In Need of advice...and you're amazing.

[phoenix]

Hi WyndRacer,

I’m assuming that you’ve read the mattress shopping tutorial and if you’ve completed steps one and two you will have an idea of the types of materials and mattresses that you are interested in testing (and I see you’ve set your budget range as well).

Two of the more 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 that is the best “match” for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and 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 that are involved in each of them 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, durability, and value.

One main point here is that my bedroom is my central hangout and my spot is the bed. The bed is my chair, my lounge, my sleep space. i sit in the same spot all the time on it. Because of this on my cheap mattress, the spring inside has popped through the bottom and made a hole into the heap box spring. I know my sitting on the same spot on bed can be an issue for most beds. I assume memory foam will not be a good choice because i will eventually leave a dent in the spots i am always in.

When you are using your mattress the way you are then it will certainly affect and reduce the durability of any mattress so I would make especially sure that the materials and components in any mattress you are considering are good quality and durable and are preferably more than just the minimums that I would normally suggest in the quality/durability guidelines here … especially in the upper layers of the mattress which are generally the first to soften, compress, and break down. Memory foam can be a durable material if the density is 4 lbs or higher (or preferably 5 lbs if you are in a higher weight range or for how you use your mattress) but more resilient materials where you are more “on the mattress” than “in the mattress” may be a better choice if you spend a lot of time sitting on your mattress. If you sit on the edge of the mattress then I would also check to make sure the edges are firm enough for you to comfortably sit on.

Another thing is we both like to sleep very cool.

While memory foam tends to sleep warmer than other types of foam materials (polyfoam, memory foam, and latex foam) … there are also many other variables that can affect the sleeping temperature of a mattress besides just the type of foam that is used inside it including the type of cover and quilting in a mattress, the firmness of the mattress, the mattress protector or any mattress pad you use, your sheets and bedding and bedclothes, and where you are in the “oven to iceberg” range that can all have a significant effect on sleeping temperature. There is more about the many variables that can affect sleeping temperature in post #2 here that can help you choose the combination of materials and components that will have the best chance of keeping you in a temperature range that you are comfortable with.

And something in the middle range of firmness

There is no “standard” definition or consensus of opinion for firmness ratings and different manufacturers can rate their mattresses very differently than others so a mattress that one manufacturer rates as being medium firm" could be rated very differently by another manufacturer. Different people can also have very different perceptions of firmness and softness compared to others as well and a mattress that is firm for one can feel like “medium” for someone else or even “soft” for someone else depending on their body type, sleeping style, physiology, their frame of reference based on what they are used to, and their individual sensitivity and perceptions. This is all relative and is as much an art as a science. There are also different types of firmness and softness that different people may be sensitive to that can affect how they “rate” a mattress as well (see post #15 here). In other words you will need to test a mattress for you to assess how firm or soft it feels to you regardless of whether it feels firm or soft to someone else.

Before researching here, I thought i might try the usual brand name stores and get something sufficient. But now, I see that would be a mistake. I know every body is different so you dont want to give actual suggestions, but can you throw out a few names for me that would meet these points. Also, i do not drive and i don’t know what stores are in the general area and i would take a cab to any of them if i know they have some of the names you might mention. I live in NY zip code 11415. I would really appreciate any information and thank you for your time.

The better options and possibilities I’m aware of in and around the New York City area (subject to the quality/value guidelines I linked earlier in this reply) are listed in post #2 here. I would follow the suggestions in step 3 of the tutorial and look through the websites and call the ones that you would be able to easily visit to make sure that they carry some mattresses on their floor that would meet your criteria (including the type of materials you are interested in and your budget range) that would make your trip worthwhile and then you will be ready for step 4 which is actually testing mattresses. If getting to the showrooms is difficult for you and you are comfortable with an online purchase then it may also be worth considering some of the online manufacturers and retailers that are linked in the optional step of the tutorial as well if they have a good exchange/return policy so you can reduce the risk of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for. If you do decide to include online retailers/manufacturers in your research I would still do “some” local testing just to confirm the types of materials and mattresses that you tend to prefer so you will have some better reference points if you make an online purchase.

Phoenix