Spring mattresses Vs. foam mattresses      
A spring mattress was the standard for many many years but now foam mattresses are becoming more and more popular due to their unsurpassed comfort and overall body support. Spring mattresses may feel nice to sit or lay on it will not offer anywhere close to the body contouring and therefore spinal support that memory or latex foam can offer. It will actually cause a trampoline effect and bend inward when pressure is applied without conforming to the specific bumps and curves of the body. The foam can shrink over time but, springs can bend and lose their shape over time. Therefore, an old foam bed will likely feel better and offer better support much longer than an old spring mattress.     

Foam mattresses Vs. air mattresses      
Air mattresses have also become progressively more popular due to the interesting concept of being able to change the feel of your mattress with a control. With many air mattresses you can change both sides of the bed to different firmnesses. Unfortunately, an air mattress will have many parts that can and often do break. For this reason you will find the fine print of the warranties to contain less coverage. Also, you will not get the same contouring of the body that you can get with memory foam, as air beds will not make an imprint of your body. In fact, it is more similar to a spring bed in that it will cause a trampoline effect and bend inward when pressure is applied without conforming to the specific bumps and curves of the body. This is because air displaces to the sides of the body, leaving the middle with less support. Memory and latex foam are the only substances that can accomplish a contouring of the body without losing support.     

Memory foam Vs. Latex foam      
Latex foam has a higher elasticity or resiliency than memory foam. With this resilience the result of the latex will feel springier and memory foam will feel more solid. Therefore, memory foam will not push back up against your body upon pressure being applied to it. Mattress companies are using both of these two materials to blend the perfect mattress combination. Rare allergies to latex can be triggered, but usually upon skin contact, and not with the natural and synthetic latex mixes like Talay. This is because the proteins thought to trigger these rare allergies are usually washed away in the Talay latex foam produced in the U.S. Talay latex is a suppler version of latex. It is more expensive and is composed of synthetic and natural latex. There are no chemicals used in latex composition, it is the ILD only, that determines the feel of this product.     

Memory foam really is the best support for those achy joints      
Taking into consideration the amount of pressure you place on your shoulder and hips if you are a side sleeper, neck if you are a stomach sleeper or lower back and sacrum if you are a back sleeper, you will realize that visco-elastic pressure sensitive foam will offer you the best chance for reducing the overall pressure placed on your joints. This is done by contouring them without pushing back against them. The latex added to a memory foam mattress can offer a bit more spring against the concavities like the small of your back or sides. While doing this you will not lose the ability to contour and displace pressure points.