Which Mattress Is Better Soft Or Firm

Making The Right Choice For You:

No matter who is going to sleep with you, investing in the right sized mattress is one of the most important factors. Size is a key determiner of the quality of the sleep youll have. So dont rush into picking a certain size mattress because thats what youve always had.

View our range of mattresses here or take our Sleep Selector Quiz to find the right mattress for you.

Why Is Firmness Important

A mattress with the right firmness level will provide adequate support and alleviate pressure points throughout the sleepers body. Mattresses that feel too firm or not firm enough can create joint discomfort, back and shoulder pain, and exacerbate pressure points.

How soft or firm a mattress feels will largely depend on how the comfort layer is constructed, as well as its overall thickness. The comfort layer is defined as the body-cushioning system that forms the topmost part of the mattress, and its composition will determine how closely the mattress conforms to a sleepers body. Common comfort layer components include polyfoam, memory foam, latex, and/or steel microcoils, as well as the mattress cover. Some mattresses have a single-layer comfort system, while others may have as many as four or five individual layers in the comfort system.

Other factors can be used to evaluate firmness in different mattress types. In innerspring mattresses, the gauge of steel coil and other metal components can affect overall firmness. In mattresses made entirely of foam and/or latex, firmness may be linked to a measurement known as indentation load deflection . ILD refers to how much weight is needed to indent a sleep surface by 25% mattresses with low ILD ratings are not as firm and require less weight for indentation, while mattresses with high ILD ratings are firmer and require more weight.

Plush Vs Firm Mattresses For Arthritis

Now, many shoppers believe that a plush mattress would be ideal for arthritis and tender joints. After all, it would gently hug the painful pressure points instead of crashing into them and causing pressure accumulation.

But heres the deal:

Even for those with arthritis or painful pressure points, an overly soft mattress can be more of an enemy than a friend. The thing is, a plush mattress wont be likely to support ones back properly. Instead, it would allow the heavier body parts to sink in. And this usually leads to a strain on ones spine and thus, pain.

Thats why arthritis patients dont necessarily have to go with the plushiest mattress available. Instead, they should pick a model based on their sleeping style. And if its a firm mattress, perhaps it would come in handy to choose something that has some padding on top to cushion the painful pressure points .

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Benefits Of Plush Mattresses

Considering what we know about firmness level, a plush mattress simply means that it will conform more to the shape of the sleeper rather than holding a more solid, rigid state. Though they may not be the right choice for some sleepers, well-constructed soft mattresses are still able to deliver more than enough spinal support for most.

Heres an overview of the benefits some sleepers can enjoy from a plush mattress:

• Peak comfort You cant ignore how plush and luxurious a soft mattress feels. Cushioning and cloud-like, they seem to hug you as you sleep. As long as youre not syncing too deeply into an unsupportive mattress, chances are youll love a plush pillowtop layer.

• Physical relief Soft mattresses have a more forgiving surface for chronically sore bodies, especially joint pain, aching muscles, and aging populations.

• Shape-conforming support Well-designed mattresses are able to encompass both adequate support from the base up and a plush upper layer for top-down softness. When laying on softer memory foam, the parts of your body that arent necessarily flush with the mattresships, shoulders, and so oncan sink into the foam as it conforms around your curves and edges.

Is Purple Mattress Firm Or Soft

Its easy to pick out any mattress that you want and then call it a day. Yes, youll save money and probably some time from researching but spend enough nights on a bed thats not yours before you start to wonder why you wake up more exhausted and exhausted than the night before.

Purple Mattress aims to solve that by studying the elements that make a comfortable sleep even better with some exclusive technologies, like the Purple Grid Layer, which provides the mattress with a distinct experience that is distinct than other mattresses on the market. This article will explore whether Purple Mattress is the right choice for your next mattress investment.

Before you continue, you may want to watch this video by Mac Dingle on YouTube that gives a quick overview. Afterward, you will want to read the rest of our article for a more comprehensive review of Purple Mattress.

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What If Me And My Partner Have Different Mattress Needs

Many partners are able to find a mattress that suits both their needs. Should your needs differ significantly, however, you still have options. One option is a dual comfort mattress a single mattress made so that each side caters to you and your partners specific preference. Our dual comfort mattresses can be made with queen-size and above. Just keep in mind that this option must be purchased at one of our locations or by talking to one of our experts online or over the phone. Another option is a split king mattress two separate mattresses housed within one bed frame. Both options can provide a solution to the problem of different sleeping needs.

For more information, see our article about king vs. split king mattresses.

So Is A Softer Or Firmer Mattress Better

To this question we must reply with another: Better for whom? The feel of a mattress is a personal preference. The important thing to keep in mind is that, soft or firm, your mattress must have the right support to give you a truly good nights sleep. Supportive mattresses can be created in various ways. For example, imagine one of our hybrid mattresses, perhaps one that uses our quantum pocketed mattress component as a support layer to your mattress.

All pocketed coil components are composed of individually wrapped coils that move independently of one another, allowing each spring to compress to the exact curvature of your body. In the case of the quantum coil, which uses micro coils and has about 200% more coils than your normal pocketed coil mattress, this creates a very supportive and firm-feeling sleeping surface for certain body types.

The addition of a comfort layer on top of this supportive base layer can be a gamechanger. Depending on the material used in the comfort layer , a variety of firm to soft mattress feels can be achieved without sacrificing support.

The same effect can be achieved in our other hybrid mattresses, not just ones using the quantum coil component. Mattresses of different feels and support levels can be made by placing mattress components like these into various combinations until you get the exact mattress that meets both your sleeping needs and preferences.

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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.

Advantages Of A Soft Mattress

A softer mattress is usually recommended for those who are experiencing back pain on a standard mattress, or those who have pre-existing back problems. Theyre also recommended for lighter individuals as a harder mattress can end up not compressing for them at all.

Softer mattresses are generally better for those who sleep on their side, as they better cushion the shoulders and hips. On the side, a softer mattress better aligns the spine, too.

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Is A Soft Mattress Good For Your Back

A soft mattress can bring much comfort to those who are suffering from back pain. Side sleepers also find a soft mattress to be ideal, a quality soft mattress will allow the hips to sink while still providing pressure relief. A soft mattress can be good for your back, providing its designed to offer pressure relief.

Creates Pressure Points For Side Sleepers

If youre among the majority of people who sleep mostly on your side, a firm mattress could be uncomfortable. Its lack of give can create pressure points, especially around your hips and shoulders. The good news is that Casper mattress experts have succeeded in creating zoned mattresses that ergonomically align spines and support various sleeping positions.

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Other Factors To Consider When Choosing A New Mattress

In addition to plushness or firmness, there are other factors youll need to consider when finding the mattress thats best suited to you. Every mattress manufacturer has its own unique method of achieving different degrees of firmness, but there are few specific strategies youll want to be familiar with.

• What kinds of materials are being used to build each mattress?
• How has the mattress design been optimized for maximum comfort and support?

Lets take a look at mattress materials and zoning designs to help you make a more informed purchasing decision.

The Difference Between Firm And Supportive

Before we get any further into the discussion of firm vs. soft mattresses, theres one point that we need to address: the difference between a firm mattress and a supportive one.

In the mattress world, a supportive mattress is one that promotes proper spinal alignment. Your spine has natural curves in it that should stay in their natural position when you lay down. A supportive mattress helps keep your spine neutral it doesnt flatten these curves, exacerbate them, or add additional curvatures.

Meanwhile, firmness, along with softness, plushness, etc., are terms that apply to the feel or comfort of a mattress. In other words, a mattress can feel soft and be supportive, and not all firm-feeling mattresses are naturally supportive. So long as they are properly manufactured, a supportive mattress can be made to accommodate almost all preferences for feel.

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Do I Need A Soft Or Firm Mattress

Everyone’s body is different. But there’s a chance you might like something other than a firm or soft mattress. Many people actually sleep best on a medium-firm mattress. It’s the most versatile firmness level that can work with any sleep position.

Your body type and sleep preferences dictate what firmness you’ll feel most comfortable in. If you don’t know where to start, see where you fall on this table:

This is a great starting point if you’re new to mattress shopping. For the most customized sleep, look for companies like Saatva that offer multiple firmness levels. Having those options will help you pick a bed that’s suited for your body.

But how can you be sure if your bed is actually giving you the best support? Find out how to check your comfort and support next.

How Does Mattress Design Affect Back Pain

Mattress design can affect back pain both positively and negatively depending on how the mattress materials interact with your body type, body weight, and dominant sleeping position.

Below is a breakdown of how the materials, support, and layer design can affect your back pain and your potential comfort levels:

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Comfortable For Those With Arthritis And Joint Pain

Those with arthritis and joint pain tend to find relief with a softer mattress that cushions sensitive areas. If these sleepers rest on a firm mattress, it could force the body into uncomfortable sleep positions that exacerbate pain.

The spine should also be kept in a neutral position to alleviate tension. Therefore, the torso must not sink too far down. If you are a heavier sleeper with arthritis, you may be more comfortable on a medium mattress.

How Firm Is The Puffy Mattress

The Puffy Mattresses come in at three different firmness levels, depending on which you opt for. The classic Puffy Mattress is 10 thick, and has a medium-firm feel. Our best-selling model, the Puffy Lux, is 12 thick, and has a luxurious, medium-plush feel. Finally, the Puffy Royal, our largest model at 14 thickness, has an ultra-plush feel.

Our top-rated mattresses work on a range of sleepers and come with a sleep trial policy so you dont have to worry about committing to your purchase until you know it works for you.

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Plush Vs Firm Mattress: What Is Better For You

The firm vs. soft mattress debate has been going on practically since the beginning of time, or at least since the invention of high-quality mattresses, and will likely remain unresolved due to the subjective nature of sleep. So if youre asking yourself, Do I need a firm or soft mattress? the answer is neither.

Its not entirely about what you need, but what you want.

There is no universal need for a plush or firm sleep surface. There are, however, special considerations to be made according to what a sleeper wants based on their body type, sleep position, and individual characteristics. Below youll find some general recommendations based on the science of sleep and mattress construction.1

Consider choosing a firm mattress if:

• Youre a back or stomach sleeperor like to switch it up just about every night.
• You suffer regularly from lower back pain.
• You need some added mattress thickness to avoid sinking too deeply
• You run hot at night and are prone to night sweats.

Consider choosing a plush mattress if:

• Youre a side sleeper who will benefit from the cushion and support of a softer surface.
• Youre a petite sleeper who wont sink too deeply into a softer mattress.
• You suffer from chronic joint pain and need help alleviating pressure and soreness.

Regardless of what seems to suit your preferences on paper, look for a company that offers a trial period so that you can test out a new mattress properly before committing to it long-term.

The Different Types Of Mattress Toppers

There are many types of mattress toppers, each one has its own pros and cons. The mattress topper you need will depend on what youre looking for in a mattress topper. Are you looking to soften your mattress? Do you need something to relieve your back pain? The right mattress topper will depend on your weight, sleeping position, and firmness preference.

Weve put together a list of the most popular types of mattress toppers to help you choose:

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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.

Is It Preferable To Sleep On A Plush Or Firm Mattress If You Have Back Pain

There are two elements that determine whether a plush or firm mattress is better for your back pain. The first is your physical stature. Your favored sleeping style is the second. A medium to medium-firm mattress is ideal for back problems in most circumstances.

Large sleepers who sleep on their stomach or back will benefit from this firmness level. To relieve lower back pain, combination sleepers and side sleepers may require the gentle feel of a plush mattress.

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Mattress Warranty And Other Policies

A companys policies may play a role in your purchasing decision. The shipping, trial period, and warranty may be particularly important to consider.

Customers who suffer from joint pain may find it more challenging to set up their mattresses. If you need assistance, you may want to consider whether the company offers White Glove delivery. Most online mattress companies offer trial periods that give customers a chance to try the mattress at home. Arthritis sufferers may use this window to determine whether the mattress provides any relief. Finally, the mattresss warranty can provide customers with additional protection for their purchase.

Drawbacks Of A Soft Mattress

With that said, soft mattresses arent right for everyone. Heres why someone might decide against a soft bed:

• Less support for heavier body types.The primary drawback of a soft mattress goes to the support it offers. More precisely, the softer a mattress is, the less support youre going to get. This might not be ideal for somebody who weighs over ~230 lbs because they need a mattress that proves to be durable and supportive under more pressure.
• Only suited for specific sleeper styles. The sinkage that accompanies extremely soft mattresses creates body misalignments that can create uncomfortable sleep and general body achiness for those who arent strict side sleepers with petite to average body types.

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