Gel mattress history – What they’re made of – Care tips – Cheaper alternatives to an iComfort memory foam gel bed – How they make Holsteins happier.
Gel beds are a great way to have a good night’s rest. This product reduces tossing and turning, in addition, to helping whisk heat away from your body.
One way that gel improves memory foam is that it will spring back quickly even after being compressed with extremely heavy weights. It works so well that cows are using them also.
Yes, the Pasture Gel Mat is in with the bovine set because cows like it and it prevents uncomfortable hot spots and pressure point sores. These sores reduce laying time and milk production. If gel can make a cow comfortable laying on the ground, just think of what it could do for you in a cushy twelve-inch mattress!
Some History – Moo-ving From A Cow Stall Into Your Bedroom
Gel mats similar to the Pasture Mat have been used for cushioning athletic shoes and in the backer’s bed rolls. This is because gel springs back quickly when compressed, even with a 1,500-pound cow’s hoof.
The solid gel has too much ‘pushback’ for most folks sleeping comfort because we don’t weigh as much as a cow. Due to this fact, it took a little more engineering to make it popular with people
The First Gel Memory Foam Bed was manufactured in April 2006 by Dynamic Systems. Their founder Charles Yost, who originally developed memory foam for NASA, partnered with Thurmo-Pudic USA and introduced the first visco foam gel.
Tom Morgan, Thurmo-Pudic’s head, called it ‘gel visco’ foam. The company claimed that this ‘third generation foam’ slept much cooler than earlier formulations, and had superior support and quicker spring back. But the concept never gelled with bed buyers, perhaps because the company lacked an extensive network of distributors and stores.
Thurmo-Pudic’s Tom Morgan named it ” foam. The company stated that this ‘third generation foam’ slept much cooler than earlier formulations. In addition, it had superior support and quicker springback. Unfortunately, the concept never gelled with bed buyers. This may be due to the company lacking an extensive network of distributors and stores.
iComfort Produces A Hit The gel mattress became really popular when Serta introduced its iComfort line in 2011. The iComfort success established gel as a viable alternative to traditional visco foam. Around that time several other bedding manufacturers were also producing these types of beds including Sleep Innovations, Dormia, and Simmons.
How Your Gel Bed Works, and What It’s Made Of
The gel memory foam manufacturing processes and ingredients are closely guarded trade secrets. However, thanks to the dairy gel mattress link above the maniac can speculate (and we are) that the gel component is created by mixing water with a specially formulated polyethylene powder.
Since water has high specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity manufacturing gels with water, instead of liquid plasticizers, should produce a material that helps whisk heat away from your body better. This is why when small bits of gel are mixed in with standard visco foam they act like small refrigerators.
Because of this, you only need around 20% to 30% of the material in a gel mattress to be gel. And that’s a good thing. Any more than that and a mattress may become less durable.
How Come There Is Bamboo In My Bed? Bamboo is not part of the memory foam but is used on top of it and woven into the mattress covers. Bamboo is used in the cover of the gel bed to wick away moisture from your skin and increase the breathability of the cover.
Green Tea or Other Olfactory Additives. There are times when aloe vera, green tea, or charcoal is added to the foam. This is done to mask the new memory foam smell, not to increase comfort or support
Taking Care of Your Gel Foam Bed
You should treat your gel mattress with the same care that you use with other memory foam beds. If they are shipped compressed, be sure and let them expand for the full-time recommended by the manufacturer. Don’t sleep on them before the expansion is complete. This is very important, as your new bed may never expand to its full size if you don’t follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
TIP: Keep your bed dry. Purchase a breathable mattress cover to protect from spills and accidents. If water or other liquids accidentally penetrate the mattress, Click on this link for “How to Clean a Mattress – Save Your Memory Foam Bed or Topper” and follow the instructions.
Quality Gel Mattresses – Some Affordable Choices
Serta makes the iComfort, which is the best-known gel memory foam mattress in today’s market. It is also a bit pricey, starting at over $1,400 for a queen. It is made in many different models with varying degrees of firmness. They are reviewed here together with their less expensive entry-level gel bed.
Which One Should You Choose? And Why?
Is The Name Brand Worth More? The iComfort is the most recognizable brand but may not be an especially good value. Both the Ultimate Dreams and the Lucid beds offer more for your money.
If I had to online and pick up a bed today I’d pick the Ultimate Dreams 13″ Gel Memory Foam Mattress. Buyers rave about the great combination of softness and support that it provides. Its top ‘comfort’ layers are made of four-pound gel high-density foam so it will last a long time. It costs half of what you’d pay for the name brand. This one definitely comes out on top.