Based on data from at least 180 actual mattress owners, the different mattress types below are compared and contrasted in regard to their suitability for sex. See glossary below for more details.

Keep in mind that the information below represents what is often, but not always, the case; a particular brand, model or individual mattress may go against these findings.

Glossary

“Active” sex friendly

The mattress is easy to move around on. In other words, the bed does not have too much “traction” which can discourage partners from being active and changing positions. Firmer mattresses that prevent the partners from sinking in are generally good for active sex. Memory foam beds, especially those which are high density, are likely the least friendly for active sex because of the traction they can provide.

Bouncy

The mattress can have a bouncing effect when moved on, as opposed to being solid. Bouncing can help some people get into a rhythm. Innerspring beds are best for bounciness, assuming they do not have a thick memory foam layer. Latex can be somewhat bouncy, especially talalay processed latex. Airbeds can also be somewhat bouncy if they are filled with enough air.

Allows discretion

The mattress can allow sex to take place with no one in the next room being aware. A heavy bed that absorbs motion, such as memory foam or latex, is often immovable and silent during sex. Lightweight beds, such as airbeds, may not provide much discretion, and innerspring mattresses tend to not absorb motion and can squeak and creak.

Durable

The bed can withstand repeated use over several years without breaking, sagging or losing comfort and support. Innerspring mattresses overall are most prone to have durability issues.

Allows many positions

The properties of the mattress allow for a wide variety of positions to be performed comfortably and easily. Certain bed types are more suitable for certain positions than others. For example, positions that require much “traction” would be better performed on a memory foam bed. Positions that are helped by bounciness would be better performed on an innerspring bed. Airbeds and waterbeds, with their ability to adjust the firmness, may allow for position variety.

Comfortable

The bed is comfortable overall for the performing of sex. In addition, knees, elbows, hands have minimal pressure points that can cause pain or discomfort.

Supportive

The mattress does not significantly sink in, resulting in a supportive, flat plane.

Allows for faster climax

The bed provides “traction,” which allows for more efficiency, and this can result in faster and easier climax.

Whole bed is suitable

The entire top surface area of the mattress is sex friendly — as opposed to, say, a Sleep Number Bed which may present issues with using the middle area comfortably for love making. In addition, innerspring mattresses and latex mattresses may develop sagging or indentations which may limit the area on the mattress where sex can be comfortably performed.

Source:sleeplikethedead.comtypes tend to have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to sex.

Based on data from at least 180 actual mattress owners, the different mattress types below are compared and contrasted in regard to their suitability for sex. See glossary below for more details.

Keep in mind that the information below represents what is often, but not always, the case; a particular brand, model or individual mattress may go against these findings.

Glossary

“Active” sex friendly

The mattress is easy to move around on. In other words, the bed does not have too much “traction” which can discourage partners from being active and changing positions. Firmer mattresses that prevent the partners from sinking in are generally good for active sex. Memory foam beds, especially those which are high density, are likely the least friendly for active sex because of the traction they can provide.

Bouncy

The mattress can have a bouncing effect when moved on, as opposed to being solid. Bouncing can help some people get into a rhythm. Innerspring beds are best for bounciness, assuming they do not have a thick memory foam layer. Latex can be somewhat bouncy, especially talalay processed latex. Airbeds can also be somewhat bouncy if they are filled with enough air.

Allows discretion

The mattress can allow sex to take place with no one in the next room being aware. A heavy bed that absorbs motion, such as memory foam or latex, is often immovable and silent during sex. Lightweight beds, such as airbeds, may not provide much discretion, and innerspring mattresses tend to not absorb motion and can squeak and creak.

Durable

The bed can withstand repeated use over several years without breaking, sagging or losing comfort and support. Innerspring mattresses overall are most prone to have durability issues.

Allows many positions

The properties of the mattress allow for a wide variety of positions to be performed comfortably and easily. Certain bed types are more suitable for certain positions than others. For example, positions that require much “traction” would be better performed on a memory foam bed. Positions that are helped by bounciness would be better performed on an innerspring bed. Airbeds and waterbeds, with their ability to adjust the firmness, may allow for position variety.

Comfortable

The bed is comfortable overall for the performing of sex. In addition, knees, elbows, hands have minimal pressure points that can cause pain or discomfort.

Supportive

The mattress does not significantly sink in, resulting in a supportive, flat plane.

Allows for faster climax

The bed provides “traction,” which allows for more efficiency, and this can result in faster and easier climax.

Whole bed is suitable

The entire top surface area of the mattress is sex friendly — as opposed to, say, a Sleep Number Bed which may present issues with using the middle area comfortably for love making. In addition, innerspring mattresses and latex mattresses may develop sagging or indentations which may limit the area on the mattress where sex can be comfortably performed.

Source:sleeplikethedead.com

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Our research strongly suggests that you should not believe that your mattress will last the length of its warranty.

Sleep Like The Dead collected data from over 3,000 owners regarding how long they kept their mattresses and compared this with the length of the warranties.

The result of the analysis suggests that the useful life of a mattress can be determined by dividing the warranty period in half.

For example, a mattress with a 20-year warranty is often kept about 8-12 years; a mattress with a 10-year warranty is often kept about 4-6 years. Owners discard of their mattress for a variety of reasons, but the main reason is that the mattress has lost its comfort and or supportiveness through normal wear. (Normal wear, by the way, isnot covered under warranty.)

This is only a general rule, however; individual brands or models may do somewhat better or worse, and you may get more or less life relative to the warranty period from your particular mattress.

Of course, this rule implies that there is indeed a correlation between warranty length and the quality / durability / longevity of a mattress. In other words, good mattresses usually have longer warranties, while not-so-good mattresses usually have shorter ones.

Sagging

The main complaint – by far – people have with their mattress is sagging, especially in regard to innerspring beds and to a lesser extent memory foam, latex and air mattresses.

Owner data suggests that even moderate sagging can and often does result in less comfort and support, and may cause pain, especially back pain. (See mattresses and pain for more analysis.)

As a result, as a mattress shopper you should pay special attention to how sagging issues are covered by the warranty. Most warranties will cover sagging only when the problem becomes severe enough, that is, when it reaches a certain depth.

For example, innerspring mattress warranties will often provide coverage for sagging beginning at a depth of 1.5 inches. By contrast, a few memory foam mattress warranties, namely Tempurpedic’s, will provide coverage for sagging beginning at a depth of .75 inches. In other words, innerspring bed warranties often require twice the depth of sagging that these memory foam bed warranties require before coverage kicks in.

Warranty Claims by Mattress Type

Innerspring mattresses (because of premature sagging) and air beds (largely because of mechanical breakdowns) have the most warranty claims, according to our collected data.

The chart below shows how mattress types compare on the issue of warranty claims. Keep in mind that this represents what is often, but not always, the case; a particular brand or model may go against these findings.

In addition, our data shows that the more expensive a mattress is the more likely an owner will be to make a warranty claim if a problem arises.

By contrast, the less expensive a mattress is the less likely an owner will be to use the warranty if a problem arises. This helps to explain why waterbeds and futon mattresses (which are often less expensive than the other types) have fewer warranty claims.

It Will Cost You

Making a warranty claim can be expensive to the mattress owner.

There can be a fee to have someone come to your home to inspect the condition of your mattress to determine if it is eligible for a warranty claim. If it is eligible to be replaced / repaired, there will be a fee to take the defective mattress away and to ship a new or repaired mattress to you. Given the heavy weight of many mattresses today, this fee may be substantial.

In addition, depending on the age of the mattress and the warranty terms of proration, you may have to pay a percentage of the replacement or repair costs.

Better Business Bureau Rating

A mattress warranty is only as good as the manufacturer’s willingness to honor it. Often a mattress manufacturer’s Better Business Bureau rating can be a good indicator of how well the company stands behind its warranty. An “A” or “B” rating generally means that the company honors its warranty; a “C” rating or lower can mean that it doesn’t.

For mattress manufacturers’ BBB ratings, see the mattress comparison.

Sounds Impressive, But…

Many mattress owners realize too late that their warranty sounds more impressive than it actually is. For example, most airbeds have a 20-year warranty. This causes many owners to wrongly believe that if any manufacturer’s defect pops up in the next 20 years, the problem will be covered at little or no cost to them.

The whole story is that non-prorated coverage often ends after just a few years. If something goes wrong after this time, the owner will often need to pay at least 20% of repair costs.

Make sure to read the fine print of a mattress warranty.

Avoid The Void

Mattresses can and often do have their warranties voided by the use of an improper foundation / frame and such things as staining, soiling and fluid penetration.

Improper foundation / frame: An improper foundation / frame can result in premature wear and sagging of the mattress. Read your warranty’s foundation / frame guidelines and follow them to the letter. Mattress companies do not give leeway on this issue; your foundation / frame either meets the warranty guidelines or it does not.

Staining, soiling and fluid penetration: Even if a stain is not near a problem area, such as sagging, the warranty will probably not cover the sagging because of the stain. A way to help ensure that your warranty is not voided is to use a mattress protector from the first night onward.

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While pillow top mattresses overall have above-average initial comfort, they are at least two times more likely than non-pillow top mattresses to have durability / longevity problems.

In addition, pillow top mattresses are somewhat more likely to sleep hot than non-pillow top mattresses.

Pillow tops with memory foam tend to be effective in relieving pain, including back pain, but they can off gas more than tops without memory foam.

What Is a Pillow Top?

For our research, a pillow top mattress is defined as a mattress with at least a three-inch comfort layer(s) that includes any or all of the following materials: polyurethane foam, poly foam, memory foam, latex, polyfiber, cotton, wool. Most mattresses that have “pillow top” in their name have a comfort layer that falls under this definition.

Which Mattresses Have Pillow Tops?

Pillow tops are often found on innerspring mattresses and airbeds. They are only occasionally found on other mattress types, such as memory foam, latex and water.

About Our Research

Our research findings are based on over 1,000 mattress consumer reviews that were collected using an unbiased, accurate methodology.

Good Initial Comfort

Our collected owner data shows that the initial comfort of an innerspring or air mattress with a pillow top is good or excellent. The pillow top is initially effective at minimizing pressure points, relieving pain and encouraging better sleep. But the initial comfort often does not continue beyond the first few years or even the first few months in some cases, especially in regard to pillow tops on innerspring mattresses.

Pillow Top Durability

At least 30% of pillow top mattress owners report premature sagging, that is, significant compression of the top as well as loss of comfort / support within three years of ownership. By contrast, about 17% of non-pillow top mattress owners report premature sagging-related problems.

Pillow Top Lifespan

The chart below shows the lifespan of pillow tops as a group according to owner experiences. In other words, it shows how long a pillow top maintains all or most of its initial comfort before it compresses, sags, and or develops body impressions.

Sleeping Hot

Pillow top mattresses, especially those with memory foam, are at least two timesmore likely to sleep hot than non-pillow top beds. About 7-9 percent of pillow top mattress owners report that their bed acts as a heat trap resulting in an uncomfortably warm sleeping surface. By contrast, about 3-4 percent of non-pillow top mattress owners report a sleeping hot issue.

Initial Odor / Off Gassing

Initial odor or off gassing refers to the chemical-like smell a mattress can give off when it is new.

The intensity of the odor can vary, and the odor can last from a few hours to a few weeks.

Non-pillow top mattresses have few complaints regarding off gassing or initial odor. By contrast, about 8 percent of pillow top bed owners, especially owners of beds with memory foam tops, complain about odor.

It should be noted that Sealy has a high percentage of owners (about 20%) who complain about their memory foam pillow top giving off an initial and fairly strong odor.

Pain Issue

Pillow tops tend to be fairly effective in the relief of pain, including back, hip and shoulder pain, when they are new. At least 20% of owners report pain relief benefits. As the top ages, compresses and sags, most pain benefits disappear however.

In addition, pillow tops with memory foam tend to be more effective in the relief of pain than pillow tops without memory foam.

Pillow Tops: Airbeds Vs Innerspring Mattresses

As mentioned earlier, airbeds and innerspring beds are the mattress types most likely to have a pillow top.

Airbeds

Any part of an airbed can be replaced, including the pillow top. The top is not permanently attached to the airbed, and, as a result, the existing top can be easily removed and a new top added. An airbed owner can contact the airbed manufacturer to have a new top sent to him or her. The cost of the top may or may not be covered under the warranty terms.

In addition, the pillow top of an airbed can often be easily rotated or flipped to extend the life of the top.

Innerspring Beds

In contrast to an airbed, a pillow top on an innerspring mattress is almost alwayspermanently attached and cannot be easily replaced or replaced at all. This likely means that, unlike the case with airbeds, the entire mattress would need to be replaced or repaired by a professional if the pillow top lost its comfort. The cost of replacing / repairing the mattress may or may not be covered under the warranty terms.

Some innerspring mattresses have a pillow top on both sides of the bed. This allows the mattress to be flipped on occasion to increase the lifespan of the pillow top and therefore the entire bed. Our collected owner data, however, is unclear as to whether and how much a two-sided pillow top bed improves lifespan.

Source:sleeplikethedead.com

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Our research involving over 13,000 mattress owners shows, however, that owner satisfaction levels are similar whether a person tries a mattress before buying or not.

In other words, statistically speaking, there is no increased risk of being dissatisfied from buying online.

We determined this by comparing owner satisfaction of mattresses that can only be bought online without first trying them in a showroom with owner satisfaction of similar mattresses that are widely available in showrooms. The results show there is little if any difference in satisfaction.

Why is trying a mattress before buying not an advantage?

The data suggests three reasons. First, people who buy online tend to be more informed as consumers than those who do not buy online. In other words, people who buy online often do significant research and, as a result, know which mattress will likely best suit them even without lying on one.

Second, lying on a mattress in a showroom does not appear to be an accurate “test drive” in many cases. This is because an adjustment period of at least a few nights is often required for a new mattress. About 20% of the time, according to our data, owners are not sure if they like their new mattress at first, but like it more and more as they get used to it.

Third, a “test drive” may be largely useless because a mattress in a showroom can have a different “feel” than the mattress the person actually receives. This is due mainly to the fact that mattresses, even ones of the same model and specifications, often have their own individual characteristics and “feel” to some degree.

Advantages Of Buying A Mattress Online

Convenience

You can shop in the comfort of your home anytime — and not have to deal with salespeople.

Better return policies.

Mattress retailers who operate exclusively online know that people perceive greater risk in buying from them because they cannot try the mattress before buying. As a result, these retailers often try to remove the perceived risk by having generous return policies. Unlike most traditional retailers, online retailers offer not only an exchange if you don’t like your mattress but also provide the option of a full refund in many cases. In addition, traditional retailers usually make the owner pay for returning the mattress, while online retailers sometimes provide free return shipping.

Price

Oftentimes you will find a lower price and or better value from an online mattress retailer.

Disadvantages Of Buying A Mattress Online

Usually more hassle to return

While online retailers may be more generous with their return policies, getting the mattress back to them may be more of a hassle than is the case for traditional retailers. When you send back a mattress to a traditional retailer they often send out their own truck and simply take the mattress out of your house.

But when you send a mattress back to an online retailer, the shipping method is usually FedEx or UPS. This means that your mattress will need to be prepared for shipping by you. In some cases, especially with memory foam mattresses, you may need to locate and buy a box and secure wrapping to place the mattress in for return shipping. If the mattress is dirtied or damaged during return shipping, the online retailer may not provide you with a full refund. Therefore, if buying online, you would be wise to ask the retailer about their return shipping policy before purchase.

Usually no old mattress take away

Traditional retailers often will take away your old mattress at little or no cost when they deliver your new one. Some online mattress retailers offer this service (usually at an additional cost), but most do not. So you will need to find your own way to dispose of your old and likely very heavy mattress. Talk to your local waste management (garbage takeaway) company to see if they will take it from your curb. Some people report that they are embarrassed at leaving their old mattress at the curb for the neighborhood to see.

Perceived risk

Even though our research shows there is statistically no greater risk in buying online, some people still feel uneasy about making a fairly major purchase without first trying the product.

Source:sleeplikethedead.com

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Our research shows that at least 15% of mattress owners return their mattress, and at least another 15% would like to return their mattress but do not, usually because of unfriendly return policies.

Given these facts, mattress shoppers would be wise to pay attention to retailer return policies and to do everything possible to ensure that their first mattress choice is the right one.

Return Policy Length

Most mattress retailers give the buyer at least one month to return a mattress for an exchange or possibly a refund.

Some mattress retailers try to differentiate themselves by having extended return periods, such as 90 days or longer. Our research suggests that the vast majority of new mattress owners know within one month whether they like their mattress. As a result, these longer return periods usually do not have much value to owners.

Some retailers require that you keep your mattress for a certain amount of time, such as one month, before you can return it. This is done to ensure that the buyer has given the mattress a fair chance. Owners who know right away that they are not satisfied with the mattress do not like having to wait until they can return it. Some owners report resorting to sleeping on their old bed or a couch until they can return the mattress, especially if it causes them pain.

Money-Back Policy Not Common

Few mattress retailers have a money-back return policy. (See the mattress retailer comparison for several mattress retailer return policies.) Those that do may charge return fees for various reasons, such as mattress damage, transportation and handling cost. Online retailers are somewhat more likely to offer money-back returns than are traditional retailers.

Furniture or department stores that sell mattresses sometimes offer store credit instead of money back.

Exchange Policy Common

Nearly all mattress retailers offer a one-time mattress exchange. (A few allow unlimited exchanges within the return policy time frame.) If you buy from a retailer that only allows exchanges and no refunds, then you would be wise to make sure before you buy that the store has another mattress model that you like in case you need to make an exchange. There are several reports of a mattress owner wanting to exchange his mattress only to find that the store he bought from does not have another mattress that he is interested in.

Exchanges are usually not free. Fees to exchange a mattress can range from$50-$500 depending on several factors. Also, if the mattress you are exchanging for is more expensive than the original, you will have to make up the difference. These costs cause some people to not return their mattress even though they are unhappy with it. These people, as a result, end up tolerating their mattress, or in some cases they sell it (craigslist and ebay are often used) and or may even go back to their old mattress.

Online Retailers vs Traditional Retailers

Online mattress retailers tend to offer more generous return policies than traditional retailers. It is not uncommon for online retailers to offer a money-back guarantee, and some may also pay return shipping fees. While online retailers may be more generous with their return policies, getting the mattress back to them can be more of a hassle than is the case with traditional retailers.

When you return a mattress to a traditional retailer, they often send out their own truck and simply take the mattress out of your home. But when you return a mattress to an online retailer, the shipping method is usually FedEx or UPS. This means that your mattress will need to be prepared for shipping by you. In some cases, especially with memory foam mattresses, you may need to locate and buy a mattress box and secure wrapping to place the mattress in for return shipping. Also, if the mattress is dirtied or damaged during return shipping, the online retailer may not give you a full refund. It is not uncommon for people who bought online to not return a mattress they are dissatisfied with because of the return shipping hassle involved.

Homework Pays Off

The best way to avoid the expense and or hassle of returning a mattress is to make the right mattress decision in the first place. Our research clearly shows that people who educate themselves about mattresses before buying are significantly more likely to be satisfied with their mattress and are less likely to want to return it than are people who buy without first educating themselves.

Source:sleeplikethedead.com

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Pros: Temperature control; contours to body; good longevity possible; fairly inexpensive; largely dust mite resistant.

Cons: Can be punctured; heavy; set up / assembly and maintenance; noise and initial odor possible; heating cost.

At the peak of their popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s, about 20% of the population owned a waterbed. Our research suggests that today about 2% of people own one.

Nevertheless, advances have been made over the decades, such as wave reduction, that make waterbeds more competitive with conventional bed types.

The following report is based on over 300 waterbed owner / consumer experiences. The data was collected using an unbiased, accurate methodology.

Waterbed Ratings Overview: Hardside Vs Softside

Waterbeds consist of two types: hard-sided and soft-sided. A hard-sided waterbed consists of a water chamber(s) inside a rectangular frame of wood placed on a deck and platform. A soft-sided waterbed looks like a conventional bed. It consists of a water chamber(s) encased inside a rectangular frame of sturdy foam and fabric which is placed on a platform.

The ratings below describe and compare how these waterbed types overall are evaluated by actual owners.

Owner Satisfaction and Wave Reduction

Owner satisfaction appears to be fairly closely linked to the amount of wave reduction a waterbed has. A mattress with a high percent of wave reduction will have only a few seconds of motion, while a free-flow mattress will have several seconds of motion. Keep in mind that the higher the wave reduction, the higher the price tag.

Waterbed Manufacturers / Brands: Ratings & Comparison

As the chart below shows, the various leading waterbed brands / manufacturers tend to be similar in many ways. We do not currently provide owner satisfaction data for each of the brands / manufacturers because most owners in our research did not mention or were unaware of their beds’ brand / maker.

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When comparing latex mattresses, construction is more important than the type of foam itself. The editors of Choice magazine recommend looking for a latex mattress with a firm inner layer and softer foam on top, so you can feel cushioned but not completely engulfed. They also say that you should look at a cross-section of the mattress to see how big the perforations in the foam are. Holes of at least 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) will provide better airflow, so the mattress won’t feel too hot.

Like memory foam, latex foam is available from many manufacturers who are better known for innersprings. Sealy makes latex mattresses both as part of its standard Sealy Brand line (*Est. $1,000 and up for a queen set) and its high-end Embody by Sealy line (*Est. $2,000 and up for a queen set). Serta produces the Vera Wang by Serta line (*Est. $3,000 for a queen set). However, we did not find a significant number of user reviews for either of these brands.

Eco-conscious buyers may want to consider the OMI OrganicPedic line of latex mattresses, which are arguably the most environmentally friendly mattresses available today. Each mattress is hand-crafted in a chemical-free factory from organic materials. In 2009, New York House magazine awarded the OrganicPedic Terra mattress (*Est. $5,000, queen size) its Innovative Green Design award in the bedding category. OrganicPedic mattresses also get a thumbs-up from Sarah Bernard of New York magazine, who tested 100 mattresses of various types in 2009. Bernard names the OMI OrganicPedic David (discontinued) as her favorite overall, though she notes that most of the latex mattresses she tried felt fairly similar.

If the OMI OrganicPedic is out of your price range, Bernard also likes the slim (7 inches thick) Ikea Sultan Erfjord (*Est. $900, queen size). This mattress is 85 percent natural latex and 15 percent synthetic. While not quite as green a product as OMI’s offering, Ikea’s mattress is made with sustainably produced cotton and other natural materials and, like other latex mattresses, is biodegradable. It also receives a favorable review from the editors at CasaSugar.com, who name it one of the three best green mattresses. SleepLikeTheDead.com reports that more than four out of five owners of Ikea latex mattresses (including the Sultan Erfjord) are satisfied with them.

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Memory foam is made from polyurethane, but it has a different structure than the lightweight foam commonly used as padding in innerspring mattresses. Memory foam is less springy and retains an impression longer, “remembering” the shape of your body. Many people enjoy the way memory foam cradles the body. According to survey results at SleepLikeTheDead.com, 81 percent of owners are satisfied with their memory-foam mattresses — a slightly higher percentage than for other mattress type. However, others find sleeping on this type of mattress uncomfortable; Choice magazine reports that some people compare it to “sleeping on wet sand.” The way the mattress conforms to the body also makes it harder to get up or change positions during sleep, especially for heavy people. This may pose a problem for some people, as small movements during sleep can be important for spine health. However, physical therapist Roger Herr notes in an interview at WebMD.com that body-hugging memory foam can be a good choice for “people with joint sensitivity due to arthritis or other conditions.”

Another quirk of memory foam is the way it responds to changes in temperature. Memory foam changes its shape in response to the heat of the body, as well as its weight. This means that a viscoelastic mattress may feel hard in cold weather, although it will gradually soften up as it warms from body contact. Reviewers also note that memory foam tends to reduce air circulation around the body, creating a sensation of warmth that’s nice in the winter but can feel too hot in the summer. Also, some owners report that their new viscoelastic mattresses release a strange chemical smell for up to a couple of weeks, a phenomenon known as offgassing. The odor goes away eventually, but some find it difficult to sleep with. The website MemoryFoamMattress.org notes that airing out the room or keeping a dish of vinegar on the nightstand can help dissipate the smell more quickly.

Latex foam is made from natural rubber or a synthetic version of the same compound. It can be a good choice for allergy- and asthma-prone people since it is resistant to mold and dust mites. However, latex itself can provoke allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Latex is also breathable, keeping the sleeper warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Unlike memory foam, latex foam isn’t affected by temperature, so it won’t soften up in response to body heat and won’t feel firmer in cold weather. It also doesn’t mold itself as tightly to the body as memory foam, so it’s easier to move around in bed. Latex doesn’t offgas the way memory foam does, but it, too, can have a new-mattress smell that some owners describe as weird.

Foam mattresses are more expensive than innerspring mattresses, but they are also very durable; both viscoelastic and latex foam mattresses can last up to 20 years. Another advantage of foam mattresses is that they transmit motion less than innersprings, making them good choices for shared sleeping (especially if one person tosses and turns more than the other). However, foam mattresses aren’t for everyone. We found many comments from owners who say they had to get used to sleeping on one. It’s definitely wise to take a test nap on a foam mattress before you buy. If you don’t like one brand, don’t give up on foam altogether; different brands of foam mattresses can vary considerably in density, firmness and overall feel.

If you think you’d like a foam mattress but don’t want to spend so much, one alternative is a foam mattress pad that you can lay on top of your current mattress. Tempur-Pedic sells a 3-inch-thick mattress overlay (*Est. $890, queen size), and Bergad offers Isoform viscoelastic pads (*Est. $130 to $260, queen size) from 2 inches to 4 inches thick. The nice thing about a mattress pad is that it can easily be replaced when it wears out for much less than a complete mattress. However, the editors of Which? magazine caution that some foam toppers can cost just as much as a new mattress, and they won’t do anything to improve the support of an old mattress that’s started to sag. For more information, see our report on mattress toppers.

Choices in memory foam mattresses

Memory foam mattresses vary in quality. Viscoelastic foam is graded according to several characteristics, including density, measured in pounds per square foot; indentation load deflection (ILD) rating, a measure of how compressible the material is; tensile strength and resilience. Trying to keep track of all these characteristics can be confusing, but in the end, it probably doesn’t matter. As Herr points out, “looking at a mattress on paper, numbers, etc., does not guarantee a good night’s sleep.” The true bottom line is how comfortable it feels, and the only way to determine that is to test it out in person.

The best-known brand of memory foam mattresses is Tempur-Pedic. Many owners are very happy with this brand; survey results at SleepLikeTheDead.com indicate that 80 percent of Tempur-Pedic owners are satisfied with their mattresses. Another survey shows that 60 percent of Tempur-Pedic buyers say they would definitely buy this brand again — a higher percentage than reported for any other mattress brand, regardless of type.

However, Tempur-Pedic mattresses also receive more mixed reviews in our sources than any other mattress brand. At Epinions.com, there are more than 75 reviews that give Tempur-Pedic beds a perfect 5 stars out of 5, describing them as incredibly comfortable and supportive. However, more than twice as many owners give Tempur-Pedic the minimum rating of 1 star, saying the mattress is hot, painful, foul-smelling and overpriced. (Some of the more colorful reviews compared the feel of this mattress to sleeping in quicksand, wet cement and hot lava.) We also read one professional study in which nearly half the testers liked the way Tempur-Pedic molds itself to the body, but more than a third found it uncomfortable. This appears to be a problem with Tempur-Pedic beds in particular, rather than memory foam in general; some testers who found the Tempur-Pedic mattress uncomfortable didn’t have the same problems with the Sealy Comfort Series Blue Lake Firm (*Est. $2,120).

One obvious drawback to a Tempur-Pedic mattress is price. A queen-size Tempur-Pedic ClassicBed costs about $1,700, not including the box spring or other bed base. That’s about four times as much as a basic innerspring mattress. Other manufacturers make less expensive foam mattresses that compete with Tempur-Pedic. The most notable of these is Bergad, which makes the Isoform line of foam mattresses (*Est. $800, queen size), Bergad Isoform beds receive more than 125 reviews on Epinions.com, with an average rating of 4 stars out of 5. We saw several reviews saying Isoform beds are as comfortable as — or more comfortable than — Tempur-Pedic mattresses. At SleepLikeTheDead.com, Bergad Isoform mattresses receive an owner-satisfaction rating of 80 percent, exactly the same as Tempur-Pedic mattresses.

Unlike Tempur-Pedic mattresses, which are sold in stores, Isoform mattresses are only available online. This means you can’t test an Isoform bed prior to purchase, although both manufacturers offer a 90-day trial period. If you decide you don’t like the mattress, you can return it to the company and pay only shipping charges (which vary according to where you live and the weight of your mattress). However, we did read several complaints at Epinions.com about Bergad’s return service. Some owners describe problems getting the mattress back to the manufacturer, and others report delays in receiving their refunds. Bergad also seems to have more problems with durability than Tempur-Pedic. According to SleepLikeTheDead.com, 15 percent of Isoform owners report that their mattresses began to sag within three years, compared with only 10 percent of Tempur-Pedic owners.

Other manufacturers make memory foam mattresses that also receive excellent ratings from owners. SleepLikeTheDead.com reports the same owner-satisfaction levels for Bodipedic, Comfort Dreams, Night Therapy and Spa Sensations brands. Some of the major brands of innerspring mattresses, including Sealy and Simmons, have also begun to offer some options in memory foam. Sealy includes memory foam mattresses in its Comfort Series(*Est. $700, queen-size mattress set), and its higher-end Embody line (*Est. $2,000 and up for a queen set). Simmons offers the ComforPedic Collection(*Est. $4,000 and up, queen-size mattress set) and the lower-priced ComforPedic Loft Collection (*Est. $1,750 and up, queen-size mattress set).

Source:consumersearch.com

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Experts disagree on whether you should always replace the box spring along with the mattress. The editors of WhatsTheBest-Mattress.com insist that the two should always be bought as a set. They admit that a new mattress will feel the same on an old box spring as it does on a new one, but they claim that using the old box spring will reduce the life of the mattress by more than half. “Most brand name mattresses these days will last 10 years on a new box spring,” they say, “while a mattress on an old box spring will only last 3 to 4 years.” However, the editors of ConsumerReports.org disagree, saying, “As long as it’s in good shape — no cracks, rips, warps, or dips — the old foundation ought to provide adequate mattress support and perform as it’s supposed to.” The editors of Which? magazine take a middle position, saying that it’s wise to buy the mattress and base as a set “if you’ve had your old base for many years.”

Another problem with keeping your old box spring is that some manufacturers insist that the mattress and box spring be purchased as a set. Pairing a new mattress with an old foundation could void your warranty. Before buying a mattress, it’s wise to check with the stores or the manufacturer to find out whether you must also buy a box spring to maintain the warranty. If you do choose to keep your old box spring, it’s important to measure it to make sure it’s the right size to support the new mattress.

If you don’t need to purchase a box spring to maintain the warranty, you may want to consider a slatted bed base instead. A slatted base has advantages and disadvantages. The mattress may last longer on a box spring, which can take some of the load off the mattress; however, a slatted base can easily last a lifetime, while a box spring will wear out much sooner. Some bed bases have slats that are simply fixed to the frame, while others have flexible slats attached by pivots. Fixed slats work fine for innerspring mattresses, but flexible slats are preferable for foam mattresses (discussed in the next section). Ideally, slats should be no more than about 2.4 inches wide and 1.6 inches apart. This will ensure sufficient ventilation without allowing the mattress to sag.

Source:consumersearch.com

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