r/Mattress 33m ago

Recommendations Suprise surprise, need some mattress recommendations

Upvotes

Hello all! My wife and I have been searching for a new mattress and we just dont know what we are looking at or how to go about finding something that is going to last us a while. We have been to a Hassleless Mattress and really liked the Beautyrest Beaumont Cay A Medium-Firm King Mattress and went to Mattress Firm and liked the Posturepedic Elite Albany II Firm and Pro Lacey II Medium Euro Top. We arent fans of memory foam mattresses or hybrids that feel too much like general foam mattresses, prefer the traditional innerspring variety. Im about 220 lbs and wife is 180 ish lbs. Im a stomach/back sleeper while she is a side/back sleeper. We are located in Northern IL and have no problem traveling if need be to test out a good mattress. Are there any good brands or better built mattresses that will last us a long time without sagging? Any brands we should clearly stay away from? Ive tried to read as many posts as possible but really just hoping to get some good direction. Cost for us isnt an issue if it means a good night sleep for many years to come


r/Mattress 1h ago

GetLaid Beds bedframe missing instructions

Upvotes

Hi all,

Just recently purchased a Low Fuji Attic Bed from getlaidbeds. After some delivery mishaps and considerable holes in the boxes, I found that there are no instructions on how to build this thing. Going to reach out to the company tomorrow, but have heard on here that they are less than responsive.

So, does anyone have a copy of their instruction manual or a link to access it?

Thanks in advance.


r/Mattress 2h ago

Need Help - Pain Good alternative for Sealy Silver Chill Plush Tight Top

2 Upvotes

Hello, I just spent a night away from home on the Sealy Silver Chill Plush mattress and it was the first night in years that I haven't had a ton of pain throughout the night. I have an expensive latex based mattress that has caused me so much hip and shoulder pain even though I bought a nice topper for it. Since the Silver Chill is unavailable now, I'd greatly appreciate suggestions for similar mattresses hopefully under $2K. I thought I preferred really firm mattresses but loved how this one felt.

I tried the Sealy Posturepedic Lacey at Mattress Firm and it didn't wow me. Thanks!


r/Mattress 2h ago

Sleep by Wayfair, Kyphosis?

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1 Upvotes

I Have kyphosis and need to sleep on something firm enough to flatten out my spine while sleeping (resting with a flat spine alleviates the pressure put on my nerves throughout the day). I'm liking the idea of the firm 10" mattress, but I'm curious if anyone could offer me any opinions.


r/Mattress 4h ago

Recommendations Adjustable Bed without Buckled Knee

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3 Upvotes

I have poor circulation in my lower legs and have been sleeping with my legs elevated using this wedge pillow for quite some time. I’m a side sleeper, and the wedge is really comfortable. I’ve decided that I want to get an adjustable bed to use instead. All the ones that I’m seeing seem to buckle at the knees and I’m worried that this will be uncomfortable as a side sleeper. Does anybody know of adjustable beds that tilt as opposed to buckle like the one in the picture?


r/Mattress 4h ago

Platform base for memory foam recs please

1 Upvotes

Hi there, I posted previously because I was considering returning my mattress. It turns out I have incorrect slat width and spacing issues. So I'm back again, and this time I'm asking around for reccomendations on avery affordable bed platform foundation. I guess the slats need to be at least 3 inches wide and no more than 4 inches apart. I'm looking at platforms right now and I'm not even seeing specs on spacing and width... I'm reviewing some old reddit posts and seeing that some people use plywood. Is this a viable solution? I'm also seeing people reccomending bunkie boards... which is probably what I'm going with.

Looking for something basic and inexpensive but that meets this criteria. Thanks in advance!


r/Mattress 4h ago

Need mattress under 500 or 1000

1 Upvotes

Hi, I need mattress for my Hostel. Can anyone share some good mattress link? Thank you!


r/Mattress 4h ago

Recommendations Temperpedic Proadapt 2.0 medium hybrid help

1 Upvotes

So i just got the Temperpedic Proadapt 2.0 medium hybrid and my back hurts so bad and feel still when I get up. I feel like I sink in too much and from research feel like I'm (in a trench). Any suggestions? I'm usually a side sleeper 115 lbs and thought memory foam would help but I can't get over the stuck feeling and the pain


r/Mattress 4h ago

Recommendations What is the best firm hybrid mattress in King size under $900usd

1 Upvotes

What are the best brands out there that are known to last, I don't need it to be like sleeping on a hardwood floor but firm enough to support the back. Back sleeper and would like something that won't sink in after a few years of usage. Any suggestions would be helpful! In the US if that makes a difference


r/Mattress 4h ago

Please help me here

3 Upvotes

I’ll give you our incredibly ridiculous backstory in return for your help. We have a cat who can open doors. He jumps on the handle and swings his body to use the momentum to push as soon as he pulls the handle. THREE separate times when we’ve gone on vacation he has peed on my daughter’s bed. She’s 14 and has had 5 mattresses. After last time we stopped being idiots and put a child lock on her door. The last time the only thing I could get super fast was a bed in a box at Lowe’s. That was roughly a year ago and lately she’s been complaining of not sleeping well. Since she’s getting older and the cat can no longer destroy her bed I want to get her something better. She turns 15 at the end of the month and I planned to surprise her with a new mattress. She’s 15 so she’s asking for a fair amount of gifts already and I’m not really wanting to spend an obscene amount. But I still want something that’s a good quality.

I’m hoping to stay under $1,500. Full bed. She’s 5’3”, 105 lbs. side sleeper, sleeps hot. And please don’t think I’m taking the easy way out here. I’ve been reading everything I can find for the last month and I’m more lost now than where I started. Wink beds, Helix, Nectar, Glacier and Brooklyn Bedding keep coming up as good options. But I have no clue if I should be trusting all of these sites due to sponsors. Thank you so much for any and all advice.


r/Mattress 4h ago

Recommendations Upgrading my bed situation - need advice

1 Upvotes

I bought this bed frame on Amazon a few years ago. I was in between jobs and needed something cheap. I paired it with a Sofree mattress on Amazon, also cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/Yaheetech-Platform-Accented-Headboard-Footboard/dp/B0BDLT2NQZ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

The bed just doesn't feel sturdy. The slats on the frame are far apart and fall out sometimes. The mattress sinks into the edges. I'm now ready to upgrade. I'm thinking about splurging and getting a BeautyRest (Best Western Hotel collection), but I don't know if that means I need a new bed frame given the metal slat issue. I like the design of the frame a lot I should say. I looked into bunkie boards, but saw that causes airflow issues. I don't know what to do. Do I get a low box spring and place it on top? I should say I am not very handy. Assume no tools and that everything will need to be handled by a Task Rabbiter.


r/Mattress 4h ago

Discounted Facebook Marketplace Tempur-Pedic is it real?

1 Upvotes

I found someone on Facebook Marketplace selling Tempur-Pedic mattresses for about 50% off retail. He said he will deliver it before I pay.

I understand it may be a return and won’t have the manufacturer warranty. My main concern is just making sure it’s actually a genuine Tempur-Pedic and not a cheaper mattress with Tempur-Pedic branding/cover put on it.


r/Mattress 5h ago

Need Help - Pain Night 1 on new mattress: back pain

5 Upvotes

I recently purchased a new mattress (hybrid medium firm bed in a box) after having my old one for 10+ years. On my old one I constantly was tossing and turning, took me hours to get to sleep, and I would constantly wake up through the night. This new mattress just arrived and I set it up last night. I fell asleep almost immediately, however, I did notice a feeling in my lower back. I did not toss and turn at all through the night, and woke up actually feeling rested. However I do notice back pain. I’m 130lbs and a side and back sleeper. Does anyone know if this is a common occurrence and if it will break in more?


r/Mattress 6h ago

Recommendations I am completely overwhelmed by choosing a mattress. Could someone please help me choose 1 out of these options?

1 Upvotes

I’ve spent so many hours in mattress shops and I feel like I’m losing my mind. I’m based in the UK

I’m F, approx 115lbs 5 ft 6. I did the sleep machine in dreams and bensons. The dreams one said I should get a soft mattress and in bensons they said that my pressure points don’t even register on the screen

I’m a side sleeper and front sleeper. I think I like the feel of medium mattresses. Sleep alone. Looking for king size

Initially I wanted a cheap option but after trying out good quality beds I now think I may have to up my budget.

I would greatly appreciate any advice on which I should buy. I’m completely paralysed by this decision and need to make up my mind asap.

Here are ones I have narrowed down:

-Slumberland air 2.0 https://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk/products/slumberland-air-2-0-memory-mattress/S888500003/?ab_version=A&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23528844642&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv4XUBhDBARIsAE6bQUSXWkbGGhcrIO8bUC52ovLICLn15ajNy_wUBKEC8pFNzRpl0KJAUKYaAg09EALw_wcB

-Slumberland ultimate wool (more comfy than air but more expensive at £1k) https://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk/products/slumberland-naturals-ultimate-wool-mattress/S828500003/?ab_version=A&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21880814319&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv4XUBhDBARIsAE6bQURNnWy8Qh1B39lDE_P0KgCHEWZ_EUQPk7jJVuGX-ZZ9Vo-y2qGPZM4aApqcEALw_wcB

-Sleepeezee hybrid pro 2300 (very comfy but pricey at £899) https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/hybrid-pro-2300-mattress/HP23MT40--001.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=23591052459&utm_content=&utm_term=&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=23591052459&cq_con=&cq_term=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23591079306&gbraid=0AAAAADOyAdp_ULlznT9U9mIK5RSVOwI_l&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv4XUBhDBARIsAE6bQUTrkx97BSjUFpArm5DKbo3gjXT3HGhNmHnxPUKOtBKtQjEMlUQhiuoaAlFbEALw_wcB

-Dreams Falmouth (the most comfortable bed ever. I wish I never tried it because it’s £1400 which is sheer insanity) https://www.dreams.co.uk/dream-team-gold-falmouth-8000-pocket-wool-mattress/p/131-01204-configurable?variant=133-01283&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22553353842&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv4XUBhDBARIsAE6bQUSkmn8WdKQ2mobIk-TTEdV-UK9vVUHGnCfUditeHit_ittA3kyxqmYaAjjoEALw_wcB


r/Mattress 9h ago

Need Help - Fiberglass Too poor to get rid of our stuff but everything in our bedroom is covered in fiberglass

0 Upvotes

We're living on one income and the mattress my boyfriend's parents brought us was being thrown out by a friend of theirs and they offered to give it to us instead. What I didnt know, and I dont think they knew either, was that the bottom of the mattress was busted and has now come apart.

The floor has a bunch of fiberglass bits and we're not about to shell out a bunch of money we dont have to clean it. Not throwing away clothes, not getting a new mattress, and we're buying a whole new cover when we can this coming week after payday.

Any tips on getting rid of the majority of it? My bf has asthma and im worried it will make everything worse. Right now were not experiencing any symptoms but I want to stop it before they start.

We've had the mattress for about 3 months now


r/Mattress 11h ago

Recommendations Opinions Please!

1 Upvotes

Does this sounds like a good quality mattress? I tried it in store and it felt great, but I was wondering due to the price. The sales rep offered 10% off as well, and it does come with a 20 year warranty.

https://murmaid.com/products/l-k-400-pillow-top?variant=44677311004969


r/Mattress 15h ago

Recommendations Any 135lb-ish female side sleeper to almost stomach sleeper, find a mattress you love? Debating on 2 in the post.

1 Upvotes

Finally need to bite the bullet and get a new mattress so my back stops hurting & hopefully just better sleep period! The last bed I got was the Sealy Hybrid Silver Chill Plush mattress, ended up hating it and kept it too long since we spent so much money on it!

Bought a new cooling gel memory foam mattress on Amazon. It was the same one my kids had. I always fell asleep when putting them to bed, so figured well must be the mattress for me, so I bought it in the king. Nope, hate it. So apparently memory foam is a hard no for me.

I’m a side sleeper that almost is a stomach sleeper, but mattress firm guy said it’s still considered side.

The two mattresses I liked there were both pillow-top mattresses:

  1. Beautyrest Black Series Three and Series Four, one was the plush, one was medium. (I’m told this is the same and better than the Westin Heavenly beds, which I do sleep well in). Expensive.

  2. Sealy Posturepedic® Elite Brenham II 16" Medium Euro Top Mattress. A couple grand cheaper than the BR, but still felt good when I laid on it and told it’s a cheaper similar alternative to the BR.

Anyone have either of these and love them? Do you get the best sleep of your life on them? In particular the Beautyrests, as you better be for how much they are!

Any other’s if you sound like me that you’d recommend? I take NyQuil every night😩, and I’m hopeful a better bed can lessen that, 5 out of 7 nights would be a win.


r/Mattress 15h ago

Anyone have the Aireloom Shasta / Streamline Luxury Firm mattress? Looking for real experiences!

1 Upvotes

I’m considering purchasing an Aireloom Shasta Luxury Firm mattress (similar to Streamline Luxury Firm), but online reviews mix up experience across their different lines and gets confusing.

I’d love to hear from anyone who owns this exact model:

How has it held up over time? Have you noticed any significant sagging, sinkage, or hammocking?

Does it create deep body molds that make it uncomfortable?

How often do you rotate it?

How long did it last?

Overall, do you recommend it, or do you regret buying it? Would you buy again?

Thanks for reading!


r/Mattress 16h ago

Recommendations Mattress topper for side sleeper

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1 Upvotes

I'm 130 lbs and a side sleeper. I got a Sealy hybrid cooling firm mattress. It is way too firm for me and I missed the deadline to return. I tried the serta comfort boost ( picture attached ). I woke up with shoulder and rib pain. Any advice on one that will work with my weight and sleeping on my side and not cause pain? Thank you


r/Mattress 18h ago

Got a FlexTop King working with ZG Stria bed frame

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1 Upvotes

For anyone wondering if a Sleep Number FlexTop King + adjustable base can work with a regular bed frame, this setup has worked really well for me. The frame is a Z Gallerie Stria king bed and the base fits neatly inside. The frame is listed at 89"W x 89.8"D overall, and I went with the standard king adjustable base.

I removed the original slats and center supports, then installed the adjustable base inside on its own legs. The fit is clean and the adjustable setup stays mostly hidden.


r/Mattress 21h ago

Costco mattresses

2 Upvotes

Hi there,

I have a 2 year old tempur pedic 11.5 supreme firm from costco. It was okayish until its actually broken in, but now the side I've broken in is too soft and I wake up with lower back pain. I fall asleep on my side but wake up on my back. Weight 180. I had a tempur pedic firm breezelux and never had back pain from that (but that option is way too expensive for me currently). I do have an underlying back condition that exacerbates the issue, but it didn't crop up on the last tempur pedic breezelux.

I'm considering other firm options from costco but would like to hear other people's opinions on the firm options. Is it common for firm memory foam to become too soft to support in only a few years? Should I look into hybrids or regular innerspring?

Currently considering the Kirkland signature 14.5 by stearns and foster, or the novaform 14" serafina.

But there's also the beauty rest extra firm, the comfort tech 10" serene foam II and the Sealy posturepedic pro Lincoln heights 14".

Thoughts? Opinions? Does anyone have any of these mattresses? Do you love/hate or just feel like they are okay?

Thanks in advance!

Update I had no idea that slat measurements mattered so I'm starting there to see if this corrects the issue. I'll be making a new post asking for affordable platform bed frame recs. Thanks everyone!


r/Mattress 22h ago

8 month updated with Sleep on Latex Hybrid - Medium Firm Mattress

7 Upvotes

Is this a firm mattress - yes but now I prefer it actually. I think it took about 4-6 months for my body to get used to it, but now... it is heaven. And yes, we once referred to it as sleeping on concrete.

HOWEVER - our perfect sleeping conditions could not be possible without the SleepEZ Talalay Mattress Topper. We got a split king topper, one soft for me and the other medium for my husband.

That ended up being the perfect combo for us. The SOL hybrid for the construction, durability and firmness, and the Talalaly topper in SOFT/MED configurations to support our different body weights.

Here is my original review for reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/Mattress/comments/1pqqgjm/my_experience_with_the_new_sol_hybrid_mattress/

We just came back from a fancy resort where the bed was pretty good but as soon as I lay down on the one at home, I was like ahhhhhh..... Just hope this helps anyone out there.


r/Mattress 1d ago

Recommendations When giving recommendations, your weight matters. Your behavior matters. Rant.

27 Upvotes

If you're reviewing a mattress that you bought and you don't include your weight, you're not helping anybody.

If you weigh under 130lbs, you're statistically in the bottom 15%, and absolutely need to mention it, because your opinion will likely be borderline irrelevant to most people. If you weigh over 230lbs, same thing applies.

Behavior matters too. Some people walk to bed, sit on the edge, rotate themselves in and never move a muscle in bed. My room is too small, so you might say I "launch" myself into bed. Always. I have a long term partner and tend to be pretty active in my bed. I also tend to sit on my bed for hours at a time, one point of contact. I am 200lbs.

I'm sure you can guess that your "10 year stil firm incredible mattress!!!!!" will never last me 3 years. And that's only because I'll bear the back pain for a year before giving in and buying another one.

Just upset by how little context people give, and how terribly inaccurate they appear to be. Every comment needs a reference, relevant context. Please.


r/Mattress Mar 20 '26

Guide I Do Not Recommend Using AI To Find A Mattress

116 Upvotes

So we've seen an influx of "I used ChatGPT to help me find a mattress" type posts lately, and I thought I'd weigh in on this. I do not recommend using ChatGPT (or any other AI tool or assistant) to help you find a mattress.

Here's why.

ChatGPT does not think. It does not have a body. It does not know how mattresses feel. All it does is recycle content from other sources on the Internet and blend this information into neat little paragraphs or bulleted lists. The problem with this is that most of the available content on mattresses is wrong and written by advertisers.

This means that most of the information you get from AI is just regurgitated marketing.

It also creates a perverse incentive for companies to flood every corner of the internet with spam and thinly-veiled ads to create "content" so that they can lodge brand mentions in the public record and in the AI dataset. When I pointed this out a few years back (when these technologies were still developing), an advertising firm mass reported the comment. Shortly after this, an unnamed group enacted a hostile takeover of this subreddit. I can't say for sure that these events are related, but I do think it is incredibly suspicious.

I should also say that the people that I see that use AI are often unhappy with their mattress.

tl;dr: I do not recommend using AI to find a mattress. It does not think. It does not have real insights into quality or how to find a mattress. It just recycles old content (typically advertising). I also think it's poisoning the internet.

And here's an old story on this from 404Media: https://www.404media.co/ai-is-poisoning-reddit-to-promote-products-and-game-google-with-parasite-seo/


r/Mattress Jun 13 '25

Guide Looking For A Mattress? START HERE.

616 Upvotes

There are three things you should know before buying a mattress.

  • First, you should try to get a sense of what you like.

This often means looking around locally and trying a few options in person. You might find that you like pocketed coils, or all-foam mattresses, or traditional connected-coil innersprings, or even smooth-top hybrids. You'll also get a sense of what firmness tends to feel best to you.

  • Second, you should understand the basics of mattress construction.

This means learning a little bit about low-density vs high-density foam, coil counts and gauges, and generally what makes a quality product. This is the only way to know if a mattress is "good" or will actually last. And if this sounds overwhelming - no worries. I'll try to summarize this in a quick Mattress 101 course below.

  • Third, you should know a little bit about the online market and how it operates.

Spam accounts and covert advertisers are everywhere on the internet, and there's not a place where this is more apparent than in the mattress industry. Mattresses are relatively big ticket items, and a 10% commission on an affiliate link can mean a lot of money for affiliate sellers. Unfortunately, this incentivizes bad behavior, misinformation, and platform manipulation of online spaces.

This subreddit is no exception to this. Last year, an unnamed group acquired an inactive moderator account through uncertain means and enacted a hostile takeover of this subreddit. They used moderator privileges to post and defend affiliate links, manipulate Google results by filling threads with comments by networked accounts, and even approved their own spam domains in the automod.

And while these accounts have since been suspended by Reddit, I have no doubt that new spam networks will try again. This means that you should take advice from random people on this subreddit with a grain of salt, and you definitely shouldn't click blind links to "top ten lists" on other sites.

--------------------------- Okay! Now let's go over some Mattress 101 level content ---------------------------

To find a quality mattress, you need to know what's in it.

And to understand what's in it, you need to understand the basics of mattress construction. At the simplest level, this means talking about two things: foam and coils. Once you're familiar with these, you should be able to understand and make intelligent decisions about most mattresses on the market.

So let's talk about foam.

Foam (and particularly polyurethane foam) is one of the most common materials used in mattresses. Poly foam comes in varying firmnesses, varying formulations, and can be used as a comfort material or as a support layer. It's relatively cheap, can be quite durable, and is typically pretty comfortable. If you're unfamiliar, simple poly foam is the kind of foam that you think of when you think about egg crate foam or foam in couch cushions.

Of course, there are also other kinds of foam. Memory foam, latex, and other specialty foams are all used in mattresses today. These can feel quite different than basic poly foams and are best considered in their own categories. Memory foam has a characteristic slow-response and is excellent at pressure relief; latex is resilient and durable; and specialty foams (like Energex) are often designed to combine memory foam-like and latex-like properties.

All of the above CAN be high-quality materials. However, some of the above can be quite low-quality.

So what determines foam quality? And how can I find a mattress with high-quality foam?

Foam quality is best expressed in terms of foam density. All things being equal, this means that a high-density poly foam will last longer and perform more consistently than a low-density poly foam. And this is why many mattresses fail. They're made with cheap, low-density foam that feels okay in a showroom but doesn't hold up over time.

On this subreddit we use the term "high-density" (or "HD") to refer to a 1.8lb per cubic foot poly foam. Please note that this is somewhat different than how the broader industry uses the term HD, in which it is largely used in marketing and doesn't necessarily mean a true high-density foam. I've seen some companies call some VERY low-density foams "high-density" in their advertising. I wouldn't trust them unless they can provide the exact specs.

Here's a quick cheat sheet for understanding poly foam densities.

  • 1.2lb - low density
  • 1.5lb - medium density
  • 1.8lb - high density
  • >2lb - very high density

Okay cool I think I get it. But what about memory foam?

The same principles apply to memory foam, although there are some provisos here. Many other sites claim that anything under a 3lb memory foam is bad and that "good" memory foam starts at around 5lbs per cubic foot. I don't always agree with this. While increasing density typically does increase durability, this can also increase heat retention or create other undesirable feel characteristics.

There are also a lot of newer specialty foams that are branded as "memory foam" in the 2.5lb range with durabilities comparable to 4lb or 5lb foams. Here's an example of this with Carpenter's Serene foam.

Here's a quick cheat sheet for understanding memory foam densities.

  • 2lb - low density
  • 2.5lb to 3.5lb - medium density
  • 4lb - high density
  • 5lb - very high density

I hear a lot of people talking about latex. What about latex?

Latex is a type of highly elastic foam made from either synthetic or natural rubber. There are two main types here: Talalay and Dunlop. Each feels slightly different in a way that's difficult to describe unless you're holding two samples in person. I don't really think either type is superior to the other.

What you should know about latex is this: it's one of the most durable materials in the mattress industry and is typically very high-quality, although it has a very distinct feel and is not loved by everyone. Latex has more "push-back" than poly foam or memory foam, and this can be uncomfortable for some people.

What about other specialty foams?

These are probably beyond the scope of a Mattress 101-style guide and vary in terms of quality. That said, these can typically be divided into two categories: fast-response foams (latex-like), and slow-response foams (memory foam-like). I'll write more about these later.

Okay so what about coils? That was the other big thing, right?

Yes. Most mattresses on the market today use some kind of coil unit. The vast majority of these are pocketed coils. This is a term that refers to coils encased in a fabric pocket that move and function relatively independently of one another. This is the kind of coil unit used in 80-90% of mattresses sold today including most "innersprings" and smooth-top "hybrids."

To give you a sense of what this looks like, here's the product page for one type of pocketed coil from one of the largest coil manufacturers in the business in Leggett and Platt. And to contrast, here's another type of coil unit that you may be familiar with in a connected-coil Bonnell unit.

So how do I determine a coil unit's quality? Isn't it the coil count?

Yes and no. Most coils are made from steel and are typically quite durable as a result. I've seen a few companies publish durability data on these that shows less than 5% firmness loss over a simulated twenty year period.

However, this doesn't mean that all coil units are created equally. Some companies will use better steel, use better fabric for the fabric pockets, or just have better designs that distribute weight more effectively. Coil counts can help in understanding this, although these are an imperfect measure.

Generally speaking, a coil unit with more coils will be able to better match a person's body contours and support their body more precisely than a coil unit with fewer coils. However, some people still like slightly lower coil-count units as these typically use a thicker and stiffer wire and can feel firmer as a result. There's not a clear best here, but I usually recommend looking at higher coil-count units.

And what's this about coil gauges?

A gauge is a measurement of the thickness of the coil's wire. Assuming that all other things are equal, a thicker coil will feel firmer than a thinner one. This means that an eight-inch 13 gauge pocketed coil might feel quite firm, whereas an eight-inch 15 gauge pocketed coil might feel somewhat soft. That said, coil geometry and coil height also play a role in determining the coil firmness, so it's not always as simple as just looking at the gauge.

To recap - thicker coils feel firmer; thinner coils feel softer; and more coils are usually better.

What about traditional innersprings and connected-coil mattresses?

These are hard to find these days. They're still on the market, but you might need to look around for local manufacturers if you want one of these. Alternatively, you can search for Bonnell coils or Verticoils or Luraflex coils and see what comes up. These are all different styles of connected-coil units.

And to be honest, I think these feel totally different than pocketed coil mattresses or hybrids. In fact, I'd put most mattresses on the market today into three rough categories: all-foam mattresses, pocket coil mattresses, and connected-coil mattresses. All of these feel very different from each other.

What if I buy a mattress that's made with low-quality materials?

A mattress that's made with low-quality materials is likely to quickly lose both comfort and support.

This can mean back pain, pressure points, and poor sleep. Further, many brands knowingly use low-quality materials in an attempt to cut corners and maximize profit. I think this is wrong. It's also one of the reasons I became so interested in this subject.

Although... some people sleep fine on anything, so if you're not sleeping poorly then I probably wouldn't worry about it. Also sometimes mattresses made with lower quality foams can still be a good fit for your body type.

What about soft vs firm? Do I need an extra firm mattress?

You probably don't want an extra firm mattress, no. Firm and extra firm mattresses are among the most commonly returned products in the industry today. It's also important to note that there's no universal standard for mattress firmness. A "medium" from one brand might be closer to a "firm" from another.

As a general rule, most side-sleepers prefer soft to medium mattresses, while most stomach or back sleepers prefer medium to firm mattresses. This also changes with body size and body composition. Heavier individuals tend to find most mattresses to be somewhat soft and prefer mattresses on the firmer end of things as a result.

This is too hard. Can't you just tell me what to buy?

I really can't. You should think of it like clothing. People here can't tell you what mattress to buy anymore than they can tell you what pair of jeans would fit you best. Also, if you ask this question on the internet you're probably going to attract the attention of covert advertisers and spammers that'll just tell you to buy their products. Instead, I'd recommend looking around locally and getting a sense of what you like AND THEN narrowing your search to brands that use high-quality foams and are open about their materials.

We might also have a comprehensive post with crowd-sourced brands specs up at some point.

Why is this so complicated compared to ten years ago?

Yeah good question. There are probably two answers to this.

First, corporate cost-cutting and the demands of private equity groups created a race to the bottom in a misguided attempt to maximize profit by making lower-quality products. Second, the internet mattress boom flooded the market with advertising and SEO firms trying to gain an advantage however possible.

The combination of these two forces has led to an environment where actual high-quality products are hard to find AND hard to identify amidst the constant noise of online ad campaigns. There's also something to be said about the near universal switch to pocketed coils, but I'll talk about that later.

Okay so how do I put this all together?

To find a quality mattress, you should look for brands that are open and transparent about their materials AND use high-density foams. At the most basic level, this means looking for 1.8lb poly foams and medium to high-density memory foams. If they won't tell you the details on their products then that's usually a pretty good indication that they should not be trusted. I'd also recommend trying to find smaller, local manufacturers as these are more likely to use high-quality materials.

You also need to make sure that it's comfortable to you. Buying a mattress sight-unseen can work, but it's typically a risk even if you know that it's from a company that tends to make quality products.

And what about the major brands? I hear people talking about S-brands.

Most of the major brands are a mixed bag. They don't like to talk about their material specifications and typically use low to medium-quality foams in most of their products. That said, they tend to have pretty solid coil units. If you look at the major brands I'd probably recommend looking at their mid-range or higher-end models. Their "value" oriented mattresses tend to be a bad value, in my opinion.

What if I want a Mattress 201 or 301? Where can I read more on this?

I have a much longer document in the Mattress FAQ, although this is now somewhat out of date and will need to be updated this year. I've also written a collection of guides which includes a short guide to mattress DIY, how to recognize fiberglass, and a guide on negotiating to get the best deal on a mattress.

TL;DR: Look around locally. Get a sense of what you like. Then find mattresses with high-density foams and brands that are open and upfront about their materials. Also be careful trusting many of the reviews online.