Hi Lblevens76,
Sorry to hear about your mattress epic fails. The Beauty Rest Pressure Smart hits close to home. Quick story. When we visit my brother in Florida, we told him if he doesnt get a new mattress (he had us sleeping on a pullout couch mattress, ouch!) we would be staying at a hotel. He sleeps on a 12k mattress, so he can afford to buy a decent mattress for the guest bedroom. So without consulting me, he buys the BR Pressure Smart. First is has the perimeter edge support encasement foam, which I hate. Then you get the swimming pool cover effect when you sleep on it. The cover is pulled tight so the perimeter edge foam is very dense and the rest of the memory foam and spring sleep surface causes the cover to stretch to the point where you feel you are being propelled towards the center of the mattress in hot quicksand memory foam. Even as an edge of the mattress sleeper, it was extremely uncomfortable as part of my body rests on the perimeter edge foam and the other half on a different firmness body of the mattress, ultimately, until jettisoned toward the center of the mattress, much like trying to crawl across a swimming pool cover, that sinks in the middle. He spent good money on that mattress too.
Most folks with RLS tend to prefer a medium-firm to firm mattress. I am not sure why the plush was recommended, and by whom. Mainly, for most people with RLS, medium-firm to firm mattresses tend to work best, this may not be the answer 100% of the time, but generally for these reasons it is the preference feel of choice.
A mattress that’s too soft can lead to excessive sinking, which can put your spine and joints in an unnatural position. This can worsen discomfort and lead to more movement to alleviate the sensations of RLS. A medium-firm or firm mattress provides better support, especially for the lower back and hips, which helps keep your body aligned and can prevent the discomfort that might exacerbate RLS symptoms.
Medium-firm to firm mattresses are also more stable, meaning they won’t shift or sag under pressure. This is crucial for someone with RLS, as even small movements or changes in the feel of the mattress can make it harder to stay still, particularly if you’re trying to find a comfortable position.
With the Avocado mattresses, the firm version seems much more economical than the medium or plush versions with the box toppers.
When I tried the S&F Estate Luxe Ultra Firm, I was initially impressed with the feel. However, I was concerned by the off-site independent reviews, which aligned with what’s been happening with the legacy S brands over the past 15 years. These brands shifted to one-sided mattresses and got tangled up in corporate mergers, buyouts, and acquisitions. It seemed like the focus was more on profit than on long-term mattress comfort and quality, which had always been their hallmark in the past.
One mattress I found that has a similar feel as S&F, but at a better price and, in my opinion, with better quality and build, is the DLX Premier Hybrid. I bought one for my mother-in-law, who has multiple health issues (artificial hips and knees, 86 years old, and uses a walker). She had destroyed a BeautyRest mattress in less than a year and a half—there were divots under her hip the size of potholes. Nearly 10 months later, the DLX Premier Hybrid still looks like new, and she’s more comfortable than ever.
What’s great about the DLX Premier Hybrid is that I had a split comfort layer mattress made and delivered in less than a week from the time I ordered it. The split allows you to adjust the internal comfort layer if your preferences or needs change in the future. So, if, say, 10 years down the road, the feel isn’t working for you anymore, you can simply replace the comfort layer rather than buy an entirely new mattress.
I never bothered trying to warranty my mother-in-law’s BeautyRest, as the process would have involved emailing, sending pictures, and waiting weeks—if not months—before an inspector could even come out.
There are many mattresses out there that are great quality and meet your comfort needs, but it can be overwhelming to narrow down the one that’s right for you.
I always remind people about their 4 R’s when buying a mattress: Refund, Return, Restocking, and Reputation/Reviews. Be sure to understand all these aspects before you purchase—don’t find out the hard way. I’m a little concerned about what Mattress Firm might do with your refund. A reasonable return fee would be around $100 or so, but given their reputation for higher costs on mattress returns, I’d make sure to clarify that as you move forward.
Hopefully, this offers a few insights and suggestions to set you on a better path.
All the best,
Maverick
trying to figure it out.