What’s the Difference Between a Foam, Spring, and Hybrid Mattress?

Wouldn’t it be nice if choosing the right mattress was as simple as heading to the store and just laying on a few for fifteen minutes? The truth is though, these days there are so many mattress types that it’s almost impossible to find the right one without doing a little research first.

A new mattress is a huge investment in terms of both finances and quality of sleep. That’s why we’ve put together a quick, but comprehensive overview of the three categories all mattresses can pretty much fit into—foam, spring, and hybrid.

Once you read through and familiarize yourself with the basics, head on over to our website to find the one you want, or stop in the store and try a few!

Foam Mattresses

A foam mattress is typically made up of several different layers and types of—you guessed it—foam. The different types of foam can be boiled down to three general categories: memory foam, polyurethane foam (poly foam), and foam latex.

Memory foam is distinguished by the way it molds to the curves of the body and slowly bounces back to its natural shape. Poly foam uses multiple types of foam for support and comfort and is generally soft and springy. This is the most lightweight of the foam mattresses. Foam latex is firmer and offers a little more push back, as its support system is made with air bubbles created by aerating a sap-like substance.

This mattress is probably the most durable of the three, as it maintains its quality for the longest amount of time. It’s great for absorbing movement so it’s ideal for restless sleepers or someone sharing a bed with one. One of the drawbacks to a foam mattress though, is that it tends to retain body heat which results in poor temperature control.

Spring Mattresses

When your grandma went to the furniture store to pick out her new bed, she probably went home with a spring mattress. They’ve been around for the longest amount of time and are considered the most traditional. They’re also referred to as innerspring mattresses.

The support system of a spring mattress consists of an interconnected system of spring coils made with steel of varying gauges, or thickness. The springs are lined up in rows in order to support body weight throughout the night, and then suspended in a layer of foam. This foam layer is considered the “comfort layer,” while the springs make up the “support layer.”

A spring mattress offers a lot of support, particularly for heavier individuals or people with back problems. It has a lot of bounce and good temperature control, so it’s a cooler option as well. Since they’ve been around a while, spring mattresses come in a wide variety of types and prices.

The bounce back support system of a spring mattress can be a drawback for some individuals. The coils push back with the same amount of pressure that your body applies to the mattress, which can vary based on the area of your body—your head, for example, will apply more pressure than your feet and thus receive more push back in response for support. This uneven pressure response across the mattress can lead to discomfort for some people.

Hybrid Mattresses

A hybrid mattress is built just how it sounds—with a combination of spring and foam mattress features. The hybrid mattress relies on a spring core that’s encased in high-density memory foam or foam latex, and then topped with multiple layers of memory and poly foam for high support and optimal comfort.

The spring system allows the sleeper to feel supported and keeps them from sinking into the mattress the way they would on one made of foam. They have the freedom to move around that a spring mattress offers, with layers of foam to minimize bounce back. The foam also quiets the springs and contours to your body to maximize sleep quality.

Now that you have an idea of the attributes and drawbacks of each mattress type, you should be ready to put your knowledge into action! At Conway Furniture we offer a wide variety of mattresses to fit any budget. Don’t worry if you forget what you’ve learned though—our experts will be readily available and happy to help you out!