Key Takeaways
- Memory Foam Overview: Memory foam, also known as viscoelastic foam, is a well-established mattress material known for its body-contouring properties. It conforms to the body’s shape and provides even weight distribution, which can alleviate joint and back pain.
- Serene™ Foam Features: Serene™ foam is a relatively new polyurethane foam with Supportive Air Technology. It contains microscopic air capsules that enhance breathability, increase support, and improve temperature regulation. It conforms to the body and provides pressure relief without being temperature-sensitive.
- Differences Between Memory Foam and Serene™ Foam: While both foams offer body-conforming properties, memory foam has a more extensive range of firmness options and is known for its durability. In contrast, Serene™ foam is relatively new, and its durability is not as well-established. Serene™ foam is also better at dissipating heat and sleeping cooler than traditional memory foam.
If you like to feel a plush cradling effect in a mattress, both memory foam and Serene™ foam are excellent choices. Both are derived from polyurethane foam with differences in their structure.
Memory foam has been in mattresses for decades, while Serene™ foam is new to the mattress industry. New-age technological innovations in the sleep and bedding industry have led to the development of Serene™ foam.
What is Memory Foam?
Memory foam is made by treating polyurethane foam with chemicals to increase its viscosity and elasticity. Also known as viscoelastic foam, memory foam is both temperature and pressure-sensitive.
When you lie on a memory foam mattress, both heat and pressure soften the foam, making it conform to your body. Memory foam’s contouring abilities provide support to all parts of your body, leading to even weight distribution on the sleeping surface.
Sleeping on memory foam may alleviate joint and back pain, as the body-contouring foam relieves pressure. Memory foam’s contouring ability promotes spinal alignment, especially for back and side sleepers. The foam molds to the natural curvature of your spine, improving lumbar support, good for those with back pain.
Other Types of Memory Foam
Memory foam first appeared in mattresses in the 1990s and has since evolved with time. The latest developments in memory foam aim to tackle its drawback—heat retention.
Gel Memory Foam
Gel memory foam mattresses contain a layer of gel or gel beads swirled in memory foam to keep the bed cool. The gel comprises “phase-changing materials” or “PCM” which absorbs heat and changes from a solid to a liquid state, regulating body temperature. The presence of gel beads or liquid gel does not make the bed feel any different than traditional memory foam.
Gel memory foam’s cooling effect may be temporary because once it absorbs heat, it no longer aids in cooling the bed. While gel memory foam feels cool to the touch, its effect may not be long-lasting.
Plant-Based Memory Foam
In plant-based memory foam, a portion of the petroleum is substituted with plant-based oils. Replacing a synthetic material to make way for plant-based natural oils makes it more breathable and eco-friendly.
Memory Foam with Cooling Additives
Minerals like copper and graphite are added to memory foam to dissipate heat. Copper and graphite are good heat conductors, pulling heat away from the body for a cooler sleep.
Pros
- Body-conforming and pressure-relieving
- Alleviates joint and back pain
- Isolates motion transfer
- Durable
Cons
- Heat retention (traditional memory foam)
- Off-gassing odor
Try Our Memory Foam Mattresses
Quick Guide: A 30-Second Summary
Best Memory Foam Mattress Overall | Amerisleep AS3 |
Best Soft Memory Foam Mattress | Amerisleep AS5 |
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Price Range
$849 to $1798
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Mattress Type
Memory Foam
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Firmness
5 to 6 out of 10 (Medium)
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Availability
All sizes
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Warranty
20 Years
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Thickness
12 Inches
The Amerisleep AS3 relies on plant-based memory foam, an innovative mattress cover fabric, and targeted support features to provide cutting-edge nighttime comfort.
- Temperature-regulating and plush mattress cover
- Eco-friendly, plant-based memory foam top
- Transition layer establishes five zones of support
- Side, back, and combination sleepers
- Couples with conflicting personal preferences
- Hot sleepers
If you want a memory foam mattress that can compete with Serene™ foam in terms of coolness and breathability, check out the AS3 by Amerisleep. This memory foam mattress is made by swapping some of the petroleum products in traditional memory foam for plant oils. This creates a more plan-based memory foam called Bio-Pur® foam.
Bio-Pur® foam improves upon regular memory foam in several key ways. First off, Bio-Pur® material is much more breathable than traditional memory foam. Along with the cooling-fiber Refresh Cover, this plant-based memory foam works to keep air flowing around your body all night long. This helps wick away body heat and moisture.
The Bio-Pur® material is also a much more responsive option than traditional memory foam. This plant-based foam has a quicker response time. So it bounces right back into place as soon as you move. This is great news for active sleepers who like to toss and turn.
Bio-Pur® material is also perfect for sleepers with chemical sensitivities or environmental concerns. It’s plant-based, containing fewer synthetic ingredients than traditional memory foam. Bio-Pur® also creates less toxic waste during the manufacturing process.
As amazing as the Bio-Pur® material is, it isn’t the only fantastic feature of this mattress. The AS3 also boasts the HIVE® transition layer to give you targeted support in different body areas. For instance, it provides added support under your head and feet. And it gives your hips and shoulders extra pressure relief.
All the layers of the AS3 are sitting on top of the Bio-Core® support layer. This high-density base foam will not only provide you with spine-aligning support. It will also fight sagging and soft spot development for a full 20 years.
This is where the AS3 really shines over any Serene™ foam mattress you’ll find. While the jury is still out on the durability of Serene™ foam, you know for a fact that you will get two decades of use from your AS3 mattress. It’s right there in its robust 20-year warranty.
All these layers of comfort are wrapped up in the Refresh Cover. This mattress cover was built to keep you cool as a cucumber. Its performance fabric uses minerals to help convert your body heat into far infrared energy. This process helps to increase your blood circulation and may even improve your sleep quality!
Quick Summary
- The cooling Refresh Cover keeps air flowing around you and converts your body heat into far infrared energy
- The Bio-Pur® foam is highly breathable and responsive for hot and active sleepers alike
- The ultra-dense support foam offers lots of lift and fantastic longevity
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Price Range
$1449 to $2998
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Mattress Type
Memory Foam
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Firmness
3 out of 10 (Soft)
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Availability
All sizes
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Warranty
20 Years
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Thickness
14 Inches
The AS5 still sports the excellent plant-based Bio-Pur® memory foam found in the AS3. It also has some additional features that add even more pressure relief and cushioning to the bed.
- Bio-Pur® cushion bolstered by underlying Active Flex
- Increased pressure relief for shoulders and hips
- Spine supported in neutral position by base foam
- Side sleepers
- Petite or lightweight sleepers
- Hot sleepers
Those who love the breathable comfort of the AS3’s plant-based foam but need a softer feel should consider the Amerisleep AS5 as an alternative. One of the best things about using Bio-Pur® foam in a soft mattress is its cooling power. The foam is much more breathable than traditional memory foam.
That means Bio-Pur® memory foam keeps cool air flowing around you all night long. This is a huge advantage for soft mattresses.
Why? Soft mattresses tend to hug your body and prevent air circulation. That means the heat your body generates stays trapped in a bubble around you. But the plant-based foam allows air to flow through the comfort layer, circulating heat out of the mattress even though it does hug your body and cradle your pressure points.
That cradling is another amazing feature of this mattress. Side sleepers and petite sleepers tend to experience pain in their pressure points due to their body weight pressing into the bed. The AS5 counters this effect by contouring to your unique shape and compressing under your hips and shoulders. This creates a cushioning effect that can help prevent pain.
The targeted pressure relief comes from the same HIVE® transition layer that you’ll find in the AS3. The HIVE® layer offers more lift to areas that need it and more pressure relief to areas that need it. This means even more pain relief for tired hips and shoulders.
However, there is another layer between the Bio-Pur® comfort layer and the HIVE® transition layer that adds even more pressure relief than these two layers alone. This layer is called Active Flex. It’s a unique material that helps minimize sinkage and provides contoured cushioning at the same time. This keeps you lifted onto the sleeping surface without sacrificing softness.
The buoyancy of the Active Flex layer is bolstered by the ultra-dense Bio-Core® material. This ultra-dense support foam offers tons of support to the upper layers. That means you get tons of softness from the three layers of comfort and transition foam. But you still won’t sink down into the bed or get that “stuck” feeling common in so many soft mattresses.
Quick Summary
- This mattress features lots of lift and spine aligning support despite its soft feel
- Layers of cushioning foam help relieve pressure and prevent pain in hip and shoulder joints
- Bio-Pur® foam works with the Refresh Cover to keep you as cool as you’d be on a firmer mattress
What is Serene™ Foam?
Serene™ foam is new-age, high-performance polyurethane foam. Serene™ foam comes with advanced Supportive Air Technology, which includes billions of microscopic air capsules that promote airflow, enhance breathability, and increase the support of the bed without compromising comfort.
Each of these tiny cells with microscopic air capsules act as individual shock-absorber cushions, releasing air independently as pressure on them increases for customized comfort and support. Depending on your body type and sleep position, Serene™ foam supports your body while relieving pressure points in heavier sections of the body. Serene™ foam is not temperature sensitive and sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam.
Supportive Air Technology helps in increasing the foam’s level of support as the air capsules release air and conform to the body. Serene™ foam supports the body and evenly distributes weight across the sleep surface leading to pressure point relief, especially in the hip and shoulder areas.
Pros
- Body-conforming, pressure-relief
- Dissipates heat faster
- Isolates motion transfer
- Cost-effective
Cons
- Since Serene™ foam is a relatively new product, it’s durability has not been tested yet
Difference between Memory Foam and Serene™ Foam
Both memory foam and Serene™ foam originated from polyurethane foam— they may feel similar but are different.
Parameters | Memory Foam | Serene™ Foam |
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Feel | Body-conforming, pressure-relief | Conforms to your body, relieving pressure points |
Durability | High-quality memory foam lasts longer | Claims to be durable, but hasn’t been tested |
Motion Isolation | Isolates motion | Isolates motion |
Temperature Regulation | Memory foam with cooling technologies ensures a cooler sleep | New age technology promotes breathability and cooling |
Price | Price of a queen size ranges between $400 to $3000 | Price of a queen size ranges between $200 to $600 |
Feel
Memory foam conforms to the body in a “hug” effect, relieving pressure points. Memory foam is available in various levels of firmness ranging from soft to firm, depending on your body type and sleep position.
Serene™ foam also conforms to your body while providing pressure point relief. The supportive air technology cradles your body as you lie on the bed for a good night’s sleep. Since Serene™ foam is comparatively new in the market, it does not have many firmness levels to choose from, currently available in medium and firm.
Durability
High-quality memory foam mattresses are more durable than other mattress types. Many memory foam mattresses come with a 20-years warranty, giving you an idea of typically how long these beds may last.
Serene™ foam was introduced about 5 years ago, so little is known how long it lasts. It’s assumed that Serene™ foam is durable because it contains high-density poly-foam which is known to be durable.
Motion Isolation
Both memory foam and Serene™ foam are excellent at isolating motion, making both suitable for couples. Motion isolation absorbs movement, leading to fewer sleep disruptions.
Temperature Regulation
New-age memory foam mattresses have an open-cell structure which promotes airflow and improves temperature regulation. The introduction of cooling gel and other cooling additives like copper and graphite has also improved temperature regulation in memory foam beds.
Serene™ foam does not respond to your body heat and keeps the bed cooler.
Price
Since memory foam has been on the market for a long time, there are many options to choose from leading to a vast range in pricing. The price of a queen size mattress may be between $400 and $3000.
Serene™ foam is comparatively new and not many manufacturers make this yet, so there are not many options to choose from, hence the limited price range. The price of a queen may be between $200 and $600.
Things to Consider While Choosing a Mattress
Once you know the different features of a mattress, consider factors like body type and sleeping position which influence comfort.
Body Types
The best mattress for your needs depends on your body type. Firmness levels respond differently to each body type.
Lightweight Sleepers
Lightweight sleepers weigh less than 130 pounds and require a softer mattress to feel comfortable. A soft mattress conforms to the body at the slightest pressure.
Average Sleepers
Average sleepers weigh between 130 to 230 pounds and require a medium mattress to feel rejuvenated. A medium provides the perfect balance between firm and soft..
Plus-Size Sleepers
Plus-size sleepers weigh more than 230 pounds and need a firmer mattress to feel supported without the risk of sagging.
Sleeping Positions
Every individual is different and so are their sleeping positions. Some may like to sleep on their sides, back, or stomach, while others regularly switch between sleep positions. People with different sleep positions require a different firmness level to feel comfort and support.
Side Sleepers
Depending on their weight, the best mattresses for side sleepers are soft to medium, as they provide optimal pressure relief to their shoulder and hips. Side sleeping is a common sleep position that improves heart health, enables better breathing, and reduces acid reflux.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers usually need a medium to firm mattress to feel comfortable. Back sleeping promotes spinal alignment and enhances lumbar support, alleviating back pain.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers need a medium-firm to firm mattress to prevent spinal misalignment which may lead to back pain.
Combination Sleepers
Combination sleepers get the benefits of all sleeping positions, but they also suffer the drawbacks, like sleep apnea and back pain. A medium mattress is recommended for combination sleepers to keep the spine in alignment.
Sleep Trial, Return Policies and Warranties
Comparing sleep trials, return policies and warranties helps you choose the best mattress. Buying a mattress is a long term commitment to your health.
Sleep Trial
Most mattress manufacturers offer a sleep trial period ranging from 90 to 365 nights. The sleep trial allows you to try out the mattress in the confines of your home, and if you don’t like the bed you can return it within the stipulated period. Most mattress companies will help customers donate a mattress to a local charity or recycle it responsibly, before issuing a refund. Sleep trials let you get a feel for the mattress.
Return Policies
If a company does not offer a sleep trial, then look into their return policies. On average, a person takes about 30 days to adjust to a new mattress— most mattress manufacturers allow returns within 30 days from the date of delivery. If you do not like your new mattress, you may return it for a refund.
Warranties
Most mattress companies offer a warranty ranging from 10 years to a lifetime. During this period they may repair or replace your mattress free of cost, or some may offer warranty services at a prorated charge during the later years. The warranties usually cover manufacturing defects and sagging greater than 1 inch.
FAQs
Is Serene™ foam available as a mattress topper?
Mattress toppers ranging between 2 to 4 inches high may serve as a substitute for trying out a new mattress for those who don’t want to buy a new mattress. Like memory foam, Serene™ foam mattress toppers are also available on the market.
Does off-gassing lead to serious health concerns?
Off-gassing refers to the chemical smell from new furniture, like a mattress or upholstered chairs. Off-gassing may lead to nausea, headache, or breathing difficulties, but disappear once the mattress is aired out.
Conclusion
Choosing the best mattress for yourself may be difficult especially with so many options. When mattress shopping, choose quality products that will last like memory foam or Serene™ foam. Both the beds offer you a body-conforming hug sans motion transfer, but high-quality memory foam has proved its durability while Serene™ foam is a new product whose durability is yet to be proved.
About the author
Geoff McKinnen is a writer focusing mainly on the healthcare industry and has written articles on everything from foods to help you lose weight to the connection between Alzheimer’s and sleep. Geoff’s passionate about helping readers improve their well-being to lead happier lives. Outside of work, Geoff enjoys cycling and hiking and believes that by leading a healthy lifestyle, he can help others do the same.
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