Both, memory foam and Serene™ foam are made from the same material—polyurethane foam (poly-foam). They both contain the exact same combination of chemicals and provide a very similar “cradling” effect that all-foam mattresses are known for. They use pressure to contour to the body and provide excellent pressure point relief. Overall, these two types of foam are very much alike, except for one key difference—the structure.
Traditional memory foam has viscoelastic properties that use a combination of weight and heat to adapt to the sleeper’s body. Its structure can either be closed-cell or open-cell, which affects the mattress’s breathability and response rate. Overall, traditional memory foam is known to trap heat even with its open-cell structure. So if you’re a hot sleeper or tend to get night sweats, memory foam may not be a good option for you.
Serene™ foam is made from the same materials as memory foam, except it also features billions of microscopic air capsules. This structural design is known as advanced Supportive Air Technology, and it improves the mattress’s breathability and pressure point support. While Serene™ foam has better temperature control compared to memory foam, it’s a relatively new invention. It is still unclear how durable this foam is because it’s only been on the market for a couple of years.
To get a better understanding of each type of mattress and what makes them different, let’s discuss them in more detail.
What Is Memory Foam?
Memory foam mattresses are the most popular type of beds on the market today. They are made from viscoelastic polyurethane foam that uses body temperature and weight to contour the sleeper. By adapting to the body shape, memory foam allows heavier body parts (such as the hips and the shoulders) to sink in deeper, relieving the pressure points and supporting the spine. This “cradling” effect is the biggest selling point, allowing the sleepers to feel like they are resting on a cloud.
Another unique feature of memory foam is its slow response rate. This means that the mattress doesn’t bounce back as soon as you change your sleeping position. Instead, it returns to its original shape slowly, isolating all motion while supporting the body.
Advantages of Memory Foam
Being the best selling type of mattress, memory foam has plenty of advantages that people have to come to love over the years. Let’s have a look at the main ones.
Silent
Because of its structure, memory foam is completely silent. Even if you toss and turn excessively during the night, it makes no sound whatsoever. This makes memory foam beds a great option for a kids’ room, a guestroom, and even a master bedroom. You can have more than one memory foam bed in a room and it’s very unlikely that someone will be awakened by the sound of someone else moving around in their sleep.
Minimal Motion Transfer
Because of its slow response and natural contouring abilities, memory foam does not allow motion transfer. Instead, it absorbs movement on impact, making this type of bed perfect for restless sleepers, or those that will be sharing the bed.
Pressure Point Relief
While contouring to the body, memory foam allows the sleeper to sink in deeper where more pressure relief is required. This automatically aligns the spine and keeps the body supported through the night, even if there’s no zoned pressure point support. This feature makes memory foam mattresses especially good for sleepers with back pain.
Levels of Firmness
Because memory foam mattresses have been around for so long, plenty of different firmness levels were invented in order to suit all types of sleepers. If you’re a side sleeper, you should choose a memory foam mattress that is soft. If you’re a combination sleeper, a back sleeper, or a restless sleeper, a medium mattress will be great for you. Strict stomach sleepers, as well as heavy sleepers, should go for the firm choice.
Disadvantages of Memory Foam
Not everything about memory foam is great. It also has some drawbacks. Here are the main complaints that people tend to have.
Temperature Regulation
As mentioned before, memory foam is not great at temperature control, even with its open-cell design. During the night, heat tends to get trapped within the open chambers of the foam, warming the whole mattress up and radiating the heat towards the sleeper.
Of course, cheaper and older models of memory foam mattresses tend to have this issue more often and more severely. High-quality memory foam is typically made with gel, charcoal, or plant-based oils to give it more breathability.
Off-gassing
Because polyurethane foam is made from a combination of chemicals (some petroleum-based), foam mattresses emit a chemical odor when they are opened. Then the smell might dissipate within a few days or it may linger if the foam is not as high-quality.
What is Serene™ Foam?
Serene™ foam is a newer and more advanced version of traditional memory foam. It’s made from polyurethane foam too, and it provides a very similar “cradling” effect. What makes Serene™ foam different from memory foam is its unique feature—Supportive Air Technology. As mentioned before, this technology contains billions of minuscule air capsules that improve temperature control, breathability, and responsiveness of the mattress.
Supportive Air Technology encourages the tiny capsules to release air individually as the pressure is applied. This creates isolated support for the pressure points of the body, encouraging the weight to be spread evenly across the sleeping surface. The tiny air capsules also naturally improve the breathability of the mattress. They do not trap the heat like the cells within memory foam.
Advantages of Serene™ Foam
Let’s have a closer look at the features that make Serene™ foam great.
Temperature Regulation
Serene™ foam doesn’t use body heat to contour the body. The Supportive Air Technology inside the foam uses pressure instead. This means Serene™ foam does not trap heat within itself, making the mattress cooler and more breathable—the best choice for hot sleepers.
Silent
Just like memory foam beds, Serene™ foam mattresses are completely silent. This makes Serene™ foam beds perfect for couples, restless sleepers, and kids.
Minimal Motion Transfer
Even though the structure of the Serene™ foam is slightly different from that of the memory foam, it still absorbs all motion. This means no waking up in the middle of the night as you or your partner toss and turn.
Pressure Point Relief
The microscopic air support cells of the Supportive Air Technology give in under pressure individually. This means each pressure point of the body gets customized support that’s individually adapted to the sleeper, making this mattress great for most types of sleepers.
Disadvantages of Serene™ Foam
As great as Serene™ foam is, there are some disadvantages we need to mention.
Firmness Level
Because Serene™ foam is a relatively new invention, the choice of firmness levels is still limited. Hopefully, as Serene™ foam gains more popularity, a wider variety of mattresses will become available.
Off-gassing
Serene™ foam is made from the same (partly petroleum-based) chemical combination as memory foam. This means it has the same chances of off-gassing as its counterpart. If the Serene™ foam is made from better quality materials, the off-gassing might wear off with time. If it’s a budget option, it’s likely that the smell will stay.
Which Is Better, Serene™ Foam or Memory Foam?
Both mattress options have their pros and cons. If you prefer a cooler sleeping environment, then Serene™ foam would be a better choice. However, keep in mind that the longevity of this foam is still to be determined, as it has not been around for long.
If you don’t have any trouble with night sweats or hotter sleeping environments, then go for memory foam. It will provide consistent comfort, especially if you’re a side sleeper, a stomach sleeper, or any other type of sleeper that requires a specific level of firmness.
Whichever type of mattress you choose, make sure it comes with a good sleep trial. This will allow you to test the mattress out before you make a long-term commitment.
This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.