Hello,
I am not an expert — I’m very much a novice. In fact, I registered for an account just so I could respond to your post.
Previously, I had lurked on this website (and others, although this one in particular is extremely helpful) for a few months as my husband and I considered our options. A Sterns & Foster ”Luxury Firm” mattress at a high end hotel in Downtown Chicago (Loews) is the reason we even started looking at mattresses this summer! It was wonderful, and made us realize how terrible our old mattress was at home. After our stay, we were determined to try and replicate what we experienced.
Let me back up for just a moment. Again, I’m no mattress expert — far from it. In fact, we hadn’t purchased a mattress since 2002 — a Serta Perfect Night. We slept on that until 2015, then started sleeping on our guest room mattress (which was even older, but RARELY used). This was a Serta Perfect Sleeper. So needless to say we were out of the loop as far as the latest and greatest in mattresses. Here’s what I found out:
—mattresses are now made completely differently in the 17 years since we last purchased a mattress (and not for the better)
—mattresses now break down WAY more frequently, and this is commonly accepted. (I’ve read mattresses last something like 4-7 years now!)
—most of the S company brands (Sealy, Sterns & Foster, Serta, Simmons) make inferior quality mattresses and care more about profit margins than making a quality product; avoid if possible.
Thanks to this site I found the name of the YouTube mattress guru, known as the “beducator”, Jeff Schreur (might be spelling that wrong), and we had a nice conversation. He owns a mattress company in Michigan, and really knows his stuff. When I explained we had loved a S&F bed, he suggested I find a local mattress retailer or furniture store that sells Therapedic brand mattresses, specifically their Medicoil HD line. He said these Medicoil HD beds felt the most like “the old Sterns and Foster mattresses”, back when they were a premium product. Jeff is in a different state from us or we would have ordered right from him. But, we had to find someone local. I had to drive 50 miles, but I found a local furniture store that carries Therapedic Medicoil HD beds. They are handmade, with quality materials, made with high density foams and heavy duty coils, won’t break down in 4-7 years (they have a 20 yr warranty actually). OMG!!! From the second we hopped on, we were in love. I wanted to keep trying our beds to make sure, but my husband said “why do we even need to? THIS is it.”
It was delivered a few weeks ago, and after about a week adjustment period my husband and I are loving our new bed. It’s comfortable; firm (but not painfully so) with excellent “bones”, supportive, and works for both of us (we sleep in different sleeping positions). I like it even better than that S&F bed we tried this sunmer! I know it will last us for years. Hope this helps!