Beds and mattresses with gimmick features

There are a number of features, gimmicks and perky novelty ideas that get incorporated into beds and particularly mattresses from time to time. Some of these ideas shape the way that future mattresses are made, however most are nothing but a fad. Determining which is and which is not a gimmick, is not always easy, but here are some of the current crop of novelty additions to mattresses.

Scented or aroma mattress

Since around 2008 a number of mattresses and pillows have been available with an aroma impregnated into them. Naturally these scented mattresses cost more than a standard mattress and what you get for your money is, in essence, a smell.

How long this aroma lasts, how strong it is, and how representative it is of the scent that it mimics, is something that cannot be easily determined.

Many people, and some of those in the medical profession, do not consider the idea of a mattress with an artificial smell a good one. Indeed the manufacturers of these products often recommend that they should not be used in rooms with babies, young children, or people suffering from asthma or breathing difficulties.

Quite how the aroma changes with time and just how long it takes someone to tire of a specific fragrance are other factors that should be considered before buying one of these scented beds.

Magnetic mattress

Magnetic therapy has been around for a while and you can get both toppers and mattresses that incorporate tiny magnets into their construction. These magnets are positioned at regular intervals and all have the same polarity. The location of the magnets in the bedding is such that they cannot (or should not) be felt by the person resting on the bed.

The idea behind magnetic therapy is to align the body with positive magnetic currents and there are suggestions that doing this can improve health, relaxation and general wellbeing.

As yet no conclusive evidence exists, however the are an increasing number of people who attach some importance to this kind of "sleeping" therapy.

Mattresses that include this magnetic therapy cost more than standard mattresses.

Mattresses with unusual fillings

Most people will be familiar with mattresses having springs, or foams like visco elastic memory foam or latex foam, however, there are some more novel and unusual mattress fillers.

Some small companies produce mattresses that are filled with materials like organic wool and even dried grasses. These alternative fillers may be claimed to give the mattress a different kind of support, or they may release aromas and positive organic energy into the sleeping environment.

Mud

You may sometimes see references to mud beds. These are in fact waterbeds (water) and they do not (as far as we are aware) contain mud. The term is normally used to suggest that they are not as “motion sensitive” as regular waterbeds, the inference being that mud is less viscous than water.

Gel

The gel-mattress is a mattress that, rather than being made from gel, has a layer of gel resting on either springs or a bedding foam like memory foam.

The gel is not a liquid or viscous gel, but rather a rubber like material that will be shaped in a repeating honeycomb or square pattern with air voids incorporated in to it.

Gel has been around for a while in mattress manufacture, but it has never taken off in quite the same way as some other materials. My own bed has a gel layer in it and there is no doubt that it is a cool material in the summer. However, some of the other claims, e.g. that it massages you as you sleep, are (in my opinion) greatly exaggerated.

Memory foam springs

One of the latest concepts in mattress design is to make the springs from a none metal material like memory foam. Foam spring mattresses have their springs formed of visco elastic foam and they have no metal parts. Use the link to find out more.