ILD Rating - Indentation Load Deflection:

The ILD rating is going to tell you how firm the material is. The 25% ILD rating is the number of pounds required to achieve a 25% compression on a 4" thick foam using a 50 square inch pressure. An Example of this is as follows: 36lb. ILD foam indicates that this material took 36 lbs. of pressure to indent this foam 25%. ILD rating is also not an absolute value, all ILD ratings for memory foam will have a small range, for example: a 14 ILD rating product could be 12 - 16 ILD in any given batch. Keep in mind that the higher the ILD, the firmer the foam. It does not necessarily mean it's better for you, as personal preference is the main factor. Costing more does not always mean better, just that the process or material cost to produce, or that their marketing fees are higher. Always remember that if and when you decide to purchase a memory foam mattress.

Density - Weight in LB.:

The weight of a memory foam is determined by the amount of chemicals used in the structure of the memory foam(polyurethane foam). The more chemicals used, the higher the density value of the foam, and in turn more visco-elastic it will become. So what is visco-elastic mean? It is the characteristic which is defined by the ability to absorb and trap the body heat, making the foam hotter, which in turn makes the foam softer. Over time the foam will become molded to your individual body shape, depended on the weight of your body and the heat it creates, creating a sensation of sleeping on a bed of cloud. Density does not determine the hardness of the material, that is done through the ILD rating.

What is the smell that initially comes from memory foam?

U.S. made foam does not contain any toxic ingredients like formaldehyde or PBDE, polybrominateddiphenylether, but it can have have new foam smell that lasts for a couple of days to a couple of weeks, based on the foam manufacturer. The foam smell does not necessarily trigger allergies, however, it can be bothersome to some people who have a sensitivity to smell. If the smell bothers you, try airing out the room and washing the sheets after a few nights of sleep on the new mattress. Or try placing a dish of vinegar on the night stand to help neutralize the smell. An ozonator machine will clear the problem very quickly. The smell will go away, so don't base your product on the initial smell that can come.

Spring Mattresses or Foam Mattresses?

Prior to the revolutionary memory foam mattress, spring mattresses were the standard. While spring mattresses can feel nice to sit or lay down on, they do not contour to the body shape anywhere near what memory foam mattresses can offer. Springs will push upwards, when your body weight pushes down, however the concept doesn't work quite as well since our body is not flat like a plane. Our contoured body will push down in unequal weights, however springs don't take that into account. Memory foam on the other hand doesn't just push upwards, it comforms to your shape, giving a far greater equillibrium between your body and the mattress. Laying on a spring mattress, which we all have done, and laying on a memory foam mattress is a completely different world. The main disadvantage that foam mattress have over spring is that in very cold temperature, the foam will be much firmer than normal and will take longer to adjust to your body temperature. Also memory foam mattresses are NOT for everyone. Many prefer a much firmer surface that the spring mattresses will provide.

Memory & Latex Foam

Latex foam wil feel more springy, while memory foam will feel more solid. Combinaton of latex and memory foam are now being used to blend a perfect mattress combination. Rare allergies to latex can be triggered, however, it is usually through skin contact and usually not with the natural and synthetic latex mixes like Talalay. The protein thought to trigger these rare allergies are usually washed away in the Talalay latex foam production process in the U.S.. Talalay latex is a more expensive version of latex and is composed of synthetic and natural latex. Since there are no chemicals used in latex, the ILD is the only determinant on the feel of the product.

Do I really need memory foam?

Let's face it, a good night sleep is one of the most commonly ignored activities that can have a profound impact on your health and well being. Considering that you spend one fourth of your entire life sleeping, it only makes sense that you give it alot of consideration. Wether you decide to purchase our memory foam products or another brand, isn't the issue. As long as you are purchasing quality memory foam to rest your exhausted body on, we guarantee you it will be much healthier for your mind and body.

Origin of Memory Foam

In the early 1970's, NASA's Ames Research Center funded a development project designed to create a substance that could help relieve astronauts of the incredible g-forces experienced during lift-off. They believed that one of the key secrets to reducing g-forces on the body was to use a foam material that could conform to each person's shape and hold this conformity. While a foam mold of each astronaut's body shape could accomplish this, any movement would take a person out of this position and create incorrect pressure points against the body. Instead, they created a new foam material that was visco-elastic and therefore able to conform to a person's shape, but then come back to a normal shape once pressure was removed from the foam. This could allow an even distribution of pressure or body weight over the entire surface of the foam, but quickly adapt to any movements of the body. The memory foam technology today is not the original NASA created foam, but a comparable product using similiar technology.

A few tips:

Make sure you know the density and ILD rating of the product you are buying. It is important to know what to expect from your memory foam products. If you are a side sleeper, we recommend atleast 3". 15 ILD. foam will be firmer than a 12 ILD., and for many too firm, so make sure you know wether you like beds softer or firmer. If you are over 200 lbs. we recommend atleast 4" foam to support your body properly.

Make sure you are aware of the warranty on what you are purchasing, as well as return policies. Many companies will make the fine print difficult to find and divert your attention elsewhere and only when it's too late, the purchaser finds out the whole truth. For example, Tempurpedic offers a 20 year limited warranty, but what many do not know is that after the first 10 years, you must be 50% of the cost, and each year afterwards, an additional 5%, so by the 19th year of the so-called 20 year warranty, you are forced to pay 95% of the fees! 95% of their incredibly marked up prices, to cover their marketing fees and overheads, is not the kind of warranty you want!

Check the trial period, there are obvious reasons why a company will or will not give you trial periods. One UK store claims trial periods are not needed due to the fact that they ensure the product is right for you before you purchase. That is an obvious lie, the only way to be sure the product is right for you, is for YOU to try it out. Only thing we can do is point you in the right direction as to what types of products would suit your need.