Gel Foam Mattress Buying Guide
The world of mattresses is vast, and you've likely heard of the usual suspects, like memory foam or pocket springs. But what about gel mattresses? Much like their memory foam counterparts, gel foam mattresses offer high support and unique benefits, such as a cooling feel.
What is a gel mattress?
A gel mattress combines viscoelastic foam with tiny gel beads. Viscoelastic foam is the same stuff that a memory foam mattress is made of, so you get the same level of comfort and support with the added benefit of the gel beads. Our guide answers all the most important questions about the benefits of memory foam mattresses, which you'll also enjoy with gel mattresses.
What are the advantages of gel mattresses?
Gel foam mattresses offer plenty of great benefits that make them a must-have for any sleeper, including:
Great for hot sleepers
A gel mattress contains tiny, highly conductive gel beads, allowing them to absorb heat from your body and release it slowly throughout the night. This makes a gel foam mattress ideal for those who overheat at night, as it slowly releases heat to keep you cool. Check out our mattresses for hot sleepers guide for more information!
Custom support
Given that a gel mattress uses the same technology as a memory foam mattress, you get the same high support level. Your body heat allows the mattress to mould to your body, cushioning your joints and pressure points to give you a healthy spinal alignment that will reduce the chance of experiencing aches and pains.
Who would benefit from a gel mattress?
Given its unique cooling properties, sleepers with certain conditions will benefit the most from a gel mattress. Some of these conditions include:
- Menopause
- Medications such as antidepressants
- Anxiety and stress
- Hyperhidrosis (a condition that causes excess sweating)
- Fibromyalgia
- Joint paint
- Infections
If you're interested in discovering more about the best mattresses for back pain, check out our guide before exploring all the available mattresses for back pain. Our curated list of mattresses for fibromyalgia helps make the buying choice easier.
Is a gel mattress better than a spring mattress?
A gel mattress and a spring mattress both offer plenty of support and comfort in different ways. A pocket spring mattress contains individually wrapped pocket springs to reduce jostling and offer support where needed, whereas a gel mattress works by contouring to your body. Both are good options, but a gel mattress is better suited if you want something to create a cooler sleep.
The good news is that many gel mattresses are hybrid mattresses featuring a spring structure with a layer of gel foam. This combines the advantages of both types of mattresses into one!