Why Mattress Type Matters: What to Look for in Your Next Mattress

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We all know what a massive difference a good night’s sleep can make. And having a good mattress is a crucial component of helping you get those big Z’s. But what actually makes a good mattress? 

With all the mattress brands and options out there (not to mention all the different jargon), things can get more than a little confusing!

Maybe you’ve had a bad mattress experience you don’t want to repeat. Or perhaps you slept on a fantastic mattress somewhere, and wish you knew exactly why it felt so heavenly. You may be wondering whether there are any universal laws and guidelines to finding the ideal mattress, or if it mostly comes down to trial and error, or maybe even luck?

Buying your next mattress is a critical decision, and can feel a little daunting, but it doesn’t have to be a guessing game. In this guide, we’ll talk through the essential things you need to know about mattress types, what mattress features really matter, as well as individual factors you’ll need to consider in finding your ideal mattress.

Read on and let’s get you that amazing sleep you crave!

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Why is it important to choose the right mattress?

It’s hard to overstate the importance of choosing a good mattress. The difference between sleeping on a poor-quality mattress and a good quality one that meets your sleep needs is (quite literally) night and day.

Here are a few of the immediate and longer-term reasons why putting in the time and effort to pick the right mattress is absolutely worth it:

    • Helps avoid common aches and pains
      We spend around a third of every day sleeping. Spending that much time on a bad mattress is like spending every workday in an uncomfortable pair of shoes - you’re going to end up with all sorts of aches and pains.

      Our bodies need the right kind of support to stay properly aligned and avoid putting strain on key pressure points like our hips, neck and shoulders. A good mattress will provide this support through the night and prevent you from waking up with telltale morning aches and stiffness.

    • Enables more restorative sleep 

Sleeping on a good support system is not only key to preventing unnecessary aches and pains that would result from a lack of proper support—it can also help proactively in relieving and reducing existing aches and pains.

After all, sleep is our body’s daily opportunity for essential R&R! A comfortable and supportive mattress helps ensure our body can properly relax and focus on all the restorative work it needs to be doing during sleep.

If you struggle with back pain, joint pain, or other acute or chronic Musculo-skeletal issues, there are naturally underlying factors that need to be addressed, but studies have shown that sleeping on a good mattress can improve pain, stiffness and sleep quality by up to 60 percent. 

  • Optimizes your sleeping time 
    With our busier than ever lifestyles, sleep is often a precious commodity. While there are so many things that can rob us of the sleep hours we need, ensuring we have the best possible mattress can help us make the most of the sleep hours we do manage to carve out by giving us the best chance of falling asleep quickly, and staying asleep through the night with minimal disruptions to our sleeping comfort. 

    • Improves your overall health and quality of life
      Science is very clear on the fact that quality sleep is central to our health and wellbeing—on par with good nutrition and regular exercise.  While individual sleep needs vary to some degree, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that 7 or more hours of sleep per night is a necessity for all healthy adults, and specifies that reaping the proper benefits of sleep is dependent on good sleep quality.

      While there are certainly other factors involved, mattress quality plays directly into sleep quality.

  • Saves you time and money in the long run  
    From a practical perspective, it makes logistical and financial sense to invest in a sensible, good quality mattress that will serve your needs for a good 10 years or more.

    It’s easy to fall into the trap of making a hasty decision or going for a bargain without ensuring the mattress is really right for you, but this is likely to cost you in extra time, money and effort spent having to replace your mattress again in a few years.

    As far as possible, this is a purchase where you want to choose wisely the first time round to save time, money and frustration in the long run.  

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What Features are Most Important in a Mattress

The benefits of a good mattress speak loud and clear. But now we need to get into the nitty gritty of what actually makes for a ‘good’ mattress.

There are hundreds if not thousands of different mattress features, designs, materials, sleep technologies, and other ‘bells and whistles’ making a lot of noise in the world of bedding. But the truth is, there’s only a handful of key features you need to understand to be able to find your way around when shopping for your next mattress. 

  • The Support Layer

    The support layer is really the defining feature of any mattress (literally, it’s what defines the mattress type). The support layer can be made up of either springs (Innerspring mattresses), foam (Memory Foam, Latex or Pure Foam mattresses), or a combination of the two (Hybrid Mattresses).

    The quality of the materials and their specific configuration will inform the quality of support provided by a mattress, and its overall ‘feel’, since each material offers its own unique characteristics.

    The best support layers are robust and durable, and provide the underlying support necessary to keep your body (and specifically your spine) properly aligned in a healthy sleeping posture. The support that’s most appropriate for you will depend on your preferred sleeping position, and to some degree on your size and weight.

  • The Comfort Layer
    Think of the comfort layer as the icing on the cake—it adds to and rounds off the whole experience nicely, but you wouldn’t want the icing without a good cake underneath. In a mattress, the comfort layer is there to provide a comfortable buffer between the support layer and the sleeper.

    It’s most important in spring and hybrid mattresses since you wouldn’t want to be sleeping directly on those springs! In foam mattresses, there is not always a separate comfort layer, but some may feature different foam layers with (usually) a softer layer at the top, depending on the desired level of plushness or firmness.

    The comfort layer will affect your immediate experience of the mattress, making it easier or harder to get comfortable and fall asleep. It will also affect how easy it is to change positions and fall back to sleep during the night.

  • Mattress Firmness
    The specific mattress firmness is the result of the combined effect of the support layer and comfort layer (if the mattress has one). Mattress manufacturers provide a firmness rating between 1 and 10 on their products to give customers a reference point between the different mattress options available. As a general guide, a rating of 3-4 is classed as ‘Soft’, 5-6 is ‘Medium’, and 7-8 is ‘Firm.’ (You’re unlikely to find a mattress on either end of this spectrum).

    The mattress firmness that feels best to you is largely a personal preference, but it’s also important that your mattress is not too firm or too soft, since either extreme will cause an unhealthy sleep posture that will lead to aches, pains and stiffness.

    In general, people who sleep on their back or stomach will do better with a firmer mattress, while side-sleepers benefit more from relatively softer mattresses that offer more give and take. While there is no ‘ideal’ mattress firmness, the most popular and well-recommended mattresses tend to fall in the ‘medium-firm’ range, which has proven to suit a wide range of body types and sleep preferences.

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Other Mattress Features to Consider

Here are some additional, non-essential mattress features you might want to look at, depending on your personal needs and budget:

  • Motion isolation: If you or your partner are lighter sleepers, motion isolation is a very helpful feature that prevents you from feeling each other’s movements during the night. Single coil systems in spring beds are notorious for letting you feel every little jostle. Most foam and hybrid mattresses with pocket spring systems do a great job of isolating movement so you can both sleep soundly through the night, undisturbed. 

  • Breathability: Mattresses that allow greater airflow help keep you cool as you sleep, which can be a big factor in sleep comfort for some people who tend to ‘sleep warm’. In general, innerspring mattresses and hybrids with springs tend to have better airflow than most foam mattresses (latex, for one, offers excellent breathability).

  • Built-in cooling technology: To alleviate the effects of heat getting trapped within, many foam mattresses incorporate built-in cooling elements such as gel, phase-change technology, or even electric options that use water or air to cool the bed.  

  • Mattress Life Span: A good mattress should be seen as an investment. While the actual life span of your mattress will depend on how well you look after it, the type and quality of the materials used obviously have a big impact. The warranty offered on a particular mattress is usually a good indication of the expected lifespan.  

    While there are certainly exceptions and outliers, pure foam mattresses typically have a life span of 8–10 years, while latex is the most durable, lasting up to 25 years.  Innerspring mattresses with lower quality spring systems will usually only last around 5 years, while high quality hybrid mattresses with pocket springs can be expected to last upwards of 10 years.  

What Mattress Type is Right for You?

Now that we have a better understanding of some mattress fundamentals and features, it’s time for the crucial question—how to figure out what mattress type is going to be your ideal match.

To sum up, here are the essential things you should be prioritising as you consider what mattress to buy:

  • Appropriate support and firmness suited to your body type and preferred sleeping position to keep you in a healthy, neutral sleep posture.

  • An adequate level of comfort to help you fall asleep easily.

  • Any important additional features that are key to your personal preferences, such as breathability or cooling features, motion isolation and above-average durability.

With these in mind, let’s take a more detailed look at the characteristics and various benefits of the major mattress types—specifically, pure foam, memory foam, latex, innerspring and hybrid mattresses. We’ve also got some recommendations to help you find an affordable, high-quality mattress that meets your personal needs.

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Pure Foam Mattresses

Pure foam mattresses are made up of multiple layers of foam which can include memory foam and latex. However, with pure foam we’re usually talking about mattresses where both the support layer and comfort layer consist of what’s commonly called ‘reflex foam’ or ‘high resilience foam’ – a type of polyurethane compound which is firmer than memory and latex foam.

Reflex foam has tiny holes which allow the foam to respond well to pressure, compressing and conforming to the contours of your body, and springing back instantly when the pressure is removed.

The benefits:

  • It’s highly breathable and makes for a very comfortable firmer-feel mattress.
  • It’s cheaper to produce than most other types of foam, making it a cost-effective option with good durability that will suit most individuals.

    Our Ergorest Vitality Mattress is a great all-rounder that works for all sleeping positions. It’s made from layers of durable, high-quality SABS approved pure foam with a hypoallergenic bamboo cover that’s extra breathable, moisture absorbent and dust mite resistant. It supports up to 100kg per person, and offers a medium-firm feel with motion isolation so you can sleep perfectly undisturbed.

The Ergorest Curve is ideal for side sleepers, with medium firmness and more nuanced support for the natural curves of your body. High quality pure foam ensures zero motion transfer, while the hypoallergenic quilted bamboo fabric cover ensures you stay cool and sweat-free through the night.

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Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam is a special compound originally designed for use in aircraft to offer a superior cushioning effect. Memory foam responds to body heat to mould to the exact shape of your body, but will return to its original form when the heat and pressure are removed.

In mattresses this makes for a perfectly customised sleeping surface that moulds to accommodate pressure points while offering consistent support throughout the mattress. They’re especially ideal for side and back sleepers, but due to their softer, ‘cradling’ feel, may not be ideal for stomach sleepers who generally require a firmer sleeping surface. 

Traditional memory foam has a reputation for trapping heat and sleeping warmer than other mattress types. However, mattress manufacturers have improved on the technology in many ways to improve temperature regulation.

Visco Pedic’s new generation memory foam, for example, is designed with open-celled polymers to ensure better breathability and less heat retention for a cooler, more comfortable sleep. 

The benefits: 

  • Arguably the best pressure-relieving mattress option on the market. 
  • Known to help alleviate back pain, since they relieve pressure points and ensure the spine stays in healthy alignment.  
  • Guarantees disturbance-free sleep with its unrivalled motion isolation. 
  • Naturally hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant thanks to its high-density composition. 

    If you’re after the comforting support of memory foam at amazing value, check out the Visco Pedic Superior Comfort Mattress. This pure foam mattress-in-a-box combines the resilient, reliable support of a pure foam support layer with the pressure-relieving qualities of a plush memory foam comfort layer.  The mattress is covered in high quality quilted fabric treated with Aloe Vera and Anti Acaria to keep dust mites away, and guarantees above-average durability with a 15-year warranty.

    If you’re shopping for the kids, the Visco Pedic Junior Kids Mattress has been specifically developed with growing bodies in mind. This multi-layered memory foam mattress has a slightly firmer feel that’s ideal for kids, tweens and teens (supporting up to 70kg), while still providing the pressure relief they need for healthy sleeping posture. And any allergy sufferers can rest easy—the mattress features high-quality hypoallergenic ticking with Aloe Vera and Anti Acaria treatments.  
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Latex Mattresses

Latex mattresses can be made from either natural or man-made latex. Either way, latex offers a firmer, more resilient or ‘bouncier’ feel than other types of foam, which tends to suit back sleepers and stomach sleepers especially well. Side-sleepers who are on the lighter side may find latex a little too firm for their liking, but it will naturally come down to personal preference.

The benefits: 

  • Latex is highly breathable and offers a naturally cooler sleeping surface. 
  • Superior resilience ensures consistent and reliable support across the mattress surface, including better edge support.  
  • The most durable mattress type, often backed with 20 to 25-year warrantees.  

Innerspring Mattresses 

Innerspring mattresses have a support layer consisting of a system of steel coils, usually with a thin layer of foam or pillowtop comfort layer.  The springs provide a firmer, bouncier level of support which is fairly uniform across the mattress surface. This is generally better suited to back and stomach sleepers than side sleepers.  

The coil count and coil gauge are important indicators of mattress quality. Coil gauge typically ranges from 12-15 with lower numbers corresponding to higher firmness and better durability. When it comes to coil count, higher is better – look for upwards of 400 coils in a quality queen size mattress.  

The main downside of innerspring mattresses is their generally poor durability—the coils tend to lose uniformity over time, becoming uneven, uncomfortable, and potentially noisy. There is also no motion isolation, so you’ll feel your partner’s every move in the night.  

The benefits: 

  • Innerspring mattresses are generally cheaper than memory foam, latex and hybrid mattresses. 
  • The firmer, bouncier feel makes it easier to get in and out of bed.  
  • Good breathability ensures efficient temperature regulation.  

Hybrid Mattresses 

Hybrid mattresses are one of the newer mattress types and have quickly become very popular thanks to their ‘best of both’ combination of foam and springs.  

Some hybrids combine a coil spring system with a substantial foam comfort layer which may consist of memory foam or latex, providing more balanced and nuanced support than traditional innerspring mattresses.  

However, the most popular hybrid mattresses feature pocket springs which work independently of each other to provide custom support and pressure relief. The pocket spring system can be enhanced with a comfort layer of pure foam, memory foam, latex, or layered combinations. Back and stomach sleepers may want to look at a hybrid featuring a latex comfort layer, while side sleepers may prefer the more forgiving feel of memory foam or pure foam.   

The benefits: 

  • Longer lifespan than traditional innerspring mattresses.  
  • Pocket springs ensure motion isolation for a disturbance-free sleep. 
  • Better breathability than most foam mattresses, while keeping the major benefits of foam. 
  • Different configurations to suit most sleeping styles and preferences, offering more nuanced support and comfort than other mattress types. 
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Here’s a guide to our top recommended hybrid mattresses:

Entry-level mattress: Ergorest Flex (Pocket Springs + Memory Foam)
The Ergorest Flex gives you the flexible support of individual pocket springs combined with the pressure-relief of memory foam at great value for money. The mattress has a medium firmness rating best suited to side and back sleepers, and promises to keep you cool and comfy with its hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial quilted bamboo cover. It comes with a 10-year warranty.

Best all-rounder: Visco Pedic Cloud Comfort (Pocket Springs + Memory Foam)
The Cloud Comfort offers the ideal balance of support and comfort with the combination of pocket springs for better spine alignment, and an indulgent layer of high-density, pressure-relieving memory foam for that feeling of cloudlike comfort. With a medium-firm rating (7), this mattress suits all sleeping positions and ensures complete motion isolation for couples who want to sleep undisturbed. It supports up to 110kg either side, and comes with a 15 year warranty.

Best for back support: Visco Pedic Core Plus (Custom Pocket Springs + Memory Foam & High Resilience Foam)
The Core Plus features a specialised pocket spring system with a ‘magic middle’ where firmer gauge coils offer superior support in the lower and middle back region, making this an ideal mattress for back sleepers and anyone struggling with back pain. The pillowtop comfort layer combines pressure-relieving memory and high resilient foam to offer a supportive and inviting sleep surface with a medium-firm feel (7.5) that will also suit heavier-built side-sleepers. Supports up to 130kg per side. 

Best combination for ultimate comfort: Visco Pedic Premium Comfort (Pocket Springs + Memory Foam & Latex Eurotop) 
Combining pocket springs and a luxurious Eurotop of memory foam and latex layers, the Premium Comfort mattress offers an ideal combination of pressure relief, resilience and breathability for all-round comfort that’s built to last. This extra-depth mattress is rated medium-firm (7.5) and supports weights of up to 130kg per person, making it a versatile all-rounder in the premium mattress category.

Best luxury mattress with custom support: Visco Pedic Hybrid Plus (Custom Pocket Springs + High Resilience Foam) 
The Hybrid Plus Mattress features a premium extra-depth comfort layer of SABS quality approved pure foam, supported by an individual pocket spring system with a ‘magic middle’ of firm gauge coils for superior back support. Offering a welcoming and soothing sleep surface with a medium firmness rating, this mattress is ideal for back and side sleepers up to 100kg.

We’ve got good news for you… Your best years, and best nights are still ahead of you! It all starts with choosing a mattress that’s going to hit your sweet spot for support and comfort. With the right mattress, you’ll have the key ingredient to transform your sleep—and in turn, your quality of life.

We hope this guide has answered those pressing questions about what really matters in a mattress and how to choose the best mattress type for your needs and personal sleep preferences. If you’re ready to take the next step, check out our range of affordable, premium quality mattresses online or visit your nearest Cielo showroom today.

Find more tips & advice for creating your ideal sleep experience: The Bedroom Match-Up Demystified:

Choosing the Best Base for your Mattress 

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