What Mattress Firmness Is Best
Its important to remember that there is no best firmness, and the most comfortable mattress varies from person to person. However, if youre struggling to determine which firmness matches your needs and sleep style the most, medium to medium-firm mattresses are considered to be the best options since they evenly blend firmness and softness.
How Can I Make My Bed More Firm
You can change the feel of a mattress by adding a topper. Memory foam toppers can be used to add softness or firmness to your bed. At Amerisleep, our Lift Memory Foam Topper comes in two different firmness levelsSupport and Comfort. If you are looking to add firmness to your current mattress, the Support topper has a firmer feel and helps create an even sleeping surface. The Comfort topper offers more cushioning for those looking to add softness to a bed.
How To Determine If You Need A Firm Or Plush Mattress
Many individuals struggle with discomfort, particularly athletes, seniors, and those who struggle with hip and shoulder pain. If you relate to this, you may need a softer mattress with excellent pressure relief. Sleeping on top of a plush surface can be incredibly helpful for hip and shoulder pain due to a plush products pressure relieving abilities.
On the other hand, if you find yourself often waking with a sore lower back, you may need a firmer product to keep your spine aligned. If you’re resting on a surface that’s too soft, your spinal alignment could become crooked or hyperextended, which could lead to back problems and even breathing issues.
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Firmness And Mattress Performance
The firmness setting may be used to determine how a mattress will perform in the long run. Performance factors tied to mattress firmness include the following:
The table below features a summary of pricing and performance expectations for mattresses with different firmness settings:
| Firmness Range |
| Good to Very Good |
How Long Does It Take To Adjust To A New Mattress
It should take approximately 30 to 60 days to adjust to your new mattress, as it can initially feel somewhat stiff, and your body may not be accustomed to its new support system. That said, you might feel totally comfortable on it from day one, and thats great!
Luckily, many companies offer sleep trials to give customers time to be certain they enjoy their new mattress. Its encouraged that you test your mattress for at least one month before making a decision to keep or return it.
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Suitable For Back And Stomach Sleepers
When resting on the back, the hips and buttocks tend to sink. If the mattress is too soft, these areas may sink excessivelyresulting in a misaligned spine and tense muscles. Back sleepers tend to sleep best on a firmer bed that will prevent sinking and keep the hips in line with the shoulders and head. When the spine is neutral, the body can fully relax and repair.
Our spines naturally curve, but when sleeping the stomach, this curve can become exaggerated. Over time, the pressure this position places on the back and neck can lead to chronic pain. In most cases, it is best to avoid stomach sleeping. However, if you find it difficult to avoid this position, the best mattresses for stomach sleeping are firmer. A firm bed will keep the hips lifted to reduce the pressure on the spine.
Cons Of A Medium Mattress
While medium mattresses are very beneficial for some individuals, they dont work for everyone. A medium mattress may not be firm enough to support somebody who experiences consistent back pain, as their back may sag and cause their spine to misalign. They may also feel a tad too soft for heavier sleepers since they require sturdier support to resist sinkage and remain resting in comfortable alignment.
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Sleepmaker Comfort And Support Layer Technology
SleepMaker mattresses offer a wide range of comfort and support layer technologies that allow you to choose your mattress according to your personal sleeping preferences .
You can sleep well knowing that youll still be giving your body the support it needs.
Discover the range of Sleepmaker mattresses, there is something for everyone whether youre looking for an affordable quality mattress, back support mattress, or luxury mattress for the best sleep possible.
Firm Soft Or Inbetween
When youre choosing a new mattress theres a range of questions that youre likely to ask yourself is it better to have a firm or a soft mattress? Is a soft mattress supportive enough?
You may have heard mixed reviews on whether you should sleep on a firm or a soft mattress. The reality is that theres no one perfect mattress feel for everyone, and personal preference is the most important thing. There are however, some important factors you should consider when deciding whats best for you.
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Suitable For Heavy Sleepers
Those over 230 pounds will experience more sinking than a lightweight sleeper. If the mattress is too soft, a heavier person will sink too far and hit the harder support base on the bottom of the bed. Resting on the hard core of the bed could cause pain near the pressure points.
Additionally, sinking can cause the sleeper to feel stuck in the bed, making it difficult to change positions during the night. This restricted movement could also lead to poor circulation and trouble breathing. With a firm mattress, the lungs can expand and blood can flow freely.
What Are The Disadvantages Of A Soft Mattress
Though they might seem like the more comfortable choice based on feel, a soft mattress can be difficult to adjust to, especially for stomach sleepers. This is because soft mattresses have plenty of give, which might cause unnatural curving of the spine during sleep, leading to back pain or other chronic body pain.
Soft mattresses can also be the wrong choice for heavier sleepers. Since theres already a natural amount of sink that comes with most soft mattresses, heavier sleepers might experience an excessive amount of give, and sink too deeply into their bed.
This is also why softer mattresses are less likely to be recommended to couples, especially when opting for a smaller-sized mattress, since this can also lead to excessive sinking. Soft mattresses that are of poor quality can also lose their shape quicker than hard mattresses, so be sure to check the warranty measures of your bed before investing in something softer.
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Soft Or Firm Mattress: Which Is Better For Side Sleepers
All sleep experts recommend side sleeping for better rest and healthier life. Statistically, most people favor sleeping on their side, even though we tend to change positions during sleep. Considering these two facts, many mattress manufacturers and retailers advertise various models as being the best for side sleepers. But the truth is that such products must present a few unique traits to make side sleeping a truly comfortable experience.
We have heard several myths regarding those features, and Ive noticed that the central debate focused on their level of firmness. Some say softer is best, others advocate for a higher degree of stiffness. Let me expose both tales:
Advantages Of A Firm Mattress
For those not experiencing troublesome back pain, a firm mattress is will generally be more comfortable. When sleeping on a firmer surface, the bones absorb most of the pressure, meaning there is less stress on muscles, veins and arteries. Muscles are less strained, and circulation is improved.
A firm mattress also keeps your lower back from collapsing, which could allow for more oxygen intake while sleeping. Less sagging can mean the weight of the body is distributed evenly, which means no one part of the body is bearing the brunt of the pressure.
Firm mattresses are generally better for those who sleep on their back, because they provide a more stable and even surface. Stomach sleepers tend to fare better on a firmer mattress, too.
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Which Firmness Is Right For You
When deciding the best mattress firmness for you, your body composition and sleeping position play the largest role, though personal preference is still important, too. In addition, your mattress should aid in keeping your spine neutral and cushioning your pressure points. To get the best nights sleep possible, consider the following factors.
Layer Design Influences Comfort And Support
The way in which the layers of the mattress are designed can influence how the firmness of the mattress is perceived especially when you have back pain because even subtle differences can be felt vividly.
The upper comfort layer of the mattress ties heavily to the level of firmness and also influences the rate of compression and pressure relief that youll experience.
Whilst the lower support layer is dominant in its role of providing support with some mattresses also having an additional transition layer sandwiched between these two layers to stop you from sinking into the support core below and potentially making your back pain worse.
Heres a breakdown of how you can expect the layering design of different mattress types to potentially influence your back pain and comfort levels:
All-Foam
All-foam mattresses can potentially be suitable for all sleeper types if they are selected in the correct firmness, but heavier weighted sleepers may find mattresses with foam in both the comfort and support core to sink in too much, be harder to move around in, and possibly make your back pain worse.
Conversely, lighter weighted sleepers are the most likely to benefit from an all-foam mattress in the correct firmness because the greater capacity for material compression can help to dissipate pressure and help you to maintain good posture.
Hybrid
Traditional Spring
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Suitable For Lightweight Sleepers
Whether resting on their side, back, or stomach, lighter individuals , will naturally experience very little sinking. If these individuals sleep on a firm mattress, tension can build-up near the pressure pointscreating pain and stiffness. Lightweight sleepers need a soft bed that will quickly respond to their body weight for adequate contouring.
Best Firm Mattress: Amerisleep As2
The Amerisleep AS2 has a medium-firm feel that back and stomach sleepers often prefer. The plant-based Bio-Pur® foam in the comfort layer conforms to the body with very little sinkage, ensuring the hips and shoulders remain lifted on the mattress.
With the help of its soft, perforated cover, body heat quickly dissipates, leaving behind a cool and inviting sleep surface that wont cause uncomfortable night sweats.
The transition layer of the AS2 features Amerisleeps Affinity foam with HIVE® technology, a zoned support layer designed to cradle the lumbar spine and protect the joints from pressure points. For those with chronic back pain, this mattress ensures the spine remains neutral, so the muscles can fully relax and heal during sleep.
The base of the AS2 features Amerisleeps Bio-Core® support foam, a durable material designed to prevent sagging. This layer also provides further protection against spinal misalignment and over-sinking.
Amerisleeps AS2 mattress comes with their 100-night sleep trial so you can test out the mattress at home and make sure its right for you. They also include a 20-year warranty which covers structural and manufacturing defects.
Amerisleep AS5
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What Makes A Mattress Suitable For My Sleeping Habits
Your body will be held in a neutral position by the greatest mattress for you. The head, shoulders, buttocks, and heels will all be adjusted, and the spine will be retained in its natural curve. An excellent mattress will often make the sleeper feel as if they are floating on air, with no pressure at all.
Materials Impacts Pressure Relief And Support
The materials that your mattress is primarily made from can make a huge difference to how comfortable you feel in your mattress if you have back pain:
Memory Foam
Memory foam mattresses are best for lighter weighted sleepers, sleepers with a lower body fat percentage, and side sleepers with back pain because the materials unique ability to conform to your physical characteristics means that you can experience greater pressure relief and contoured support to help maintain good posture and combat back pain.
Heavier weighted sleepers can also enjoy the pressure-relieving qualities of memory foam providing that the mattress is firm enough to stop you from sinking too far into the materials.
Latex Foam
Latex foam mattresses are suitable for front, back, and side sleepers with back pain who may also sleep hot,sweat at night, and/or suffer from restlessness because natural latex tends to be more breathable and able to recover faster than memory foam for better mobility and temperature regulation as long as the mattress has the right level of firmness relative to your body weight.
Polyfoam
Polyfoam mattresses tend to be better for lighter and average weighted sleepers with back pain because polyfoam tends to not be as dense and durable as memory foam meaning that it could wear out faster under heavier weights and lead to sagging that may make your back pain worse.
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Firm Vs Soft Mattress: Whats The Difference
Most mattress brands use a simple scale between 1-10 to describe the firmness of their mattress. Firm mattresses usually fall between a 9 to 7 on the scale, whereas softer mattresses usually fall between 2 to 3.
Since mattress firmness is highly subjective, it can be a challenge to find a uniform rating across mattress brands. One of the other key differences between firm and soft mattresses tend to be the materials they are made out of. All mattresses consist of a mix of comfort and support layers.
The comfort layers are what give your mattress a softer feel, whereas the support layers provide more structure and add some firmness. If your mattress consists of more comfort layers, its probably going to be naturally softer. You can also customize the firmness of your mattress by adding a topper that changes its overall feel.
More Vulnerable To Sagging
Some soft mattresses can wear down quicker than firm mattresses because they arent as sturdy and durable. The soft comfort layers can flatten, grow lumpy, and develop sags. So, the bed will need to be repaired or replaced sooner than if you had a firmer mattress.
However, a high-quality mattress with a durable support core can last up to 10 years, no mattress how soft it is.
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Best Medium Mattress: Amerisleep As3 Hybrid
The AS3 Hybrid is Amerisleeps most popular hybrid model because it has a universal comfort level that many sleepers find comfortable and supportive.
-
Warranty:
- Couples with different firmness needs.
- Side, back, and combination sleepers.
The AS3 Hybrid has a medium firmness which is ideal for most side, back, and combination sleepers. The slight bounce of this bed also helps prevent alignment issues and morning aches and pains.
The lightweight, airy cover is ventilated to prevent heat-trapping. This cover is also removable and machines washable, so it is easy to keep the mattress clean and in good condition.
The Bio-Pur® comfort foam in the top layer of the AS3 Hybrid is made with plant-based oils, making it eco-friendly, non-toxic, and more breathable than traditional memory foam varieties. No matter what sleep position you prefer, this bed keeps you supported and resting in a safe, neutral position.
The Affinity foam transition layer with HIVE® technology is zoned to protect the lumbar spine and prevent pressure points. Warm air can also pass through these cutouts, which can help prevent overheating and night sweats.
Like all Amerisleeps mattresses, the AS3 Hybrid comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year limited warranty.
Whats The Difference Between Firm And Soft
The obvious difference between a firm on soft mattress is the feel. A firm mattress is more rigid to the touch and has less give. A softer mattress will compress more easily when pressure is applied.
Its important to note that mattress feel is not just split into two categories its more of a spectrum. This means theres lots of choice, which can be both a positive and a negative.
All types of mattress can be made from all materials. The firmness or softness of a mattress either depends on the spring tension or general tension of construction within the mattress. However, a mattress can also include an outer layer or some upholstery which affects the perceived firmness. A memory foam topper, for example, can give a superficial feeling of firmness but not actually have the properties of a truly firm mattress.
Both types of mattress exist in a variety of budgets. However, in order to get exactly what you want, it can be worth spending a little extra.
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How Much Of An Investment Do I Need To Make
Budget-friendly mattresses may cost just a few hundred dollars. These models often offer strong pressure relief and good support, but some may be more prone to forming impressions over time. Higher-priced models may seem like a big investment, but quality materials and construction can help the mattress last longer, which may make it a better value in the long run.
How Do I Make My Plush Mattress Firmer
You can increase the firmness of your mattress by adding a mattress topper to it. Mattress toppers feature several inches of additional comfort and support. To truly feel and experience the benefits of a mattress topper, try to find one that is at least 3 inches thick. A latex mattress topper is a great way to improve mattress firmness.
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