If you wake up with a sore back every morning, chances are – the culprit is in that uncomfortable mattress that you’ve been sleeping on for the past decade! Barring any serious medical conditions like fibromyalagia, scoliosis, spinal injuries and chronic pain conditions – the most popular cause of the occasional back pain is your sleep surface.

Now most people have sleep partners, the bed that is causing you to wake up every morning with aches and pains likely has your spouse sleeping like a baby! For this reason going out and simply buying a new mattress isn’t as easy a fix as it may seem. The memory foam mattress system has helped many couples resolve this issue. The visco-elastic material moulds and forms to the individual curves and shapes of the bodies. So where your body may call for more support in the lower back, and your partners body needs more support in the hips – you will find a happy compromise with memory foam.

The most popular brand of visco elastic sleep surfaces is Tempurpedic, they are accredited with bringing this material to the general population several decades ago. Because they are the most popular and best brand, they are also the most expensive as well. If you are not ready to make the investment of several thousand dollars, the most viable solution for you is to purchase a memory foam bed topper.

These foam bed toppers are quickly replacing the old fashioned egg crate foam mattress toppers. You can find them in discount stores like Costco for a fraction of the cost of a full bed set. As long as your current mattress is in good shape with no sink holes or sags, you can simply place the memory foam topper on top of your existing sleep surface and enjoy the benefits right away! These are not designed to be as durable and long lasting as full mattress sets, so you may find yourself replacing it every few years, but at the fraction of the cost – it is well worth the money!

When it comes to purchasing a new memory foam mattress, the brand name truly does mean a lot. As a consumer, you may be able to get away with buying generic off brand breakfast cereals, but when it comes to your sleep surface – you do not want to take the same risk. There are many players in the visco-elastic game, but some are clearly heads and shoulders above the rest. In this article we are going to examine the top names in memory foam mattresses which will help you to determine your best match.

Tempur-Pedic Memory Foam Mattress: Tempur-pedic is often given credit for bringing this material to the mainstream consumer. They are by far the leading brand and as such, their prices are higher than most others. They have had years to perfect their product and in reading customer reviews, it is well worth it’s price. As you already know, the material itself has a foam density range to two and a half pounds to nearly six pounds. The Tempur-pedic company uses a density that is just a little over five pounds, the higher the density – the more body and the longer the memory of the mattress. What this means for you is better support, more cushion and a mattress that will conform to your body with ease. The higher density also means that your mattress will have a longer life as well. This is very important, if you’re going to make an investment in a product – it should last a “life time”

Simmons Beautyrest Foam Mattress: Although the Simmons company is a popular brand in mattresses in general, they aren’t as popular in the memory foam mattress industry. According to consumer reviews, there appears to be a problem with sagging and sinking. This is typically found in mattresses with a lower density, however – Simmons BeautyRest does claim to use a high density material. It can only be assumed that the actual construction of the mattress is less than adequate. Although BeautyRest is considered a top of the line product, consumers are by and large unsatisfied with their purchases.

NovaForm Elite Memory Foam Mattress Topper: If spending several thousands dollars for a new bed is not in your budget, but you desire a memory foam system – then the bed toppers may be the best thing for you. The Novaform Elite mattress topper can be found at retail locations like Costco. These toppers are designed to be placed right on top of your existing mattress. In order to get the most benefit, please make sure your current bed is in good condition with no sink holes or sagging. The NovaForm topper receives mostly mixed reviews, and ends up with an average rating. It received great comfortability ratings and the price point is affordable. However the durability and life-span is a con for many people. Please note that a topper is not meant to last a lifetime.

If you are going to spend upwards of three to four thousand dollars on a memory foam bed, you would likely be better off going with the Tempur-pedic brand. If you are still uncertain about making that type of investment, try a mattress topper – specifically the NovaForm Elite. It will give you the immediate comfort results that you’re looking for, but once again – it is important to keep in mind that the durability will be significantly less than a full mattress set.