OT - What type of mattress and pillow do you prefer? Is memory foam good?

I have a memory foam mattress and a memory foam pillow. They are both supposedly high quality ones; but I suspect these are negatively affecting my sleep. I sleep in a dark, silent and cool environment, and care about my circadian rhythm in general.

I have researched about these and other types of mattresses and pillows on the internet, but I couldn't find consistent data of any kind. I read articles and reviews, but couldn't form an idea.

"Science Won't Help You Pick a Better Mattress"
/motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/aekgk4/science-wont-help-you-pick-a-better-mattress

I've found these in regards to memory foam:

/www.sleepjunkie.org/are-memory-foam-mattresses-safe/
/news.softpedia.com/news/Can-Your-Mattress-Kill-You-76887.shtml

I had used a spring mattress for more than 20 years, than bought my current memory foam mattress. I sleep on my side and my back. The memory foam is good while I am sleeping on my side because it reduces the pressure, but I am not sure how good it supports my back when I am sleeping on my back. I don't wake up feeling well rested, I also have been dealing with bruxism.

What type of mattress and pillow do you use? What do you think about memory foam products? How firm do you prefer your mattress?

Post Edited (xy123) : 8/16/2018 8:53:47 AM (GMT-6)

I think it depends on the foam mattress, but i had a couple cheap ones, and I really didn't like them - all way too firm for me. They also didn't last long because I was not as comfortable and I had to get a new mattress. What a waste... I picture them in dumps somewhere and I feel bad.

I ended up getting a pillow top, softer mattress, and all my back issues have resolved. I know it sounds crazy, but I guess the foam was too firm. My body couldn't conform and I'd wake up with arms asleep and neck pains often. I went to sit n sleep and did the test bed, which supposedly tells you whether you need firm, medium, soft or extra soft and I was in the very soft category. We ended up getting a soft, thankfully my significant other was into this idea, even though he tested at medium. We've both been so much more comfortable. We often joke about life before the comfortable mattress, and we lay in bed and discuss how comfy it is. I wouldn't go back to foam ever I don't think.

I just bought a "firm pillow top" mattress -- I move around a lot, and sleep on my side, stomach and back, depending. I like it a lot -- it supports me in each position, but also gives me enough softness. I can't do memory foam or super soft mattresses because I end up hurting myself when I move around.

Consumer Reports rates mattresses for comfort whether your the type who sleeps on your back or if you sleep on your side.

As far as other activities besides sleeping, foam mattresses have the advantage of being very quiet but there is a tendency to sink like a marshmellow, while spring mattresses have a playful bounce.