Memory Foam vs Hybrid Mattress: Pros & Cons

When you’re trying to pick between a hybrid mattress vs memory foam bed, there’s a lot to consider. Factors that might impact your decision include your sleeping style, your budget, your partner - even the weather where you live can influence your final choice.

Wondering how these things need to factor into your decision-making? Here’s a closer look at the differences between memory foam and hybrid mattresses, as well as how you can ensure you’re making the right choice for your sleep:

What Is A Memory Foam Mattress?

What is a memory foam mattress? Memory foam is also called ‘viscoelastic foam’ and was originally designed by NASA to use in the upholstery of spaceships. The naturally body-contouring properties of memory foam made it the ideal choice for astronauts who would have to remain seated for long stretches of time, and soon, the technology began to be applied to mattresses.

There’s plenty of variety in the construction of memory foam mattresses, and many models incorporate latex and other specialty polyfoam in order to optimize temperature regulation, responsiveness to motion, and durability.

What Is A Hybrid Mattress?

What is a hybrid mattress? Hybrid mattresses bring together two or more types of mattresses to provide a more balanced sense of comfort. Many hybrid mattress manufacturers choose to use the coil-based support layer that is present in innerspring mattresses and combine it with the natural comfort and body-contouring properties of memory foam. 

Hybrid mattresses usually consist of a support core that is made of pocketed coils, which help keep your bed responsive and durable. Some hybrid mattresses use alternate kinds of coil, including offset and Bonnell coils, since they’re more affordable, but these can create increased motion transfer.

What Are The Benefits Of A Memory Foam Mattress?

Memory foam mattresses have a wide range of benefits for sleepers looking to upgrade their bedroom. These include:

• Full-body support: Memory foam has the ability to relieve the body of excess pressure, ensuring that sharper pressure points such as the hips and shoulders stay relieved.
• Superior motion-isolation: One of the biggest advantages of sleeping on a memory foam is motion isolation - this is especially useful if you share a bed with a partner who tosses and turns in their sleep.
• Plush feel: Memory foam mattresses are popular for the ‘hugging’ sensation they cause. Feeling like you can sink a little into your bed and stay well supported can be a helpful way to ensure you’re getting the rest you need from your memory foam mattress.

Memory foam mattresses are a great choice for side sleepers or back sleepers who share their bed with a partner. They’re also cost-effective to produce, which is why you might notice they tend to be more affordable than hybrid mattresses.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Buying A Memory Foam Mattress?

There are a few disadvantages to investing in memory foam mattresses that it’s important to be aware of if you’re thinking of making the leap. Here are a few common disadvantages of buying a memory foam mattress:

• Temperature regulation: Poorly made memory foam mattresses can get stuffy, making them a challenging choice for hot sleepers.
• Poor responsiveness: Since they have slow response rates, there isn’t a lot of bounce in a memory foam mattress. This might be challenging for sleepers with mobility issues.
• Minimal edge support: Memory foam mattresses have a natural sink which means there isn’t usually too much edge support. This can be remedied by using the appropriate base for your bed.

What Are The Benefits Of A Hybrid Mattress?

Hybrid mattresses often have combined benefits that make them a versatile choice for most sleepers. Here are some of the benefits you can expect from a hybrid mattress:

• Optimized airflow: Since hybrid mattresses have a support layer made of coils, there’s a lot more room for airflow and temperature regulation.
• Better responsiveness: Hybrid mattresses adapt more easily as you switch sleeping positions thanks to their additional support layer.
• More balanced support: Since hybrid mattresses combine the benefits of two or more mattresses, they often have a more balanced sense of comfort.

What Are The Drawbacks Of A Hybrid Mattress?

Though hybrid mattresses combine the best of two worlds, there are a couple of disadvantages that are worth keeping in mind before you make the switch. These include:

• More costly: Since many different elements go into making a memory foam mattress, they tend to cost more on average than memory foam mattresses.
• Less motion isolation: Depending on the combination of layers present in your hybrid mattress, you’ll find that there’s not as much motion isolation, which can cause disturbances if you share your bed with a partner.
• They weigh more: The presence of a spring support layer often causes hybrid mattresses to weigh more on average than a regular foam mattress. This can make moving difficult.

How Do I Choose Between A Memory Foam & Hybrid Mattress?

Buying a mattress can be a deeply personal decision - that’s because your choice depends on sleep position, personal comfort, partner, as well as bedroom. Generally speaking, side sleepers and back sleepers will find a lot of success with memory foam mattresses, because of it’s contouring and pressure-relief properties.

For hot sleepers, or those looking for a mattress that effectively relieves pressure, a hybrid mattress can be a really versatile investment. Not only do they provide you with all the benefits of a foam mattress, they’re able to add a little more structure and support to your sleep.

Puffy uses uniquely engineered memory foam in order to ensure consistent cooling and contouring throughout your sleep. The Puffy Mattress is an all-foam bed, which consists of five distinct layers that contribute to a healthy night’s sleep. The Puffy Lux Hybrid includes contour-adapt coil technology, as well as a contouring dual cloud foam layer that minimizes strain from the body’s pressure points. When it comes to choosing between the Puffy Mattress vs Puffy Lux, your own comfort preferences and requirements for sleep will play a significant role in making the right choice for your rest.

The Puffy Royal Hybrid, much like the Lux Hybrid, also uses a contour-adapt coil base to help with stabilizing your mattress. When choosing between the Puffy Royal vs the Puffy Lux, the feel is going to be important - while the Royal Hybrid has an ultra-plush, softer feel, the Lux Hybrid has a medium-plush feel.

One helpful way to ensure you’ve picked the best mattress for your sleep includes making use of your trial period. Puffy offers over three months for you to toss, turn and test your mattress before committing to your purchase - that’s because it’s important to give yourself time to adjust to the new materials and layers before actually figuring out if your body responds well to it.

FAQ

Do hybrid or memory foam mattresses last longer?

The durability of a mattress depends largely on the quality of products used, credibility of the brand you purchase from, and the care and maintenance provided to it. For instance, a mattress used in the guest bedroom of your home will likely last longer than one you use every night for sleep. Typically speaking, hybrids are said to have longer lifespans than memory foam mattresses, since the coil support layer adds some structure.

Is memory foam or hybrid better for back pain?

Both memory foam and hybrid mattresses can be really useful for sleepers with back pain. Since both these beds have a focus on pressure-relief, they ensure you’re able to sleep without straining any parts of your body unnecessarily. Memory foam further contours to your body, thereby reducing any aches you might experience.

What is the difference between memory foam and a hybrid mattress?

If you’re trying to choose between a memory foam vs spring mattress, it’s important to understand the main difference lies in the actual layers. While memory foam mattresses consist of different layers of foam, spring matters usually have a base layer of interconnected or individually wrapped spring coils.

Summary

When it comes to mattress shopping, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of options available in the market. Thinking about your priorities when it comes to a good night’s sleep, your partner’s needs, and your budget can help make your decision simple. Finding the right mattress can often be a process of trial and error, but once you find the right fit, you’re going to enjoy benefits in nearly all areas of your life. Happy shopping!