First time purchasing a mattress (leaning towards memory foam)

[Slides]

I've done a little research, but still very new to the "art" of buying a decent bed. Almost bought one of s-brand ones, but canceled it after doing some research.

The only hesitation I have about memory foam is that I am usually pretty sensitive to hot temperatures in a mattress, and also I am about 110 to 120 lbs, which I also read may give me some issues with high density foam.

Any recommendations from people about where I should even begin with my search? Brands and models of what I should purchase would be extra helpful.

Thanks

 

[Slides]

One question I have - what should the memory foam mattress lie on? Currently, I ahve an old boxspring and metal frame w/ wheels for my current innerspring mattress.

Do I need to buy a new bed or have a boxpsring?

 

[randys]

Slides wrote:
One question I have - what should the memory foam mattress lie on? Currently, I ahve an old boxspring and metal frame w/ wheels for my current innerspring mattress.

Do I need to buy a new bed or have a boxpsring?

You have hit the jackpot, i have bought 4 beds in 2 months...

1. Costco/Sleep Science, 10 inch memory foam (was called "the emma") when i bought it, might not be named now...call sleep science

800 723 0316

And ask them if this is the same one...For almost ONE THIRD the price of a Tempurpedic, this was a real nice mattress, i returned it but not because I didnt like it , long story as to why...it did NOT sleep hot at all!

2. Tempurpedic "Rhapsody" - too firm

3. Tempurpdedic - "Bellafina" , for 6 weeks nothing but low back pain, then the last two nights, wonderful and does not sleep hot

4. the latex from sleep science at costco, not available now, much cheaper than flobeds, etc...also wonderful, but sleeps a bit warm...i am now going back and forth and will decide on these last 2

Get the sleep science 10 inch memory foam, if you dont like it, they will pick it up for free and return all your money - as to the foundation, with costco it wont matter, but with temp you could void warranty...if getting anything from costco DONT pay for the foundation, try mattress first...

 

[sandman]

Randy, why don't you go back to the 10" Costco Emma? It sounds like that was your favorite? Probably not worth the money for the TP if you liked the Emma about the same. Costco may want to shoot you, but in the end I think they want you to be satisfied with the product.

 

[Slides]

So, what should I use for foundation? Would any basically work or is boxspring recommended?

And does 12" vs. 10" memory foam make a difference? Right now I'm looking at the Night Therapy 12" from sam's club.

 

[jimsocal]

My suggesting is that you read the threads here on memory foam - use the search function.

Don't buy any memory foam that you cannot return after trying it.

Good luck!
p.s. Please post back here and let us know how you like it after you've had it a few months.

 

[Slides]

Haven't found anything on this yet. Do I need a box spring for memory foam?

 

[randys]

Slides wrote:
Haven't found anything on this yet. Do I need a box spring for memory foam?
you need a foundation, box sprink will work or buy a foundation with it,

 

[Slides]

randys wrote:
you need a foundation, box sprink will work or buy a foundation with it,

That's what I'm trying to figure out. What kind of foundation?

Would something like this be ok? http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11080079

Sorry, I'm just really new at this.

 

[aspear]

I just bought a 3" piece of memory foam (4.1 lb density). After 2 months it's already starting to have soft spots. In colder weather there has also been a significant delay in it going back to form. In other words, if you have to roll over then you're screwed. Luckily it has a 90 day warranty. My suggestion is to avoid memory foam.

I've done some research and decided to buy a 3" piece of talay latex from sleeplikeabear.com.

 

[Leo3]

aspear wrote:
I just bought a 3" piece of memory foam (4.1 lb density). After 2 months it's already starting to have soft spots. In colder weather there has also been a significant delay in it going back to form. In other words, if you have to roll over then you're screwed. Luckily it has a 90 day warranty. My suggestion is to avoid memory foam.

I've done some research and decided to buy a 3" piece of talay latex from sleeplikeabear.com.

Aspear: What ILD of talalay latex did you get? Let us know what you think of it please.

IMHO memory foam sucks. I had a good memory foam bed (allegedly) Sealy Truform, it was miserable after the first few months. I believe it broke down, softened too much. Then I tried a cheap memory foam topper over a regular spring mattress, I sweated every night. Now I am sleeping on latex, and over a polyester blanket and I don't sweat at all, not warm at all either. I actually have to use blankets now.

 

[jimsocal]

I believe you can put memory foam even Tempurpedic on the floor if you wish. OR just any non-sagging type foundation.

 

[budgy]

absolutely correct Jim.

with regards to warranty you probably just don't want to put it on another brands base, but the floor or a solid or slatted platform frame is perfectly fine. check with your own local Tempur dealer on this, because they usually do the inspections themselves, you definitely want their approval just incase they might want an excuse not to service any potential claims.

 

[aspear]

Leo3 wrote:
Aspear: What ILD of talalay latex did you get? Let us know what you think of it please.

IMHO memory foam sucks. I had a good memory foam bed (allegedly) Sealy Truform, it was miserable after the first few months. I believe it broke down, softened too much. Then I tried a cheap memory foam topper over a regular spring mattress, I sweated every night. Now I am sleeping on latex, and over a polyester blanket and I don't sweat at all, not warm at all either. I actually have to use blankets now.

19 ild. I have a super firm mattress-> the s&f estate ultra firm. It's pretty much concrete. I'm 6' 3" ~200 lbs. My wife is a curvy 125 lbs. The lady at sleeplikeabear suggested 19 or 24 ild. I went with the 19 to make the wife happy, since she prefers soft. I hope it's not too soft though... The topper is being delivered this week. I'll let you know how it feels.

 

[Slides]

aspear wrote:
I just bought a 3" piece of memory foam (4.1 lb density). After 2 months it's already starting to have soft spots. In colder weather there has also been a significant delay in it going back to form. In other words, if you have to roll over then you're screwed. Luckily it has a 90 day warranty. My suggestion is to avoid memory foam.

I've done some research and decided to buy a 3" piece of talay latex from sleeplikeabear.com.

This and others posts have me leaning against memory foam and thinking of going back to an S-brand innerpsring with possibly a latex topper of some sort.

What would be a good firm (but not ultra super firm as I'm only about 120 lbs) s brand innerspring to consider without paying too much?

Please help with some suggestions, as my back is killing me.

 

[sandman]

What is your budget and what size mattress? The problem you will find is that any of the less expensive (and even the more expensive) innersprings is that they use junky foam. So, it may not be the most comfortable and it will lose support over time (sometimes fairly quickly). Of ones I have tried (but not owned), I liked the Stearns & Foster Estate luxury firm. They are a bit expensive though, especially if you don't get a good sale. The older models got bad reviews because they started to sag over time. I am not sure if they have fixed that problem.
Sealy has interlinked coils which should provide a firmer surface, but may not be as comfortable for a side sleeper. In my experience, the most support will be on the ones with the most coils. They will cost more, and even the most expensive ones will have some junky foam in it. One strategy is to get the firmest one and add an 1-3" topper (latex or memory foam) to get the right comfort.
I slept on a newer Sealy innerspring recently and even that get pretty warm. I am coming to the conclusion that any type of foam at the top level will retain heat, and the more you sink into it the more you will feel it. The old style innersprings did not use much foam (if any), so they sleep fairly cool but are not that comfortable.
Have you considered all latex? Or is that too expensive?
So, there is no easy solution. Costco has innersprings and memory foam beds, that you can at least return if you don't like. One poster really liked the 10" Sleep Science at Costco, and said it did not get too hot. I tried 1 of the 14" (same maker) and I don't remember getting overly hot, but it was too firm for me (and too thick for toppers).

 

[Slides]

sandman wrote:
What is your budget and what size mattress? The problem you will find is that any of the less expensive (and even the more expensive) innersprings is that they use junky foam. So, it may not be the most comfortable and it will lose support over time (sometimes fairly quickly). Of ones I have tried (but not owned), I liked the Stearns & Foster Estate luxury firm. They are a bit expensive though, especially if you don't get a good sale. The older models got bad reviews because they started to sag over time. I am not sure if they have fixed that problem.
Sealy has interlinked coils which should provide a firmer surface, but may not be as comfortable for a side sleeper. In my experience, the most support will be on the ones with the most coils. They will cost more, and even the most expensive ones will have some junky foam in it. One strategy is to get the firmest one and add an 1-3" topper (latex or memory foam) to get the right comfort.
I slept on a newer Sealy innerspring recently and even that get pretty warm. I am coming to the conclusion that any type of foam at the top level will retain heat, and the more you sink into it the more you will feel it. The old style innersprings did not use much foam (if any), so they sleep fairly cool but are not that comfortable.
Have you considered all latex? Or is that too expensive?
So, there is no easy solution. Costco has innersprings and memory foam beds, that you can at least return if you don't like. One poster really liked the 10" Sleep Science at Costco, and said it did not get too hot. I tried 1 of the 14" (same maker) and I don't remember getting overly hot, but it was too firm for me (and too thick for toppers).

Thanks for the post. This is helpful. My primary concern with all latex is not cost (even though it is expensive), but my idea of what latex will feel like is for some reason not that good. I have been unable to so far find a place where I test a latex only bed. Plus, flobeds is seemingly too complicated for me. I work 5 days a week, 9 to 7, so it's hard for me to wait around to receive packages and figure out how to "assemble" a mattress or what not. Maybe I'm over thinking this...

So, right now I am thinking of a firm innerspring (any thoughts on brand and model that would be good but not too expensive?) with a latex topper of some sort. That would allow me to get the coil support I'm used to with an added layer of comfort from latex. And, this also seems to me would be the easiest solution.

So, any recommendations on an s-brand firm (but not ultra firm, I don't think I could handle that, even with a topper)

 

[eagle2]

If you have done your homework then you know from reading this form that many people have gone through the same process that you're going through.

I almost purchased a Stearns and Foster all latex mattress. But after doing my research I came to the conclusion that one of the online stores that offered exchanges and a full return of money if I didn't like the mattress, would be a far superior experience.

This of course necessitated that I made arrangements to be home to receive the mattress and go through the process of putting it together and sleep testing it. But when you're talking about $2500-$3000 for a mattress ( California King) then having to put myself out was worth it to me. The biggest single thing is what kind of firmness level is going to work best for you. Again, if you have done your research on this forum, you know that many people have a difficult time ascertaining what is going to actually be the best configuration for them. Some people come to this conclusion easily, quickly and simply. There are many of the rest of us, who do not.

Where ever you purchase your mattress you want to be darn sure that they have a good return policy, and best of all if they have an exchange policy. What ever you pay for a mattress, can become very expensive very quickly, if you don't like it and they won't take it back, or exchange it for another mattress.

Think about it.

 

[Slides]

eagle2 wrote:
If you have done your homework then you know from reading this form that many people have gone through the same process that you're going through.

I almost purchased a Stearns and Foster all latex mattress. But after doing my research I came to the conclusion that one of the online stores that offered exchanges and a full return of money if I didn't like the mattress, would be a far superior experience.

This of course necessitated that I made arrangements to be home to receive the mattress and go through the process of putting it together and sleep testing it. But when you're talking about $2500-$3000 for a mattress ( California King) then having to put myself out was worth it to me. The biggest single thing is what kind of firmness level is going to work best for you. Again, if you have done your research on this forum, you know that many people have a difficult time ascertaining what is going to actually be the best configuration for them. Some people come to this conclusion easily, quickly and simply. There are many of the rest of us, who do not.

Where ever you purchase your mattress you want to be darn sure that they have a good return policy, and best of all if they have an exchange policy. What ever you pay for a mattress, can become very expensive very quickly, if you don't like it and they won't take it back, or exchange it for another mattress.

Think about it.

That makes sense and will help me come to a decision on what to try. Thanks, I'll update this thread after some more research.

 

[sandman]

I think it is hard to recommend any one of the S brands over the other. However, I would avoid Spring Air since they seem to have the worst reviews. Sealy came out slightly ahead. Orignal mattress factory, Denver mattress and Simmons were the top 3 rated innerspring brands in consumer reports. I think the first decision would be pocketed coils vs. interlaced (connected together). In theory, pocketed will conform more to your body, so they might be more comfortable. However, they may also be more likely to shift and lose support. Most pillowtops will lose support over time, so usually best to avoid those.
You probably need to go to a store (I found that Macy's had a pretty good selection in my area) and see what you like. I tended to like S&F, Simmons and Sealy (in that order), but I have not tried many other brands. I wouldn't buy the cheapest Simmons or Sealy, since they don't seem to have as good support as their more expensive ones.
You may want to look at us-mattress.com to see what goes into the different mattresses at different price levels. They also have their own comfort rating and some consumer reviews as well.
Since they all seem to use lower quality foam in the low to mid priced versions, you are almost better to cut the top off and replace it with higher quality foam (mainly latex). However, you have to be pretty adventurous to do that. That will add to the cost as well.
Otherwise a customizable latex bed is probably going to be one of your best options to get the comfort and support you want. If you have no idea of what type firmness will work best, then a place like flobeds is a good option since you can exchange layers and return the whole thing if you don't like it. Yes, it can be a bit of a hassle and expensive. I have found this to be the hardest item to purchase of anything (short of a house).