We’re looking for a firm innerspring KS mattress, side sleepers with some back problems, 170-200 pounders. We have access to Grand Legacy mattresses by White Dove and Original Mattress Factory, as well as the standard mattress stores. Recommendations? Comparisons? HELP! It’s all very confusing.
Hi newmanl201.
Comfort/pressure relief and support/alignment are the two most important functions of a mattress not only for your particular back issues but for everyone else so you certainly aren’t alone in this. The only way to know for certain whether any specific mattress will be a suitable choice that provides you with both will be based on your own careful testing or your own personal experience when you sleep on it because different people can have very different needs and preferences in a mattress in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences).
While I can certainly help with “how” to choose … It’s 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 (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) 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 not sure what you’ve read since you found the site but just in case you haven’t read it yet … the first place to start your research is the mattress shopping tutorial here which includes all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice … and perhaps more importantly know how and why to avoid the worst ones.
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 (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) 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).
As neither company is our Trusted member of the site, we cannot speak of the quality or durability of their products in general or a specific product that you may consider unless we know the complete specifications of the products you are considering. Both companies have been in the mattress business for a long time, so at least you should have some confidence they will stand behind their products.
Depending on our BMI(Body Mass Index) your back pains could be an indication of poor alignment due to sinking too deeply into the mattress with a construction that may not be as supportive. But of course this is a generalization and you would be the only one that can assess this with certainty through your careful testing of all the factors that may contribute to the back pain. BMI is based on your height and weight and you can use one of many online BMI calculators (such as here) to find out your BMI. Post #2 here has some generic guidelines for different body types and sleeping positions. it would make a lot of sense to do some local testing to at least get a better sense of the types of materials and mattresses and the general firmness levels you tend to prefer
It is important to select a sleeping system that is supportive enough to keep your spine in neutral alignment and as you are a side sleeper the comfort layer must also adapt well to your shape and sleeping positions to relieve pressure points, specifically in latex or latex hybrid mattresses If you are interested in the online options then This link in the tutorial has a list of the members here that sell mattresses online and many of them sell latex and latex hybrid mattresses that use different types and blends of latex that have a wide range of different designs, options, features, return and exchange policies, and prices that may be worth considering. Post #3 here also includes a list of many of the online manufacturers that sell component latex mattresses.
Pocketed coils or latex mattresses are usually a good direction to look into and as you compare the two types of mattresses, test closely for the support it provides to keep your body in good alignment.
I or some of the more knowledgeable members of the site can 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, 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 has the same needs and preferences, criteria, or circumstances or would make the same choice.
I hope this helps. Once you have a chance to narrow down your finalists please let me know and if you have more specific questions I’ll be happy to assist you.
Phoenix