Hello, first about me, i am 6" tall around 260lbs (trying to slim down) , currently sleeping on a costco bought sleep science 1o" memory foam mattress around 500$… I mostly sleep on my stomach and side, don’t sleep too hot, and the current mattress has been working fine for the past three years, it is medium firm i would say and that works quite well for me. I am moving and going to get a new mattress at the new location, i have been looking at some of these “Direct” to consumer brands online with the thought that they may be an upgrade over the current mattress i am using. With that being said I have read some info on here about the Bear Mattress, Leesa, and various others. Wondering if anyone could help me with some advice on either of those or others that i should check out… I would like to keep my budget at $1000 or less and plan to place the bed on a wooden slat foundation. Thanks!
Hi miezio24,
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 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” 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.
There is also more information in post #3 here and the posts it links to that would be helpful for those that are in higher weight ranges
While the process of how to choose a mattress would involve the same steps that are listed in the mattress shopping tutorial … most people in higher weight ranges (or that have a higher BMI) will generally need or prefer firmer mattresses (firmer materials will feel softer because you will sink into them more) and materials and components that are higher quality and more durable than those that are in lower weight ranges (the materials and components in a mattress will soften and break down faster for those in higher weight ranges than they will for someone that is in a lower weight range that doesn’t compress the mattress as much). I would be particularly cautious about mattresses that use more than “about an inch or so” of memory foam that is less than about 5 lb density or polyfoam that is less than about 2 lb density … particularly in the upper layers of the mattress.
There is more information about the Bear mattress and Leesa and many of the other simplified choice mattresses in post #2 here in the simplified choice mattress topic. Post #1 in the same topic would be well worth reading as well.
As you can see Leesa uses lower quality/density materials than I would consider in your weight range. I would also add a “slight” caution for the Bear mattress as well mainly because of the 1.8 lb polyfoam base layer.
Outside of the simplified choice list … if you are looking at online options then the mattress shopping tutorial also includes several other links to lists of many of the better online options I’m aware of (in the optional online step) that include many different types and categories of mattresses in a wide range of budgets, firmness levels, and with a range of different return/exchange policies that may also be worth considering.
If you let me know your city or zip code I’d also be happy to let you know about any of the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your local area as well.
Phoenix