Mattress Forum

It seems to me that if you look at all the experiences here, there are really 5 main components to getting to "your" best decision.

These are 1. Initial feel, 2. comfort and pressure relief, 3. Spinal alignment and support, 4. quality and durability and 5. Price and value. Each of these areas will of course affect the others but you can eliminate some of the confusion in finding a mattress by knowing specifically what you are looking for in each of these areas and knowing why different materials and methods have different qualities and characteristics. It is easier to gather information and knowledge using a more systematic approach that an approach that is more haphazard or confuses the different aspects of looking for your best mattress.

Of course there are also issues that are more cosmetic or personal like the look of the mattress or how organic the materials are which will affect what someone buys but that is something that most people know very quickly before they even lie on it and each of us can decide for ourselves the role that these play.

Before you begin, if you sleep with a partner, make sure that you follow all these steps together on each mattress as your partners weight, sleeping position, and movement can affect your results in each area and you will also discover (if you don't already know) how their presence affects your side of the mattress, how important motion transfer is to you, and how each option affects it. Take a few notes at each step about how the other person affects your preferences.

1. Initial feel

This is the initial "I like this" or "I don't like this" factor. The "aahhh" experience. This is where you find out whether you like to sink into a mattress or be more on a mattress. This is about how a mattress feels when you flop onto your bed. This feeling comes from a combination of many things including the quilting and materials used in the top of a mattress, the comfort and qualities of the upper layers, the characteristics and springiness of the support layers, and the general mix of materials used. Finding this out of course means laying (or flopping) on different mattresses which cover the range from firm to ultra plush. All you are looking for here is what feels the best for you, not what is most supportive or most conforming and all the other stuff which will follow. This initial feel is quite subjective of course but it is important to the overall satisfaction someone has with a mattress. Roll around a bit while you are on each mattress. You will find out fairly quickly which level of "plushness" you feel best about. Don't mix up the '"feeling" with a lot of questions at this stage about how it will deal with pressure or support issues, how good or "correct" for you the mattress may be, or how expensive the mattress is. This is only about flopping, laying, and rolling on lots of different mattresses and noticing which levels of "plushness" and what kind of overall impression feels good initially. It also doesn't matter what the material is that you are laying on, what matters is finding out the initial feel that you are attracted to.

I will add one more point here about the "different animal" of memory foam. Make sure you include memory foam in this experience if you are considering it as an option. Even though it's initial feel as you flop, lay, and roll may not be as nice as other "feels" (it needs some heat to feel the way it's supposed to), test it out anyway in this stage if you either know you like it or if you're unsure about it but want to test it as an option. If you know for sure you don't like it, then don't include it in this stage. If it's initial feel is a negative for you, at least include it in the next stage before you rule it out as it will change it's feel more than other types of materials in the next stages of your research.

The goal of this stage is to narrow down your choices to a couple of different feels that you like (say "firm and luxury firm" or "plush and pillowtop" or even "pillowtop and eurotop"). Try to give each mattress your own "plushness" number from 1(firm) to 5 (plush eurotop or boxtop) and choose the two (along with memory foam if applicable) that you will focus on in the next step. If you can't narrow it down to 2, take the two firmer ones. A rough guideline here is 1 Firm, 2 Luxury firm, 3. Plush, 4 Pillowtop, and 5 Eurotop or boxtop or 1. very hard, 2. hard, 3.medium, 4.soft, 5.very soft. Don't forget that your perception will be different depending on your weight, sensitivity, and body makeup so don't think a mattress that is rated as firm or soft will always be firm or soft in it's initial feel for you or in the rating you give it. From this point on you should only look at mattresses in the plushness range you have selected (along with memory foam if that is an option for you).

2. Comfort and pressure relief

This is where you discover how conforming and comfortable a mattress is and this is where you deal with pressure issues. You have narrowed down your initial feel and perhaps along with memory foam you will now be testing these choices and different materials in the upper layers of a mattress for their ability to relieve pressure and provide comfort. This step involves laying on each mattress for longer and is where you will find out more about the qualities of the different materials and methods that provide comfort and relieve pressure ... and how well each one works for you. Trust your choice in step 1 and try not to lay on mattresses that are outside your 2 chosen levels of plushness. This will mean you are more likely to compare apples to apples as the top layers of your choices will be similar in thickness and the differences you notice will come more from the different materials and methods used to provide comfort and pressure relief. You will also need several different thicknesses of pillows for this step as pressure issues (in the shoulder area especially) and feelings of how comfortable a mattress is for you can be greatly influenced by different thicknesses and types of pillows.

You want to specifically lay on a few mattresses that have at least 3" of latex on or very near the top in your level of plushness, a few mattresses that have at least 3" of memory foam at or very near the top, a few mattresses that have about 3" of polyfoam on the top, and (if you choose to include this as an option) a few mattresses that have "natural materials" like wool, horsehair, cotton batting, or other more passive materials on top of springs ... all in your chosen range of "plushness". These are the main categories you will be choosing between although there is a range within each main category and many mattresses have comfort layers that are a mixture of several. At this stage it is important to discover the main qualities of each category. There is one other category that will attract some people but is a little harder to find. This is a "microcoil" layer in the top of the mattress usually with a thinner layer of foam over it. If you have acces to this, by all means try it out to see how you feel about it.

If you are quite light, a little thinner layer on the top may be fine. If you are quite heavy, you may consider testing out a little thicker layer on the top. Just do your best to compare similar thicknesses so you can get a sense of the differences in materials and construction.

Try to find 2-3 variations of softness in each type. Make sure you take some notes of the softness of the materials you like and give you the comfort and pressure relief you are looking for. Softness of most polyfoam and latex foam is measured in ILD (lower numbers are softer). In the case of memory foam softness is a combination of ILD and density or weight. You will need to lay on each mattress for longer than you did in step 1 and you are looking for their ability to conform to your body, relieve pressure at specific points of your body, and provide overall comfort (distribute pressure evenly and just plain feel comfortable). Spend some time on each of them in all your sleeping positions and pay particular attention to how comfortable it feels when you are still, while making small movements, when you are changing positions, and whether you can notice any pressure points in any of your sleeping positions or movements. You can "bounce" a bit, especially on your side, to see if you can feel a "hard" layer underneath your hips or shoulders or if it is still comfortable and "giving". You should not be hitting "rocks" or "boards" if you move or bounce a bit in any of your positions or when you change positions. Make sure you lay on the memory foam long enough for it to warm up to your sleeping positions if you are including this as an option. If you are looking at mattresses with more passive materials in the top layers (wool, cotton, horsehair, and others) make sure you test the effects of different types and strengths of springs under these layers because it is partly the differences in springs in these types of mattress which will determine how conforming or pressure relieving the mattress is. If you do feel pressure in any of your choices or positions, use different thicknesses of pillow to see if that is the problem or if it is the mattress itself. You can also test slightly thicker layers if it feels like you are going through the top few inches and hitting a harder layer underneath or slightly thinner layers if the comfort layers just feel like you are sinking in too much.

If memory foam is one of your options, make sure you test different densities (weights) of memory foam and also different levels of softness (ILD), and different thicknesses and combinations of materials in the upper or middle layers of your mattress in this step. Memory foam is unusual in that the same density of foam (weight) can be either more or less soft from different manufacturers or even with the same manufacturer. It is not your "imagination" if one 5 lb memory foam feels harder or softer than another 5 lb memory foam. Memory foam tends to be a material that people either like a lot or dislike a lot for many different reasons. Pay attention to how you feel about sinking in to the mattress more, how it feels when you change positions, and if you get a sense that it may be "hotter" for you than other options. Contrary to some popular opinions, memory foam is not the only way to have excellent pressure relief in a mattress. It also provides less support (is too soft when it is warm) to combine pressure relief with spinal support and always requires a firmer layer underneath it. This firmer layer or combinations of other materials above and below memory foam, especially if there are non memory foam layers or quilting above the memory foam, can have a great effect on how much heat reaches the memory foam and how the memory foam itself responds and feels. Different types and densities of memory foam will have different feels and characteristics including different "speeds" of recovery. There are also more and less breathable memory foams available now for people where sleeping hot is an important issue. Memory foam in general does not breathe as well as other foams that have a more open cell structure. Personal preference is important to decide which is "better" for you. Having said that ... if you are in the "I love memory foam" camp, make sure you find the combination and/or density that gives you the comfort and pressure relief and other characteristics you are looking for. You will notice here too that the memory foam that was too hard in step one may feel more plush to you when you lay on it for longer. This changeability is attractive to some people and unattractive to others.

One combination that some people like that may be worth trying in addition to the main categories is either a thin layer of latex over memory foam or memory foam over a thicker of latex.

Also be aware that each category has a range of densities and softness/firmness that can greatly alter and/or change it's ability to conform to your body, relieve pressure, and create a personal sense of comfort. Experiment a bit with different thicknesses, ILD's (softness) and density (memory foam) in your two favorite categories. By the end of this step you should be able to say "I tend to prefer latex, memory foam, polyfoam (hopefully not), natural stuffings on springs, or microcoils", and should be able to describe the main differences in feel, ability to conform, and comfort when they are the primary ingredients in the comfort layer of a mattress. You should also have a sense of which ILD or density you prefer in your 2 favorite categories.

Ask lots of specific questions (what is this material exactly and what is the thickness, density, and ILD of the material are good examples). Get specific answers and if the person you are talking to can't or won't give them to you, be very very careful about trusting their opinions and advice. Take notes.

This step will tell you a lot about the type of materials and methods of construction that work best for you in terms of comfort and pressure relief. Narrow your choice down to 2 options from the 5 (latex, polyfoam, memory foam, passive materials on springs, or microcoils) and the level (or levels if there are several upper layers) of softness (ILD and/or Density) in each choice that relieves pressure and feels comfortable to you. If two levels of softness in a material seem equally comfortable and pressure relieving in all positions, choose the slightly firmer one. It is easier to make a firmer mattress feel softer than it is to make a softer mattress feel firmer with toppers, mattress pads, or other materials that can be added to the top of a mattress. Eliminate polyfoam unless you feel strongly that it is clearly superior to the other 4 and even then make sure you have at least one other option. Your goal is to avoid thick layers of polyfoam on the top if at all possible unless it is without a doubt the only thing that works for you.

3. Spinal alignment and support

Now you are down to two types of comfort materials (maybe even one if you have an overwhelming favorite unless it's polyfoam) and a fairly narrow range of softness in the comfort and pressure relieving layers (from step 2) and plushness in the very top (from step 1) that fits your needs and preferences. Now you will be looking next at what can be underneath them to provide you with proper spinal alignment (the real meaning of support) in all your sleeping positions. This step is about making sure your spine is aligned in all positions. Dont forget this. Your spinal alignment in all your sleeping positions is the reason for this step as you have already narrowed down your comfort choices. Each type of material or construction in the support layers (middle to bottom) will have a range where it will provide proper spinal alignment. You want to make sure that the support range of your mattress will support you in all your sleeping positions. For this step you will need a your pillows and a yardstick or broomstick.

The goal here is that you want your spine to be straight when you are on your side and you want it to be supported in it's natural "S" curve when you are on your back or stomach. Take notes on which firmness and type of underlying foam (if you are testing foam support layers or "cores") or which type of spring (if you are testing innersprings) gives you correct spinal alignment (provides correct support) in each position. Be careful about confusing firmness with support. Be particularly careful about misinformation concerning support that will come from many places and people. I will say again that proper spinal alignment is the goal here and this can be achieved for different people with any level of softness or pressure relief in the comfort layers above.

First lay on your side if you sleep in that position and try to sense any strain along your back or neck. Lay quietly and feel what your body is telling you. Have a partner test the straightness of your spine using the yardstick or broom handle as a reference. Pay particular attention to where you are sinking in too much or not enough as this will tell you if you need firmer or softer support layers (not comfort layers) in that area. Also make sure that your head and neck are aligned by using different pillows (not sinking in too far or being lifted too much). Have your partner or someone else slide their hand under any recessed areas (such as your waist) to see if this area is being well supported (it should not slide under too easily) Pillows also have a range of support and you want to find one that will keep your head and neck straight in your favorite sleeping positions. In general terms thinner for stomach sleepers, a little thicker for back sleepers, and thicker yet for side sleepers.

Next stand up and have your partner (or someone you trust) look closely at the shape of your back as you are standing up straight with "good" posture. Don't slouch here and stand with your shoulders and hips aligned and your head in proper alignment. Now lay on your back if you sleep in that position. Try to sense any areas of strain along your back or neck by laying quietly and listening once again to your body. Have your partner look to see if there are any obvious areas where you are sinking in too far or not enough (rear end and middle of the back) and your spine is out of it's natural "S" shape when you were standing up. Have them slide their hand under any recessed areas (small of the back) to see if it is being supported (again it should not slide under easily). Experiment here as well with different pillows to make sure your neck and head is aligned properly (as in when you were standing with good posture).

Finally lay on your stomach if you sleep in that position. This is the most difficult (and most would say most unnatural) position to accomodate. Make sure you have a thinner pillow. In this position it is especially important to completely relax and sense if you feel any areas of strain or if you feel an urge to tense up to support yourself or relieve strain in any areas of your body. Pay particular attention to any hyperextension of the back here (hips sinking in too far and straining the small of your back). Have your partner look closely at your spinal alignment and pay attention to any areas that sink in too much or not enough to support the natural "S" shape of your spine when you are standing. Have your partner check any areas with their hand that don't seem to have proper support under you. Put a thin pillow under your hips to check if it feels better or looks better to your partner that way (your hips may be sinking in too much)

If you have found an underlying foam layer or a type of spring that provides correct alignment in all of your positions (for either you alone or both of you) in combination with one or more of your comfort layers from step 2, you are done with this step. If you have found 2 equal combinations (no clear favorite) then you are fortunate and you will need to make a choice based on which one is the best in your testing or which one is more durable and will likely keep it's support properties the longest (the next step) or which one provides the best value (the last step).

If you were not able to find a support layer which keeps your spine in alignment in all your sleeping positions, or if your partner's needs are much different from yours and you couldn't find a support layer that fit both of you no matter which material or method you tried, it's time to consider zoning  (if you haven't already). This means that the support layer is firmer in some areas than in others. If you find that the issue is that you (or your partner) are sinking in too far in a particular area of the body no matter which support material or method you use, then you will need firmer support in this area of the support layer. Typically the hips of a side sleeper tend to sink in too far and need firmer support while the shoulders tend to not sink in far enough and may need something softer to stay aligned. This is not always the case though so be careful in assessing what area needs to be firmer or softer based on your notes and experience.

Now repeat your testing in all your sleep positions with a mattress that you feel may be zoned correctly (softer and firmer relative to each other in the correct areas) to see how you have done. Keep trying different mattresses with different support zones if you need to until you get it right.

If your needs are too different from your partners and regular zoning does not provide the support range that is suitable for both of your sleeping positions, then it is time to also consider side to side zoning. This means that each of you will have an underlying support system on your side of the mattress that is customized to each of your needs. You will find this in more and more mattresses these days and if you can't then you may need to find a "mattress maker" that can provide it (this forum will help you a lot in that direction).

If you cannot find the correct zoning in the store you are in, go elsewhere and start where you left off. Let the sales person know that you want a "plush mattress with approximately 3" of latex or memory foam (or whatever you have narrowed it down to) on top of whatever your support choices are so far and that you are sinking in too far in your hips and couldn't find the proper zoning. What do you have that may help me? They will certainly be impressed with what you already know and are less likely to mislead you or waste your time.

Although I question the real value of air chambers as a permanent support layer (see my previous post about airbeds), finding a good airbed in a store that has comfort layers similar to what you chose in step 2 may provide you with a chance to test out more extreme customization in zoning (within each side and side to side) that the two of you require so you can discover what combinations of support work for both of you with your chosen comfort layers. They are readily available with many different comfort layers and provide a good "testing ground" when all else fails. Armed with this information you will be much better prepared to give a manufacturer or custom mattress maker more specific guidance as to what you need so they can manually create these zones with different pieces of foam or through other methods. You may even come to believe that for you an airbed is perfect and decide that this is your best solution.

If you haven't already done so, see if you can narrow down your comfort choices from step 3 to a single option with the additional testing for support you have done in this step.

Your choice of support system will also be a major part of the overall "springiness" of your final mattress although your comfort layers play a role here as well. For some people, the "springiness" of a mattress is an important part of how they feel about the mattress itself. In rough order from most springy to less springy are innersprings, latex foam, polyfoam, natural stuffing (depending on material), air cores (depending to some degree on construction and materials used) and memory foam (usually only found found in the comfort layers)

Now is also the time to choose the one or two best methods of support which fit all your needs. If you can not narrow either the comfort or support layers and methods down to one and your two best choices are equal in all other respects, then make your final selection about comfort and support layers based on durability and value with the information you will gather in the next two steps.

If your final choice of a support layer or system is an innerspring, make sure that you have the correct boxspring to go with it as they work together in an optimal design.

If your final choice of a support layer is foam or an airbed, then make sure you have a proper foundation or base to put it on.

4. Quality and durability

Now it's time to start making some final choices in your mattress options. By this time you should be clear about one or two comfort choices from step 2 in combination with one or two support choices in step 3 and you will know what you prefer and what works best for you in both layers. If you find that two comfort options or two support options are equal in all respects and you really have no preference, then you can use durability and value to make your final decision.

There are two distinct but important considerations when you are evaluating durability. The first is how long a material will keep it's qualities (to support or provide comfort and pressure relief). The second is knowing how long you can reasonably expect the materials to last before they either break down or break. Both of these will involve asking questions and/or a little online research. Durability is also affected by the maintenance you do on your mattress (flipping when appropriate, turning, and in some cases even massaging). It will also be affected by using the proper support system for your mattress (boxspring for a spring system and a proper support system or base with foam mattresses or airbeds). While an indepth analysis of the durability of different materials is way beyond the scope of this post, in general you will find that latex will last the longest, properly maintained natural stuffing is next, good quality springs are next, followed by memory foam, and finally the least durable as a group is polyfoam. Mechanical systems such as an air bladder will vary depending on construction methods and materials used.

Within each category there is a wide variation.

With a little research, you will discover that stronger and higher quality springs will last longer and keep their qualities longer than lesser quality springs (in some cases by a wide margin)

Higher density memory foam (5 lbs and above) will tend to last longer than lower density memory foam (3 or 4 lbs or in some cases even less). This is true both in terms of how long it will last and how long it will keep it's qualities. Be very wary about (mostly unfounded) claims for a "new and better" type of memory foam that has a lower density yet will last longer than the higher density memory foams. Also be aware that some people will claim that a certain material is memory foam that doesn't have the slow recovery characteristics (memory) of "real" memory foam. Buyer beware. Try to make sure that the memory foam has been manufactured either by a known and reputable manufacturer or brand that has a known history of manufacturing good quality memory foam or that it is manufactured by a known North American manufacturer that also has a good reputation and history. There is real competition and variety in what makes a good quality memory foam and there are several equally good quality memory foams in the market from several manufacturers. Good memory foam is no longer the domain of a single company or manufacturer however it is important to know the source and specifications of the memory foam in your mattress before you purchase it.

High density (HD) polyfoam will tend to last longer than regular polyfoam and High resilience (HR) polyfoam will last longer yet. Here too the higher densities (1.8 lbs or preferably 2.0 lbs and above) will tend to last longer than lower densities in each category. There are many claims out there about some type of polyfoam lasting longer than anything else but take these with a grain of salt. These claims have been made about materials that are no longer available because they wore out too quickly. Claims for polyfoam have been around for a long time and rarely if ever to they turn out to be true in the real world. Of course here too the issue of a polyfoam losing it's qualities with use and time even though it's not "worn out" is just as important as how long it will last.

With proper care ... natural materials (wool, cotton, horsehair and others) will last a very long time but they do tend to compress to some degree over time even though they don't break down ane lose their qualities as polyfoam will. Some of the highest quality mattresses use these materials and last a very very long time. They tend to require a little higher degree of maintenance than other mattresses.

Latex is the most durable of all and will keep it's qualities for a very long time. In the lower ILD's (ultra soft) there is some indication that all natural Talalay latex foam may develop impressions more easily than other types of blended synthetic/natural Talalay latex but this is relative and even the "worst" latex (as long as it comes from a known and reputable manufacturer)  is still very long lasting compared to other foams. Stories of latex mattresses lasting 20 years or even longer are not uncommon. Talalay latex is usually used in the upper comfort layers of a mattress because of it's more even structure and feel and the ability to manufacture it's softness more accurately however both Dunlop and Talalay latex are very durable as a comfort layer even though they will have a slightly different feel. Either Dunlop or Talalay latex are often used in the support layers of a mattress. Both are extremely durable. They will provide a slightly different feel that some people may notice.

Adjustable air bladders are a more mechanical system than even springs and as in all more complex mechanical systems may have a component that breaks or malfunctions. There is a wide variety of different construction methods and materials used to make them so do a little homework here to determine which may be more durable.

Now that you have some basic information concerning the materials in your final choices, it should be a little easier to make final decisions in any areas where you are undecided. If you still can't of course or if you want to consider everything before you make any final decisions, then there is the final step.

5. Price and value

This of course will play a major role in most people's decisions and is usually the final "decision maker". Be aware here of the difference between price and value. It is much more expensive in the longer term to buy a cheap mattress that has poor materials than it is to buy a higher quality mattress that will last you longer (in many cases 2 or 3 times as long). It is also expensive in other ways (pain, discomfort, and lack of proper sleep) to buy a mattress that will only keep it's qualities for a very short time or will develop issues that make it uncomfortable or even unuseable in a relatively short time.

Be aware of the different places where you can buy a mattress. Most people of course will go to a bricks and mortar store and do comparisons between one store and another one in the same city. It is well worth while to do some online price comparisons as it is not uncommon that you will find prices hundreds of dollars less (or more) that come from reputable dealers. If you know exactly what you want, it may be well worthwhile buying from one of these dealers if your store will not at least come close to matching their price. This approach is a little more risky as it will be much harder and more expensive to exchange the mattress if it is wrong for you and any kind of warranty issue will usually cost you money and a lot of frustration and effort to ship the mattress back. For many people these inconceniences and risks are worth it, for some they are not.

Talking about warranties, most of them are worthless in practical terms. A warranty deals with manufacturing defects, not the suitability of the mattress for your circumstances. It is in no way a real indication of how long a mattress will be suitable for you. Body impressions, hills and valleys, and loss of comfort or support are not considered manufacturing defects unless they are measured as greater than a certain depth (usually 1.5" - 2") ... without any weight on them. Foam breakdown that leads to loss of support and comfort is not part of a warranty. Even the slightest stain on a mattress voids the warranty. In other words, in the real world, warranties are not really worth the paper they are written on and have more to do with marketing than they do with protection. Even on valid warranty claims, you are usually out of pocket due to the expense or difficulty of returning the mattress (at your cost). A warranty will protect you against obvious manufacturing defects but these usually show up very quickly. Don't make the mistake of thinking that a mattress with a 20 year warranty means that you will have a good mattress for 20 years and if you don't you will be able to get another one. You won't. It also doesn't mean it is any "better" than a mattress with a 10 year or 5 year warranty. Your real protection (outside of manufacturing defects) and the real factor in determining how long you have your mattress is the quality of the materials in it and your willingness to follow proper maintenance and care.

It is also well worthwhile doing some research on some of the smaller manufacturers that are all over the US (and other countries of course). Some of these offer true factory direct pricing, are very knowledgeable about mattresses in general, and often offer tremendous value. The better ones that have been successfully in business for a long time can come very close to duplicating the feel of a mattress when you know the specifications of what is in it. They can also make smaller adjustments (replacing a 3" layer for example with 2'5") and will often offer a variety of different quilting materials and fabrics which can lead to getting the feel "just right". Be a little careful here though because you will not have the chance to actually lay on the mattress (unless they are local and you have the best of both worlds) and any returns ... even on warranty issues ... will be difficult and expensive if it involves shipping. To go this route ... no matter how much money it saves you and no matter how much more "perfect" your mattress may be ... you need to both be sure you know exactly what you want and be aware of the difficulty in changing that decision after it is ordered. Do a little research here and be aware as well that some "manufacturer direct" outlets actually do offer factory direct pricing that is significantly lower than other outlets however in other cases "factory direct pricing" may be an advertising gimmick and is not much different from other places you could purchase your mattress from. In general terms, and assuming that you are dealing with a true factory direct outlet and reputable manufacturer, most people are truly amazed at the values that are available here. Custom made is not necessarily expensive and can often mean very inexpensive.

There is also another very valid approach that has been highly successful for some that can also save you a  lot of money in most cases. This is the "build your own" approach. This involves buying your mattress from a reputable online source that offers mattresses with zippered covers and your choice of layers and materials inside the mattress. These are becoming more popular and many of them are increasing the range of choices they are offering. If through your research you are clear on the overall makeup of the mattress you want, it becomes much easier to order a "build your own" that will come close to the mattress you preferred in your "lay on bed" research. The advantage of these outlets (in some cases they are also an outlet for a factory) is that you can do a "layer exchange" which means sending in a layer of the mattress and exchanging it with a softer or firmer layer to get closer to your "perfect feel" for a very low cost. This is much less expensive than shipping the entire mattrress. Because the mattress also has different layers, it also gives you a chance to re-arrange the layers to see how different arrangements change the feel of your mattress ("soft medium firm" compared to "soft firm medium" for example). Many of these offer very high quality materials and covers that will compare favorably to mattresses costing much more from other sources. The range of value different companies offer here varies widely so do your homework before you choose to go in this direction. One other issue may come up with this option is that some people have not done their "lay on bed" homework before they order from these sources and are not clear on the type or layering of mattress that will suit them well. In this case the choices can become so confusing and overwhelming and they have so little idea of how a certain layer change may change the feel of their mattress that they never get it "right" and end up giving up in frustration ... even with layer exchanges. In most cases, make your own outlets do not offer the same degree of customization that is available from a smaller manufacturer (the layers tend to be a standard thickness ... usually 2" or 3" which may limit to a small degree the feel that can be accomplished) and will not have the same choice of quilting and fabrics that are offered by more custom manufacturers although the services some of them offer varies widely here as well. This can also be a source of tremendous value if you have the information and confidence you need to go in this direction.

Finally

Just to recap a lot of information.

Step 1 is about the subjective feel of a mattress. It is where you choose the level of plushness and the initial feel.

Step 2 is about comfort and support. This is where you choose materials and methods that lead to your mattress' ability to conform to your body and relieve pressure. Use a good pillow in your testing here.

Step 3 is about spinal alignment. This is what TRUE support is all about. This is where you choose the deeper layers in the mattress that support and alter the upper comfort layers. Using a proper pillow to keep your head and neck aligned in your different sleeping positions is especially important here as well.

Step 4 is about durability. This means researching how long you can reasonably expect the materials you have chosen to both last and keep their ability to relieve pressure and support you.

Step 5 is about price and value and about choosing the risks and benefits of buying your "perfect" mattress from different local or online dealers, manufacturers, and "build your own" outlets. Each offers  different benefits in terms of price, ability to customize, and your ability to try your exact mattress before you buy it. Each also has different risks in terms of the difficulties and costs involved in making changes after the purchase and the likelihood that you will end up paying more than you otherwise could for the "same" mattress.

Knowing the reason WHY different materials and constructions affect the feel, comfort, pressure relief, and support of different mattresses and knowing exactly what you are looking for in each step (not confusing support and pressure relief for example or confusing firmness and support) will go a long way towards a successful mattress purchase.

There are also other factors in buying a mattress that I have not dealt with in this general outline such as how it looks, how "natural" or organic the materials are, the special qualities of certain fabrics and other factors that will be much more important to some than to others. Shoot for your version of 100% in all the areas that are important to you but also know when the frustration of getting the last few percentage points of perfection are no longer worth it for you.

Of course this is not meant in any way to be the final word in choosing a mattress or what could be important to some people. It will however give you information and experience that can go a long way in making better choices. It is also not meant to cover every available option and material or system that is available in a mattress as there are others that will be of interest to a smaller percentage of people who have more unique needs. If you discover that your needs are completely outside the norm ... ask questions about your own particular circumstances either in person with people who have demonstrated their willingness and ability to give you good information or on a forum such as this one. The better and more informed your questions ...  the better the information you will get back.

There are also many other methods and ideas ... both more simple and more complicated ... that may suit you better and in the end this is only meant to offer you one person's opinion and some ideas that may help. Use whatever ideas help you. Take your time and do your best to "get it right". A good mattress can make a real difference in quality of life and it is worth the time and effort to find a mattress that is your own version of perfection.

I believe that good information and targeted, systematized experience and "lay on bed" testing can go a long way towards arming you with the knowledge and understanding you need to find a mattress that will be comfortable, supportive, long lasting, great value .... and most importantly of all ... perfect for you and your own unique needs and tastes.

Good luck

Phoenix