“Firm yet Soft” may seem to be an impossible contradiction, but it really is possible. How can a mattress be firm and soft at the same time? It turns out that it is possible to have a mattress that combines both these opposites, and such mattresses have their pros and cons like any other.
I have decided to discuss the memory foam mattress from Signature Sleep, which comes in a variety of depths (more about that later). First I’d like to talk about the 12-inch mattress, and forgive me if I go on a bit about the softness and firmness of this model.
Here are some of the advantages this one offers.
Support
People turn to memory foam because they’re looking for a more comfortable sleep, and memory foam certainly delivers. But with so many options out there, what made me choose to feature this model on my site?
To start with, it’s perfect if you suffer from hip, shoulder or back pain; it’s not hard to find plenty of comments from people who saw their various aches and pains completely disappear. Of the mattresses that are really effective at preventing joint pain, this option is probably the easiest on your budget.
The mattress is composed of Indentation Load Deflection (ILD) 4 to 9 pounds of memory foam. This accounts for the firmness that so many people have noticed. The softness comes in when you lie on the mattress and it conforms to your body, surrounding all your contours. And that’s how the mattress does the seemingly impossible and manages to be soft yet firm.
Having said that, this model might not be the right one for everyone. If you’re on the heavy side, you may feel like you sink too far in to the mattress for comfort, and that it’s too soft for you. This mattress is also likely to be preferred by back sleepers; side and front sleepers might find it to be too firm.
Confused yet?
The purpose of memory foam is to mold itself to the contours of the sleeper’s body. This helps get rid of motion transfer between sleepers and supports all of the pressure points, helping to reduce and prevent pain. If you’re someone who doesn’t require a mattress to be super firm or extremely soft, these are probably a safe choice.
Other Considerations
The Signature Sleep is shipped rolled up in vacuum packaging to save space and transport cost. Once you unpack it, it needs to expand fully before you sleep on it. The manufacturer suggests that it can be used after 48 hours, but to be on the safe side and to avoid the off-gassing odor, you might want to wait 72 or even 96 hours before you use it.
Unpack Signature Sleep Contour 8-Inch Mattress in 5 easy steps
Heat is another factor to think about. This mattress doesn’t include any kind of cooling layer, so it might get unpleasant if you tend to feel hot when you sleep or if you live somewhere hot. You could invest in a cool-touch mattress protector or sheets to help with this issue. This model does not come with a removable cover, so for hygiene’s sake you’ll probably want to invest in some kind of cover anyway.
As I mentioned earlier, Signature Sleep makes mattresses in other depths as well. I’ve included some on this page so that you don’t have to look elsewhere if 12 inches does not suit your needs.
Signature Sleep – 8-Inch Mattress
This mattress offers most of the same benefits as the 12-inch model, but with a few important differences. Because the ILD 9 is to two pounds, this model is usually better for lighter people, including children. It might also be a good choice for your guest room where it will not be in constant use.
One benefit is that it takes a shorter time to expand. You should be able to use it after just 24 hours, or 48 if you are especially sensitive to the odor.
Signature Sleep – 6-Inch Mattress
This model comes in all the same sizes as the other two, but as you can probably guess, the 5-inch mattress is really best for lighter weight people. Anyone over 180 pounds should probably ot consider it. Still, it’s a good choice for children or for anyone who really appreciates a firm mattress. It shares the same IDL with the 8-inch model, and this one is much easier to move than the deeper models.
Overview
Many people I know have paid more than $1500 for memory foam. The mattresses I just wrote about are in a much lower price range, and still offer the comfort and support of memory foam.
If your budget is limited, or if this your first time purchasing memory foam, these are all good options. For more information and to hear more opinions, check these out on Amazon.
