Is this the one?

[Meef]

Howdy all! I did my first mattress testing at multiple stores today and I gotta admit it was fun once I got past the first store.

I did find three mattresses that really stood out to me:

The first being the BeautyRest Black - I can’t recall the exact model, but it had nanocoils in the comfort layer. I liked this one bc of how soft it was but I still felt supported. I like the firm innerspring support layer.

The 2nd being the DREAMCLOUD MATTRESS
ULTRA HYBRID M13831. I really liked the comfort layer in this mattress. It felt a bit like gel and the way it cradled my body felt nice.

But I found with both of these that my shoulder still hurt - pressure points for me are my hips and shoulder.

The last one I really liked, dare I say love. It’s the SIERRA SLEEP MATTRESS APOLLO 2.0 FIRM LUXE. It was the only mattress I found that didn’t hurt my shoulder or hips.

Here lies my concern(s). I currently have an innerspring from IKEA - couldn’t tell you the model - but it just isn’t firm enough and has very little to no comfort layers. I did try adding a very thin cotton topper but I still have pain in my hips and shoulder/arm/hand - I wake up and I can’t feel my arm at all bc it’s so numb.

I’m wondering if it would be better to purchase a mattress topper with the microcoil/nanocoil comfort layer to help give more support/comfort or if I’m better off purchasing a new mattress?

I have threw 2 mattresses in the past 5 years. The first being a nectar premium - biggest waste of money - and now this IKEA bed. I’m worried/anxious and apprehensive of buying another mattress, just for it to be the wrong one.. again.

I’m really leaning towards the SIERRA SLEEP MATTRESS APOLLO 2.0 FIRM LUXE but I’m just not sure. TIA.

[Gc123]

I gotta tell you, while yes it is very fun testing the beds, a lot of the time it’s better if you do it so you can figure out what type of feel you prefer.

Because beautyrest despite the high pricing actually uses fairly low density foams. The nano spring thing is a bit of a gimmick. They say theres thousands of coils and charge way more because of that when really that coil layer doesnt cost much to buy on its own or to include in the mattress.

Most commonly preferred feel is a soft top layer followed by a solid high quality support system. I know that’s my preference.

If you don’t have a lot of experience in the space of bedding ill let you in on a very valuable piece of information - you do not have to spend thousands to have an incredible mattress! I’m gonna give you some options to look into that i know for a fact are very well built beds and every one of them are extremely comfortable and will be more durable than the serta, beautyrest and dreamcloud options.

My favorite - Nest and Wild hybrid - less than $1000 for a queen mattress with their 10% discount. It’s extremely comfortable, soft on the top with a phase change cooling cover, and a quadcoil texas pocket springs, very supportive base. I absolutely love this mattress and would recommend it to anyone at any weight. They pre stress their foams for durability and have a 15 year warranty. Uses a hybrid foam of memory and latex in the top layer for both conformity and responsiveness and allows airflow for further cooling. I really love this mattress so much and think its the best you can get for such a low price on the whole market.

Tiami - about $2000 for a queen - a very innovative build that i recently noticed. They use mostly energex foam in their mattress which is similar to hybrid latex/memory foam. The innovative part is that each spring has its own specific small block of foam, which works fantastic for conformity and motion isolation.

Glacier apex - about $1200 for a queen- feels more similar to a beautyrest and often has a discount. This is a memory foam hybrid mattress and i am also a big fan of this bed. The memory foam is high density so it conforms a bit around your body but still it feels very solid.

Engineered sleep “today” mattress - $500 for a queen - is a simple build, but the components used and are very high quality compared to a standard mattress. Its medium-firm and has some softness with a high quality spring system.

[Meef]

I went out today and tried each of those mattresses, aside from the Tiami and the Enginered sleep - none in my area - and I found I didn’t like any of them.

Turns out that I prefer thee hardest bed possible. My favorite bed I tried today was a PLANK bed - $932 for a queen. It has a total Height of 11.5 inches, a flippable design where you can choose between two firmness levels: Ultra-Firm Side - Features a 0.75-inch quilted top.
Firm Side: Features a 1.5-inch quilted top layer with a 2-inch TitanFlex™ comfort layer and a 7-inch high-density foam base core.

The other two that I also really liked were he Thomas Cole Eden Plush - $597 for a King (clearance section) and the Beautyrest Series 1 Exfirm Quilt Mattress - $1277 for a King (clearance section).

I found with the Plank that I could sleep comfortably on my stomach with no pain but was unable to sleep on my side w/o shoulder pain.

With both of the last two I found that I didn’t have any pain or pressure on my side.

The PLANK was just the most memorable and really stood out and surprised me. While I will start out on my stomach, I don’t usually stay that way and will pivot over to what I would call a flamingo pose or the fetal position.

I feel like I’m on the right track but I’m also still not sure where to go from here. I’ve been to 7 stores so far.. for context I’m based in MN.

[Gc123]

You found an actual in store retailer for the glacier apex and nest and wild?

If it looked like this, then yep that was a nest and wild, but i didnt know there were show rooms for the current models.

If you liked the plank, thats basically composed of a firm spring system with a thinner foam on one side and thicker on the other. That’s a good bed too. What’s great about firm mattresses is you can always make them feel softer with a topper. A 2" of soft latex in a topper cover can fix any mattress that feels too firm, but you cant make a bed that has too soft of a spring with a firm topper

Though i didnt feel like nest and wild or the apex are soft beds, they feel pretty strong and quite firm to me with a thin, comfortable plush top as a 210lb 5’11" man.

[Meef]

Hmmm maybe it was not Nest and Wild bc the mattress did not look like that. There were two mattresses with signage saying “Nest Bedding” with an Owl and Sparrow model, I liked the Sparrow and assumed they were just the ones you had mentioned.

I tried a latex mattress at The Original Mattress Factory and I actually hated the way it felt. I was convinced I would like it. But I really didn’t like how “bouncy” the one I tried was. I thought it was going to be a bit closer to a memory foam but better quality.

My partner described the mattresses I liked as basically sleeping on the floor so I do like them very firm. Which is surprising bc I thought I’d like a very soft mattress that envelopes me. I am a notorious couch sleeper and floor person.

I’m 5’7" 180lb and work Landscape Gardening so really just trying to find something that soothes and relieves my body after a 10+ hr day.

I liked the showroom that I found the Plank at. They also had a Puffy mattress I liked but it just wasn’t firm enough. I think I’ll stick to similar small showrooms instead of the bigger outlet stores. I also wouldn’t mind finding a reputable place to build a mattress.

[Gc123]

Oh yes nest bedding is definitely far from nest and wild. Nest and wild feels super supportive like a better version of the floor, with a 2" soft top layer so you get the firmness but it still feels pressure relieving.

About original mattress factory, i really didn’t find anything there to suit my preferences either. It’s a good company and I’m sure their beds work for many. If you liked the standard plank mattress, go for the plank luxe. The titanflex foam on the slightly firm side responds similarly to the hybrid latex/memory foam that i also very much have a preference for. The difference is the plank luxe has a spring instead of foam base and it’s built up a bit in quality overall.

It really isnt hard to build your own mattress, all you need is a spring system which you can get a very high quadcoil from pocketspringstore, the type and firmness of foam you need and a cover.

The nest and wild uses their 15.5g spring and that’s best for most unless you’re very heavy. I’m 5’11" and 210lbs and it’s firm enough for me so for you it would feel a bit more firm.

Figure out what kind of cover you want -pocket spring store has a good one but it’s a bit pricey at $350, walmart has zippered mattress encasements for about $50 that won’t look as good but will still fulfill the purpose.

Then you need to know what type of foam you prefer - memory, polyfoam, hybrid latex/memory which the nest and wild uses, a foam with similar or latex and you can stack 2-4" of foam on top of the springs then put that in the encasement. My favorite kind of foam is latex/memory hybrid or foam that performs similarly like energex or serene foam.

I really like my diy bed, but also it’s hard to beat a bed that’s already put together how a company intends for it to be. It feels like a full package.

The basis of what kind of mattress people need stays the same. Everyone needs to reach firmness soon enough to prevent misalignment. That just changes based on people’s weight and needs, and what your preference is for the feel and softness of the very top of the bed.

[Meef]

Uff, I recant, building a mattress sounds far more complex and past the comprehension level I currently hold.

It’s unfortunate that they don’t have showrooms for the Nest and Wild. I, personally, am unwilling to purchase a mattress ever again before trying - Nectar did evil to my psyche.

I’ll definitely have to try the Plank you had mentioned. Possibly find a showroom with multiple options, and a good pillow.

I’m embarrassed to say how old and unsupportive my current pillows are.. I believe the one I found and liked the most was a heavy latex blend. But I definitely feel as a side sleeper that I need a higher profile pillow that’s firm enough to keep my neck aligned while still feeling cradled but on top of my pillow.

[Gc123]

Haha, the way i described it made it seem way more complicated than it actually is, but these mattresses aren’t really that expensive for how long they last so for some definitely it’s not worth the time to try to save a few hundred dollars when you could figure out what you like and buy it, already constructed and pre stitched. The difference in the top feel of a mattress with the stitching and design does affect people’s sleep experience.

For pillows, ive figured out that adjustable memory foam/gel fiber fill is about the best thing you can get. Some prefer shredded latex, but that always felt hard to me. Though people’s experiences vary. You can make it as tall or as short as you need to, and unlike standard down alternative filled pillows, your head wont sink all the way through. A lot of the expensive pillows you can find on ebay for cheaper. Here are some options to check out. A pillow is similar to a mattress in that it lasts a very long time so in my opinion its okay to invest in them just as much, or to really search for a good deal on a proper one.

My personal favorite - sleeptone cool choice. Has a solid soft piece of latex on one side, which is not bouncy like the bed you tried. Because the opposing side has memory foam/gel fiber fill and that slows down the bounciness. Can be found on ebay for about $50 because not many people pay attention to them. This is a $150 pillow retail. Just be wary of the one seller who has them for $30, theyre a scammer. Check to see if the seller looks safe and legitimate, and about $45 is standard before tax and shipping. I love this one because you get two different feels. It’s solid across and slightly soft on one side, and the other side is plush. You can add or remove the fill to adjust height.

If you choose this one, my advice is open the pouch and even out the fill with your hands. The gel fiber prevents the fill from shifting, so you have to shift it to make sure it’s all even in the beginning, and the pillow fluffs up fully in about a day.

Purple dreamlayer - 5" tall and comes with 2 1" boosters so you can change the height. Has a bit of a strong smell when you open it due to the soft foam they use. Takes a bit longer to air out due to that. But once it’s aired out it’s very comfortable and streamlined, either you leave one or two of the boosters in, or you take it out. Its best to have a taller pillow if you sleep on your side, and a middle height pillow if you sleep on your back. For stomach sleeping it needs to be short.

Coop, and coop plus+ - the standard coop is full of super soft memory foam shreds, i mean packed all the way full, so it feels very soft on your head and you sink in a bit before you reach final loft height. This is adjustable as well, so is the coop plus+. The difference is the coop plus has a special gel bead plus shaped memory foam with gel fiber blend, which supposedly helps with air flow.

There is a cheaper version of the coop pillow, its blue on one side and white on the other. It costs $45 for two of them and its on amazon. A very affordable price for a clone of what is many people’s favorite pillow.

Another favorite of mine is the sterns and foster latex pillow, which can also be found on ebay for much less. Its a solid piece of 6" soft latex. Which means its not adjustable, but for me it’s just a fun thing i really like the buoyant feel of a solid piece of latex. They also have a down + latex pillow that has down feathers on one side and latex on the other that settles down the bounciness a bit. I didnt have much luck finding one on ebay.

Purple flexgrid pillow - if you have a tj maxx or homegoods nearby you may be able to find one of these for $99. Its jam packed full of gel fiber fill and i could tell for sure it would have plenty of support. They changed the name after first released to gelgrid? Or something like that but it’s the same pillow.

I know thats a lot of options, but the main thing is whatever you pick either needs to be pack very full of filling, or it needs to have enough density to hold up your head. Which the majority of pillows available at walmart, or most other stores dont have because theyre just standard down alternative pillows.

[Meef]

I’ll definitely have to look into those. I do know that I HATE anything Purple. Idk what it is about those little purple squares, but they give me the ick when I’ve tried them.

I did test out the Luxe Hybrid Plank today and I think that’s the one. I really like the softer side, but I also like that it’s flippable. So say down the line I want something firmer, I can choose that w/o having to buy a whole new mattress.

Next step is to find somewhere to purchase said mattress. I believe the floor models I tried have the cooling top, but I’m not sure. I feel like most cooling additives feel like a gimmick. However, I don’t like to sleep hot.

The place I went today said the mattress w/o the cooling top would be $998 - retails on planks website for $1200, w/ the cooling top it would be $1098 - $1300 on the website.

I didn’t feel particularly moved to purchase from this store. They didn’t really have any other deals, like free pillows, ect. The only deal they had was if I left a good Google review I would get free sheets. I don’t need sheets and that feels skummy to me.

[Gc123]

ften the benefit of buying directly from a store is the long term interest free financing theyll offer. And depending on what kind of sheets they are that could actually be a really good offer. I spent $200 on mine the dreamfit ones.

If its just polyester sheets, then no, but if theirs are some kind of well known brand and made of natural materials or have special technology then they could be worth around $100.

Glaciotex…from what ive read different materials have a different Qmax rating. And that doesn’t mean that something has a higher score WON’T build up heat, just that when it is able to, it will release the heat it has built up at a faster rate. Which you know, you’re not always completely still when sleeping. It will also feel cooler to the touch initially. That’s up to you to decide how much it’s worth really.

Purple pillows yep the grid definitely is different. So id definitely say try to find you a sleeptone cool choice pillow on ebay. Man i love that pillow so much.

[Meef]

I actually have a few different sheet sets that I’ve either purchased outright or thrifted: 100% cotton, Viscose and Silk - thrifted those 2. So I don’t really feel the need for more sheets, personally.

I think I’ll skip the cooking bit, it’s made of 50/50 polyester and polyurethane, which neither are cooling materials. I have a 100% cotton mattress pad that I could chuck over it if I really wanted a “cooler” experience.

I’ll have to check out the pillow you mentioned. Not sure how I feel about the shredded bits as I prefer a more solid pillow. But I also need to be able to wash it as well.

[Gc123]

I like solid too. That’s why the sterns and foster latex pillow is one of my favorites. The sleeptone cool choice does have a solid side, and you can adjust the height with the fill in the pouch on the other side. The cover is washable too if you remove both the solid piece and the fill pouch.

[Meef]

I had tried the sterns and foster pillow at an outlet store and really liked it as well. The firmness while still being soft yet dense was what ticked my boxes.

I still haven’t fully decided between mattresses yet. I tried the plank hybrid luxe and it is comfortable but there isn’t really anything about it that really stuck out for me that made me think, “This one!”.

And yet, the firmest option of the plank is still stuck in my mind. It’s the one mattress I found the most comfortable and the firmness just really stuck out to me. I like how firm it was when I “slept” on my stomach yet it still cradled me.

My thought process is that if I get the firmest option, I can always make it softer but I can’t give the luxe more support.

The problem is that I haven’t been able to find a store that has both models for me to try at the same time to compare them in real time.

I know it’s not a decision to be rushed but now that I’ve started my landscape season back up, it feels like a race between how long I can tolerate the hip pain, arm pain - waking up and can’t feel my hands - , not feeling recovered for the next day and deciding on a mattress that feels like the one, but could be the wrong one down the line… Big mattress has my trust issues acting up, any advice?

Also, how much does the foundation of your bed affect the overall of your mattress? Rn I have a slated bedframe and I’ve added more “slates”(dog eared fence boards) for more or less support.

[Gc123]

The standard plank is an all foam mattress. So if you want it to feel like a solid block of foam underneath you go with that. The plank luxe has springs, so if you want the lighter yet still firm and more responsive feel, pick that. I don’t think you can go wrong with either. It’s true you could add a topper in a topper cover to soften up the bed and change the top feel to your preference.

The base of your bed needs to be basically like the floor but with space for airflow. It seems like you already got that figured out.

[Maverick]

Hey Meef,

I’ve been following this thread and wanted to throw in my two cents. I’ve been sleeping on the Plank Luxe firmer side for over 3½ years now. For context, I’m 6’ 220, was 250+ when I bought it, and my wife is 5’4 around 135.

Quick note. This kind of info like height, weight, and sleep style should always be included when talking about mattresses and pillows. It really helps people give useful and realistic feedback.

We absolutely love the Plank Luxe. The Plank Foam is likely a bit firmer and more of a solid block feel, but the Luxe gives you firm support with some responsiveness from the springs. One thing I’ve consistently noticed with synthetic foam, even good quality like from @BrooklynBedding, is that edge support can be a weak point and over time heavier sleepers may see some sagging. That is one area where latex tends to outperform synthetic foams, assuming high quality materials on both sides.

@Gc123 is spot on about your base. Honestly, everything between you and the floor matters, even the carpet. I know BB has their own recommendations, but I tend to go the conservative route so your setup works with any mattress long term.

For a slatted base:

• Slats should be less than 3 inches apart
• 2 to 3 inches wide, not thin metal bars like the Amazon style frames
• At least 3/4 inch thick or made from wood with zero flex under load

It sounds like you are already close, especially with the added slats.

Now here is something important. Depending on your size, a medium firm or firm mattress can feel much firmer than intended, sometimes even comparable to something like the Plank Luxe, since heavier sleepers compress more and experience the support layers differently.

That brings me to a couple newer 3z options worth mentioning. One is the @HelixSleep Elite Plus, and the other would be the Twilight or Dusk depending on how firm you want to go, since both can already feel quite firm depending on your size. The other is the @BrooklynBedding ThermoBalance Elite and Elite LX. I have tested all except the LX.

I was excited enough about the ThermoBalance that I ordered the Firm Elite, of course right before the LX came out. My wife is extremely picky and loves the Plank. You would have to pry it out of the room.

But we are in our 60s now, 65 and 62 respectively, and preferences shift a bit over time. Not because the Plank has issues, it does not, but I will say this. The ThermoBalance Elite Firm in our guest room is really impressive. Still firm, but more forgiving on the body in all positions.

The Helix Plus Elite has a very similar feel, and choosing between those two as a replacement would be tough.

Of course, if you want to move away from synthetics entirely, there are higher end natural options. Companies like @TheCleanBedroom, @PlankAndCoil and @OrganicBedroom carry premium luxury natural fiber mattresses with excellent longevity, but that comes with a higher price point.

When it comes to pillows, I have a few favorites. The @EuropeanSleep Oxygen-Pillow is fantastic, as is their latex cube pillow. The @CozyPure Baa-Noodle is also a favorite, but more in rotation. There are nights when I need the most heat neutral option, especially in the summer, and that is where my horsehair pillows come in.

My newest pillow is the Helix ComfortAdjust Cooling Pillow. It is a really clever design made with S shaped memory foam pieces mixed with poly fiber so you can adjust the loft without the fill flying everywhere.

It has two lengthwise zippers along the long side of the pillow that allow you to configure it:

• flatter and firmer for a more traditional feel
• loftier and slightly softer for a more gusseted feel

There is also a third zipper on the short side that lets you remove or add fill, so you can really dial in both loft and firmness.

All while staying supportive without the pushback you get from latex.

I tend to think of a pillow as the mattress for your head. It needs supportive fill, a comfortable surface, and a quality cover that brings it all together.

Hope this helps.

Maverick

[Meef]

Howdy Maverick,

I did try the Plank Lux and found that it aggravated my shoulder. I did a bit of digging and found that I’m experiencing nerve compression that’s causing my hands to go painfully numb.

For context, I am 5’6" 180lb side sleeping female. I do landscape gardening for work that leaves my hands, arms, shoulders the sorest. I need a mattress that will not add to that pain.

My current bedframe does use pine slates that likely bend under weight. The dog eared fence panels - cheapest and most customizable option at the home depot - that I had cut down as slates for my bedframe fill the gaps between the pine slates. It’s likely they do a load of the work compared to the pine slates.

I’m not attached to the bedframe and wondering if a box spring would be a route to go?

I did try all of the Helix mattresses and found that I did not like any of them. I could feel the support layer compressing to a hard, thick layer that didn’t have enough give for my shoulder.

I believe I’ve made it to the point where I have a fairly good understanding of what sort of composition I need/want for a mattress.

When I initially first started trying mattresses I was very drawn to the Puffy mattresses. I found those to be the most comfortable out of all the mattresses. But I felt pressured - no guilt on anyone - to try more mattresses due to a comment I had received about how they’re expensive and there are similar options for less expensive (I’m paraphrasing). I continued to try a slew of other mattresses in nearly 10 different stores - Saatva was my least favorite experience.

I ended up trying the Puffy Royal again at a different store than the one where I had first tested it and found it still to be very comfortable. We - my poor partner has endured days of shopping with me, bless that poor man - circled back to the showroom where I had initially tried the Puffy Royal - I did try all of their models - and still really liked it. What got me to love it was finding the right pillow.

I found that Lagoons Otter pillow is my favorite. After I tried the Puffy Royal with that pillow, I could really feel myself being able to sleep on this one - a thought I hadn’t had with any of the other mattresses.

I haven’t pulled the trigger in purchasing it yet despite sleeping on the guest rooms twin trundle bed due to no longer being able to tolerate the pain my current IKEA Valevag Mattress gives me.

The deal the showroom is offering seems pretty fair: “free mattress upgrade + two free pillows”. This is the same deal the Puffy website offers, but the showroom has it for $100 - 200 (can’t quite recall the exact price) less than Puffy.

I’m apprehensive bc it’s a big purchase, $1300. I’ve already gone through 2 mattresses, Nectar Premium and now IKEA Valevag, in less than 2 years.

Unfortunately the Puffy Royal is mostly polyurethane… (How is it the mattress I liked the most, the worst built?)

Here’s the composition according to Google:

Starting from the top of the mattress down:

Cover: A blend of polyester, polyethylene, and spandex with cooling yarns woven into the fabric.

Quilting/Top Filling: A very thin layer (approx. 0.25–0.5 inches) of blended wool and synthetic polyester fiber for moisture-wicking and initial softness.

Upper Comfort Layers:
• Layer 1 (Gel Memory Foam): 1.5 inches of low-density polyurethane foam infused with gel cooling beads.
• Layer 2 (Memory Foam): 1.5 to 2 inches of standard polyurethane memory foam designed for responsiveness (often called “reflexive”).

Transition & Support Foams:
• Layer 3 (Transition Foam): 1 to 2 inches of mid-density polyurethane polyfoam designed to be humidity-resistant.
• Layer 4 (Zoned Polyfoam): 2.5 inches of polyurethane polyfoam that has been “channel-cut” or sculpted with a hexagon pattern to create different firmness levels for the head, shoulders, and hips.

Core Support:
Support Layer: 6 to 7 inches of 14-gauge tempered steel coils, individually wrapped in non-woven fabric pockets.

Edge Support: The coil unit is encased in a perimeter of high-density polyurethane foam rails (approx. 3 inches wide) to prevent edge collapse.

Base:
Bottom Layer: 1 inch of high-density polyurethane support foam used as a flat platform for the coils.

Grip Cover: A final layer of polyester fabric with anti-slip silicone or rubberized dots.

I’m at a loss and a bit discouraged that I’ll find a mattress that actually works for what I need.

[Maverick]

At you height and weight, I can see where the Plank would be an issue, particularly with nerve issues.

One thing to keep in mind with the Puffy is that it’s very likely to feel great right out of the box, that initial plushness and deep pressure relief is exactly what you responded to in the showroom. The tradeoff, as you’ve already picked up on, is long-term durability. With a foam-heavy build like that, there’s a higher chance it’ll soften or lose support sooner than you’d like, especially given your daily physical workload and the sensitivity you’re dealing with in your shoulders and arms.

If that soft, pressure-relieving feel is what your body clearly prefers, it may be worth looking at something like the Nolah Evolution 15 as a middle ground. It has a similarly cushioned, shoulder-friendly profile but tends to use more durable materials and a more robust coil system underneath, which can help it hold up better over time. The feel won’t be identical, but it’s one of the closer matches in terms of giving you that deeper cradle without hitting a hard support layer too quickly.

Another option, is the Wedge topper, Last April, I hurt my back so badly, I could not walk and was out of work for over a month. This is where my Plank Luxe did not perform for me. It was just too firm and my body too sensitive to the slight pressure touch. I ordered this wedge topper from @EuropeanSleep and for me, it was a game changer. It has a soft incline, and I butted it up under my shoulder (against my pillow) and it extended to just below my hip. Hence, half wedge topper. It provided the best pressure relief off my herniated discs, and reduced my pain sleeping and moving in the bed, at lease for me, that was my experience.

That Lagoon pillow is much like the brooklyn bedding shredded memory foam pillow. If you like it and it supports your head and neck, that is what counts. With the extra slats from HD, you should be ok. Boxsprings can be hit or miss, depending on the mattress atop of it. I would stick to a very sturdy wood box foundation. Look @MattressFoundations terra bunkie as your benchmark on how sturdy a foundation should be. You could even rest that on your current setup.

I know it is frustrating but dont give up. If someone nearby has the Nolah or Brooklyn Bedding Titan Plus Elite, give those a whirl as they are very supportive mattresses with very cushy comfort layers without being overly soft.

[Meef]

I did see that the Nolah was an upgraded version of the Puffy. It has the similar feel. They also use HD Airfoam and specialized zoned coils that are softer at the shoulder to reduce “pins and needles” - which is what I experience.

The other suggestion was a Winkbed. I was interested in trying this one, but it was not at the showroom it claimed to be at. I feel like I am less likely to like this one, as it’s stated that it has more of an “on the top” feeling. But I’ll give it a whirl.

I actually really do not like the feel of latex. I was convinced I would like it. But that springy sensation makes me feel like I’m laying on a block of cartoon cheese.

Do boxsprings usually lay on the floor? Or they’re meant to be put atop a frame?

I think I will be dragging my very poor partner to a few more showrooms this weekend to try the Nolah and Winkbed. Hopefully Brooklyn bedding will be around the premises as well.

[Maverick]

There is no rule again a box spring on the floor. In fact, better the box spring (foundation) on the floor than the mattress. Normally, you would place the foundation on on the designated rail on the bed frame or on top of a bed frame’s slats if those slats are not quite rigid enough to handle the mattress and sleepers that will rest on top of it without flexing.

I am not sure where you are located, but @yawnder does offer Nolah and Wink as part of their line up and they ship nationwide. Since they are very familiar with both, I am certain they would be happy to answer any questions on either. They also carry Puffy, but I feel more confident about the other two.

Maverick

[Meef]

Good information to have.

I did try both the Nolah and Wink today. I found that I did not like either.

I did however try a latex bed today and almost started to cry. It was the most comfortable bed I had tried this far. The lady at the store was so sweet and just listened to me, there was no pressure to purchase anything.

Unfortunately, they didn’t have the perfect mattress for me.

I found that the zone 1 worked the best for my shoulder with an additional latex topper, but my hip began to hurt after awhile. I did try zone 2 and my hip didn’t hurt but my shoulder did.

I didn’t feel super thrilled about purchasing a mattress and a topper just to fulfill my needs.

I asked if they had a thicker top layer, but they did not. I felt like the top layer compressed too much. I think if it compressed just a tiny bit less, maybe it would have worked well.

I’m looking into a more custom latex approach now. I need help understanding the latex layering better. Thanks so much for everyone’s help thus far, y’all have been lifesavers.