The components of a Hybrid Mattress
Hybrid mattresses have been developed over several years to bring together the benefits of both memory foam and pocketed sprung mattresses. It’s the perfect combination of the firm feel of a sprung mattress, but with the added luxury of that cushion-soft support that you get from memory foam. Hybrid mattresses are broken down into multiple layers, depending on the design and the firmness rating.
Pillow Tops
Some hybrids start off with a dreamy-soft pillow-top layer. These are usually just a couple of centimetres thick, but they give you that cloud-like feeling as you sink into your mattress at the end of a busy day. They’re either sewn or attached by ties onto the top of the mattress. Some detachable options can be removed for washing, making them super-hygienic and getting rid of the need to buy a separate mattress topper. They don’t affect the firmness rating of your mattress, but simply give it a softer, deeper and more luxurious feel. Not all mattresses have a pillow-top layer, but there is always the option of adding your own if you want.
The comfort layer
Next up in our hybrid mattress layer system is the comfort layer. This is the layer that you sleep on, so it needs to deliver plenty of cushioned support. The comfort layer is usually made of materials such as memory foam or latex. It’s designed to mould to the shape of your body so that you’re properly supported all night long. This level of support tends to reduce the amount you move around to try and ‘get comfortable’, delivering a more restful night’s sleep.
The comfort layer also makes sure that if you do tend to wriggle around when you sleep, that movement is not transferred through the mattress to disturb your partner. The dampening effect stops vibrations and movement so even a restless sleeper won’t wake up their partner in the middle of the night.
By moulding itself to the shape of your body, the comfort layer also works to keep you in the ‘neutral’ position. This is where your spine is aligned and level, preventing the shoulders or hips from being higher or lower than the lower back. This helps to avoid aches and pains, and can make a world of difference if you suffer from back problems. The belief that you can only get relief from a bad back by choosing an extra-firm mattress is not always the case. Sometimes, what matters more is preventing those pressure points from forming and keeping your spine neutral. A comfort layer of memory foam helps you to achieve just that.
Comfort layers can also incorporate cooling gel layers. Memory foam can sometimes feel a little warm, so if you suffer from night sweats things can get uncomfortable. A cooling gel layer counteracts this and allows you to regulate your body temperature more efficiently, giving you a more restful night’s sleep.
The sprung core
The other half of a hybrid mattress is its sprung core. This provides a firmer feel and a stable sensation, as the springs make up the bulk of the mattress. The most commonly used sprung matrix in modern hybrid mattresses is a grid of individually pocketed springs. These are cocooned in their own fabric pocket, allowing them to work independently of their neighbours. However, the entire matrix also works in harmony, which again distributes and dissipates any movement or vibrations throughout the mattress.
The key factor with a sprung core is that it allows the mattress to ‘breathe’. The air circulates freely around the central core, keeping the temperature down and minimising the chance of bacteria, dust mites and allergens from sharing your bed with you. That makes hybrid mattresses healthier, and suitable for those who suffer from allergies or respiratory conditions like asthma.
And finally…
At the bottom is a base layer, which is usually made up of dense foam. This stabilises the structure of the mattress and also provides an additional layer of padding.
This layer structure makes hybrid mattresses exceptionally efficient, comfortable, and adaptable. They are usually single-sided, so they’re easy to maintain. They are often delivered boxed and rolled, so they’re super-easy to position in the room of your choice. Hybrid mattresses come in a full range of sizes from singles all the way up to super-kings. They’re also available at prices that suit all budgets. If you love the feel of a memory foam mattress, but want that core firmness that you get from a sprung mattress, a hybrid is the perfect choice.