There are many reasons to buy a new mattress: You want to sleep better, often wake up with back pain, or it becomes necessary again. After all, experts advise you to replace your mattress every five to ten years.
But now you’re spoiled for choice:
- Which mattress is good?
- Cold foam mattress or spring core?
- How much should I spend?
- What do I have to pay attention to?
- Which mattress suits me and my sleeping habits?
Don’t worry; you don’t have to start studying mattress science now. To make your decision easier, you can take our test. This will tell you which category is best for you. We also explain what you should look out for when buying.
Here’s how it works:
Select the statements that apply to you and write down the corresponding letters. If a question is not relevant to you, skip it. Ultimately, add which letter(s) you chose most often. You will find the appropriate mattress type(s) at the end of the article. Let’s go!
Which lying comfort do you prefer?
I like to lie soft C, D, E
Rather firm A, B
Soft to medium hard A, B, C, D, E
Hot-blooded or frosty?
I tend to sweat at night B, D, E
I get cold pretty easily. A, C, D
How nocturnal are you?
I often change my sleeping position to A, B, D, E
I tend to lie quietly A, B, C, D, E
Side, back, or stomach sleeper?
I usually sleep on my back A, B, C, D, E
I sleep best in side positions A, B, C, D, E
I am a stomach sleeper A, B, C, E
How much do you want to spend?
I am looking for a mattress as cheap as possible A, B
I am looking for a middle-class mattress A, B, C, D, E
Good sleep is worth a lot to me. C, D, E
Do you suffer from back pain?
That is why I am looking for a new mattress C, D, E
I have already had one or more slipped discs A, C, E
What else is important to you?
The mattress should have a low weight because I often move/turn it A, C, D
I am allergic (e.g., dust mites) A, C, D
My mattress must be suitable for high body weight A, B, C
I have an adjustable/tiltable slatted frame A, D, E
I want to put the mattress on the floor or a board surface B, E
Resolution: Which bed is the right one?
A: Cold foam mattress
Cold foam (the name comes from the manufacturing process, as the material does not have to cure under heat) is good for all-around mattresses with a good price-performance ratio. Cold foam provides a warm lying; the lying sensation varies depending on the degree of hardness from medium soft to firm. The details make the difference. To sleep well even with back problems, the foam should have an ergonomic zone profile that causes the shoulders to sink in more, while the pelvis (center of gravity of the body) is supported by firmer foam. The goal is for the spine to lie straight.
For good quality, you should pay attention to the density. The higher the value, i.e., the denser the material, the more dimensionally stable and durable the foam. 30 kg/m³ is the minimum and values around 40 kg/m³ or higher are even better. By the way, more layers do not automatically mean more comfort!
Comfort foam is manufactured slightly differently, but its properties are broadly comparable. Its advantages are good breathability and lower price, but cold foam’s adaptability (point elasticity) is minimally better.
B: Innerspring mattress
As the name suggests, innerspring mattresses have a core made of spiral springs that deform with weight. The interconnected so-called bonell spring cores are more commonly used for sofas and box box-spring beds, while pocket spring cores are the best solution for mattresses. The springs are individually sewn into pockets to prevent rebounding and improve point elasticity. The springs are bulbously shaped like barrels in barrel pocket spring mattresses to provide better resilience. The more springs are used per unit area (i.e., smaller springs are used), the better the point elasticity of the body.
What does this mean for you? Innerspring mattresses well serve those who sweat at night; the hollow space between the springs ensures good ventilation. On innerspring mattresses, you tend to lie more firmly (of course, as always, it depends on the individual model and its degree of firmness). For an ergonomic lying posture, side sleepers should consider 7-zone construction.
Innerspring mattresses are less compatible with adjustable slatted frames.
C: Visco foam mattress
Visco foam is also called “memory foam” because it has shape memory. Under the influence of body heat, it deforms and adapts to the contours of your body. The result is that you feel perfectly supported and lie almost weightlessly soft. From this point of view, Visco foam mattresses are particularly suitable for people with back problems, intervertebral discs, and other orthopedic conditions. All those who prefer a warm sleeping climate feel well here.
Visco foam is less suitable for those who move a lot during sleep because the foam needs a few minutes to readjust to the body. So if you roll around a lot, you sleep on an uneven surface, harming sleep quality. The thermoelastic effect must be at least 18° C, so if you sleep with the window open even in winter, you should also prefer another type of construction.
D: Gel foam mattress
Gel foam mattresses are a further development of gel mattresses. Viscous gel offers great body contouring but has disadvantages such as high weight, zero moisture balance, and a high price. That’s why people started mixing the gel with foam – the resulting gel foam is denser than cold foam but has the same support as gel with much less weight and good ventilation.
For proper body contouring, gel foam layers are usually combined with a 7-zone cold foam core or innerspring core. Gel foam is well suited for allergy sufferers and people with restless sleep, and the lying feeling is rather soft.
E: Box spring mattress
The bed trend of box spring beds continues beyond mattress development. The principle of stacking two layers of innerspring on top of each other and topping it off with a soft topper is applied in box spring mattresses in a single cover. The result: you get that wonderful sleeping sensation that box spring bed fans swear by, but without buying a new bed. Due to the construction, box spring mattresses are higher than others. This is favorable for older people, as it provides a comfortable height for getting in and out of bed. The lying feeling is soft to medium-hard, depending on the topper layer. Initially, you sink in a bit unaccustomed, but you are perfectly supported everywhere and feel almost weightless.
Box spring mattresses are recommended for back problem cases and all those who tend to sweat. The downside of the comfort experience is the comparatively high purchase price and somewhat bulky handling.
We hope to give you some orientation. Of course, this information can only be an approximation; factors such as the degree of firmness, the slatted frame, and, last but not least, personal sensation play an important role. Whether you have found the right mattress will ultimately always be decided in a practical test.
That’s why you should sleep on it for a few nights first!