Mattress recommendations

[Tweak155]

Hey everyone...

So we're looking at replacing our pillow top mattress of ~8yrs as it has taken a beating with all our moving and has started to become concave even with semi regular rotation.

Back then I just picked a mattress that i thought felt comfortable when I tried it in store, but now would like to get some more opinions from experience... I believe health is directly impacted by length and quality of sleep so want to invest if needed, and is also why I'm posting here.

I think we could still use our box springs, but if I should replace everything then I'm all for it. My main objectives are to not be warmed by the mattress topping and have it fairly firm but still soft. Are there any new fancy mattresses out there worth considering or should I continue with the only preferences I've come to know?

Would like to keep it below $2000, but if the option lasts a good 20 years then more is not out of the question.

Thanks!

 

[vi edit]

How heavy are you and how do you sleep? If you are over 170 pounds and back/side sleeper take a look at Purple. I picked one up over Thanksgiving.
https://onpurple.com/

It's pretty interesting. I went from a pillow top w/ a 3" memory foam to this. The first 4 weeks were rough. It was firm. Very firm. But it's settled in now and is pretty comfortable. You don't sink into. Your upper back and shoulders compress the material a bit but it doesn't cocoon you a super squishy memory foam or pillow top. It's also the coolest mattress I've slept on. Very little issues with heat compared to memory foam or other softer beds.

If you want something long term, you are looking at a firm/luxury firm and replacing toppers every 3-5 years. Anything softer and the comfort layers are going to be broke down too much.

 

[Kaido]

I am a huge fan of memory foam. I bought my first one five years ago & have since upgraded all of the beds in my house to memory foam. There are basically 3 tiers: (marketing-wise, not quality-wise)

1. Big brand names (ex. Temperpedic)
2. Online beds (ex. Casper, Leesa, etc.)
3. Amazon beds (ex. Zinus)

My bed is a knockoff Temperpedic from Bob's Discount Furniture (New England chain). It's awesome. I was interested in getting a bed-in-box like the Casper, as advertised online, but decided to try one off Amazon first. Boy am I glad I did, they are awesome! I'd recommend checking out the Zinus brand, in particular, the 12" 'green tea' memory foam bed. The most expensive model (King) is only $349:

https://www.amazon.com/Zinus-Memory-Foam-Green-Mattress/dp/B00Q7EPV8O/

They also sell a pillow-top memory foam for the same price:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012H0KBYK

Stock, the memory foam beds are fairly firm. You can add a gel foam topper to add squishiness if needed. I have both a 12" green tea & a 12" pillow-top; the pillow-top is surprisingly firm. If you decide to get one, I would recommend trying it out before ordering a gel topper (which are also sold in different thicknesses...mine is a 3" with 3.25-pound density & your body basically sinks into it, haha). Note that memory foam beds usually make you warmer than regular beds, and the foam toppers can also add heat (even the ones that advertise themselves as "cooling" pads). Anyway, they basically send you the bed in a box, vacuum-packed, so you cut it open & let it "inflate" for a day or two (no stinky smell FYI). I do recommend the 12" size because I've tried the smaller sizes & it really needs the extra inches to feel "right".

As far as boxsprings go, I threw mine away & got Smartframes (same vendor, Zinus) - basically a frame & (flat) boxspring in one, but thin & light, yet also quiet & strong. They come in 14" & 18" sizes. I have both. The smaller ones (like a twin) simply flip in half & you lock 4 wingnuts in by hand & you're done - no stupid assembly or tools required. The larger ones are split into two frames & have a couple of bars you screw in (also by hand) to connect together into a single large frame. Takes longer to unbox them than it does for setup. They are nice because then you get under-the-bed storage & don't need a big, heavy boxspring in your room - moving is easy! They're also not crappy like the IKEA ones. You also need an anti-skid pad, so the mattress doesn't go sliding off the metal frame (same ones they use under rugs on tile). Then you'll want a bed skirt with the same drop as the height of your bed, to cover the sides, as well as a waterproof fitted sheet to go under the regular sheets (memory foam beds will absorb anything you spill on them forever...OJ from breakfast in bed, vomit if you get sick & throw up in bed, etc...the new waterproof sheets aren't like the old tarps tho, they are noiseless & soft). Then a duvet & a set of sheets. I get two pairs of sheets & two waterproof fitted sheets so I can rotate the laundry once a week. So as far as a setup goes:

1. Memory foam bed
2. 14" or 18" smart bed frame
3. 14" or 18" bed skirt
4. Anti-skid mat
5. Pair of waterproof fitted sheets
6. Pair of sheet sets & pillowcases
7. Blanket/duvet
8. Pillows

Here's a marketing pic of the smartframe btw:

 

[Kaido]

How heavy are you and how do you sleep? If you are over 170 pounds and back/side sleeper take a look at Purple. I picked one up over Thanksgiving.
https://onpurple.com/

It's pretty interesting. I went from a pillow top w/ a 3" memory foam to this. The first 4 weeks were rough. It was firm. Very firm. But it's settled in now and is pretty comfortable. You don't sink into. Your upper back and shoulders compress the material a bit but it doesn't cocoon you a super squishy memory foam or pillow top. It's also the coolest mattress I've slept on. Very little issues with heat compared to memory foam or other softer beds.

If you want something long term, you are looking at a firm/luxury firm and replacing toppers every 3-5 years. Anything softer and the comfort layers are going to be broke down too much.

I was wondering about those, they have a lot of interesting marketing going on for their mattresses. The cooling feature is really big news if it works. I gave one of the 3" cooling gel pads to a family member for Christmas & ended up returning it because they complained it made them too hot, oddly enough.

 

[Tweak155]

How heavy are you and how do you sleep? If you are over 170 pounds and back/side sleeper take a look at Purple. I picked one up over Thanksgiving.
https://onpurple.com/

It's pretty interesting. I went from a pillow top w/ a 3" memory foam to this. The first 4 weeks were rough. It was firm. Very firm. But it's settled in now and is pretty comfortable. You don't sink into. Your upper back and shoulders compress the material a bit but it doesn't cocoon you a super squishy memory foam or pillow top. It's also the coolest mattress I've slept on. Very little issues with heat compared to memory foam or other softer beds.

If you want something long term, you are looking at a firm/luxury firm and replacing toppers every 3-5 years. Anything softer and the comfort layers are going to be broke down too much.

I am 6 foot, 165lbs and sleep on my side (right side usually if that matters). Wife is a tiny human and prefers sleeping on her back.

The pillow top in my current bed has memory foam as well (I thought... been 8 years though)... I didn't have any real complaints with it, but wasn't sure if I should be looking at better newer options.

 

[deadlyapp]

I just picked up a Helix mattress which is just under $1k for a king size and pretty well rated. It's a latex over pocket coil design and they can customize the bed based on a survey you take. It also can come as a split design if you and your SO have different needs - which is nice.

I should have it this week and probably will have it set up in the next week or so and will report back then.

I'm coming from a Sealy posturpedic firm pillow top which has been good for me, but perhaps a little soft.

 

[Kaido]

I just picked up a Helix mattress which is just under $1k for a king size and pretty well rated. It's a latex over pocket coil design and they can customize the bed based on a survey you take. It also can come as a split design if you and your SO have different needs - which is nice.

I should have it this week and probably will have it set up in the next week or so and will report back then.

I'm coming from a Sealy posturpedic firm pillow top which has been good for me, but perhaps a little soft.

Yeah it's funny, I had a regular coil pillowtop mattress before & it was very soft, and the pillowtop mattress I picked up from Zinus on Amazon is surprisingly firm. I think the pillowtop on that one is more of a fitted sheet wrap than an actual built-in pillowtop.

 

[Ackmed]

While a little pricey, we have a king sized tempurpedic cool breeze and love it. Extremely comfortable and for me most of all helps keep me cool at night. I am not natured, and more so at night. Before this I had never spent much on a mattress, I thought it was silly spending a lot of money on one. I stand corrected. Sleep much better now.

 

[vi edit]

I am 6 foot, 165lbs and sleep on my side (right side usually if that matters). Wife is a tiny human and prefers sleeping on her back.

Ok. A purple mattress definitely is not for you guys then. You aren't heavy enough to compress the material and get the benefit. It will just feel like a very firm platform to you. It's hard to explain.

 

[Tweak155]

I am a huge fan of memory foam. I bought my first one five years ago & have since upgraded all of the beds in my house to memory foam. There are basically 3 tiers: (marketing-wise, not quality-wise)
snip for space

Thanks for the info... I already have a frame and box spring with storage units underneath, so unless I need to replace them I think I'll stick with those for now.

I'll keep the amazon recommendations in mind... has anyone thrown away a mattress before? It's a king size so not something that just fits nicely by the garbage cans

 

[Kaido]

Thanks for the info... I already have a frame and box spring with storage units underneath, so unless I need to replace them I think I'll stick with those for now.

I'll keep the amazon recommendations in mind... has anyone thrown away a mattress before? It's a king size so not something that just fits nicely by the garbage cans

You can try Craigslist to see if anyone bites, haha. Otherwise take it to the dump. If your car's not big enough, you can call a place like 1-800-GOTJUNK for mattress pickup & removal, for a fee.

 

[Raincity]

Replaced 5 year old Simmons pillowtop with a Loam and Leaf relaxed firm http://www.loomandleaf.com/comfort-levels.html and this Zinus frame https://www.amazon.com/Zinus-Deluxe...ie=UTF8&qid=1484760536&sr=1-37&keywords=Zinus. Received the mattress 10 days after the order. You can also pay $40 to have the old mattress removed during the delivery.

 

[Tweak155]

So (possibly) interesting twist... I bought my current mattress from Sam's Club and this particular brand appears to have a 10yr return-or-replace warranty period. Depending on options, I may end up swapping out as I had no real complaints before the sagging.

 

[Tweak155]

Replaced 5 year old Simmons pillowtop with a Loam and Leaf relaxed firm http://www.loomandleaf.com/comfort-levels.html and this Zinus frame https://www.amazon.com/Zinus-Deluxe...ie=UTF8&qid=1484760536&sr=1-37&keywords=Zinus. Received the mattress 10 days after the order. You can also pay $40 to have the old mattress removed during the delivery.

$1399 for a king size... what's the reason it commands such a price tag? I'm surprised at the massive ranges for mattresses, would be nice to have a good source to see why one is better or different over another.

 

[Raincity]

$1399 for a king size... what's the reason it commands such a price tag? I'm surprised at the massive ranges for mattresses, would be nice to have a good source to see why one is better or different over another.

Quality and density of the materials used. Also you dont need a platform frame. You can place it over your box springs and still be covered under warranty,

 

[Tweak155]

Quality and density of the materials used. Also you dont need a platform frame. You can place it over your box springs and still be covered under warranty,

It does look pretty nice after some googling around. My friend just recommended a Leesa which falls under this same online direct to consumer model. With the trial periods seems like overall low risk either way.

 

[Raincity]

I have been sleeping on the Loam and Leaf for over a month now with no complaints.

 

[msi1337]

http://www.intellibed.com/

 

[Riverhound777]

Thanks for the links guys, I have been looking at getting a new mattress for a while now, as my current spring one is 10 years old. I was planning to go with a Helix but those are almost $1k, so I was waiting to save up. But ended up ordering one of the Zinus mattresses today. I'll let you know how it goes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012H0K93I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[preslove]

wait, so with some memory foam mattresses you can't use a regular box spring?

 

[Kaido]

wait, so with some memory foam mattresses you can't use a regular box spring?

No, not at all. You typically just want a quality boxspring & metal frame though, due to the weight of the mattress. A lot of memory foam bed manufacturers recommend a slat system so the memory foam can breathe. I had my original memory foam mattress on a boxspring-style setup for years with no issues, however. But I recently changed out all of my beds to the metal Smartframe system from Zinus simply because they offered more storage space for cheap. The frames, on average, were $99 each; the queen-sized frame lets me fit four 27-gallon yellow-top tote bins from Home Depot underneath, and since my place is small, doing that to every bed in the house really expanded how much stuff I can store. That, plus the frames fold in half & are super lightweight, so it makes moving the beds & cleaning the floors super easy.

 

[deadlyapp]

Thanks for the links guys, I have been looking at getting a new mattress for a while now, as my current spring one is 10 years old. I was planning to go with a Helix but those are almost $1k, so I was waiting to save up. But ended up ordering one of the Zinus mattresses today. I'll let you know how it goes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012H0K93I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hope it works out for you! I'm excited to set up my Helix and see how it goes.

 

[Riverhound777]

Well so far loving my Zinus mattress. Didn't even need time to adjust to it, was immediately more comfortable than my old one. Nice and soft for my side sleeping needs, but more supportive on my back after a hard day at the gym. Well worth the $300.

 

[Kaido]

Well so far loving my Zinus mattress. Didn't even need time to adjust to it, was immediately more comfortable than my old one. Nice and soft for my side sleeping needs, but more supportive on my back after a hard day at the gym. Well worth the $300.

I'm pretty happy with Zinus, especially for the price. I recommend them to everyone now. Nice to have an affordable option for a quality memory foam bed...I bought 3 of them for my house for the price of one discounted Casper

 

[Aristotelian]

I wanted to quickly cast a vote in support of Tempur (which seem to be called Tempur-pedic). I was skeptical about the added value of a quality mattress until I tried one. I bought one immediately (the Tempur Cloud - medium thickness not the most thick one) as well as the Tempur 'box spring' - it's not really a box spring but more of a customizable net beneath your mattress that has many individually adjustable points where you can increase or decrease the firmness of the support.

This was a significant investment but I've had mine now for 6 years and both my wife and myself swear by them. Her parents bought the same setup for a greatly reduced price - it can be that your local supplier doesn't move enough and puts out a 30% discount etc.

I tried a lot of different brands in a bedding outlet and Tempur really worked for me. The only point against it that I can think of is price but when I calculated how much time I spend in bed in life (sleeping, or doing other things...) I went with it without a regret. Highly recommended by me, for what that's worth.

On a related note I also bought a really dense down-filled duvet, and that, with this Tempur setup, and high quality sheets - it really is like sleeping in a cloud and being hugged by it the entire time. Quality of sleep skyrocketed through this.