I have been reading on the material in the forum for some time now.
Background: both of us are 48 years old, suffer from cervical & lumbar
spondolysis since many years. Back in India, we were used to sleeping
on cotton mattresses which were firm. However in Calgary, AB (Canada),
it is difficult to find a firm mattress.
We currently have a Tranquil Gel 10 inch mattress from JYSK which is
supportive, but not really that firm.
We even visited Dormir mattresses, but are unable to decide since the
information available is “you choose the base, core and top” without
really understanding whether this is good for our backs or not.
I am more of a side sleeper, and my wife alternates between side and
back sleeping.
Can you advise what sort of mattress we should go for especially since
both of us suffer from back issues, and are looking for a real nice
firm mattress.
I’m sorry to hear about your back issues. While I can certainly help with “how” to choose, it’s unfortunately not possible to make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components because 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”, firmness, or PPP or how a mattress will “feel” to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress), sleeping positions, health conditions, or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more reliable 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).
I’m assuming that you’ve read the mattress shopping tutorial here but 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”, firmness, 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 (including the price of course and the options you have available after a purchase if your choice doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for).
While again nobody can speak to how any specific mattress will “feel” for someone else or whether it will be a good “match” in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP because this is too subjective and relative to different body types, sleeping positions, and individual preferences, sensitivities, and circumstances and you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress … outside of PPP (which is the most important part of “value”), the next most important part of the value of a mattress purchase is durability which is all about how long you will sleep well on a mattress. This is the part of your research that you can’t see or “feel” and assessing the durability and useful life of a mattress depends on knowing the specifics of its construction and the type and quality of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label or how a mattress feels in a showroom or when it is relatively new so I would always make sure that you find out information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the durability guidelines here to make sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase.
As you’re in Calgary, subject to first confirming that any retailer or manufacturer on the list that you wish to visit is completely transparent (see this article ) and to making sure that any mattress you are considering meets the quality/value guidelines here … the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in and around Calgary are listed in post #2 here .
There is no one firmness level that is “best for backs” in general because it would depend on the body type, sleeping style, and individual preferences of the person. However, you do have a point of reference in what you enjoyed back in India, and the first three members on the Calgary list I linked to offer customizable and custom mattresses, and all three of them can make a firm product, with all of them having options using cotton that would be worth your investigation. I wouldn’t hesitate to visit Sleep Boutique, The Mattress and Sleep Company, or Halstead. I believe that they compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, knowledge, and transparency.
I’m looking forward to finding out if you visit these stores or any others on the list I provide and if you’re able to find something along the lines of what you had back in India.
