e. memory foam mattresses) to patients in hospital. They found that 'patients on standard mattresses tended to develop more severe pressure ulcers' than those on the memory foam mattresses (see 'Effect of visco-elastic foam mattresses on the development of pressure ulcers in patients with hip fractures', published in 2013).
7. Memory foam is less natural than pocket springs and 'has a higher environmental impact'
The question of whether a particular mattress is 'green' or 'sustainable' or 'environmentally friendly' is open to debate as there are multiple ways to measure such things. Is it more important what a mattress is made from or whether it can be recycled? Or is it more important that it is made locally rather than being transported from one side of the planet to the other?
An academic study worth mentioning is one with the snappy title of 'How do end of life scenarios influence the environmental impact of product supply chains? Comparing biomaterial and petrochemical products' (Glew, Stringer et al 2012). The study found that a pocket sprung mattress which uses natural fibres (e.g. wool, cotton, coir, latex) will 'emit marginally less greenhouse gasses' than a pocket sprung mattress which uses foam.
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.
Glew, Stringer et al also said that the difference between foam and natural materials once 'end of life scenarios' were considered was more significant. By which they mean that the environmental impact of disposing of an old mattress is a big victory for natural fibres over foam ('Refurbishing natural fibre mattresses and reusing the springs, coupled with recycling the waste components, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to sending the mattresses to landfill'.)
Another study into the environmental impact of mattresses by Lanoë, Simões et al (2013) compared foam mattresses with pocket sprung mattresses. They looked at environmental impact over the product's life and found that the foam mattress 'has a higher environmental impact' than the pocket sprung mattress with the main cause being 'the foam block moulding process for the' foam mattress.
In the interests of balance, it's worth saying that some memory foam brands offer quite a lot of detail when it comes to sustainability. For example, Nectar Sleep's sustainability page says that 'our mattress production is certifiably climate neutral' which involves a policy 'to calculate the carbon footprint from our manufacturing process, find strategies to reduce this, and offset the remainder.'
On the issue of allergies to dust mites, there is mixed information and research. According to Mattress Online 'Foam mattresses are particularly beneficial in lowering the risk of dust mites and allergens in your bedroom'. The reason for this is that 'The solid core structure of these mattresses makes them impenetrable to dust mites'. Other guides offer similar advice.
However, a study in Norway by Schei, Hessen and Lund appears to offer contrary advice ('House-dust mites and mattresses' 2002). They took samples from foam and sprung mattresses and found 'the risk of finding mite feces was four times higher in foam compared to spring mattresses...and eight times higher for the foam mattresses without cover'. Their conclusion was that 'a simple replacement of foam mattresses with spring mattresses may reduce the exposure to house-dust-mite allergens'.
A separate study by Zock, Heinrich et al in 2006 found that 'Important risk factors for high allergen levels included an older mattress, a lower floor level of the bedroom, limited ventilation of the bedroom, and dampness'
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. This is sometimes called off-gassing.
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'.
An academic study worth mentioning is one with the snappy title of 'How do end of life scenarios influence the environmental impact of product supply chains? Comparing biomaterial and petrochemical products' (Glew, Stringer et al 2012). The study found that a pocket sprung mattress which uses natural fibres (e.g. wool, cotton, coir, latex) will 'emit marginally less greenhouse gasses' than a pocket sprung mattress which uses foam.
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.
Glew, Stringer et al also said that the difference between foam and natural materials once 'end of life scenarios' were considered was more significant. By which they mean that the environmental impact of disposing of an old mattress is a big victory for natural fibres over foam ('Refurbishing natural fibre mattresses and reusing the springs, coupled with recycling the waste components, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to sending the mattresses to landfill'.)
Another study into the environmental impact of mattresses by Lanoë, Simões et al (2013) compared foam mattresses with pocket sprung mattresses. They looked at environmental impact over the product's life and found that the foam mattress 'has a higher environmental impact' than the pocket sprung mattress with the main cause being 'the foam block moulding process for the' foam mattress.
In the interests of balance, it's worth saying that some memory foam brands offer quite a lot of detail when it comes to sustainability. For example, Nectar Sleep's sustainability page says that 'our mattress production is certifiably climate neutral' which involves a policy 'to calculate the carbon footprint from our manufacturing process, find strategies to reduce this, and offset the remainder.'
On the issue of allergies to dust mites, there is mixed information and research. According to Mattress Online 'Foam mattresses are particularly beneficial in lowering the risk of dust mites and allergens in your bedroom'. The reason for this is that 'The solid core structure of these mattresses makes them impenetrable to dust mites'. Other guides offer similar advice.
However, a study in Norway by Schei, Hessen and Lund appears to offer contrary advice ('House-dust mites and mattresses' 2002). They took samples from foam and sprung mattresses and found 'the risk of finding mite feces was four times higher in foam compared to spring mattresses...and eight times higher for the foam mattresses without cover'. Their conclusion was that 'a simple replacement of foam mattresses with spring mattresses may reduce the exposure to house-dust-mite allergens'.
A separate study by Zock, Heinrich et al in 2006 found that 'Important risk factors for high allergen levels included an older mattress, a lower floor level of the bedroom, limited ventilation of the bedroom, and dampness'
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. This is sometimes called off-gassing.
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.
If you want further reading on this, have a look at 'The Evaluation of Compatibility between Human and Mattress using EMG' by Park, Subramaniyam et al (2014). They compared a sprung mattress with a Tempur foam mattress and found that the 'Spring mattress provided significantly greater relaxation' and there was 'significantly lower muscle activities when the subject tossed and turned to their right on the spring mattress than (the) Tempur mattress'.
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.
If you want further reading on this, have a look at 'The Evaluation of Compatibility between Human and Mattress using EMG' by Park, Subramaniyam et al (2014). They compared a sprung mattress with a Tempur foam mattress and found that the 'Spring mattress provided significantly greater relaxation' and there was 'significantly lower muscle activities when the subject tossed and turned to their right on the spring mattress than (the) Tempur mattress'.
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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This 'Anyday' mattress from John Lewis has a long warranty, despite the budget price
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Mid-priced mattresses:
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Nectar Sleep got our attention with its 'forever' guarantee
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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:
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.