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Mattress Retail’s Naming “Tail” – Pillow Top, Euro Top, Or Plush Top?

Now that you are in the market for sleep, the challenge posed by the retail mattress world is a difficult one. There are so many choices that most shoppers will be easily confused. Confusion is a valuable ally to the mattress retailer. The sea of white is intimidating. They look similar but they are very different. Many have the same name, but have different “tails.” The tails are your guides to the comfort challenge. The tails refer to the tailoring and the layering of materials on top of the support system in the mattress. Pillow top, Euro top, and plush top are tails which typically follow the model name. An example of a model name with tail would be Bristol Pillow Top, Bristol Euro Top, and Bristol Plush Top. Your challenge is to find the style, denoted by its tail, and the comfort level that best suits you and how you sleep. A fourth tail, intentionally omitted is the firm or tight top. The firm versions are meant for people who are looking for a flat, hard surface. They are not looking for comfort.

Comfort can be defined as a “state of ease or well being;” “relief from affliction;” or “something that affords physical ease and relaxation.” Our stress filled world is more sleep deprived than ever. Most people admit to an average of 6 to 7 hours of sleep per night. If those hours are spent tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable, then you are sure to become a sleep deprived victim of your mattress set. Sleep deprivation can be a killer. Your challenge is to find a mattress that keeps your spine straight, and does not create pressure points. Answering the spinal alignment question requires a test of both the spring system (or foam support layers in a foam mattress) and the top comfort layers to see whether the mattress keeps your spine in a straight line. This can be done with a simple visual test while in the bed. Ask your partner to tell you whether your spine is straight from your neck to the base of your spine. If the hip area sinks, the mattress is too soft. If the hip area angles skyward, then the mattress is too firm.

The pillow top and the euro top can be easily recognized by two distinct tape (rope-like) edges running along the top sides of the mattress. The extra tape edge allows for more layers to be placed on top of the mattress support system. These layers are your main comfort layers. They may contain memory foam, latex foam, convoluted foam, natural fibers such as wool or silk, space age temperature regulators such as cool max, and ticking (fabric) woven with cotton, silk, or bamboo. A single tape edge sewing down all of those layers would create a definite “roll off the edge” feel which would limit the effective sleeping area of the mattress. The difference between the pillow top and the euro top is that the pillow top has a distinct indentation between the tape edges. The euro top (sometimes called a box top) does not have an indentation between the tape edges. Its side panel is a very neatly tailored “box.” The euro top is often much thicker than the pillow top and can contain additional edge support to eliminate the “roll off” effect. Keep in mind that these thick mattresses will require deep or extra deep pocketed sheets. Some are so thick that a queen mattress will require king blankets and spreads in order to cover their sides when made.

The pillow top and the euro top are designed for maximum comfort and minimum pressure point stress. Either of the two would be best for lighter people, for side sleepers, and for people with pressure sensitivity issues at the shoulder, arm or hip areas. Memory foams and latex foams offer excellent contouring to the body without creating pressure. Heavier people may find that these pillow tops will allow their hips to sink into the mattress too far. A v-shaped kink in the line of the spine will cause muscles to pull; creating discomfort, soreness, and a restless tossing and turning at night. Heavier people will be better advised to consider the plush top mattresses.

Plush top mattresses have only one tape edge. They are not as thick as the pillow tops and the euro tops. They do not contain layers as thick as the other two, but they often contain the same foams, fibers, and ticking. The comfort advantages you find in the pillow tops and the euro tops are still offered in the plush tops, but you will notice a slightly firmer feel. If you are heavier, your spine will stay straighter in a plush top mattress. A lighter person may experience the “hip in the air,” kink in the spine effect which will cause problems with pulling muscles and with pressure point problems. The plush tops provide budget saving advantages since they usually cost quite a bit less than the pillow tops and the euro tops. If body impressions are a concern for you, plush tops are much less prone to noticeable impressions than their brethren, although some imprinting is normal in all mattresses.

Hopefully this “tail” will assist you in your shop for sleep. May your happy ending be a “good night’s rest.”

About the Author

Recently retired after almost twenty years in the retail mattress world, I finally have the time for my passions: my family, reading, research, and writing. My new book, “Shop for Sleep and Survive the Bite” is now available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other book retailing sites. I enjoy blogging and Sleeplessandtired.com takes up much of my time. Topics are usually sleep related although I do venture off into humor, satire, and current events. Many of my articles have been published on the web. The ultimate goal is to continue my career of assisting the consumer in his quest for the “treasure” of a “good night’s rest.”

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