If your mornings seem to begin with a sore, aching back and you’ve noticed you’re not sleeping as soundly as you used to, it may be time for a new mattress. And if you’re like most people who wake feeling under-rested and achy all over, you’ve probably already come to the same conclusion and may even have started to peruse some of the myriad of options available. Now, if memory foam hasn’t caught your eye or if you’re thinking its too pricey for your limited budget, think again. Memory foam will not only deliver the comforting support your lower lumbar region needs for a restful sleep and pain-free morning, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. These days, most memory foam manufacturers market and sell on-line which not only eliminates the expensive bricks-and-mortar storefronts and salaried salespeople, it generates savings that are passed along to you the consumer, through lower pricing.
Now to help narrow down the dozens if not hundreds of mattress choices available to you, Memory Foam Doctor has reviewed some of the top brands, sorted them by sleep style and special features and then produced some comprehensive side-by-side comparisons. While you’ll find that both mattress brands offer superior support and a cooler sleep, each brings a little extra something that may just help you when it comes to making the big decision.
The comparison below is geared towards those who are back sleepers and both Loom & Leaf and Casper memory foam mattresses feature the firmer level of comfortable support that make them an ideal option for this style of sleeper.
Background
Manufactured in the United States by veteran luxury mattress company Saavta, Loom & Leaf is a fairly recent entry into the on-line bed-in-a-box market. It’s the latest addition to Saavta’s collection of top quality mattresses and is constructed entirely from premium grade materials with its distinguishing feature being that it uses a plant-based memory foam that eliminates the off-gassing that can often occur with foam mattresses.
Why is Loom & Leaf a Great Mattress for Back Sleepers?
As a back sleeper, you require a “firm” to “medium-firm” mattress that will both cradle your contours and support your lower lumbar region for continuously neutral spinal alignment regardless of how often you move in the night. Loom & Leaf delivers this and more, with an extra level of support that runs the entire length of your body. This medium-firm / firm 12-inch thick mattress cushions the neck, spine and lower back, adapting itself to your contours to ensure continual relief on key pressure points throughout the night.
Construction
Cover
Your cover is the only buffer between you and your memory foam mattress and as such, plays an important role when it comes to overall comfort. With Loom & Leaf, the cover is made from 100% pure organic cotton with natural thistle that is not only soft, comfortable and ultra breathable for a continually cool sleep surface, but naturally flame-retardant. And for an added touch of cushy comfort, Loom & Leaf bonds this all-cotton cover to a thin 5/8-inch layer of quilted foam and gold trim for a luxuriously sophisticated look.
Top Layer
A thick, 2-inch layer of gel-swirl memory foam in the top layer of the Loom & Leaf mattress uses swirl technology to ensure the cooling gel is evenly distributed across the entire mattress top to eliminate “hot spots” where body heat can result in a too-warm sleep experience. What makes this feature ideal for back sleepers is that Loom & Leaf has added a panel of cooling gel that targets your lower spine, where body heat is known to build. It also includes convoluted construction that allows for air movement and enhanced breathability beneath the entire surface.
Second Layer
Loom & Leaf uses a 2.5-inch thick layer of dense, 5-pound viscoelastic memory foam in this important second layer. As the main core of this mattress, it delivers superior deep compression support which means that it not only lightly cradles the curves of your body but because it’s ultra-firm, it will help prevent that sinking feeling that typical memory foam mattresses can be known for.
Third Layer
The third layer of the Loom & Leaf Firm mattress is a slab of 2-inch thick foam that provides uniform buffering between the stiff, high-density mattress base and the softer, top layers of memory foam. This essential transitional layer helps to deliver the firm base support up into the softer, top layers for an always comfortable sleep experience.
Fourth Layer
Loom & Leaf’s all-important base layer uses a 5.5-inch high-density polyfoam that delivers superior support to the upper layers and guarantees optimal alignment and consistent support. Because of it’s breathable air channels, this layer also offers superior air movement for an always cooler sleep.
Additional Benefits
Motion Isolation
Loom & Leaf’s thick layers of speciality foams effectively distribute body weight across the entire sleep surface to prevent the transfer of motion and eliminate the sleep disturbances that can come from partners who toss and turn in the night.
Minimal Off-Gassing
Off-gassing is a memory foam odor that is caused by chemicals that are used during the manufacturing process. It’s a common complaint by new memory foam mattress users however because Loom & Leaf constructs their mattresses using organic cotton and plant-based foam, there is little to no off-gassing – an important feature for those suffering from allergens or skin sensitivities.
Cooler Sleeps
A number of unique features help to offset the too-warm sleep experience associated with memory foam mattresses. From the breathable, all-cotton cover to cooling gel infused memory foam and ventilated layers that enhance air movement, the design of this mattress is clearly centered on delivering a cooler, more comfortable and restful sleep experience.
Trial Period / Warranty
Both the generous, 120-night trial period and the 15-year warranty (with 100% money back guarantee) on the Loom & Leaf Firm mattress are substantially longer than most memory foam mattresses, including the Casper brand that offers a 100-night trial period and 10-year warranty.
Background
Taking the on-line mattress industry by storm, US-based Casper is a privately held company that first launched in 2014 with the goal of producing a mattress that provided consumers of all shapes, sizes and sleep styles with the “highest level of comfort and support”. Using consumer input as to what they were looking for in a mattress, the Casper team worked with their designers to develop what they consider to be the ideal 4-layer mattress. Manufactured in Georgia and Pennsylvania, the brand is sold only on-line which helps keep costs to the consumer lower.
Why is Casper a Great Mattress for Back Sleepers?
The most important feature a back-sleeper can look for in a mattress is its level of firmness. Firm to medium-firm is the ideal because it not only delivers the contouring comfort you expect with memory foam, but its got the resistance you need to support your back and lower lumbar region. Your goal is to ensure your spine reverts to a neutral position regardless of how often you move in the night. With the Casper mattress you get a 9.5-inch thick mattress that uses 4 different types of foam as well as zoned support to direct the firmness to those areas that need a little extra push-back with the softer, less-firm zones delivering cushioning where you want it most.
Construction
Cover
Casper’s lightweight cover features a 100% polyester top surface that is highly porous for enhanced breathability, improved air movement and a much cooler sleep. The cover is fully zippered for easy removal and cleaning and unlike the Loom & Leaf cotton cover that wraps around the entire mattress, it’s constructed in panels that use a polyester/polypropylene blend around the sides with a rayon/polyester/aramid blend for the bottom.
Top Layer
Casper’s top layer features 1.5-inches of synthetic Dunlop latex foam. Known for being super-breathable, this open-cell latex product delivers a cooler sleep while its soft, pliable texture makes for a comfy sleep surface. Because Casper has chosen a 3.3-pound density, this mattress top delivers a little extra bounce, making it easier to move around on.
Second Layer
Casper’s second layer delivers 1.5-inches of 4-pound open-cell memory foam that again uses the Dunlop process to deliver effective, contouring support to your entire body. By distributing your weight across the full sleep surface, you enjoy continual relief at key pressure points with the 2nd layer working in concert with the upper layer of pure latex to deliver a cooler, more comfortable sleep.
Third Layer
The third layer of this mattress is where Casper’s unique “zoned” support kicks in. Comprised of 1.5-inches of poly-foam, this layer delivers extra firmness in the center of the bed where most of the weight sits, to help maintain ideal spinal alignment and support your entire back section. At 2.5-pounds, this layer also works as a transition between the upper comfort levels and the ultra-firm, support base.
Bottom Layer
The bottom or support layer of this mattress is comprised of 5-inches of dense, 1.8-pound poly foam that not only provides uniform support to the three comfort and transitional layers of foam, but absorbs shock and mattress movement for enhanced durability.
Additional Benefits
Zoned Support
Casper’s unique design includes zones of support that direct firmness levels to those areas that need it most. Firm support is positioned around the heavier hips and torso region with softer, lighter firmness around the chest and shoulders.
Cooling
Casper uses 4 layers of open-cell foams that use tiny pores to promote air movement and a more breathable mattress. By continually allowing warmer air to escape, you eliminate the heat build-up common in many memory foam mattresses and enjoy a cooler, more comfortable sleep.
Trial Period / Warranty
While not as long as the Loom & Leaf offering, Casper offers purchasers a 100-night trial period with a 100% money back guarantee. If you’re unhappy with your mattress at any time during the allotted time period, Casper will pick it up at no cost to you. They also provide a 10-year limited warranty that covers mattress deterioration.
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