WHICH ONES ARE THE “RIGHT” OR “WRONG” CHOICE?
One of the most common dilemmas facing mattress buyers is the “conflict” between spring core mattresses and foam mattresses. In the following text, Schlarafia presents all the advantages and disadvantages of both categories, impartially and without favoring any option. Our goal is to use our expertise and knowledge gained over 90 years to be of service to you and help ease your decision-making process.
Mattresses have undergone significant changes in recent history, with the emergence of foam mattresses flooding the world market and pushing “traditional” ones aside. This shift is based on two main reasons: the synthesis and implementation of polymers with a broader range of properties (support, elasticity, density, softness, breathability) and the technological simplification of the manufacturing process. The first reason means that truly superior foam layers can be found on the market today (always inquire about the origin of the raw material). However, our manufacturing experience suggests that all types of foam perform best when used in comfort layers, while a spring core is ideal for the heart of the mattress.
WHY DO WE PREFER MATTRESSES WITH SPRING CORE?
Actually, we don’t prefer them, unless we are talking about Schlarafia’s patented handmade spring core. The advantages of the innovative hand-woven spring core system unique to Schlarafia’s mattresses can be found here, and its benefits include:
| Higher-density spring core, providing better support to the spine, good flexibility of the surface, comfort for large and small joints without uncomfortable “sinking”; |
| Due to the special way the springs are tied, Schlarafia’s spring core exhibits exceptional durability and longevity; |
| The core acts like a large air cushion, allowing smooth airflow through the bed, making mattresses with spring cores unparalleled in breathability; |
| For adults with pronounced body constitution or in the case of double beds where two people sleep, the only sensible choice is “heavy,” i.e., solid mattresses with proper support; |
| The high quality foams are not excluded from mattresses with spring cores; they are simply placed in comfort layers. |
IN WHICH CASES IS IT GOOD TO CHOOSE A FOAM MATTRESS?
Foam mattresses emerged as a result of simplifying the manufacturing process and the need for easy transport. Imagine Schlarafia’s handmade mattress, whose spring core a craftsman weaves for almost an hour, and to which numerous layers are added to create the final product, which in the case of some of our mattesses weighs over 100 kg! This is certainly “uneconomical” for a manufacturer who, like Schlarafia, still delivers this heavyweight product to the user’s bed for free. It is clear that the era of foam mattresses primarily aimed to produce and deliver such items as quickly as possible, and their shortcomings were masked by discrediting the wire used in their predecessors.
Although there are a number of advantages of traditional mattresses over modern ones, there are situations where we happily recommend buying foam mattresses, with one very important caveat: foams must be produced using the “open cell” technology that allows air flow, and it is desirable that they have the highest load-bearing capacity, with layers of different foams cleverly designed so that the most solid foams form the “core,” while foams with different performances adjust comfort according to individual needs. It should be noted that not all foams are of the same quality, even though they bear the same name (e.g., HR = High Resilience, memory, supersoft…), so be sure to ask about the origin of the foam when purchasing.
When is it practical to buy a foam mattress?
| In situations where it is not a permanent solution (purchase for a rental apartment, a fixed period of residence, a temporary bed that will be replaced by another size, guest rooms, weekend cottages) |
| Beds for small children, especially if they are temporary solutions, drawer beds, bunk beds. These mattresses are primarily easy to manipulate and in all situations where bed linen is changed frequently, where there are liquid spills, sweating, etc., it is always good to have something easy to flip. |
| Beds that do not have adequate depth for a higher mattress |
| Tourist facilities for children, hostels, kindergartens, student dormitories, etc. |
The table below presents simplified advantages and disadvantages of these two mattress groups:
ADVANTAGES
| Spring core mattresses | Foam mattresses |
| Better orthopedic properties | High-quality foams with various characteristics |
| Comfort and adaptation to the spine, as well as large and small joints and muscles | Beds that do not have adequate depth for a higher mattress |
| Longevity and durability | Ideal for children’s auxiliary beds |
| Unparalleled breathability | Ideal for cottages, boats, and guest rooms |
| Better hygienic sustainability due to spring core’s ventilating properties | Various shapes and forms |
| Ideal for double beds due to even distribution of pressure | More affordable price |
| Recommendation for all sleepers above 50 kg body weight | Easy to manipulate (flip, move) |
| Ideal for individuals with increased sweating due to high breathability | Ideal for wall beds with lower load-bearing capacity and depth |
| Greater choice of comfort levels |
DISADVANTAGES
| Dušeci sa žičanim jezgrom | Dušeci od pene |
| Due to rich layers, spring mattresses can be heavy | Less breathability (not recommended for people with increased sweating) |
| Not advisable to place them on flexible slatted surfaces | Poorer adaptation to the sleeper’s anatomy |
| Shorter lifespan | |
| Sensitivity of foam to liquid incidents | |
| Weaker response to pressure force of two sleepers |
Do you have questions or uncertainties about choosing a mattress for yourself? Give us a call! +381 60 35 00 136 or visit Schlarafia stores.