Please help pick a mattress that won't sag like Simmons Beautyrest-How is Gardner Mattress?DLX?

Mattress Talk 1) Mattress Selection Process
,
1

To give a quick run down. I have gone through 3 mattresses in the last 8 years. All were different models of a Simmons Beautyrest, including our last one that was a $3500 Black L series Medium Firm. Not even 2 years in and it’s killing our backs from the sagging with a giant ridge in the middle.

I am 5’10 155 lbs. I have bad Si joint issues and lower back issues, am disabled with them. So I usually like a firmer bed but not so firm it hurts my bones since I am on the slimmer side. I also sleep on my stomach and side. I am tired of mattresses sagging on us and ending up in pain with thousands of dollars wasted.

During the process of picking these, I went through and returned probably 5 other mattresses. Varying models of Airloom, Tempurpedic, and Simmons. None of them worked for us. And from what I am reading, ALL of these major brands have severe quality issues now. So I am trying to figure out a different solution.

I am now looking into DLX, Yankee, and Gardner Mattresses. I just want something that is going to last, and work for our needs.

-Needs to be firm enough so I can stomach sleep on it but just soft enough to not hurt my bones or leave me sore.
-CANNOT SAG. Or have some options like being flippable or refillable layers to help negate this if it does sag.
-Budget isn’t really a concern if I can get something that actually lasts
-Do not like the feel of latex, always seems to hurt my back
-Usually do not like all foam mattresses. Needs to be springs/hybrid
-We sleep hot, so something breathable ideally

I have been looking into DLX, Gardner, Yankee. And I am located in MA.

Thank you so much for any advice, this whole process has been a nightmare for years now and I am dreading getting another mattress.

1 Like
2

Hi Rparzial,

You’re absolutely not the only one in this boat. Many people in your situation (dealing with chronic pain, specific support needs, and repeated sagging issues) are hitting the same wall with the big-name mattress brands. These brands are simply not what they used to be. They feel good for the 15-minute instore test and over the long haul start to fail due to excessive foam and lower quality foams piled in the mattress above the support layer.

The direction you’re heading — toward regional, high-quality manufacturers like @DLX @gardnermattress, and Yankee Mattress and @kensigmamattress is absolutely the right move.

While not all of them can completely customize a mattress, all can do at a minimum modest modification to make you sleep as comfortable as possible.

Things that you should ask, look and make non negotiable. Accounting for what you have described, you need a mattress that offers firm support suitable for both stomach and side sleeping, without being so rigid that it creates pressure points, especially given your slimmer build.

It’s critical that the mattress resists sagging over time, so I’d recommend options that are flippable or have modular, refillable/swappable construction to help maintain long-term integrity.

Since latex has consistently aggravated your back and all-foam designs haven’t worked for you, a high-quality hybrid or innerspring build is the way to go. It also needs to be breathable, as you tend to sleep hot.

Budget isn’t a constraint, so the priority should be finding a mattress built to truly last and support your specific orthopedic needs, rather than settling for mainstream models that break down after a couple of years.

Your foundation can be the unsung hero here. If you’re using a slatted base, make sure the slats are rigid, non-flexible, and spaced no more than 3 inches apart. While this level of support may seem overly cautious for some innerspring or flippable mattresses, it’s far better to be a little overzealous with the foundation than to fall short and compromise the performance and longevity of the mattress.

Pillow selection is always an important component here, and it is not just about the price of your pillow. I recently repsonded to another Post where the sleeper has tried “over 5 $100+ pillows.”

While the cost of the pillow has relevance to your wallet, it is less relevant to your comfort preferences. The pillow is like a mattress for your head. It needs to be matched to the firmness of the mattress in conjunction with supporting your head and neck, the correct loft for your style of sleep, be structured and supportive and not break down, just as would would not want your mattress to break down prematurely.

Hope this helps place you on the right track.

Maverick

3

Thank you, I appreciate it. I will let you know how we do with Gardner.

We have a Thuma bed frame, and I swear it is part of the problem. It feels like the slats flex a little to me. So we ended up ordering a Knickerbocker Platform bed. No slats. But I am worried about the mattress breathing now…

1 Like
4

Thuma is not a bad bedframe, but I have read there are issues with the slats flexing and their legs not being recessed so you bump into them. Knickerbocker does make a solid frame, so you should not have any worries, their 360 embrace is very good. No worries about breathing, the right mattress will work those issues out. Just let Gardner or whoever know that is the base you are using.

Maverick