Memory Foam Pillow Top Mattresses Reach New Heights


The memory foam pillow top mattress has increased in popularity as well as height recently. Thicker layers of base foam and super comfort layers up to 6” thick make today’s memory foam pillow top beds up to 16” in height. Better foam and better combinations of foam have lead to beds that offer both a super plush feel as well as outstanding support. Understanding how these beds are put together will help you chose from the array of beds on the market and find one that caters to your personal comfort level.
 
The term pillow top refers to a super plush layer quilted on top of a mattress. A split seam between the mattress and pillow top bedding allows you to lie on the mattress without stretching the top layer of fabric taught and creating pressure points. So not only is the top layer of material softer, the split seam allows it to function in a way that gives it a softer feel. Many memory foam pillow top mattresses have this split seem, but you will see a few beds on the market that say pillow top, but do not have the split seem. Instead they usually have an extra soft layer of memory foam on top of a firmer memory foam layer, but all under the same cover.

Couple Misconceptions About Memory Foam Mattress

First, many first time shoppers mistakenly think that memory foam beds are made completely with memory foam. In fact only the top 2” to 6” are memory foam. The bottom layers are made of base foam, standard polyurethane foam. Base foam is a lower density (1.8 – 2.5lb) closed cell foam; its purpose is to provide deep support for the top comfort layers. Unlike lower density memory foam, lower density base foam is very durable, often having a longer usable life than the memory foam it is layered with.  
 
Second, many consumers are lead to believe that thicker pillow top mattresses are more luxurious, soft, or comfortable. Retailers tout their super thick pillow top beds as having the plushest feel. In most cases this is true, but it is smart to look at the actual composition of the bed. How thick are the memory foam layers? What firmness foam is used in the different layers?  

Composition of Memory Foam Pillow Top Mattresses  

Memory foam mattresses are made up of 2 or more layers. In the most simple applications a base layer of foam is laminated to a memory foam layer. For example, a standard 8” profile mattress would be 5” of base foam and 3” of memory foam. This is the original configuration of memory foam mattresses that first became so popular. However there are many variations on this theme. You can have a 10” bed with 8” of base foam and 2” of memory foam, or 6” of base foam and 4” of memory foam.
 
More complex beds can have 2 layers of base foam of different firmnesses and 2 layers of memory foam of different firmnesses. Together the several layers work together to absorb body weight gradually, increasing resistance the further you push into the mattress. Several layers working in tandem is the functionality behind a pillow top mattress layer that gives it that plush feel and allows it to reduce pressure points so well.
 
Whatever bed you are looking at, whether it’s a firm 8” low profile mattress or a plush 16” pillow top mattress, the important thing is how it feels. Regardless of the name on the bed or what the marketing language says is inside the bed, the real test is that it makes you comfortable and lets you get a great night of sleep.