What is Foam ILD?
Understanding every aspect regarding comfort is vital to choosing the right mattress, this is no different when discussing ILD. But what is ILD anyways and why is it important? Today, we will be looking at foam ILD, how it is measured, and its importance when it comes to purchasing your mattress!
What is Meant by Foam ILD?
Foam ILD is short for Indentation Load Deflection. This is a term that refers to the general suppleness of foam. It measures the force needed to compress a particular piece of foam. This is a measurement that is often used to measure the firmness or softness of a sleeping mattress. We will explore this issue in more detail below.
How is Foam ILD Measured?
The measurement system for this specific measure is actually the metric system. Though in the United States, most measurements are made with the standard measurements of inches and feet, this particular measurement is done in metric. This means that it transfers well to international applications. Most of the rest of the world uses the metric system for measurements.
How is ILD measured? Carefully, to say the least. A higher number in this system means a firmer mattress. Should the ILD number be lower, that means that it is a softer mattress. The ILD of a mattress is measured by a high-tech machine that exerts force onto the mattress and then calculates the difference between its original state prior to the force exertion.
The Impact on Your Health
The ILD number of your mattress correlates directly to how healthy the mattress is for your spine. Those who suffer from back ailments will want to be sure to purchase a mattress with a higher ILD number. The ability of the mattress to give only a certain amount will offer the user support in their back.
Those with spinal issues such as sciatica or slip discs require a firm mattress. This means that they must seek out a mattress with a higher ILD number. Those who suffer from these ailments will find that they experience less pain when they sleep on a mattress that has a higher ILD number and more firmness.
Those who do not suffer from back ailments do not need to worry about what their ILD number is for their mattress. These individuals may simply choose a mattress based on their personal preference. There are those who prefer a softer mattress, surely for comfort.
Should you prefer a softer mattress, you will want to choose one with a lower number. This will allow you to sleep on this softer mattress in full comfort. You should be well informed about these numbers prior to making your purchase online or entering the store where you plan to purchase your mattress.
Know About ILD Prior to Shopping
In general, it is good form to be an informed consumer. You will want to brief yourself on the inside and outside of ILD numbers and measurements before making your purchase decision. You should already have established what level of ILD number you want in your mattress prior to entering the store where you plan to buy. This is common etiquette when purchasing a mattress.
There are a few reasons why you should be well-informed prior to your purchase. First of all, it makes the experience easier for the person who is selling you the mattress. Additionally, it will save both you and the vendor time in the long term, should you choose to be educated ahead of time. This will also be more convenient for both you and the vendor in terms of finding the mattress on the sales floor.
