Serta iComfort vs. Tempurpedic is a classic example of an older, but tried-and-true, product being pitted against a young upstart – both vying for market dominance. But arguing the benefits of newer gel technology against traditional memory foam ignores a 400lb. gorilla in the room – the superiority of natural memory foam mattresses such as those found in Amerisleep products.
Tempurpedic sprang to popularity as one of the earliest innovators of memory foam mattress technology. Even with all the hype surrounding Tempurpedic memory foam mattresses consumer reviews have consistently dinged the company on several major fronts: cost, comfort and usability.
The fan base Tempurpedic developed has served it well and essentially allowed it to price its mattresses far higher than most competitors without sustaining a loss of market share. The company has also done well to draw in new customers through extensive – and expensive – advertising campaigns utilizing traditional media. While this has been successful in keeping the Tempurpedic sales funnel full, it has also contributed significantly to the cost burden associated with buying a Tempurpedic mattress.
As for comfort, some people will never favor traditional polyurethane-based memory foam, regardless of the brand. For one, it is not usable straight out of the shipping packaging because the mattress must outgas. Outgassing – or airing out the mattress in other words – can take several days or more to accomplish and require a well-ventilated area away from regular living activities due to the smell. A second complaint, heard frequently, is that Tempurpedic – and other traditional memory foam mattresses – sleep hot.
Serta iComfort & Gel Mattresses
And this is where gel memory foam mattresses come in to play. Gel-infused memory foam such as Serta iComfort is designed to sleep cooler than standard products. In fact, this characteristic is the main selling point for this variety of mattress because otherwise it looks, feels and acts just like its Tempurpedic counterpart. Since its inception in 2011, gel-infused memory foam has shown promise, but the main problem with this new, and largely untested, product is it hasn’t been around long enough for consumers and industry experts to have a solid grasp of its pros and cons. The future of Serta iComfort is hazy at best.
The main element missing from this discussion are the solid benefits of plant-based memory foam in defraying the negative traits exhibited by Tempurpedic and its gel-infused competitors. A handful of upstart companies like Amerisleep have many consumers, and competitors, taking notice of its environmentally-friendly offerings. But not only are Amerisleep mattresses eco-conscious, they sleep just as well or better than traditional memory foam products and are just as durable – all for a fraction of the price being offered by most companies. Best of all, a two-year study proved plant-based memory foam mattresses sleep 25 percent cooler than their gel-infused competitors.
And that pretty much deflates any argument against the purchase of a “green” memory foam mattress from Amerisleep.
Want more information on Serta iComfort vs Tempurpedic?
Connect with Mattress Inquirer on Google+