Bamboo Infused vs. Polyurethane Foam

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.

Polyurethane Foam

Polyurethane foam is a blanket term that includes any foam that is synthesized using polyol and diisocyanate. These include but are not limited to: memory foam, high resilience foam, and high density foam. Since polyurethane foam can contain additives, a manufacturer that comes up with a new formula can name the new foam whatever they like.

Many memory foam mattresses are a combination of polyurethane foams, layered from dense on the bottom to less dense on the surface layers.

Polyurethane is a synthetic blend of organic compounds and 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: Many different types of foams exist under the polyurethane umbrella -- some are excellent for bedding and offer different firmness varieties!

Cons: Off-gassing and durability problems with lower quality foams.

Learn More About Bamboo Infused

Learn More About Polyurethane Foam

See Our Top Mattress Choices

Material Scores

Overall Score:
Bamboo Infused: 8.9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.4/10

Comfort:
Bamboo Infused: 9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.4/10

Softness:
Bamboo Infused: 9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.5/10

Cooling:
Bamboo Infused: 9.1/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8/10

Hypoallergenic:
Bamboo Infused: 8.8/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8.1/10

No Odor:
Bamboo Infused: 8.7/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8.4/10

General Support:
Bamboo Infused: 8.7/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.5/10

Eco-Conscious:
Bamboo Infused: 8.9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8.5/10

Price Value:
Bamboo Infused: 9.2/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.5/10