Mattress Selection Guidance

Talk To The Experts
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Preamble
I want to start by saying that this site is a great resource to begin to understand the mattress industry and be a more informed consumer. I really appreciate the generalized breakdowns of materials and construction. Having said that, while I feel like I come away with a lot more knowledge, that doesn’t necessarily translate into a certitude of how to proceed. We have been to a few local stores, asked the informed questions, and laid down on mattresses. I feel no closer to making the correct decision for us than before, even while being much less ignorant. I would appreciate some opinions for our specific circumstance if the community doesn’t mind offering them.

In short… we are not extremely particular in our personal preference as long as our basic requirements are met. Lying down on various beds that meet those requirements all feel okay and it feels like we could flip a coin to decide between them.

This process is underway because several years ago we inherited a barely-used spare bed from family. It is a king Select Comfort (very old SleepNumber) and seems like it may have been from either the early aughts or before 2000. It has been a great bed that we have enjoyed, but the pumps have been limping along and the bags require reinflation every few days. We are people who keep the bags at 100 at all times, and want the firmest mattress possible.

Finally, my bag seems to have popped, though I can find no obvious tear and it will inflate for about 5 minutes before bleeding out. Rather than get a replacement bag and throw more money down this sinking ship, we’ve decided to get a new setup.

Requirements
We are looking for an adjustable base split king. We prefer the firmest beds on the market, and want to put the adjustable base on the wood slats of our very nice existing bed frame. My wife has had bad experiences with “bed in a box” memory foam mattresses (think it was a Casper), but it could be that that specific one was terrible or that those firms have advanced since 2015-ish. She, at least, is very much against “a memory foam mattress”. I understand that this is a bit nonsensical as it depends on what memory foam and where it is in the mattress.
I am a back sleeper with mild sleep apnea, which is why we want the adjustable bed. My wife is a dervish but when not in motion she’s typically on her side.

Budget
It appears that the cheapest possible price for a split king adjustable base is in the $2,500 range, but we don’t want to necessarily do the cheapest thing. At the same time, we aren’t in the market for a bed in upper ranges of the market. We sat on the latest Tempur-Pedic last weekend and it seemed all good, but was $12,000+. This is madness.

Again, given that we are coming from an ancient air bed that has been limping along for years, I don’t feel like we have a refined enough palate to appreciate anything but the broadest categorizations. I can’t imagine having an opinion that demanded latex vs foam or a requirement for hybrid. We are big Costco fans and I have been eye-ing the Tempur-Pedic Supreme 11.5” Firm Mattress with Ergo Adjustable Base for $4,500. It seems like while one could get the setup we want from a bed-in-a-box place for less than $3,000, they wouldn’t be firm enough. I’ve been verbose, so I’ll leave it there. I appreciate the read and any comments.

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Hi tmtocloud,

It’s great that you already have some idea of your preferences, even if you’re not too picky. That makes finding the right setup much easier! When it comes to adjustable bases and mattresses, you’ve got a few good options. For example, a split-head king is a solid choice. There are adjustable bases made for this, and DreamFit sheets fit perfectly on them, staying put even with all the adjustments.

Then, there’s the split king, which you mentioned. The beauty of a split king is that it allows you to have two separate mattresses, each with its own level of firmness, so you can both sleep comfortably without compromising on your personal preferences. For this setup, the Yawnder4 base is a good pick, but there are plenty of adjustable bases out there with different features. I personally like the Yawnder because it uses solid wood decks instead of metal grids, which can be more durable and supportive.

Now, regarding the “bed-in-a-box” concern, frankly, there’s really no issue there! In fact, some of the best quality bed-in-a-box brands, like Brooklyn Bedding, DLX, Engineered Sleep, and others available through Trusted Members on Mattress Underground and others made in the USA available on the web, actually outperform and outlast some of the most popular legacy brands that do not come compacted in a box.

These mattresses may be compressed, rolled, and packed in a box, but they still provide exceptional durability, comfort, and support. Many of these brands are highly regarded for their quality, and in many cases, they can even outshine well-known, traditional brands that are not packed this way. So, rest assured, bed-in-a-box doesn’t mean compromising on quality.

When I set out to buy my most recent mattress, the first words that came top of mind was “firmest mattress available.” I did narrow the field down, and now there are those I could add to that field. Some are BiB and some are not. Ultimately, partially due to curiosity, a little a bit of logic and practicality, I selected the @BrooklynBedding - Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe (touted as the firmest mattress on the market). There certainly are others, but your personal preferences, posture and alignment and pressure relief issues will be critical factors.

If you’re a fan of Tempurpedic, you should definitely check out @Tempflow. Tempflow offers a superior alternative thanks to its patented airflow channel technology, which helps channel heat away from the sleeper, keeping you cooler throughout the night.

In the airbed category, there are some great alternatives that outshine the more widely marketed Sleep Number. Brands like Personal Comfort and AirPedic use advanced technology to provide better comfort and support, making them worthy competitors to the Sleep Number beds.

There are plenty of options for you out there. Whether in a box or not. The best course of action is to consider what you think you might like and report back those in consideration, or collaborate with a TM here at TMU as they work with folks like you every day to solve their most nuanced issues.

If you have any specific questions feel free to put them out there.

Maverick

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Maverick,

I really appreciate your insights, especially in that BiB routes aren’t necessarily a lesser pick. Like I said, we’ve gone to stores, but a) I honestly would rather buy online and have it sent without having to do the retail song and dance, and b) it just seems like not all that much other than major preferences can be worked out there (and we already know those).

My assumption is that an esteemed manufacturer using quality materials will produce a firm bed that will be fine to our not all that picky bodies. TMU really helps separate the good firms from the ones willing to cut corners or go for maximum profit.

It looks like the bundles of base and mattress don’t really have a big savings associated with them. I understand that a split king is just two twin XLs put together. Are there any pitfalls to watch out for when buying separate base and mattresses? I think I read that some mattresses are not designed to work with an adjustable base, and worry especially that the firmest ones will be most resistant to conform to the changing shape of the base.

So one example would be the Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Luxe in 2xTwinXL paired with the Costco Sleep Science Q-Series Split-King Adjustable Base. Can you speak to this GlacioTex cooling cover option and whether that is a good idea for an extra $200 per mattress? I guess the idea is to counteract the foam comfort layer heat retention on the hybrid?

I liked the look of the Tempflow UltraFirm. The three quality levels only differentiate on 2, 4, or 6 inches of memory foam at the comfort layer. Not sure that an over $1000 increase for every two inches of topper is compelling, but the price of the base model is a good one. A 40 year warranty is bold.

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While my Plank Luxe Firm has the Glaciotex cover sewn in, it has a minimal effect on keeping you cool. Yes, in a colder room, the cover feels amazingly cool to the touch, but once you add your mattress protector, mattress topper, sheets, and possibly a blanket, the cooling effect is gone. When I purchased my Plank Luxe, I opted for the Glaciotex, thinking that an extra layer of fabric and protection wouldn’t hurt, and the added cost wasn’t going to keep me from having dinner that night.

An unexpected benefit of the Glaciotex cover on the Plank Luxe has been well worth twice the price. Since the mattress is two-sided and the cover is on both sides, it makes rotating the mattress incredibly easy. The Glaciotex material is so slick that rotating it is as effortless as using those slider discs for furniture. Even though the mattress doesn’t shift when I get in and out of bed, rotating it every three months (for over two years now) is smooth and simple.

As for the Sleep Science Split King adjustable, I don’t know much about its quality or whether the deck is solid wood like the Yawder 4, 5, and 6 models, or if it’s made from a metal grid, which is less preferred.

Hope this helps!

Maverick

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I’m homing in on getting two Plank Luxe Firm TwinXL mattresses with the BB mattress protectors and two TwinXL Lucid L300 adjustable bases.

Oddly enough, the BB mattresses are cheaper on Amazon, even after the 30% discount code that BB gave me via chat.

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My hope is that the firm side will be ideal for my wife, who wants a firm mattress but is a side-sleeper, and the extra-firm side will be suitable for myself, who tends to back sleep.

Regrettably, the closest showroom is hundreds of miles away, so it would be sight-unseen.

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I bought our plank luxe sight unseen, on specs only. Over 2 years and still going strong.

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@tmtocloud, See: There’s no such thing as too hard, right? - Talk To The Experts - Mattress Underground

My experience with bed-in-a-box is that you’re likely to get only a pocket-coil system, which I have found is not hard (firm) enough. I’m still searching. Good luck.

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Technically, this isn’t entirely accurate. I believe you may not have encountered a firm enough pocketed coil system that meets your needs. While many bed-in-a-box mattresses do feature pocketed coil systems, you can find options that offer a firmness comparable to traditional innersprings. The key is in how the system is designed.

That said, the contouring nature of pocketed coils can sometimes give the impression of a softer feel, especially when sitting on the edge of the mattress. In comparison, innerspring mattresses with heavy-duty edge borders may feel firmer because of how the body compresses into the mattress, making the overall sensation seem more rigid.

Hope this helps

Maverick

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Maverick - Not sure where I may have introduced an inaccuracy, (bed-in-a-box likely using pocket coils? Or pocket coils not being firm enough?) but I’d be very interested in any further recommendations.

I’ve got nothing more than high-school physics behind this analysis, but the way I’m looking at it is that each spring has a compression factor - meaning it will go down a certain depth depending on the weight (mass) set on top of it. In a pocket coil system all weight goes directly down onto the coils below the sleeper. In a Bonnell or other interconnected coil system the weight of the mass placed on any given point is only partly absorbed by that single coil (and its compression factor). Some of the weight is also distributed to neighboring coils through their interconnectedness. So across a given surface area absorbing a given mass, the coils directly below the sleeping body are not doing all the “work.” They’re distributing the weight of the sleeper to many adjacent coils, thus providing a more “firm” feel.

If you’re aware of any pocket coil system that can match that firmness feel of an interconnected spring system, by all means clue me in! And/or if I misunderstand how the innerspring systems work. Feel free to reply here if it helps tmtocloud, or to my OP about “No such thing as too hard.”

(And to tmtocloud - So sorry to hijack your thread! Truly - only trying to help!)

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I was referring to the comment regarding pocket coils being firm enough, as compared to an innerspring bonnell or any other connected coil system for that matter.

I totally understand where you’re coming from with your high school physics perspective, but I think there’s a bit more nuance when it comes to the way pocketed coils work compared to interconnected coils.

You’re right that each coil has a compression factor, but the firmness of a mattress isn’t just about how the weight is distributed between coils. The thickness, diameter, and number of turns in the coils actually have a much bigger impact on firmness than you might think.

Thicker coils (with a larger diameter) are much more resistant to compression, which means they will compress less under weight, resulting in a firmer feel. Thinner coils, on the other hand, will compress more easily and create a softer feel. So, pocketed coils can be made thicker and firmer, allowing them to resist compression just as much (if not more) than interconnected coils.

For example, the more turns in an 8-inch pocket coil mattress typically result in a firmer and more supportive feel because tighter coils are less likely to compress and provide more resistance to pressure. Which is why many manufacturers simply use tighter coils around the perimeter edge of a mattress to offer better edge support. Then change the height of the coil to 6" and you will likely have an even firmer mattress.

Tightly wound coils are stiffer and less likely to compress under pressure, resulting in a firmer mattress. In contrast, coils with fewer turns are looser and more likely to compress, providing a softer, more conforming feel.

Then there is coil density, the number of coils per unit area also plays a big role in the feel. More coils mean less space for each coil to compress, making the overall feel firmer. Pocketed coils can be designed with higher coil density to achieve that firmer feel, even though they work independently. Also nested coils are arranged in a mattress in a way that more mattress real estate is covered, and with a particular gauge coil can increase firmess or reduce firmness.

In a pocketed coil system, each coil is wrapped individually, which does mean they move independently and provide targeted support, but that doesn’t automatically make them softer. The design and materials used in the pocketed coil system (like coil thickness, gauge, and density) can definitely create a firm feel, sometimes even firmer than traditional interconnected spring systems.

Tempering, which you know, from all of the high school physics, is a process of heating and cooling the steel wire, enhances coil resiliency and strength, ensuring they maintain their shape even after repeated compressions, and some companies triple temper their coils.

So, while your high school physics is correct about how weight is distributed, the actual firmness of the mattress (from only the coil perspective) comes down to the design and construction of the coils. Pocketed coils can absolutely match or even exceed the firmness of interconnected systems when made with the right materials.

If you want to consider Bonnell coil system for example, you can basically conclude it is just a bunch of individual coils, much like pocketed coils (yeah, I know bonnell coils are shaped differently, hour glass design, which also has an effect where the middle of the coil is a bit softer and when it compresses, the rest of the coil’s resistance kicks in) but interconnected so they respond differently as a group rather than a bunch of individual coils. But bonnell’s can be made with different gauges for firmness. So which bonnell are you suggesting you would like to compare.

My understanding of your response, and I may be missing something, is that

My experience with bed-in-a-box is that you’re likely to get only a pocket-coil system, which I have found is not hard (firm) enough.

My response is that you can make a pocketed coil a 12g coil system, harden and turned to be as firm or firmer than most any interconnected system. Conversely, you can do the same with an interconnected system to be very firm too if you make the gauge thick enough.

If you are saying that both systems are using the same gauge coil, and all other things being equal, and the continuous coil system has a thick support perimeter bar, and you sit on the edge of the bed, the interconnected of equal gauge to the pocketed will feel firmer, because as you articulated, the pocket coils are only using the grouping sat on, where the interconnected is getting help from all the surrounding coils.

So to conclude, if both systems are using ##g coils, when sitting on the edge of a mattress with interconnected coils, you’ll likely to feel more solid and stable because all the coils connected are working together to provide resistance. The edge doesn’t collapse as easily, so you get better edge support and a firmer, more secure feeling when you sit down. When sitting on the edge of a pocketed coil mattress, the independent nature of the smaller grouping of the coils means that the edge coils can compress more easily, due to the condensed area of all your body weight on limited number of coils, leading to a slightly softer feel at the perimeter.

If you are simply looking for a very firm mattress, you can always find one that is as firm as you want it to be, even with a bed in a box. Engineered sleep uses a bed in a box system, they make their classic to a 10/10 firmness, at least on their scale measurement. Original Mattress Factory makes quite a few extremely firm, and extremely hard beds that are not BiB. The other thing with it is they use less than 1" of foam of any kind.

This is an interesting BiB product offering. Bonnell coil, 13.5g coil, but plush feel.

Hope this helps clear things up!

Maverick

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