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Friday, January 7, 2011

Mattresses, Part Two

Who knew that mattresses would be such an interesting topic for all of us? People are very passionate about their mattresses, or else they're looking for a new one, it seems.

Anyway, this evening I had a chance to go to a mattress store nearby. I have two choices for mattress stores--one right nearby and one about 20 miles up valley. And there is always Costco, but I peered around in there and was unimpressed.

So I went into the store with some questions. First, my sister has a memory foam mattress. They really like it, but feel like it's already.....

BREAKING IN TO SAY A MATTRESS COMMERCIAL JUST CAME ON. WEIRD. It's for the Sleep Number. More about that...

Picking up where I left off...my sister and brother-in-law like the Memory Foam, but after just a year and a half, they are already noticing it compressing.

A fact for you: the average mattress is only designed to last 8 - 10 years. I think we've squeaked plenty of life out of ours for 20 years. Another fact: It's standard for a typical spring coil mattress to compress 1 1/2 inches over those 8 - 10 years--that's that whole mattress sag thing.

So first I asked what the diff is between the Memory Foam and the Tempurpedic. Because even though I slept on the "inferior" Memory Foam, I liked it. I liked it so much that I know I could be very happy with that style of mattress.

The store had samples of the different foams: Memory Foam vs. Tempurpedic. You can feel the difference easily. The reason Tempurpedic is so bloody expensive is that their foam is patented and guaranteed not to compress more than 1/4 inch over 20 years. So allegedly you don't get that sinking compression with the Tempurpedic.

Another difference is that Tempurpedic is made with these channels to keep you cool. Apparently the Memory Foam beds are pretty hot and the Tempurpedic is designed to address this. I don't recall being hot when I slept on the Memory Foam, but other people have mentioned this to me.

I'm a little freaked out about a bed that is chemically made. Shouldn't I be buying some organic cotton mattress instead?

I did also talk to the guy about air beds. Until someone mentioned it in the comments section, I had to idea that the whole concept behind beds like the Sleep Number Bed (there are other makers and this guy I talked to tonight said he could order one he thought was superior)is that it's air. I had no clue.

I do have to say that not having slept on a Sleep Number Bed, I'm a little leery. What if I didn't like it? I also worry about "working parts" having to be replaced and stuff. I get enough of that with my 12 year old car!

I'm continuing with my research and I'll keep updating you. The big downer about the Tempurpedic bed is the price. Ay yi yi! And the guy said Tempurpedic never goes on sale. He also said no one ever returns them.

The search continues...

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think sleep number has a 90 day return policy. It may be longer. My parents tried one & my dad loved it, mom hated it so it went back. I remember thinking they had it a really long time before they returned it, but the company wanted to be sure they had given it a fair try... good luck!

Rachel in ND

Leeann said...

Will definitely keep following this with great interest!

Elizabeth said...

People never return them for the reason people never return toilets.

Kathy said...

Okay, I am going to give you my two cents worth. I have a Sterns & Foster and I must admit that if you bite the bullet and buy the top of the line, you will love the mattress. I had to buy a second one to keep June from taking my bed when she came to visit.

Sheila said...

I think most beds/stores have a 90 day return policy. I had not slept on an air bed before we bought ours and loved it immediately. It has a pillow top, and being air, you can change the firmness as you need. Some nights I sleep on a firm bed, others I sleep squishy! In 10 years, we've never had a problem with any parts. Good luck!

1dreamr said...

I slept on a Sleep Number once...several years ago. Found it to be comfortable and loved that it was adjustable. Long term, though, I have no idea...

M said...

SLEEP NUMBER!
I wish I could repost my post for you with the entire bed shopping story...if I can pull it up and repost it I will let you know...but in a nutshell, bad, old saggy mattress...I was waking up stiff for a few years and just thought I was getting old. I was leery about the Sleep Number- we had narrowed it down to the Sleep Number nad another bed that was $200 cheaper...so we went with the Sleep Number under the conditions that we could return it less $200 if we didn't like it after one month...one month was their trial time. After one night I woke up and I was not as stiff....and it continued...my number is 90 and the Captain's is like 55. The best part is that if he gets out of bed in the night or if I flop around the other person can't feel it....now if it just stopped snoring we'd be set :)

I do not like the memory foam because I feel like the mattress is suking me in....I like a lot of support.

Happy SHoppping!

M said...

Hahahah...not good at proofing...sucking not suking....wft is suking anyways? hahahha

Amber said...

We just bought a mattress last month. After we made the purchase, we realized it was firm on one side and plush on the other! But we had 'tested' our respective sides of the bed and like it so we were ok with it. You can feel kind of an edge in the middle, but it keeps me from crowding my poor husband out of the bed.

Here's a tip though: measure from the floor to the top of the mattress so you have an idea of how tall it is. We didn't and ours is 5 inches taller than our old one and our sheets didn't fit!!!

M said...

I found my post! Once you put the posts in the archives you cannot search for them....and this was all the way back in '07. It's up now as today's post on my site. Happy Bed Shopping!

Bethany said...

I have a latex foam bed, and it's awesome! I got it at Ashley furniture so it doesn't have a bumpy top, like most places sell.

Messy and Wonderful said...

Love love love our sleep number. I was pregnant with Andrew when we bought it (or rather, I demanded it in my grouchy, pregnant state). I've read everything you've written as well as the comments and the one thing I would add it that the whole "replacing different components" thing is actually a huge benefit. If a certain child happens to vomit on your bed and you can't seem to get the smell out - zip off the top and buy a new one for a couple hundred bucks (sucks, yes, but better than a new mattress or sleeping with puke smell). Or imagine anything else - one side of the pillowtop is sagging - replace it! So, that is my sales pitch. Email me if you want to know more.

Messy and Wonderful said...

PS, or you can just come sleepover next time you're in town.

I'll spoon you.