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Durability --
Based on Data From Over 8,300 Actual Owners
Page last updated Jan 14, 2010
"Durability" in our research primarily refers to how
long a mattress will avoid sagging and the leaving of body impressions
which often undermine comfort and support. Secondarily, durability
refers to how likely the bed will be problem-free, mechanically
speaking.
The chart below shows how mattress types compare on this issue
based on owner / user experiences. Keep in mind that this represents
what is often, but not always, the case; a particular brand,
model or individual mattress may go against these findings.
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Air
Airbeds tend to have excellent durability in regard to maintaining comfort and support, according to our collected owner data. This is largely because they are substantially supported by air which will not sag or become compressed over time. They, however, do have foam on some areas of the bed which can sag.
The beds are more mechanical than other types of beds. As a result, more can conceivably go wrong with them. However, mechanical issues can generally be fixed by getting a new part. This can be an advantage, in fact, over non-mechanical types of beds because these types (namely memory foam, latex and innerspring beds) usually cannot be fixed at all when they develop a problem and, consequently, need to be largely if not totally replaced.
Memory foam
Memory foam mattresses generally have respectable durability. They tend to have more longevity than innerspring and latex beds and somewhat worse longevity than airbeds and waterbeds.
Water
Waterbeds have good to excellent durability if punctures can be avoided. (Punctures can usually be effectively repaired.) Since they are filled with water, they will not compress and sag over time. Like air beds, if something goes wrong with a waterbed the part can often be fix or replaced without having to buy an entirely new bed system.
Latex
Latex mattresses are often claimed by manufacturers to be able to last many years. While this may be often true, a significant number of latex beds owners in our research said that their latex bed prematurely sagged.
Innerspring
These beds generally have poor durability compared to the other types of mattresses.
Futons
Futons have about average durability. The more expensive brands / models tend to last longer than the less expensive ones.