Product Review: Novafoam® Memory Foam Mattress

Novafoam® Memory Foam mattress is a foam mattress which conforms to your body, distributing weight evenly and returns to its original form once the weight is removed. The technology was developed by NASA. One article claims memory foam was developed to reduce g-force on takeoff. Another claims it was developed to lessen the impact during landing. Whichever, it was soon adapted for mattresses.

Why I Chose Novafoam

I had thought about buying a memory foam mattress for some time. The big drawback was the cost. I heard of Tempur-Pedic but never knew other companies made a memory foam mattress. I called a friend who had purchased a memory foam topper, which goes on top of any mattress, and told him I needed a new mattress because a spring in mine had broke and was sticking out. The first thing he said was, "Why buy a spring mattress when a memory foam mattress is much more comfortable and will probably out last any spring type?" Why indeed? So I went online to Costco.com and found they carried Novafoam®. And, as luck would have it, it was on sale for $140 off. I ordered it.

Delivery

I was surprised to find the shipping weight of the queen size Novafoam® Memory Foam Mattress was 110 pounds. Most spring mattresses weigh about fifty pounds. I thought the mattress would come in a large flat box the size of the mattress. It didn't. It came in a box forty inches tall and twenty inches by twenty-three inches. The UPS driver and I carried it into my house. I opened the box and found the mattress was vacuum-packed in a plastic bag with heavy white plastic wrapped around it. A device to remove the heavy plastic and to open the bag was included. There was a warning stating not to use a knife or scissors because you could cut the mattress and ruin it. The mattress also came with a washable removable cover.

Odor

The Novafoam® mattress definitely has an odor. It smells something like kerosene or paint. The instructions suggest the mattress be aired out for thirty-six hours before use if the odor cannot be tolerated. The instructions also said the mattress could be used right away although it would take up to seventy-two hours to reach its full form. The smell didn't bother me as much as getting poked by a spring, so I got my mattress setup and slept on it about twelve hours later.

Construction

The mattress I purchased has three layers of foam (the Novafoam® website does not list this mattress--it lists two layer mattresses--I think this mattress was made exclusively for Costco). The bottom foam, which is about seven inches, is high density. This means it is harder and makes a good foundation. The second layer, about three inches, has less density. The top layer, about two inches, is of the least density and makes the mattress comfortable while the bottom layer keeps you from sinking too deeply into the mattress.

Comfort

The Novafoam® mattress is much more comfortable than a spring mattress. One thing I found was on a spring mattress I slid down the mattress during the night and my feet would stick out the end. That was the main reason I had bought my first queen size spring mattress. I had hoped the bigger mattress would stop this. It did not. When I investigated the memory foam mattress, I almost bought a king size thinking the smaller queen would not stop me from waking up with my feet sticking out. What stopped me was the higher cost of the mattress and the need to replace all my bedding. The Novafoam® Memory Foam Mattress forms to the contours of the body and you don't slide anywhere. I no longer wake up in the middle of the night with my feet sticking out. Also there are no springs that cause pressure points.

Medical Use

If you have poor circulation or are bedridden a memory foam mattress can help your circulation and reduce bed sores. In fact, if you can get a doctor to write a prescription for a memory foam mattress you can deduct the cost from your federal income tax as a medical expense. In some cases your insurance may pay for it. It is also hypoallergenic.

Cost

A memory foam mattress, in most cases, costs more than a spring mattress. The mattress I bought, with the $140 off, was a little under $600 and included tax, shipping and handling. Tempur-Pedic costs over $1,000 according to their website.

My Rating

I love sleeping on my Novafoam® Memory Foam Mattress, however, I'm giving it four out of five stars. The cost is good. The comfort is great. The only drawback I have found is the mattress is so thick regular formed bottom sheets tend to slide off the mattress. I ended up purchasing sheets from Costco that were made to fit the thicker mattress. I will say, the sheets are of high quality, and I recommend if a person acquires a Novafoam® Memory Foam Mattress he or she get these sheets as well. I also suggest a person buys Novafoam pillows. These will give you a very good night's sleep.