Bamboo Infused vs. Gel

Bamboo Infused

A bamboo infused mattress has one of two of the following properties: its cover is made of bamboo or it has a layer of foam that is infused with bamboo (generally bamboo charcoal) which provides added cooling similar to gel.

As there is a lot of hype around bamboo as a natural ingredient, there have been multiple brands that have included this ingredient for added product awareness.

However, it is important to know that bamboo infused memory foam and bamboo covered foam mattresses are still made of polyurethane, a synthetic blend of organic compounds that has a tendency to off-gas. If you are susceptible to lung issues, please do additional research on the quality of foams before purchasing.

Pros: Bamboo covers provide a cooler sleeping surface and bamboo infused memory foam similarly breathes better.

Cons: Off-gassing and durability problems with lower quality foams still exist despite being infused with bamboo.

Gel

Gel is a recent newcomer to the mattress space. It is being used as both a standalone layer and an infusion into foam. Gel benefits mattresses by retaining less heat than memory foam. Also, newer gels compete against memory foam by being more responsive and less toxic.

Gel is similar to foam because it is a polymer made by blending plastics and other chemicals.

Because of gel's heat diffusing properties, it is generally found in the top layer of the mattress under the cover.

Pros: Cooler sleeping surface vs memory foam. More responsive feel when not combined with foam.

Cons: Similar to foam, it is a synthetic blend of chemicals.

Learn More About Bamboo Infused

Learn More About Gel

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Material Scores

Overall Score:
Bamboo Infused: 8.9/10
Gel: 8.6/10

Comfort:
Bamboo Infused: 9/10
Gel: 8.7/10

Softness:
Bamboo Infused: 9/10
Gel: 8/10

Cooling:
Bamboo Infused: 9.1/10
Gel: 8.1/10

Hypoallergenic:
Bamboo Infused: 8.8/10
Gel: 8.1/10

No Odor:
Bamboo Infused: 8.7/10
Gel: 8.9/10

General Support:
Bamboo Infused: 8.7/10
Gel: 9.5/10

Eco-Conscious:
Bamboo Infused: 8.9/10
Gel: 8/10

Price Value:
Bamboo Infused: 9.2/10
Gel: 9.2/10