The foam was then adapted by Tempur-Pedic Company as a bedding product used in hospitals for special needs patients such as those who had been bedridden for long periods of time, as well as for other patients in their Burns Units who needed additional cushioning.

From this "special needs" use it was eventually adapted and offered to the public as a specialty mattress product. Tempur-Pedic promoted it as a bedding product for those who wanted relief from "pressure points" which includes those who suffer from arthritis. And by now everyone has seen the Tempur-Pedic advertisements showing a child jumping up and down on a bed next to a wine glass that doesn't more or spill. This demonstration showed that memory foam, unlike regular spring mattresses, deflects motion. If one partner moves on the bed the movement is not transfered to the other partner, thus another advantage of memory foam over conventional mattresses.

In addition, visco elastic foam gently supports the body just were it needs supporting. It is thermal sensitive and responds to the body temperature of the sleeper. The foam "gives" right where it needs to "give" and offers support where it needs to offer support just by responding to the temperature of the body.


Those who have slept on a memory foam mattress report they feel “like I am sleeping on a cloud of comfort.” This is why there is the claim that memory foam gives relief from pressure points. They report that they have slept in pain for many years and are now not experiencing pain and pressure throughout the entire night. In addition, it gives good orthopedic support  which contributes to the floating experience often reported. This is the reason customers report that they don’t toss and turn so much in the night.

Because memory foam is a temperature sensitive material it can be heat generating. For this reason it is not ideal for those who "sleep hot". But there are certain patented fabrics which help to neutralize the heat of the memory foam, such as CoolMax fabric. Cotton sheets are also recommended.



The differences in memory foam basically comes down to differences in the density of the foam. Different densities produce different experiences of the cushioning effect of the foam. The foam generally comes in densities ranging from 2 lb density to 5 lb density, though there are some 6 lb to 8 lb density foams available out there. The more dense the memory foam is, the heavier it is and the more expensive it is.

Many people generally assume that the "best memory foam" would be the most expensive  and the most dense foam. But this is not the case. The best memory foam is the most comfortable memory foam and the density of the most comfortable memory foams are in the middle to high range, from 3 lb to 5 lb.

The 2 lb memory foam is generally manufactured in China and is sold in most department stores as genuine memory foam, which it is. But it is not the highest quality memory foam and will not give the true memory foam experience. In fact, it is more similar to normal poly-urethane foam with some slight memory properties.

The denser the memory foam is, the longer it holds impressions. This is the "memory" feature of the memory foam. To enjoy the true memory foam experinece it is good to use memory foam that is at least 3 lb density.  But the higher density memory foam holds the impression for quite a bit longer. The more dense the memory foam is, the longer it holds the impressions.

Some people have reported experiencing discomfort when they move from position to position on very dense memory foam. The reason for this is that as they move from one position to another the foam holds the "memory" of their previous position and as they turn they feel they are falling back into the "memory" indentation of the old position. They feel they have to pull themselves out of one position and into another. In addition, very dense foam generally has a stiffer, denser feel to it.

This is NOT the experience of the 3 lb, 4 lb and 5 lb memory foams. With these densities, as you move from postion to position the foam gently moves with you. The gently reaction of the foam as it moves with you gives the softer feeling of floating often reported.


Any of these three weights would be a good choice. But what is the difference in the feel of each? The 3 lb and 5 lb memory foams tend to be slightly firmer (for different reasons). The 4 lb memory foam is softer and this is our top recommendation.

The 3lb memory foam is slightly firmer because it has a little less memory and therefore doesn't have quit as much "give". The 5 lb density memory foam is a little firmer because denser memory foam in general tends to be firmer, with a slower "recovery" time, ie the foam does not recover as quickly a lighter foams. The 4 lb memory foam is just right. He has just the right amount of "give" with a good "recovery" time, so the foam moves with you as you move from one position to another. The reason customers are also very happy with 5 lb memory foam is that is has more luxurious feel. Also 5 lb memory foam is the most durable.


Another consideration when buying a memory foam mattress is the height of the memory foam. Memory foam toppers come in heights ranging from 2 inches to 5 inches. These are the same heights used in the construction of the memory foam mattresses. Even though a memory foam mattress is 10-12 inches in height, it is not ALL memory foam.


This is because it is not necessary for a memory foam mattress to have over 4 inches of memory foam. The memory foam is always the top layer of foam in a memory foam mattress. In addition, there will be base layers of either poly-urethane support foams or latex foam.

A 2 inch memory foam topper adds a soft layer to a regular mattress. A 3 inch layer adds an even softer layer, but a 4 inch layer will give a slightly richer memory foam experience (but not much more). The thicker toppers are recommended for those who weigh more.

In terms of the memory foam experience, there is no difference between a 4 inch memory foam layer and a 5 inch layer. NOTE: Memory Foam is not designed for those who weigh over 250 lbs*.


If you are in the market for memory foam and haven't decided on whether you want to buy a new memory foam mattress or whether you want to buy a memory foam topper here are a few considerations.

If you have recently purchased a new mattress or if your mattress is in very good condition then we recommend that you add a memory foam topper to your existing mattress rather than go to the expense of buying a new memory foam mattress.  After all, a memory foam mattress is composed of a 2-4 inches of memory foam anyway. So if your mattress is particularly firm, then choose a 3 or 4 inch memory foam topper to go on top of it. If your mattress is softer, then a 2 or 3 inch topper should be good enough.

Take a look at Memory Foam Mattress Pad Toppers

Take a look at Memory Foam Mattress Sets



Memory foam is not for everyone. It is not recommended for those who weigh over 250 lbs. This is because this level of weight will break down the foam very quickly. There are other foams that have been engineered for heavier weights.  These include very dense polyurethane foams and latex foam.

Another recommendation for those of heavier weight is to use a memory foam topper with  a latex topper underneath. The latex topper will offer added support. In fact, this is the most ideal topper combination for most people.  In the case of heavier people the memory foam layer will have to be replaced regularly, perhaps as often once a year.


In general, memory foam toppers will last 5-10 years with the denser, heavier foams lasting up to 10 years. It is not recommended that memory foam be washed or made wet in any way. It will spoil the material. If a memory foam mattress or topper is exposed to water it will nullify the warranty.

For this reason it is always good to use a mattress pad cover with your memory foam topper or mattress. The mattress pad cover will protect the memory foam from exposure to moisture from body sweat or liquids. Some memory foam warranties will be nullified if the product is not used in conjunction with a mattress pad cover.


There are many other memory foam products to choose from: Including memory foam pillows, memory foam guest beds, memory foam lumbar support pillows, memory foam body pillows etc. Most of these products are designed using the memory foam density that most suites the product. But in the case of the memory foam pillow it is possible to choose density and size.

Most memory foam pillows are formed in the "contour pillow" design. This design has three different positions allowing for all types of sleepers: stomach sleeps, side sleepers and back sleepers.

Take a look at Memory Foam Pillows