Is the Coolest Memory Foam Mattress a Restonic?

Restonic has always been keen to promote itself as a mattress manufacturer that is at the very forefront of technical innovation, its specialist Sleep Odyssey Magnet and Air mattresses are proof of this. The company didn't invent the memory foam mattress but it has taken a look at it afresh and realized that its biggest downside was 'cooking' the sleeper. The company believes it has been able to solve this problem by using a new innovative technology called 'phase change material'.

The memory foam mattress has seen a phenomenal rise in popularity. Unlike traditional foam - or latex - the foam used is called viscoelastic. This means that the cells (air bubble) are not closed but are interconnected to one another.

This is commonly referred to as 'open cell structure'. However, viscoelastic is more than this; the mattress is not only sensitive to weight but also to heat. The more heat that is applied the more the mattress will yield.

Viscoelastic foam conforms to the exact shape of the person sleeping on top of it. This means it provides far better support than other types of mattress and is extremely good at relieving pressure points. The Tempur-Pedic mattress was the very first of this type and remains the market leader to this day.

The SensiSleep is from the Restonic Health Rest range of memory foam mattresses. The mattress is 10" thick and is comprised of 3 layers. First, there is a base layer of high-density foam - not viscoelastic.

On top of this there is a 1" high density poly support layer - its purpose is to provide a comfort layer between the base layer and the top layer. The top layer is comprised of 3.25" or 5 lb memory foam (viscoelastic).

There are many views as to the sleep quality of the mattress. I won't discuss this topic but I will say that the memory foam is of good quality - whichever memory foam mattress you do buy, make sure its density is 5 lbs or more as anything below this will not really give good enough support. Also, consumer reports seem to indicate that the Restonic memory foam mattress sleeps a little soft, which is fine for those that prefer soft.

The Tempurpedic mattress has a 5.25 lb density and sleeps a little more firm. If you can, try to compare at least two or three different brands before you buy.

Although many have enjoyed a better sleep on a memory foam mattress there are some who found that sleeping on one felt a lot warmer than sleeping on an inner spring mattress. One solution has been to introduce a new layer of high-density convoluted foam between the base foam block and the top viscoelastic foam. Convoluted foam has a ripple or wave pattern, the idea being that air can more easily circulate through this layer thereby dissipating body heat.

This sounds like a brilliant idea except that it doesn't work - at least in my opinion. The problem is as soon as weight is applied, the convoluted segment squashes down and I can't see how air can circulate through it. Anyhow, all mattresses now seem to have this extra layer, even the Tempurpedic mattress.

I have to admit at this point that I sleep on this type of mattress. I bought mine years ago when most people had never heard of memory foam - and before convoluted layers. I've enjoyed years of good sleep and I've never experienced being too hot while sleeping on it.

However, I appreciate that there are many people who do feel hot and which is why most manufacturers now incorporate a convoluted layer to supposedly cool down the sleeper. Restonic have taken a different approach to solve the problem. The company incorporates 'phase change materials' in the making of its mattresses.

This has been done in partnership with a specialist company called Outlast Technology who specializes in the manufacture of materials that interact with the skin's temperature to provide a buffer against temperature swings. The company has patent rights for the original temperature-regulating technology and ingredients for fibers, fabrics and coatings that were originally used in the NASA space program. I really like this idea and it certainly seems a better approach to take than adding a new layer of foam that doesn't really cool but certainly adds to the cost of a mattress.

But, does it work? Well, I believe that it does and if I were looking to replace my Tempurpedic mattress it would be a Restonic mattress that I would take a more serious look at.