Finding the Best Futon Mattress
As someone who has slept on a futon mattress pretty much my whole life I’d like to think I know a thing or two about them and would hope you find this quick guide useful in your search for the “perfect” futon. The Japanese futon dates back thousands of years ago and yet are still the main form of bed used in modern Japan and for good reason: futon mattresses not only provide you a good night’s sleep for very little cost but are also excellent for your back and overall body posture.
A traditional Japanese futon mattress is anywhere from 2 to 4 inches thick and is normally made with staple cotton which is by far the most expensive type of cotton due mainly to its strength and its tendency to hold it’s shape better. These futon mattresses are designed to provide excellent body support but may not have enough softness or comfort for the average westerner. The futons are made thinner as well so that they can be folded up in the morning and put away in the closet each day (to conserve space). It’s also customary for the Japanese to hang their futons outside in the sun to air them out, kill off any bacteria, and allow any moisture to escape that may have built up during the night.
You probably can guess that I have a bit of a bias for the traditional Japanese futon mattress. However, I am also the first to admit the aren’t for everyone and are no where nearly as popular as the more common thicker futon mattresses we have in North America and throughout most of Europe. As such, I’ll be devoting the the rest of this post to what we gaijin (foreigners) know as futon mattresses.
The first thing you should know about futons is that they come in pretty much every standard mattress size available. There’s the classic single futon mattress, full, queen, and even kind size futons. Probably the most common size is the single futon as these are a common choice for students, single adults, and pretty much anyone who wants a cheap comfortable, and space saving bed.
After you’ve decided on size, you’ll want to choose the futon thickness, and type of filling that best suits your needs. If you visit any reputable futon company, they’ll likely have at least a few different options for you as far as what’s inside the mattress. Essentially, the vast majority of futon mattresses are filled with a combination of foam and cotton. It’s not as simple as that however; more specifically you’ll need decide what type of cotton and foam are you looking for as well as how many layers of each.
As mentioned earlier, the best part of cotton for a futon mattress is staple cotton so if you’re looking for a premium futon and price is no object, I wouldn’t consider anything else. In reality however, many people are completely fine with the more common high-loft linter cotton used in most futon mattresses today. One very important aspect to do with the cotton however is that it be precompressed cotton. If the cotton is not precompressed, it’s likely to lose its shape flatten down over time.
The other vital factor in a good futon mattress is the foam and more specifically how many layers of it compared to the cotton as well as its density. The foam is such an important element in the western futon as it serves to stabilize the mattress, helps keep its shape, and prevent the cotton from getting lumpy or bunching up. I personally find one good quality layer of high density foam in between two layers of cotton to be sufficient but then again I personally prefer a very firm mattress. If you are aiming for a softer mattress, you may wish to go with two or more layers of foam. The most important thing about the foam however is that it be high density and when I say that I mean at least 1.5 lbs per cubic feet.
Once you’ve decided on a mattress, you’ll probably want to choose a good futon mattress cover. Futon mattress covers come in a variety of colors, thicknesses, and of course sizes. Most of them are machine washable (check the label) and can easily be zipped on and off. When deciding on a futon cover by all means choose a color and style that suits your tastes. However, assuming the main function of your futon mattress is for a bed and not a futon sofa or chair, I will say that the material of futon mattress covers should be a natural breathable material like cotton or linen. Why? Simply, you don’t want moisture being built up in your mattress; that’s a breeding ground for mold and mildew which is the last thing you want lurking your bed.
You’ll need to find a good futon frame that can well support your futon mattress…or do you? I say this because the Japanese don’t actually use frames at all. Instead they place the futon directly on tatami which is essentially flooring made of woven straw. For the rest of us though, you’re going to need a decent futon frame. Essentially there are two main choices when it comes to frames; metal futon frames and wood futon frames. I personally prefer a wooden futon frame mainly because it is a natural material and will typically last longer than it’s metal counterpart. The most important factors in a futon mattress frame is the type of wood it’s made of (pine, maple, ash,birch, or oak are ideal), the width of the slats (at least 3 inches), the distance between each slat (less then 3 inches), and the overall quality and sturdiness of it’s construction.
Lastly, make sure you choose a reputable futon company to purchase from. Look for companies that specialize in futon mattresses and that actually know what makes a good mattress. You might be tempted to just go with a cheap futon from a discount store but believe me, it’s worth to spend a little bit more to get a way better quality mattress that can last you for decades.
