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Blog > Top 10 Mattress Technologies for Better Sleep in 2024
Blog > Top 10 Mattress Technologies for Better Sleep in 2024
Like almost every other aspect of our lives, technology has changed mattresses, sleep, and how we shop for mattresses. Buying a mattress or even looking at the available options is nothing like it was a decade ago. A lot has changed since the innerspring mattress was invented in 1871.
When Casper launched their bed-in-a-box in 2014, it revolutionized the mattress industry, including materials used to make mattresses, shopping trends, and testing mattresses. Consumers loved the convenience of shopping for a mattress at home as well as the reduced cost thanks to low overhead.
Since then, hundreds of similar companies have competed and helped create the next generation of mattresses and the innovations that make it possible.
No mattress is entirely organic—it’s not possible due to manufacturing processes and materials. However, mattresses constructed with organic materials are gaining popularity as more consumers lean in towards eco-friendly and organic products. Most organic mattresses are made with organic latex, cotton, and wool. These mattresses do not contain harmful chemicals like adhesives or chemical flame retardants, making them an ideal option for those with allergies, asthma, and skin sensitivities. These mattresses help reduce waste during production and, when purchased, limit chemicals in the home.
It wasn’t that long ago when the only mattress option included hot, chemical-laden memory foams or the classic innerspring. Today, consumers have more options that ever, but the concept of the innerspring mattress has been modernized with individually pocketed springs.
A mattress with individually pocketed springs has the same design as the old-fashioned innerspring, but each spring coil is wrapped in fabric and topped with memory foam, latex, or another material depending on the mattress brand. The fabric on the coils helps with motion transfer and air circulation.
No one likes to sleep hot, which was one of the chief complaints when the first memory foam mattresses debuted. Sleeping hot is uncomfortable and decreases sleep quality. Thanks to the invention of cooling phase change materials, many no longer wake up hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable.
Phase change materials are made with gels that respond to body heat, turning into a cooling liquid when you’re too hot but staying semi-fluid when body heat is lower. Most phase change materials are either gel or copper-infused memory foam. For those who sleep hot, cooling phase change materials can completely revamp your sleep habits and quality.
Latex is usually found in organic and eco-friendly mattresses. It is one of the more expensive due to the manufacturing and extraction process. Also, latex mattresses last almost twice as long as other mattresses. Since latex mattresses are on the pricey side, many latex beds combine synthetic and natural latex to save money.
While latex provides a comfort and long-lasting sleep surface, it is also a common allergen. To combat this, mattress companies partnered with scientists to create latex foam alternatives that mimic the responsiveness of latex with the contouring capabilities of memory foam.
A mattress with adjustable firmness is great for anybody looking for a more personalized sleeping experience. If you sleep with a partner and don’t agree on a mattress firmness level, a mattress with adjustable firmness options just might save your relationship! Most adjustable firmness mattresses allow for each side of the bed to change the firmness to their desired level, all when the push of a button.
Finding the ideal temperature when you’re trying to sleep can be a challenge. Trying to sleep when you are too cold or too hot is near impossible. Many new mattresses, mainly smart beds, are equipped with heating and cooling technology, putting the end to adding extra blankets or positioning a fan just right when trying to sleep.
The warming device on these mattresses can alleviate aches, pains, and help those who have trouble regulating their body temperature get comfortable.
To go along with the organic mattress trend, plant-based memory foams have been recently making their mark on mattresses. Traditional memory foam mattresses famously are made with chemicals like polyurethane and other petroleum-based products.
Plant-based foams are made from soy and other vegetables. Latex mattresses are also considered plant-based, as latex is derived from rubber trees.
We have smartphones, smart TVs, and now smart mattresses. These mattresses include sensor technology that tracks your movements and records sleep quality. These mattresses keep track of breathing, pulse rate, and even how many times you get out of bed throughout the night. This information is then calibrated to measure your sleep quality. Knowing your sleep quality can help you determine what actions to take or avoid in order to improve your sleep.
With modern mattresses, it’s not just about what’s on the outside of the mattress and how it feels to the touch. New internal mattress technology as well as toppers help improve the comfort of a mattress as well as improve sleep quality. One of these advancements is Celliant, a proprietary blend of fibers designed to absorb body heat, improve circulation, and increase oxygen to body tissue. According to studies, Celliant decreases the time it takes to fall asleep and helps ease pain. Manufacturers like Bear and Amerisleep have mattresses with Celliant tops.
Nanotech mattresses sound like something way off in the future, but nanotechnology is currently in everyday items we use like smartphones and now mattresses. In mattresses, the nanotech is implemented as thin fibers that support and mold to the body like memory foam.
Not sure how to start looking for a mattress? Here are a few tips to help you start your search.
Mattress technology is rapidly advancing for the better. With more than a third of adults in the US not getting enough sleep, according to the CDC, these sleep improving mattress innovations are warranted. If you’ve been having trouble sleeping, it might be time to upgrade to a new mattress that implements these technologies.
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About The Author
Dustin Morgan
Sleep Expert & Store Manager
Dustin Morgan is the Chief Mattress Analyst and Sleep Technology Expert at SleePare. He combines his computer science background with his passion for sleep innovation. With personal experience testing over 200 mattresses, Dustin offers unmatched insights into finding the perfect sleep solution for various needs. His work focuses on delivering honest and detailed comparisons and advice to help individuals achieve their best sleep. When he is not exploring the latest sleep technology, Dustin enjoys spending time in the great outdoors and gaming in his Virginia home.