Choosing a best affordable mattress in a box is a more complicated task than it seems. Not only because there is a very varied offer on the market and with very different technologies, but also because each person has a special way of sleeping that responds more to one mattress profile than to another, as well as anatomical characteristics that will require, for example, more or less firmness, a more pronounced adaptability or a certain resilience to the deformation caused by the weight of the body.
A mattress for every kind of sleep
For example, people who sleep on their backs will need a fairly firm mattress, which reinforces them in the area of the neck and the base of the spine, so that the spine does not tend to deform and generate bad posture.
On the other hand, those who sleep on their side will need a medium firm mattress that, without allowing the body to adopt bad postures, adapts to the structure of the hips and shoulders.
Finally, those who sleep on their stomachs will need a softer mattress that does not generate risks of suffering bad gestures in the neck area or in the medium torsion of the spine.
On the other hand, we must distinguish between people who move a lot and those who move little while they sleep:
People who tend to move a lot, turning over and over again, will need a relatively firm mattress but not excessive, as turning over can cause bad gestures if the mattress is very hard. They will also need adaptability in the padding, as the mattress must adapt to the different positions that the body takes in its rotation.
On the other hand, people who move little can opt for firm mattresses, always according to their sleeping position, as well as less adaptable materials, which react quickly, returning after the pressure of the body to its original position.
Finally we must reflect on whether or not we sweat a lot when we sleep. People with high perspiration will need materials capable of absorbing the sweat generated, and then evaporate it, in order to avoid accumulation of moisture in the mattress.
After these explanations, it remains to be seen which types of mattresses exist and which one is better adapted to each type of sleep.
Spring mattresses
Although they may sound old, spring mattresses have an extensive technological development that does not make them inferior to other technologies and materials. In general they are characterized by a rapid return to their initial position, although the firmness may vary depending on the method. There are three main types of spring mattresses, those with continuous wire, those with pocket springs and those with biconical.
The continuous thread ones form a unique network of springs that maintain the structure as a splint. They are recommended for people who sleep alone because they are firm without being rigid, but not so much for double beds.
In such a case the mattresses of pocketed springs can be more successful, since each spring is independent and maintains the firmness without affecting the set, and without the pressure in another zone of the mattress conditions them.
Finally, the biconical springs are a middle point between the two systems mentioned above, with individual double cone springs, but linked in a single structure.
Regarding price, those of continuous thread are the most affordable – 300 euros -, followed by the biconical and bagged ones, which can reach 600 euros. As to aeration, spring mattresses are highly breathable and will not absorb humidity, so they are suitable for people who sweat.
Foam and viscolastic mattresses
Foam mattresses are perhaps the most affordable range of all, as they are based on expanded polyurethane foams, with internal air bubbles, which have relatively little firmness and retain little shape after pressure.
It is the density that counts, so the higher the density, the more consistency but also the greater the weight and price, whose average value can be around 70 euros for a double foam bed mattress, while high-density ones are around 200 euros. They are not very breathable, can easily accumulate mites and are generally only recommended for beds where you sleep very occasionally.
Within this section we can include the viscolastic mattresses, which is a much higher category in which the polyurethane is replaced by other higher quality foam, with more firmness and at the same time adaptability, so that the mattress does not tend to return immediately to its original position. They are much more expensive, as they can reach 800 euros, but they can be perfect for people who have to spend a lot of time in bed.
Latex mattresses
Latex mattresses consist of layers of this milky, rubbery substance extracted from the rubber tree, or of synthetically processed latex. It is a much denser and heavier type of foam. This is its main disadvantage along with the high price, since a double bed piece can reach up to 600 euros. But its advantage is its ability to adapt to the shape of the body while maintaining its firmness.
It is ideal for people who move around a lot, as it does not brake rotation, and also for those who want a mattress that adapts to their body without losing firmness. On the other hand, latex is a good remedy against mite colonies, since they do not have air bubbles or fabrics where these small animals, which cause many allergies, can take refuge. Those allergic to latex should avoid them.
Japanese futon
It is made from layers of pressed cotton and is ideal for people who are used to sleeping on hard surfaces, as it has hardly any cushioning. It is also for people with an ecological conscience, as it is totally biodegradable. It has the disadvantage that it can accumulate mites and pollen, and also that cotton disintegrates over time, so it has to be replaced.
