Hi! Hoping for some advice. 5’6” 125-130 lbs primarily a side sleeper though occasionally will switch to back or stomach sleeping during the night. Currently on a Sleep Number, not by choice, and I’ve tolerated it as long as I possibly can. It’s awful. I never feel well rested, frequent upper back, shoulder and hip pain. I share the bed with my 65 lb dog so motion isolation is not a big deal. I do tend to sleep hot as does my furry best friend. I like to feel cushioned but not so much that I feel like I’m being swallowed up. High quality, eco friendly materials are important to me as is longevity. I’ve just come across Glacier Sleep and that seems like a good option though it doesn’t look like I could test it in a showroom first. I am also considering an adjustable base (going without one is not a dealbreaker) but it would have to be used without legs as I have a vintage Ethan Allen bed frame that I’m not willing to part with. Any recommendations that would fit the bill? Budget is flexible.
Most adjustable bases are what’s known as “zero-clearance” and can be used with virtually any bed frame set-up, with legs being optional.
As far as the mattress is concerned, my recommendation is always to find a local, well-reviewed sleep shop (avoid national chains like mattress firm) and go invest 60-90 minutes to experience the mattresses in your sleep position. Experiment with the adjustable bases. Try different pillow options.
Look for manufacturers who focus on natural components, like latex, cotton and wool and if you can find hand-made, double-sided, even better. And don’t worry, if you’ve never heard of them, they’re usually the best option.
Ideally, you want to work with a local store with a sleep expert and someone who really knows the “why” of the mattresses they offer. Take your time. Never feel pressured to buy. Our guests often come back 2 to 3 times before making a decision.
If you have any questions about mattresses you are interested in, come back here and ask questions. We are happy to help.
Thank you for this very helpful response. I appreciate it! I wasn’t sure that there was a good place near me to visit in person as it seems there is a Mattress Firm on virtually every corner but it looks like Quality Sleep Shop is less than an hour from me and they seem very highly recommended here. I will pay them a visit.
Hi Amazucki
Welcome to our forum! 
We’re happy you’ve added your voice to the thread and community!
@SleepSommelier … great advice here; working with a local store and a true expert in the field with real expertise is absolutely the way to do it.
@Amarzuki - I am sorry to hear about the pain you’re having! I see you are in Illinois, so @Quality_Sleep_Shop with Illinois showroom is closest to you; you may also like their sister store @My_Green_Mattress see MGM showroom details as well. I have to agree with SleepSommelier @GoldenDreamsMattress that sleep shops like Golden Dreams in Carslbad are best to visit because they are run by decades seasoned industry professionals who aren’t going to trap customers with sales gimmicks. He’s obviously a bit too far since his shop is in California, so it looks like Quality Sleep Shop and My Green Mattress are great local choices. There are obviously more manufacturers and retailers that are similar, but you have to learn how to discriminate between them. If you want to do some extra legwork and cut through the noise of mattress marketing, you may want to look at the Mattress Industry section on The Mattress Underground forum companion website. The podcast on the page is quite helpful as well.
As you mentioned, @Glacier, I’d add that if you like the type of mattress they offer, you can always give them a call to have a “screen-to-screen” conversation about what you’re looking for, what they feel may be a good fit based on your needs (the shoulder and hip pains you’re experiencing), and personal preferences, and what kind of sleep trial they offer so you’re able to test in your own home over a several weeks to let your body adjust to the mattress and the mattress adjust to you.
Since I’m already here, I’d like to add a few more stores to the mix, such as Nest Bedding stores, which have three locations in the Chicago area where you can test their products as well. You can always reach them on the forum as well @NestBedding
I hope this helps
NikkiTMU
Hi Amarzuki,
We would love for you to stop by and visit our store showroom having our QualitySleepShop and MyGreenMattress models. We have different hybrid mattresses that have innerspring supports with foam and latex padding layers. We look forward to seeing you if you decide to stop by our store. 
-MyGreenMattress & QualitySleepShop
Thank you @NikkiTMU This is so helpful! I’ve been diving a little deeper into all of the resources here to get a better idea of how to identify and shop for a quality mattress that will meet my needs. Nest Bedding wasn’t one I had heard of but it looks like a store near me does carry a few of the brands listed here on the site like Nest, Brooklyn Bedding and Ghostbed. I will make a visit there to try a few out.
@Quality_Sleep_Shop Thank you for chiming in! I’m already so impressed by how much information you provide about each mattress on your website. I look forward to stopping by in the next few days!