Aside from the pricier spring mattresses, air mattresses are also gaining popularity. Other than being cheaper in comparison, air mattresses can also be used for other purposes than in-house sleeping like camping. An air mattress may look vaguely like a spring mattress, but looks are deceiving: the difference lies inside the mattresses. You feel it at bedtime when you lie in your bed. You could be tossing around trying to find that perfect spot, or you could be lying in your bed and finding the perfect spot at every turn.

Different from an air mattress, average spring mattresses have a support network formed by interconnected springs. These springs are made of solid metal with minimal flexibility. Springs are not capable of providing efficient support, only pressure and resistance, none of which are particularly comfortable. In the long run, these will sag, making an already bad bed, worse. It is also highly disconcerting to hear metal squeaks at ever turn you make. Spring mattresses are also prone to lumping, where the foam covering the springs get bunched up by the constant pushing and straining of the springs. The cartoon scenes in which the characters get thrown in the sky by loose bed springs are not purely fictional. These have factual basis. Though people who experienced this are not turned to specks of light in the sky, they do have nasty experiences getting poked or stabbed by the springs.

The difference between the two lie in their design. Air chambers are found in air mattresses' core. This provides you with proper back support by ensuring the correct position and alignment of your spine and back. Plus, an air mattress is more flexible and supple than spring and foam mattresses, thus, it offers more adjustable levels of firmness. There are usually three support layers in an air mattress. A dense foam layer provides strong support as the mattress' foundation. Two air chambers constructed to follow your shape are built over this foundation. Soft foam is built inside the fabric that surrounds the mattress as the last support layer. The layers are designed to produce a mattress capable of adapting to the shape of your physique in order to eliminate pressure and stress that can cause injuries and back pain. Air is evenly distributed to the whole mattress, and again, redistributed if you shift your weight or position; this makes air mattresses unequalled in support and comfort. For example, if you shifted to one side of an air mattress, the opposite side rise up in response to your movement. This means that the air inside the chambers reacted, and compressed the foam and air above for your hips, spine, and back to be in proper alignment, effectively reducing the necessity of turning and tossing.

Lastly, the choice between a spring mattress and an air mattress is just like choosing shoes. Choose the one that provides your body with the proper support to improve the quality of your sleep and your health. What you choose to use, reflect the care you extend to your body.

Gloria Diaz researches and writes on a variety of topics and interests. For more information on South American Travel and South American Destinations please visit her site at www.la-cadenatricolor.