A pillow top is a surface layer of soft material that is stitched and packed into the cover. This provides a soft as a cloud feel to the surface of the mattress.
There are multiple types of pillow tops, though the most popular recently is a memory foam pillow top. A memory foam pillow top has a thin layer of soft memory foam that is stitched into the cover. Though memory foam is a popular material for pillow tops, you can also find them with latex, cotton, cashmere, wool, or goose down/feathers.
Pillow top mattresses generally have spring support systems in the middle of the mattress, though there could be a pillow top on a memory foam mattress as well (it is just not very common).
Pros: A plush feel on the top of the mattress that pillows the body on top of the support layers.
Cons: The pillow top alone will not make a good bed -- the materials used in the pillow top and the rest of the mattress can sag or have issues if they are lower quality.
Pocket springs are individually wrapped coil systems that are stitched into mattresses below a comfort layer of foam or other material. Unlike traditional innerspring systems that are interconnected, pocket springs are entirely independent allowing for added contour and pressure point relief than older innerspring models.
The general rule on pocket coil systems is the more coils, the more responsive and motion controlled the mattress is, while still providing support. This directly translates to more comfort.
In most pocket spring beds, there is a layer of memory foam or latex foam above the pocket spring array so that the sleeper gets both the benefits of contouring foam and the comfort of the pocket springs.
Pros: Durable materials and superior comfort to traditional innerspring systems.
Cons: Sleepers should be equally as interested in the foam that is wrapped around the coil system - if that is low quality, the bed still may be uncomfortable.
Overall Score:
Pillow Top: 8.9/10
Pocket Spring: 9.8/10
Comfort:
Pillow Top: 9/10
Pocket Spring: 9.8/10
Softness:
Pillow Top: 9.4/10
Pocket Spring: 9.4/10
Cooling:
Pillow Top: 8.2/10
Pocket Spring: 9.8/10
Hypoallergenic:
Pillow Top: 8.5/10
Pocket Spring: 9.8/10
Odor:
Pillow Top: 8.8/10
Pocket Spring: 9.8/10
General Support:
Pillow Top: 8.3/10
Pocket Spring: 9.6/10
Eco-Conscious:
Pillow Top: 8.5/10
Pocket Spring: 8.7/10
Price Value:
Pillow Top: 8.3/10
Pocket Spring: 8.4/10
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