i need a good mattress help
Feb 25, 2009 12:34 AM
Joined: Feb 23, 2009
Points: 1
can spend up to 2500, what  is the best bang for your buck, i weigh 270 pd.  i need help. thanks vince
Re: i need a good mattress help
Reply #1 Feb 25, 2009 10:16 AM
Joined: Jan 19, 2009
Points: 64
First, you can do a Google search for mattress for heavy or obese people.  One website is www.absolutecomfortonsale.com which has, they say, mattresses specially designed for people that weigh between 300 and 400 lbs. and also www.ariamedical.com but those are just two of the many, many links you will find with a simple Google search.

Based on the many complaints that are posted in various sleep forums by heavier folk that have attempted to sleep on "off the shelf" mattress models designed for the masses that don't weigh as much as you I would be reluctant to buy a "regular" mattress as I would suspect that one of those just wouldn't hold up for very long and would quickly lose structure and comfort for you.

My wife and I recently went on a quest of research and testing to try and find a conventional mattress (either innerspring or foam) that would meet our needs (we weigh considerably less than the weight you posted) and after three months of SERIOUS looking we were forced to give up as our testing along with various reviews and user testimonials left us with no obvious choice so we instead bought another waterbed mattress.

I suggest you talk to various waterbed mattress makers re your specific weight issues.  We found that modern waterbed mattress engineering delivers a untra-waveless platform with a lot of built-in firmness which is adjustable by adding or removing water until the perfect firmness is found for the individual.  We have been sleeping on hard side waterbed mattresses for about 22 years and across that time we have used four mattresses including the one we just purchased.  With proper maintenance a waterbed mattress can outlast a conventional mattress easily and there are no springs to wear out nor foam that can have permanent and uncomfortable body indentations over time.  We paid only $500 for our most recent mattress which included a new heater and a 3 inch semi-firm memory foam mattress topper - could be a better combo with your weight would be the ultra-ultra firm with a four inch max-firm topper - of course, over the past 22 years as we have gotten older and we learned we needed a bit more firmness and support and, again, modern waterbed mattress technology has evolved to meet our sleep comfort needs far better than traditional and MUCH MORE expensive mattresses plus we both love the gentle heat this type of mattress can have.  We are also suffering the consequences of a LOT of money saved - over the past 22 years we have spent about $1200 total for waterbed mattresses including the most recent one.

Final example is my bride has developed several permanent and serious back problems yet she is getting her 8 hours each night without back pain with our waterbed plus topper combination.  I am not trying to be a waterbed mattress "commercial" but I woke this morning after - again - eight hours of incredibly comfortable sleep.

Best of Luck

Re: i need a good mattress help
Reply #2 Feb 25, 2009 3:12 PM
Joined: May 3, 2008
Points: 827
Admin:

Is this a SPAM or an ad from a mattress seller? Vince looks like a name made up by the waterbed salesmen.

Maybe I am wrong, but seems to me if a bed keeps getting pushed by someone; which in reality a waterbed is like sleeping on a rock.

Hope I am wrong : - )

Just kinda tired of hearing how great the waterbed is (isn't).
Re: i need a good mattress help
Reply #3 Feb 25, 2009 6:52 PM
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 94
Leo-Waterbed owners are just passionate about waterbeds.  There aren't too many of them around anymore.  Waterbeds do have their advantages.  I wish I could still sleep on one.
Re: i need a good mattress help
Reply #4 Feb 25, 2009 7:55 PM
Joined: Feb 2, 2009
Points: 15
Maybe some advantages, but ever tried having sex on one?

My theory is, the number of waterbed devotees is dwindling due to natural selection. 

Re: i need a good mattress help
Reply #5 Feb 26, 2009 1:37 AM
Joined: Feb 7, 2009
Points: 30
Your weight is about the same as mine so maybe I can give you some suggestions.

Any conventional bed in your price range is going to be one of the new one-sided mattresses, which are of generally low quality (IMHO), won't last, and won't provide the comfort required for a good nights rest. If you do happen to go this route I recommend you purchase from Costco since you will need to return the mattress within two years (hey big guys are tough on these mattresses)!

My suggestion would be latex or memory foam (no creaky springs to deal with)! Check out the many posts in this forum on creating your own latex setup from foambymail or you can buy something pre-made from the better latex vendors recommended here. You can roll your own King size for around $1200 or drop the full $2500+ for something pre-made with comfort swaps.

The option I went with at the moment is the Ara memory foam mattress from Costco. It's on sale right now (until March 1st) for $999 delivered (King size), the foundation is an additional $200. This was a no loose situation since Costco offers a lifetime return on their merchandise. So far it has been great and doesn't sleep hot like most memory foam does (I do have a mattress protector on it). The only negatives we've found so far is that it is a little bit more difficult to get out of the bed and it's a little more firm than we thought it would be! I'm probably going to throw a 2" soft latex topper on it to soften it up a bit and make it a little "springy". 

My original message is below:

http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/sleep-science-ara-foam-mattress-costco/4406-0-1.html

Darren
Re: i need a good mattress help
Reply #6 Mar 11, 2009 9:55 AM
Joined: Mar 10, 2009
Points: 28
Yes, JimBC, I have tried having sex on a waterbed. Wildly, wonderfully and often, for 14 years!  Did YOU have a problem? Sorry to hear about that!  Alas, that was in the heyday of waterbed use (for us, '76 to '90) and I have been fussing with other mattresses since. The older we got, the less satisfied we got with each new mattress set, (3) yet each more outrageously higher priced then the last.. Right now, I am trying to decide between latex and going back to water. 

People who have an undying love for waterbeds do so for a reason. Selling them certainly isn't the reason, because no one is making a living off of them anymore. What doesn't work for some, is perfect for someone else.