Best mattress?

[Kerry F]

I'd like some reviews of mattresses, real mattress, not the air mattresses (Select Comfort/Sleep Number) or the Tempurpedic (memory foam).  I've been looking for two days, Sealy Posturpedic, Serta, Stearns and Foster.  I prefer pretty firm with a plush not pillow top.  It seems even the best beds and start getting sags even after three years, but the bed places are telling me most mattresses start to give out noticeably after six years, even though they have ten-year warranties.  Stearns and Foster feels the best, but are really pricey and I found several comments online that they break down sooner than some Sealy Posturpedics so why spend the extra money?  Consumer Reporters rates Simmons BeautyRest higher than Sealy, Serta and Stearns.  I'd appreciate any feedback or experiences.

Thanks!

 

 

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I have the Tempurpedic and am not all that crazy about it.  My husband likes it, though, but I think it's too hard.  I wish I had a  Sleep Number bed and we could both pick how hard or firm we want it.  I think he likes the fact that when one person turns over, the bed doesn't move, so he doesn't wake up.

[Judy]

We have the Sleep Number bed and love it, for the very reason that Kelli said:  I like a firm bed and he likes a soft bed.  And if I start to have a backache, I can always make it softer/harder.

[Rachel Gard]

My husband and I just went through buying a new mattress.  We ended up with the iComfort Genius, which is a memory foam but is a new technology with a cooling layer.  We tested everything, memory foam and traditional spring mattresses.  Everyone we talked to in the stores said the traditional spring mattress will inevitably fail after a period of time.  They also told us that the Sleep Number beds will fail also because the air chambers will eventually lose the ability to hold the air.  Now, whether that means fail in a year or fail in 10 years is anybody's guess.

 

We've had the new iComfort for a week and so far I like it, although my husband swears it's already getting a dent on his side.  He's not a big guy, maybe 180 pounds, if that.  I laid on his side and don't see it, think he's imagining things.  My aunt has a Hotel Collection tradition spring mattress by Stearns and Foster.  She loves it.  It's super firm.  I've slept on it, and it is really comfortable.

 

I'm really a firm believer in choosing a mattress/bed is a personal preference, kind of like choosing a court reporting machine :)  

[Bobbie Jo Harr]

You're right about the sleep by number beds losing air.  I had to replace one section of my bed.  I thought it would be covered by the warranty, but they "prorate" it by how long you've owned the bed.  It ended up costing me like $500 for a new insert.  Never that happy with it.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I threw out a roommate, and I had to throw out the bed she had been using too.  (The stench in the room, the stench was permanent in the mattress, and it had also caught on fire from smoking).  So I cut it open.

 

The springs are about six inches and go the whole distance.  Then the foam rubber (2 or 3 inches).  Then some cotton padding.  Then the nice pretty upholstery on the outside.  Because that was a pillowtop, another layer of foam rubber.  That's how the average, industry standard mattress is made.

 

Two of my sisters bought their beds at Big Lots (the beds with the sheep).  One sister had had several car accidents and has body problems.  The other is an RN, small body frame,  grew up in gymnastics, and her body has been pretty beaten up.  I have body problems because of several car accidents.

 

Those beds are very comfortable.  One has had for about 10 years, the other for 5.  Neither have any complaints.

I'm sleeping on a RoomsToGo mattress ( cheap) and two 8-inch memory foams (Wal-Mart).

[Kerry F]

I know it's definitely a personal preference...........but I wish there was a better guide than there is out there.

I've laid on so many of them.  And then each retailer changes the model/style "name" of the same mattress for their store so it's hard to follow the names with pricing.

[Janiece Young]

I have a Stearns and Foster.  Two of my family members have them.  Mine is 12 years old and still going strong.  That's all I'll every buy.

[Martha R]

My husband injured his back, so we were going to buy a softer bed.   Instead, we bought the gel foam pad to put over the bed at Costco for 139 bucks and he really likes it.  That's an option.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Another reason I don't like the Tempurpedic is it holds in all the heat.  I have actually gotten out of bed and gone back two hours later and it is still warm where I was laying.  I am constantly waking up in the middle of the night just drenched in sweat.  It is just too damn hot.  My cats can't wait for me to get out of bed so they can lay where I was, much warmer there.

 

In the winter I don't mind as much.  Summer is a different story altogether though.

[Kerry F]

I bought a bed today...........Simmons Beautyrest firm.  

Tempurpedics are known to be on the warm side.............probably a pretty thick mattress pad would help!

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Kerry, let us know what you think of your new mattress.  Always curious what's out there and what would be best, even though it is a personal preference.

[Kerry F]

Kelli,

 

Not too crazy about the bed...........it was hot.  I think it's from the memory foam that's in the plush top that it felt a little warmer.  I woke up stiffer than normal.  My last two beds felt great right away.  So I don't know how this one is going to be........time will tell.