I have read all the “read first” threads. I have been searching and searching. Looking like a fool rolling around on beds in departments stores…I am fed up with the search. I just need some legit suggestions. I am going out of my mind!
Hi NeedSleep2,
The first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort” or PPP or how a mattress will “feel” to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more accurate than your own careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
Two of the most important links in the tutorial that I would especially make sure you’ve read are post #2 here which has more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort” and PPP that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for and post #13 here which has more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists (based on all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you).
Unfortunately your question is much too broad for anyone to be able to provide a meaningful answer. I or some of the more knowledgeable members of the site can certainly help you to narrow down your options, help you focus on better quality/value choices that are available to you either locally or online, help you identify any lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress relative to your weight that you may be considering, act as a fact check, answer many of the specific questions you may have along the way that don’t involve what you will “feel” on a mattress, and help with “how” to choose but only you can decide which specific mattress, manufacturer, or combination of materials is “best for you” regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label or whether anyone else (including me) would have the same criteria or circumstances or would make the same choice.
If you are considering online choices then the tutorial includes several links to the better online options I’m aware of (in the optional online step) that would include mattresses that seem to fit your very general criteria and if you let me know your city or zip code I’d be happy to let you know about any of the better local options or possibilities I’m aware of as well.
Phoenix
I have read all your posts. Maybe I could have been a little more specific. I first would like a mattress (not innerspring) that comes in 14 inches, has firmness options and is under $1200. Once I have some suggestions based on that criteria, I can decide which one is best for me based on feel. I am not asking for recommendations based on feel, just price, size and the ability to choose a firmness.
My zip code is 12603.
Hi NeedSleep2,
The better options or possibilities I’m aware of in and around the Poughkeepsie/New Palz areas (subject to making sure that any mattress you are considering meets the quality/value guidelines I linked in my last reply) are listed in post #4 here.
I don’t keep a record of the individual mattresses or their specs that the retailers and manufacturers in the hundreds of forum lists throughout the forum carry on their floor or have available online (it would be a bigger job than anyone could keep up with in a constantly changing market) but checking their websites and making some preliminary phone calls to the retailers/manufacturers that are on the lists is always a good idea before you decide on which retailers or manufacturers you wish to deal with anyway. This will tell you which of them carry mattresses that would meet your specific criteria, are transparent about the materials in their mattresses, and that carry the type of mattresses that you are interested in that are also in the budget range you are comfortable with. Once you have checked their websites and/or talked with the ones that interest you then you will be in a much better position to decide on the ones that you are most interested in considering or visiting based on the results of your preliminary research and conversations.
Phoenix