Guide to Buying the Best Mattress
Everything You Need to Know Before You Commit to a Bed and Make the Investment
You’re in the market for a new bed. Whether it’s your first time buying a mattress or you’ve been down this road before, there are many factors to consider before you head to the store to make a purchase (or check out of your online shopping cart). It’s important to think about your specific sleep needs, the options available to you, not to mention your budget. After all, a mattress can be quite an investment with prices ranging from hundreds of dollars to thousands. And once you’ve made a selection, depending on the mattress retailer’s return policy, you will be committed to what you buy for the foreseeable future.
“Sleep is critical to your body for recovering from your daily routine,” says Dr. Jennifer Dour, D.C., owner or clinic director of Garden State Spinal Care. “While you sleep, your brain is being flushed from toxins and your body is being repaired. So if you are not sleeping well, you are actually damaging your brain and body.”
So what do you need to know before you buy a mattress? Read on for expert tips and considerations throughout this mattress buying guide. We hope to make this process as easy for you as possible so you don’t have to second-guess your mattress purchase decision — or worse, waste money on a mattress you absolutely hate.
Not all mattresses are created equal. From innovative materials for optimal support to novelty mattresses that you may not want to use on a daily basis, here’s what’s available right now.
Innerspring Mattress
The classic, tried-and-true mattress type is the innerspring mattress. Also known as the coil mattress, innerspring options use metal springs for support. The more coils, the better the design. All types of sleepers – back, side and tummy – should find innerspring mattresses comfortable.
Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam mattresses gradually conform to your body as you sleep. Suggested for side sleepers, memory foams offer both shoulder and hip support, as well as the promise of keeping your sleep partner undisturbed throughout the night.
Specialty Foam Mattress
Aside from memory foam (which is made out of ViscoElastic), there are other types of speciality foam mattresses, like polyurethane foam, latex foam and infused foam. Polyurethane foam mattresses vary in density and softness. This type of foam is sometimes used in sofa cushions. Latex foam, on the other hand, is produced with natural latex harvested from rubber trees or synthetic latex that come from petrochemicals. It is durable and maintains its support and temperature. Infused foam can be made out of both natural and synthetic materials, like cooling gel, copper and graphite. Depending on the materials used in an infused foam mattress, there will be varying performance properties and quality – both positive and negative.
Hybrid Mattress
Hybrid mattresses are just that: they are constructed out of a combination of two or more support systems – whether it be different types of foam layers or innerspring systems.
Pillow Top Mattress
Mattresses with pillow toppers are considered pillow-top mattresses. They have an additional layer on top of the actual mattress – typically innerspring – and provide sleepers with a more soft cushion, making this choice ideal for side sleepers.
Gel Mattress
When gel is added to a foam mattress’ support system or upholstery layer, that’s a “gel mattress.”
Waterbed
Popular in the 1980s, waterbed mattresses are just that – they are beds filled with water as their main support mechanism. Usually, waterbeds are padded with upholstery like foams or fibers, but it’s important to note that waterbeds don’t provide the best support.
Air Bed
Air beds are constructed similarly to waterbeds, only they’re filled with air. Padded with foam or fibre, you can adjust the amount of air inside the air bed to accomplish the firmness you desire.
Depending on your bed frame or platform, you will obviously need to buy a mattress that fits. Here’s a breakdown of the different mattress sizes that are on the market.
Toddler & Crib Mattress
Toddler and crib mattresses are essentially the same size though you can use them for both cribs or toddler beds. They are typically 70cm in width by 130cm in length. Once babies are able to climb out of their cribs, many parents transition from the crib to a toddler bed without the additional cost of a new mattress.
Twin & Twin XL Mattress
Twin-size beds (which are sometimes referred to as “single” beds) are ideal for one person. A standard twin-size mattress measures about 96cm in width by 190cm in length, while a twin XL mattress (commonly used in college dorms) runs 12cm longer at 96cm in width by 200cm in length.
Full or Double Mattress
Most commonly known as “full” (though most hotels usually call them “double”) full-size mattresses are 137cm in width by 190cm in length and can sleep two adults. Depending on the size of sleepers, one might say, it’s a “tight fit” for two adults to sleep in a full-size bed.
Queen Mattress
Slightly bigger than the full-size mattress, queen size beds measure at about 152cm in width by 200cm in length, making it more comfortable for two adults to sleep side by side.
King Mattress
A king-size mattress measuring 193cm in width by 200cm in length can accommodate two adults (and sometimes even a large pet or child in the middle) comfortably.
California King Mattress
For tall sleepers, the California king mattress is a great option because it runs 182cm in width — wider than the queen size but slightly narrower than the regular king — and 210cm in length, which is 10cm longer than the standard king.
What Kind of Sleeper Are You?
While a mattress can prove to be a costly purchase, since you spend a third of your lifetime asleep and your health could depend on it, it’s a worthy investment. “When shopping for a mattress, I stress that people find a firm, supportive mattress,” says Dour. “The mattress should be firm with some type of pillow top for comfort and a little ‘give.’ This way, you will be comfortable no matter if you sleep on your back, side or stomach since most of us do not stay in one position throughout the night.”
Have a specific ailment or concern? Here are specific mattress considerations if so:
If You Suffer From Sleep Apnea or Acid Reflux: Dour suggests to invest in a bed that can elevate your head to reduce your symptoms throughout the night. She also recommends speaking with your physician if you are struggling with either of these conditions.
If You Are Pregnant: Since pregnancy is temporary, a firm mattress with some type of pillow top will keep you comfortable when you are sleeping on your side and changing sides throughout the night, according to Dour. A good pregnancy pillow can also help support your spine and pelvis.
If You Have Back Problems, Neck Pain and More: Dour considers innerspring mattresses to be universally the best type of mattress. “The higher amount of coils, the more comfortable it will be since your weight will be evenly distributed, and you won't feel sore spots when you wake up in the morning,” she says.
Whether you’re buying a mattress online or shopping for one at a brick-and-mortar store, don’t shop blindly. Do your research ahead of time so you can make informed decisions or at the very least ask the right questions as you weed through your options.
Buying a mattress blindly online can be worrisome. You’re spending a decent amount of money on something you may have never even seen in person. Yikes! Luckily, you can have the best of both worlds. “A handful of bigger, more reputable online [mattress] brands have stores, so that is always the best,” says Joe Alexander, CEO of Nest Bedding who has been in the mattress business for 20 years. “When that is not possible, I would visit a few of the more reputable review sites not owned by mattress brands.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Mattresses
Aside from the mattress itself and the bed frame it’ll sit in, here are other things to consider.
Do You Need a Box Spring?
“All beds need or should have something under them that gives level, non-flexible and breathable support, whether that is a box spring or slats,” says Alexander. A good rule of thumb for maintaining your bed’s comfort, he adds, is that if you can step on the mattress (with a box spring underneath, that is) and feel “give,” it’s time to replace it.
Do You Need a Mattress Cover?
Mattress covers are great for keeping your mattress as clean and moisture-free as possible. “Foams, which are in all beds to some degree, do not perform well over time when moisture is present, so covers will keep it out,” according to Alexander. Mattress covers can also help keep your warranty coverage intact. “Most companies will void their warranty if the surface of the mattress is stained.”
Do You Need a Pillowtop?
It’s common to assume that more cushion and softness means more comfort, but Brian Mathis, founder of Current Mattress, says that isn’t necessarily true. “A pillowtop is more padding between you and your support system, which isn't ideal in the long term,” says Mathis, who is also a registered engineer in the mattress industry. “A proper mattress with the right spring-to-foam ratio should keep your body in alignment every night.” In fact, too much padding prevents the mattress springs from being the support system you need, Mathis adds.
How Often Should You Rotate Your Mattress?
“Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to rotate your mattress every six months or so,” says Ross. “This will help protect against sagging and creating any permanent body impressions.”
Mathis adds, “Rotating or flipping a mattress is a technique that may help the [mattress] foam to recover over time and spreads the stresses across other foam areas.” The industry average is every 3 to 6 months.
What Type of Cleaning or Maintenance Is Involved?
Depending on the type of mattress you buy, cleaning and maintenance may differ. “Some online beds have removable covers that are machine washable and others have covers that are removable but not machine washable,” explains Ross. “In the latter case or if you have a bed with a non-removable cover, you'll most likely have to spot clean the dirty area with a mild detergent and water.”
What’s the Mattress Warranty?
The industry standard for online mattresses is typically 10 years, says Ross. That means, “companies will replace, repair or re-cover your mattress if any defects or issues related to workmanship are found.” The only snag? Ross warns that some companies like to play games when it comes to their warranty. “For example, some warranties are prorated and some are not."
"Further, some warranties cover a 1-inch sag in the mattress and others only cover indentations greater than 5 or 6 cm,” he adds. “It's these tiny details that are worth digging into the fine print before purchasing.”
What’s the Mattress Retailer’s Return Policy?
While most retailers – outside of the mattress world, that is – have an expiration date for returns, many mattress companies actually require you to keep the mattress for a minimum amount of time before you can actually return it. Some mattress brands may even charge you for the return. Simply inquire before you buy and ask about their return policy.
Article sourced from: https://www.askmen.com
