There is [tooltips keyword=”always” content=”
Wordress Tooltips is a rich featured wordpress tooltip plugin.”]1 room for improvement. More than just another motivational quote, those who think seriously like researchers and scientists, take this literally and try to make it applicable. If you don’t believe me, go and check out the gel-infused foam mattress.
Memory foam mattress, which revolutionized the market in the late 1970s, is still one of the favorite types of mattress. It filled mattress lovers with awe when an improved version of the memory foam called gel-infused foam hit the market.
How Was Gel-Infused Foam Introduced in the Market?
Memory foam, the predecessor of gel-infused foam, is a polyurethane foam that is made of a substance called viscoelastic. The material was first created in the mid-1960s by the American space research agency, NASA. As the material is highly energy absorbent and soft, they used it as padding for seats and helmets.
The extra softness of the material and the unique ability to conform to the shape of the material applying pressure to it caught the attention of the mattress makers. They thought of making a mattress with the material and it became a huge success.
The awe-inspiring success of the memory foam mattress did not stop the researchers from trying to improve the quality of the mattress. They continued their research and came up with a better foam called gel-infused foam.
When Was Gel-Infused Foam First Introduced in the Market?
The credit of developing the gel-infused foam goes to Charles Yost. He manufactured it in 2006. Yost is also the inventor of memory foam for NASA. One is forced to think that he has a special affection for very soft materials.
What Is the Gel Used in the Foam?
Most mattress makers prefer to keep the composition of the gel they are using as their trade secret. But it is obvious that the gel or gel infused foam that they use in the mattress is not natural. It has to be a synthetic material which gives more ventilation than memory foam.
What Are the Different Types of Gel-Infused Mattresses Available in India?
An advantage of gel-infused mattress is that they are available not just as full gel infused mattress. Much cheaper versions of this type of beds are available in the market.
Gel-Infused Pads
Gel-infused mattress pads or simply gel infused pads are a thin layer of pad which covers the whole top surface of the bed. They can be used over any mattress to make it softer. Many people prefer the pads for its well known cooling property also.
Gel-Infused Mattress Toppers
This is a much thicker version of the mattress pads. They are much comfortable and are not as costly as a full gel infused mattress. You can enjoy the softness of the gel-infused foam by just covering your old mattress with this toppers.
How Much Does This Type of Beds Cost?
Gel-infused mattresses are costly compared to other available types of mattresses in India. Though the cost depends on the brand of the maker, it usually comes around Rs 10,000. This not an affordable amount for many who are looking to buy a comfortable bed.
What Are the Different Sizes Available?
Gel-infused foam mattresses are available in all sizes. You can find them in full, twin, queen and king sizes. However, this is not applicable to gel-infused mattress pads and gel-infused mattress toppers. Not all variety of these types are available in India.
Where Can I Get Gel-Infused Foam Beds in India?
It is unlikely that you will find the mattress with your required size in a local store in India. You may have to depend on multinational stores like IKEA or Walmart. You may also find everything you need in the online stores.
When Are Gel-Infused Foam Mattresses Best Used?
If you are in love with the softness of the memory foam mattress and live in a warm climate which gives you a sweaty and uncomfortable sleep, you can prefer gel-infused foam. They are much cooler and provide better ventilation.
They are also sometimes used as therapeutic beds in hospitals as they do not give pressure point pains to the patient.
What Are the Pros of Using a Gel-Infused Foam Mattress?
This type of mattresses have all the advantages of memory foam mattresses. At the same time, they eliminate many of its disadvantages too.
Regains shape much faster
Gel-infused foam, like memory foam, has the property of plasticity by which the shape of the sleeper is accommodated easily. This versatility of the mattress helps to avoid pressure point pains, reduces joint aches and provides a very comfortable sleep.
But the unique feature of the gel infused foam mattress is that it springs back to its normal foam much faster than memory foam. This helps those who toss and turn around a lot in their sleep as it facilitates easy motion. The sinking or ‘stuck in’ experience of the memory foam mattress that many complain about is effectively avoided by gel-infused foam mattresses.
Much cooler
One of the major problems of memory foam mattress is that it traps body heat and hence is not suitable for warm climates. Gel-infused foam facilitates air circulation and allows the body heat to escape. Thus a cooler and comfortable sleep is guaranteed by the gel-infused foam mattress without compromising on responsiveness.
This property of gel-infused foam mattress makes it suitable for use in India which has one of the hottest summers in the world.
Better for heavy people
Most obese people find it difficult to sleep in memory foam mattresses. They complain that as it provides very little support they feel uncomfortable. Gel-infused mattresses, on the other hand, are very suitable for them. It regains its shape much faster than memory foam so it is easier to get in and out of bed.
If you are on the heavier side, you can opt for gel-infused foam which is much better than memory foam.
Low motion transfer
Many complain of the sleepless nights they have to endure because of their restless sleeping partners. Motion transfer, as it is called, is a problem for almost all mattresses. But the gel-infused foam mattress is very good at avoiding this. The viscoelastic material and the gel used to make these beds absorb the energy from tossing and turning rather than transferring it to the person sleeping next to you.
What Are the Cons of a Gel Infused Foam Mattress?
The disadvantages of a gel infused foam mattress are:
Cost
The high cost of this type of beds is the major concern of those who are looking to buy one. Different brands have different costs. But generally, gel infused foam is costlier than memory foams. This makes it less affordable to common people.
Weight
Gel-infused foams are heavy and thick mattresses. This makes their handling much difficult. You may have to seek the help of someone to just reposition it in your bedroom.
Not Portable
These type of mattresses are too heavy to be moved from one place to another. They are hence not suitable for camping. Gel infused foam pads and toppers were invented to circumvent this problem.