Mattress advice

[phoenix]

Hi Eurycerus,

I have reviewed much of the topics written about mattresses and I think I have a vague idea of what I should be looking for. I have been sleeping on the worst mattress (because I had zero dollars when I was mattress hunting and was pretty ignorant too). I wake up every day with neck and lower back pain and I toss and turn. I usually have bags under my eyes and I’m sick of it! I’m 25 and that is just too early for constant pain. Please help.

Hopefully you’ve read the tutorial post here which has all the basic information, steps, and guidelines you will need to make the best possible choice … and know how and why to avoid the worst ones. If you follow the steps one by one you will almost certainly end up making a great choice. Of course if you have any specific questions along the way or need any “fact checking” you are always welcome to post them on the forum.

I weigh 120 pounds and am usually a side sleeper mixed with a semi-stomach sleeping position. I also over heat fairly easily. My budget is preferably between $800 and $1,000.

It looks like I need a softer comfort layer (low ILDs) that is not memory foam due to the overheating problems. Looks like I could maybe find some latex mattresses around this price, likely Dunlop. If I do find an all latex, I would need a minimum of six inches right? I found this handy resource and was wondering if you have any recommendations from the list they have: Latex Mattress Reviews You Can Actually Trust 2019 : Top Rated Natural Brand Ratings : Zenhaven Plushbeds Spindle Sleep On Latex SleepEZ Flobeds Foam Sweet Foam Savvy Rest

Or should I just get a higher end inner coil mattress with latex in the comfort layers?

The only two ways I know to choose a mattress is based on your own careful and objective testing using the testing guidelines in the tutorial post or if you are considering an online choice then a more detailed conversation with an online retailer or manufacturer that has your best interests at heart (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here). I’m certainly happy to help with “how” to choose but the specifics of “what” to choose would depend on which mattress is the best match for you in terms of PPP and the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.

Online reviews based on other people experiences on a mattress that may be completely different from you and have very different needs and preferences (or have no idea about the specifics of the mattresses they purchased) are among the worst ways to choose a mattress IMO (see post #13 here for more about reviews).

The type of mattress you choose in terms of the materials and components is a personal preference not a “better worse” choice. As long as you are confident that the mattress would be a good match for you in terms of PPP, that you know the specifics of all the layers and components (see this article) so you can make sure there are no weak links in the mattress (see post #4 here), and that it is the best choice for you based on the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you after making meaningful comparisons with your other finalists, then it would be a suitable choice.

What is feasible for my budget range? Is there anything else I should specifically be looking for beyond chemical off gassing and looking for higher end coils/latex? Are there any brands I can start looking for at mattress stores? I’m still fairly overwhelmed at the variety. Thank you.

Brand shopping is also one of the worst ways to choose a mattress. Outside of how suitable a mattress is for you in terms of PPP … the most important part of a mattress purchase is the quality of the construction and materials inside the mattress regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label. All manufacturers make lower quality and less costly mattresses and higher quality and more costly mattresses. The tutorial post will help you know what to look for and what to avoid and how to make meaningful comparisons.

If you are looking at local choices then if you let me know your city or zip code I’d be happy to let you know about the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your area.

The tutorial post also includes links to several lists of some of the better online options I’m aware of (depending on the type of mattress you are looking at) if you are including online options in your research.

A forum search on Keetsa (you can just click this) will also bring up more information and feedback about them but again it’s always the specifics of a particular mattress and how it compares to your other finalists that are more important than the name of the manufacturer. An iCoil is just another name for a pocket coil.

Phoenix