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.
Memory foam is a blend of polyurethane (a polymer made as a byproduct of petroleum refining) and additional chemicals that give the memory foam its low-resilience. It was originally developed by NASA in the 1970s for airplane cushioning and has since become one of the widest materials used in mattresses and pillows.
In plain English, what makes memory foam is its ability to contour to pressure and return to its original shape slowly after pressure is released. This process allows for it to react to pressure differently across its surface and provide a contoured, but aligned feeling for sleepers.
In mattresses, older or lower quality memory foam may sag from the repetitive pressure of laying or sitting. For this reason, those that are heavier should do additional research about soft memory foam bedding as they will sink more than alternatives and could lead to discomfort for some body types.
Lastly, over the recent years, there has been reports of off-gassing and toxic odors released from memory foam. Some lower quality or treated memory foam may have this problem and cause respiratory inflamation. It is important to make sure that memory foam is high quality.
Pros: Contouring comfort, competitive pricepoints, and widespread options.
Cons: Sagging and off-gassing problems with lower quality foams.
Overall Score:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Memory Foam: 9.3/10
Comfort:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Memory Foam: 9.4/10
Softness:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.4/10
Memory Foam: 9.5/10
Cooling:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Memory Foam: 8/10
Hypoallergenic:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Memory Foam: 8/10
Odor:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Memory Foam: 8/10
General Support:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Memory Foam: 8/10
Eco-Conscious:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Memory Foam: 8/10
Price Value:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Memory Foam: 9.4/10
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