If the mattress we sleep on is not comfortable on a hot night, it will definitely cause a lot of problems for us. Not getting enough sleep may lead to many health issues. The Indian mattress industry is dominated by coir and foam mattresses. So, let’s try and find out whether we should buy a coir or foam mattress for summer.
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Should We Buy Coir or foam mattress for summer?
We should buy either coir, latex, or Talalay mattresses for summer. As coir mattresses have natural gaps in the coir sheets, they have good ventilation which keeps the mattress cool. Latex and Talalay foam are also organic materials that do not get hot in summer too.
What is a coir mattress?
A coir mattress is made from coconut coir or fibers. Coir is the primary material in a coir mattress.
There are secondary materials also in a coir mattress.
As it is not possible to sleep just on a coir, the top layer of a coir mattress is covered with a layer of polyurethane foam.
Then the whole mattress is covered and stitched with fabric.
Various types of coir mattresses
There are mainly two types of coir mattresses –
- Hybrid coir mattress
- Rubberized coir mattress
Most of the coir mattresses are hybrid as coir is only the primary material.
The secondary materials may be polyurethane foam or memory foam.
Sometimes we also come across a term called “rubberized coir mattress”.
Although some very rare coir mattresses may have a mix of coir and latex, a genuine rubberized coir mattress is hard to find.
Mostly a “rubberized coir mattress” refers to the natural bounce in a coir mattress. But, strictly speaking, coir mattresses have hardly any bounce.
Pros and Cons of Coir Mattress
Coir mattresses have good air circulation and are naturally ventilated.
So a coir mattress is naturally cooler in summer.
However one of the major disadvantages of a coir mattress is that they do not last more than a few years.
A coir mattress sags easily resulting in an uneven mattress surface.
As the mattress becomes uneven our spine is not aligned properly as we sleep which leads to body aches and pains.
What is a foam mattress?
A foam mattress refers to a mattress made of either polyurethane foam or a combination of different types of foams.
Various types of foam mattresses
There are 5 types of foam mattresses available in India:
- Polyurethane foam mattress
- Bonded foam mattress
- Memory foam mattress
- Latex foam mattress
- Talalay foam mattress
Polyurethane foam is made from carbon compounds. It is a synthetic material.
A polyurethane foam mattress is one where the primary material is polyurethane foam or PU foam.
Such mattresses are of a single layer of polyurethane foam covered and stitched by fabric.
PU foam is of soft comfort.
A bonded foam is made from scrap polyurethane foam. Polyurethane scraps are bonded together by chemicals under tremendous pressure to form a hard substance.
In a bonded foam mattress, the bonded foam is the second layer. The top layer or the comfort layer is mostly polyurethane foam.
The comfort of a bonded foam mattress depends on the secondary material on the top of the mattress.
Memory foam is made by adding extra chemicals to polyurethane foam. It was first developed by NASA.
Memory foam is responsive to body weight.
It means, that, it molds to the curves of the body when sleeping and again comes back to its original shape when pressure is removed.
Thus memory foam gives good support to the body.
A memory foam mattress is of medium-firm comfort.
Latex foam is made from the sap of a rubber tree. Hence it is a natural material.
In a latex mattress, latex foam is the only material used, besides the fabric.
Some latex mattresses may have a secondary material, like memory foam, on the top.
A latex mattress is of medium-firm comfort.
A Talalay mattress is made from latex.
Latex mattresses are made using the Dunlop process.
But unlike latex mattresses, Talalay mattresses are made using the Talalay process.
A Talalay mattress is a superior form of latex mattress.
It is not easily available in India. Mostly it is imported.
A Talalay mattress is of medium-firm comfort.
Pros and Cons of Foam Mattress
Polyurethane foams, especially memory foam, absorb our body heat to adjust to our body curves.
This makes the mattress feel warm while sleeping on it.
So polyurethane foam and memory foam may feel uncomfortable in summer.
However, latex foam mattresses and Talalay foam mattresses do not feel hot in summer.
Difference between coir and foam mattress and whether coir or foam mattress for summer is good
The major differences between a coir and foam mattress are as follows:
| Coir Mattress | Foam Mattress |
|---|---|
| A coir mattress is made from natural materials. | PU foam mattresses, bonded foam mattresses, and memory foam mattresses are made from synthetic materials. |
| A coir mattress sags in a few years. | PU foam mattresses do not last very long. But memory foam mattresses, bonded foam mattresses, latex foam mattresses, and Talalay mattresses last longer. |
| A coir mattress is of firm comfort. | A PU foam mattress is of soft comfort, a memory foam mattress, a latex foam mattress, and a Talalay foam mattress are of medium-firm comfort. The comfort of a bonded foam mattress depends on the secondary materials. |
| A coir mattress is cooler in summer. | Only latex foam mattresses and Talalay foam mattresses are cooler in summer. PU foam, bonded foam, and memory foam mattresses are not cooler in summer. |
Is coir mattress better than foam?
A coir mattress is definitely better than a PU foam mattress as coir is a natural material.
However, a coir mattress is not better than a memory foam mattress, as memory foam gives better support to the body than a coir mattress.
A coir mattress is also not better than latex foam or Talalay foam mattresses because these foams are of medium-firm comfort and last longer.
Latex foam mattresses and Talalay foam mattresses are made from natural materials too like coir mattresses.
Which mattress is good for hot weather?
You must have guessed the answer by now.
Yes, latex foam mattresses, Talalay foam mattresses, and coir mattresses are good for hot weather.
Is coir mattress good for summer?
Yes, coir mattresses are good for summer.
Coir mattresses have good ventilation through which heat can escape.
So it remains cool during summer.
3 Mistakes While Buying A Mattress
Besides choosing a mattress suitable for hot weather it is necessary to consider other factors.
Let us take a look at them.
- Comfort: A mattress can be firm, medium-firm, medium, soft, and medium-soft in comfort. Coir mattresses are very firm in comfort. A foam mattress can be of any comfort level as above. Most orthopedic doctors recommend using a medium-firm mattress. Most foam mattresses have medium-firm comfort.
- Durability: Coir mattresses do not last long. It sags to the body weight. A foam mattress lasts longer, does not sag easily to the body weight, and is mostly treated against germs.
- Cost: Coir mattresses are costly. Foam mattresses are cheaper than a coir mattress.