Lower temperatures are one of the most important factors for a good night’s sleep, signaling to our body that it’s time to rest—rest which is well-earned and well-deserved.1
As far as mattresses go, traditional memory foam structures do retain more heat than some other types because of how their foam material is designed. But if you’ve ever had the pleasure of snoozing your alarm from the cozy embrace of your memory foam mattress, you’ll know they’re about as soft and fluffy as a cloud.
But, just how “hot” is the average memory foam mattress? And are there memory foam mattresses that have the “cool” factor?
There certainly are. There are a wide variety of solutions available if you crave the comfort of a memory foam mattress but don’t want to compromise on a cool sleeping experience. You’ll never have to ask “are memory foam mattresses hot” again because, while the average memory foam mattress might be, yours definitely won’t be.
Memory foam is a synthetic material used in various products including bedding, shoes, furniture, and, of course, mattresses. Sleepers of all body types and sleep positions love memory foam because it’s soft, durable, and provides optimal joint support. Who doesn’t want a mattress that will deliver maximum comfort and stand the test of time?
Memory foam evenly distributes weight, creating an incredibly comfortable sleeping experience and promising pressure relief. Consequently, Research and Markets reports that memory foam mattress and bedding markets will see over $8 billion in sales in the United States by 2023.2
Clearly, people are loving them—but not all memory foam mattresses are made equal.
The irresistibly softer mattress material is the exact reason that a memory foam bed can also be too hot for certain sleepers. This is especially true for traditional memory foam mattresses. On one hand, the memory foam’s airy internal structure perfectly contours to the shape of your body, evenly absorbing your weight across the entire surface area of the mattress. The material is porous, but here’s the catch: in many memory foam mattresses, those tiny spaces aren’t connected, which isn’t conducive to airflow.
And when your body compresses the memory foam, it compresses these tiny pockets of air, as well, leaving little to no space within the foam for air to circulate.3 As your body sinks into the foam layers with cozy delight, the mattress also retains more heat compared to other mattress types.
However, not all memory foam mattresses are made this way. Thankfully, we’ve got some solutions.
Unlike traditional memory foam mattresses, which become too hot the longer you sleep on them, Casper memory foam mattresses are equipped with AirScape™ technology. The top layer of Casper’s mattress is made from our innovative AirScape breathable foam. This technology is designed with thousands of perforations to provide increased airflow for a cool and comfortable sleep through the night.
If you don’t have a memory foam mattress from Casper’s cooling collection, a traditional memory foam mattress may have been a low point for any hot sleeper. However, mattresses are just one part of the entire bedroom setup. There are several other factors at play, including your:
Let’s see what we can do to solve these potential pain points that could potentially be impacting optimal temperature regulation and air flow.
Unlike traditional all-foam mattresses, a gel memory foam mattress uses gel infusions to absorb and disperse heat. Similarly, hybrid mattresses combine innerspring coil and foam to offer the comfort of traditional memory foam with a reduction in heat.4
At Casper, we have always looked for ways to improve your sleep with our mattresses while keeping you comfortably cool during the night.
cool. The HeatDelete™ Bands in our Snow Technology eliminate more than 34% of extra heat. Our signature breathable foam is also made better with the QuickCool™ Cover, created with Phase Change Material to instantly cool when you crawl into bed. This way, you can enjoy the best of both worlds — cozy comfort and a cool night’s sleep.
For the coolest sleep ever, upgrade your mattress and bedding with the Casper Cooling Collection. From our mattresses Snow Technology to our breathable Hyperlite Sheets, you’ll stay cool through the night.
Even the savviest sleeper might not realize how important their bed frame is to their sleep experience. To decrease heat retention, choose an open, supportive bed frame such as a slatted bed frame. The slats allow for air circulation through the mattress’s base layer, reducing the overall heat that could get trapped in the mattress’s foam layers.
But, what about the presence of a box spring? You may be wondering, does a memory foam mattress need a box spring or does a bed frame offer enough support? If heat retention is a concern, it’s important to note that box springs may impact the level of airflow required of cooling memory foam mattresses to perform at its finest, especially if placed directly on the ground.
Your mattress can’t retain heat if there’s very little heat in the room to begin with. Consider adjusting your air-conditioning system to the best temperature for sleep. If you don’t have an air-conditioning system, you can open a window or purchase a window fan. This is helpful if you normally sleep hot, but even more so in the humid summer months.
The little things add up, including your choice of bedding. The right bed sheets and pillows can promote optimal, balanced airflow thanks to a few key design features:5
If you really want to sleep as cool as a cucumber, pair your Snow mattress from Casper’s cooling collection with cooling bedding. Choose from lightweight bedding options, like our Lightweight Down Duvet, that won’t leave you toasty and turning through the night.
You can even try our cooling sheets made for maximum breathability. Casper’s Hyperlite Sheets are made with 100% TENCEL™ Lyocell and a 200 thread count for a light and airy feel and have a unique grid weave to provide ventilation through the night.
If you’re not ready to invest in a new mattress or bedding, you can always opt for a new mattress topper or mattress pad instead.
Just make sure you select breathable materials such as:
These materials help dissipate heat and promote air circulation by adding an additional layer as a barrier between you and your memory foam mattress.
And if you were searching for new ways for how to make a memory foam mattress firmer, look no further than a mattress topper.
If the question you’re still asking is, are foam mattresses hot, then the answer is still yes. But the real question to ask is, do they have to be? Because the answer to that one is a resounding no.
Our Casper Cooling Collection allows you to benefit from a mattress that’s as comfortable as a memory foam but is as cool as snow. Made with our Snow technology, you can have a bed setup that’s cool to touch, has innovative features that prevent overheating, and has breathable layers that allow air to move through.
With Casper, you can sleep cool without compromising on comfort.
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How Long Do Memory Foam Mattresses Last?
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