Pros and cons of a gel foam mattress

Many sleepers feel that gel foam mattresses can offer an extremely comfortable sleeping experience. This is of course dependent on personal preferences and needs.  Here are nine potential key benefits of a gel foam mattress:

1. Full-body support - Gel-infused foam can distribute weight evenly, which may help reduce pressure
2. Pressure relief - the conforming nature of foam may help alleviate pressure points
3. Spinal alignment: When paired with appropriate firmness, gel foam can support neutral spinal positioning
4. Weight distribution - Even support may promote healthy weight distribution across the surface of the mattress
5. Temperature regulation - Gel is designed to absorb and disperse body heat
6. Hypoallergenic properties - The dense structure of foam can be resistant to dust mites and other common allergens
7. Durability - High-density gel foams are often long-lasting, though durability can vary by product
8. No roll-together -  Foam construction can limit motion transfer
9. Suitable for all sleeping positions - Depending on firmness and construction, gel foam may suit side, back, or combination sleepers

Things to Consider:

1. Heat retention - Although gel helps with temperature regulation, some users may still find foam warmer than other materials like latex or springs
2. Weight - Gel foam mattresses can be heavier than traditional mattresses due to the weight of the gel infusion making them more challenging to adjust or move
3. Initial off-gassing - As with many foam products, there may be a temporary odour when the mattress is first unboxed

To learn more about mattresses that include gel-infused foam, continue reading about Geltex and its specific features.

Back to the top

---

What is Geltex?

Geltex is a fusion of gel beads, foam crystals and air-filled cells. It is designed to deliver comfort and support, particularly in the following three key areas:

Body support

The elasticity of Geltex offers quick spring-back, helping to promote healthy spinal alignment and body support.

Pressure relief

Geltex has a flexible and responsive structure. By distributing body weight evenly, Geltex prevents pressure point build-up, yet offers support where needed.

Breathability

The open-cell structure of Geltex allows air to pass through easily, aiding breathability and helping to prevent heat retention.

Gel-based foams like Geltex are used by manufacturers in their mattress designs to support pressure relief and temperature regulation. The exact composition and performance can vary between products. Below are a couple of example videos by some big brand manufacturers demonstrating how Geltex works in their products:

Back to the top

---

Gel foam vs memory foam mattresses: what's the difference?

Both gel and memory foam mattresses offer great support and pressure relief. The key difference between the two lies in the foam-making process. Gel and memory foam are both made of viscoelastic foam. However, gel foam is infused with gel beads during production. This causes gel foam to feel different in two ways:

• Response rate

Gel foam bounces back to its original shape much quicker than memory foam, providing extra support and easier movement.

• Temperature regulation

Gel foam mattresses offer greater air circulation, allowing you to stay cool in summer and warm in winter.

Back to the top

---

Gel foam vs memory foam: feature comparison

Gel foam and memory foam share some similarities but offer different experiences based on how they respond to body weight, heat, and pressure. The table below highlights some key differences that may influence comfort and performance.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU?	GEL FOAM	MEMORY FOAM
Support
Comfort
Breathability		-
Pressure relief
Faster bounce back rate		-
Less transfer of movement
Ease of movement		-
Natural temperature regulation		-
Good for allergy sufferers
Lower in price	-

Back to the top

---

If you’d like to see our customer reviews, have a look at our gel foam mattresses.