The Bottom Line of Memory Foam

There are major purchases in life. Furniture, especially bedroom furniture can seem like one of the bigger ticket items. When you spend a third of your life with a product, it should be one that you spend some time before you buy.

There are many options in sleep today. The original, traditional option of inner spring and box spring has been surpassed with a host of other alternatives. Airbeds, waterbeds and a variety of memory foam types and styles are the top contenders. Memory foam is now the sleep choice for millions but within the memory foam line there are many variations.

Viscous elastic foam was developed as a commissioned engineered product for NASA at the start of the space race. NASA was seeking a high-energy displacement foam that would manage the long and bumpy flights in space. The early versions were made from petroleum based products and were characteristic for their ability to absorb energy, evenly and quickly disbursing that energy and providing comfort without the pressure points generated with inner springs or coils.

But you are reaching for your checkbook so what you need to know is the bottom line to finding the best mattress for you. There is a wide range of prices in mattresses. The budget level can be in the $300-$500 per piece, mid-level in the $1,000-$4,000 range. According to the Wall Street Journal, currently the most expensive mattress for sale in America is the hand tufted king size Palais Royale at a jaw dropping $33,000.

While it is unlikely that you want to drop $33,000 for your mattress; there are other things for you to consider here. What is the warranty or guarantee process? Can you try it for free? What does that look like – do you pay with the ability to send it back or is it free for 30, 60 or 90 days?

Does your manufacturer, retailer or vendor provide financing, and if so what is the cost of that financing? Is there a 90 days same as cash option?

Have you considered the best combination for your bed? Is it a high-end luxury version with a sinkable top layer? Or are you better off with a more modest version with an additional mattress topper? Like all high-ticket purchases, you need to consider how you will use this, for how long and what you are able to spend comfortably.

There are some other things to consider as well. Who makes this mattress and where? Can you rely that the mattress is made in the manner they advertise? Some cheaper off shore companies use chopped foam and filler like sand to add to thickness or density. Consider your personal values in the formula for the mattress you are budgeting for; is the company sustainable and environmentally friendly? Is it made in America? Are these values that matter to you? There are many options to choose from in picking a mattress. But limit to the basics:

The bottom line is: find a bed that allows you to get a great night’s sleep without breaking the bank.