I'm done! Looking for a mattress for heavy folks.

[phoenix]

Hi Melillo,

Half my post did not post. This was my first post but I am not sure why. I stated that I was thinking about getting a low end inexpensive mattress that would last about 3 years since I have spent up to two thousand on high end and have had it last about 5 years. The current money drop is about 5 years old a Vera Whang pillow top that slants like a wedge from the middle to the floor. I researched the heck out of it and by all the hype was lead to believe that it was the best thing since sliced bread. I now sleep trying to keep from rolling off the bed to the floor.

In terms of quality and durability … a mattress is only as good as its construction and the quality and durability of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label or the price of the mattress. Without knowing the specifics of all the layers and components in a mattress (see this page) it’s not possible to assess the durability or identify any potential weak links in a mattress. There are many mattresses in the mainstream market, even in higher price ranges, which use lower quality materials in the top layers of the mattress which will soften, break down, or start sagging much too quickly relative to the price you paid and if you are in a higher weight range then it’s even more important to make sure that any mattress you are considering uses higher quality and more durable materials.

If you don’t know the type and quality of the materials in a mattress then all the research in the world won’t tell you much about the durability or useful life of a mattress or how long it will be before you need to replace it.

I figure that by spending about five or six hundred on a low end mattress at least I will get what I was expecting and replace it with a new one in three or four years.

The potential problem with this strategy is that many low end mattresses may only last you months before they start to soften or break down under higher weight body weights and in many cases hoping that a lower end mattress will last you 3 or 4 years before you cross the thresholds from sleeping well on a mattress to sleeping “OK” to tolerating a mattress to finally deciding to replace it may be overly optimistic. In some cases if the mattress is already on the edge of being too soft for a particular person in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) when it is new then even the initial break in period (usually from 30 - 90 days) may take you over the edge of the comfort/support range that would be suitable for you (see post #2 here) even though this is more of a suitability issue (choosing a mattress that is too soft) than a durability issue.

Again … the only way to assess the durability or useful life of a mattress is to make sure that you know the quality and durability of the materials inside it.

I was looking for some suggestions on the low end spectrum so I don’t have to spend all that money for a mattress that will only last a year or two longer. At least I would have a new mattress every three years without the added cost.

Some of the better lower budget online options I’m aware of are listed in post #4 here and in posts # 3 and #4 here but once again I would confirm that the quality and durability of the materials are suitable for your weight range because a mattress that would be a durable choice for lower weight ranges may not be durable enough for higher weight ranges.

If you let me know your city or zip code I’d also be happy to let you know about the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your area.

Phoenix