Which Type of Support is Right For My Partner and Me?

Sleeptronic® exclusively manufactures mattresses that fall within the Spring + Foam, Hybrid and the All-Foam categories. The following outlines some of the differences in the foams and springs that go into the products we manufacture.

SPRING SUPPORT

Traditional Spring + Foam

Hybrid Construction

Fabric Encapsulated Coils – These provide the least motion transfer and the highest level of individual response and support.

Bonnell Coils - The oldest and most common form of coil support! First adapted from buggy seat springs of the 19th century, they are still prevalent in mid-priced and entry level mattresses. Bonnell springs are a knotted, round-top, hourglass-shaped steel wire coil. When laced together with cross wire helicals, these coils form the simplest innerspring. Advanced bonnell innersprings feature coils with helicals that lace the coils together from head to foot rather than from side to side. Head-to-toe helical lacing helps reduce motion transfer across the mattress by channeling movement up and down the mattress. Several ultra-value models with bonnell coils that are manufactured by Sleeptronic ® feature head-to-toe helical lacing.

Continuous Coils - These highly engineered spring configurations are formed from a single piece of wire that runs continuously from side to side across a mattress. They are typically firmer than other types of springs and are designed to deflect motion both across and into the interior of a spring.

Offset coils - An adaptation of a bonnell spring and are comprised of hourglass type coil on which portions of the top and bottom convolutions have been flattened. Like a bonnell unit they are laced together with helical wires. The hinging effect of the unit is designed to conform to body shape and to send motion caused by movement on the mattress into the spring rather than transferring the motion across the spring.

Advanced Edge and Advanced Edge Elite Coils - One of the most advanced spring systems available from Sleeptronic - the Advanced Edge and Advanced Edge Elite coil systems provide unrivalled support - and are specifically designed for use on adjustable bedbases. Mattresses featuring Advanced Edge Coils are specifically designed to conform and flex!. Extra strong coils concentrated around the perimeter of the mattress provide a firmer and more supportive edge which prevents the all too common "falling out of bed feeling" that many budget mattresses produce. Advanced Edge support systems bend an average of 24% more easily than foam encasement, which means less wear and tear on moving parts and a more “friendly” performance on adjustable bedbases. Airflow is enhanced compared to foam encasement, producing a cooler sleeping experience.



Nano Coils - These are an adapted version of a fabric encapsulated coil that are both short in height and narrow in diameter. More than 1,600 nano-coils are present in a single, queen size mattress. Often used to replace a comfort or support layer in a mattress, nano-coils produce a unique, highly responsive feel. The Edge Nano Coil appears exclusively in the Sleeptronic Double Decker series and features 5-Zones of comfort and support, plus a reinforced edge to help present the sensation of roll-off.

The Support and Comfort of Foam

All-Foam mattresses provide a huge range of conformance and support. A high-quality All-Foam mattress will generally offer the least responsive sleeping experience but the most pressure relief while delivering the lowest motion transfer from side to side. Foam mattresses often conform precisely to the natural curves of a sleeper’s body, thereby providing optimum pressure relief. Pressure points in the hips and shoulders are typically minimized. Consumers who purchase high-quality All-Foam mattresses often report that they feel as if they are “Sleeping In” the mattress. In many mattresses, a variety of advanced polyurethane and natural plant-based comfort and support foams work together to create unique feels. Whether choosing a product with viscoelastic foam, latex foam, or other advanced foam configurations, high quality All-Foam mattresses can provide a great night’s sleep. Polyurethane foam, viscoelastic memory foam, and latex foam are the three most common foams used in mattress construction:

In addition to use in All-Foam mattresses, consumers will find that each of the types of foam outlined below are often incorporated into a mattress that features a spring system - as either a comfort or support layer, or as both.

Polyurethane Foam - Many mattress manufacturers use polyurethane foam in the quilted layers and as the comfort layers of both Spring + Foam and All-Foam mattresses. With the advent of roll-packed mattresses, polyfoam is often used as a base layer in their mattresses instead of using spring coils. Several different varieties and densities of polyurethane foam are available. Higher density polyurethane foams are more durable than lower density foams. Many advanced features are available in poly-foam layers including convolution, and varying densities and softness ratings. High quality polyurethane foams carry the Certi-PUR US emission certifications. Consumers are often familiar with polyurethane foam as the type of foam used in sofa cushions or encounter polyurethane foam when shopping for mattress toppers, including “egg crate” mattress toppers. Polyurethane foam is comprised primarily of petrochemicals. In addition to being both durable and comfortable, polyurethane foams can be shaped and modeled and cut into specific pressure relieving designs.

ViscoElastic Foam – Also commonly referred to as “Memory Foam,” viscoelastic polyurethane foam is a type of polyurethane foam that contains added compounds which change the way it responds to pressure and which makes it reactive to changing temperatures. Chemists have engineered Memory Foam for additional conformance and pressure relief, which often results in slower recovery. For example, Memory Foam continues to display a handprint for a few seconds after a hand is removed. Memory Foam is usually denser and more expensive than regular polyurethane foam. Memory Foam is also temperature reactive, which means it absorbs heat and softens as it becomes warmer. Newer versions of Memory Foam known as “Open Cell” visco foams are designed to dissipate heat once absorbed. Many Memory Foams will become firmer in cooler environments and are not recommended for environments where the temperature often dips below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. As with polyurethane foam, Memory Foam is made up primarily of compounds derived from petrochemicals.

Latex Foam - Latex foam is one of the most durable types of foam available. Latex reacts instantly when pressure is applied and the support it provides changes with your every move. Latex foam does not “sink in” either initially or during the night and maintains constant support regardless of temperature. The responsive nature of latex facilitates easy movement throughout the night, without producing sleep interruption. Latex foam can be produced with predominantly natural latex which is harvested from rubber trees, or from synthetic latex, which is produced from petrochemicals, or can consist of a blend of both natural and synthetic latex elements. Most latex utilized in American made mattresses are of the blended variety. The two dominant methods used in manufacturing latex are "Talalay" vulcanized and vacuum sealed molds which are used for products with high natrual latex content, and "Dunlop" or line poured latex which is often mostly synthetic. "Talatech" latex utilizes the "Talalay" process for blended latex that contains both natural and synthetic components.

Infused Foams – The chemists and engineers who work for foam manufacturers are on a constant quest to create new types of polyfoams and latex foams that can deliver unique comfort, support, and performance properties. Many natural and synthetic additives are now commonly found in the comfort and support layers of modern mattresses. These include cooling gel, copper, and graphite. Each type of infusion offers one or more specific benefits for the consumer. New and innovative foam products are regularly introduced within the industry and thus, are too numerous to address here. If you find that a mattress contains an infused polyfoam, typically that signifies a more advanced product. To find out more about these products, a Google search will yield the most up to date information.