Egg crate foam can be any type of foam where one side has an 'egg crate' shape. The purpose of this kind of foam is two-fold. It tends to be more responsive and distributes weight better than a thick layer of foam, and also it has cooling advantages because of the air flow that it provides.
Egg crate foam can be either memory foam or reflex foam, which are both blends of polyurethane foams and could be prone to off-gassing and odor.
The egg crate foam is generally found in the top comfort layers of the mattress, though they could be used in the base layer as well.
Pros: More response and more airflow than flat foam layers.
Cons: Comfort is entirely dependent on the quality of foam -- lower quality foams can be uncomfortable and break down faster.
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.
Overall Score:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.4/10
Comfort:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.4/10
Softness:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.4/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.5/10
Cooling:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8/10
Hypoallergenic:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8/10
Odor:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8/10
General Support:
Egg Crate Foam: 9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.5/10
Eco-Conscious:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8/10
Price Value:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.5/10
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