The 10 in. Tuft & Needle Diary

I’m in the market for a new mattress. I’m a side/belly sleeper and I’m 6 foot and 285 pounds currently.

Im currently sleeping on a 5 year old Sealy Posturepedic and I cannot stand it. It was a gift and I couldn’t say no. I’m constantly waking up with numb limbs even with it’s built in foam topper I can feel the springs digging in my hip.

Will an all foam mattress like the Tuft & Needle be a better choice? Being a bigger buy makes my choices harder, but the 30 return policy really might help me choosing a better mattress? Any other brands to consider?

Hi LowSkyOrbit,

The first place to start your research is the mattress shopping tutorial here which has all the basic informtion, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choices … and know how and why to avoid the worst ones.

The type of mattress or materials in a mattress you choose is always a personal preference rather than a “better/worse” choice.

Outside of the “regular” information in the tutorial that would apply to everyone … there is some information in post #3 here and the posts it links to that will be helpful for those that are in higher weight ranges where firmer materials and more durable materials will generally be more important.

The Tuft & Needle certainly uses higher quality and more durable materials than the Posturepedic you are currently sleeping on. There is more about some of the “one choice fits all” style of mattresses such as Tuft & Needle in post #3 here and there is also more information about them that would be relevant for higher weight ranges in post #3 here.

This is really too broad a question to be able to answer because I don’t know anything about the types of materials or mattresses you tend to prefer and depending on your preferences or whether you are considering local or online mattresses there are dozens of manufacturers that may also be worth considering on a “mattress by mattress” basis (depending on the quality of the materials in a specific mattress you are considering). Only you can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved for anyone to be able to make specific recommendations or suggest a specific mattress or combination of layers or materials based on specs (either yours or a mattress), health conditions, individual circumstances, or “theory at a distance” (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here). I can certainly help you narrow down your options by avoiding the worst ones and with “how” to choose or act as a fact check but not with which specific mattress, company, or manufacturer to choose.

Outside of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) … a mattress is only as good as its construction and the quality and durability of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label so I would focus more on the materials in a mattress than on the name of the manufacturer that makes it.

There is also more about the most important parts of the value of a mattress purchase in post #13 here that can help you make more meaningful comparisons between mattresses.

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.

If you are also considering online choices then the tutorial post also includes two links to lists of the better online options I’m aware of as well (in the optional online step).

Phoenix

Just ordered a 10"! I am so excited. We bedshare with our 2 year old and we’re all currently squashed on a queen. I will review once we get it. T&N says 7 days to receive it.

Hi roseatespirit,

Congratulations on your new mattress :slight_smile:

You certainly made a good quality/value choice and since the mattress is in a firmer range it would also be more suitable for bed sharing than a softer mattress as well.

I’m looking forward to your comments and feedback when you receive it and have had the chance to sleep on it for a bit.

Phoenix

Hi All,

I’ve had the 10 in. Tuft and Needle for 5 nights now, and am having some mixed results. Both my wife and I notice waking a bit more frequently than usual. Not being stuck awake for any considerable time, but noticeable nonetheless. My wife feels that she has to wake up fully in order to switch from one side to another. We think this has to do with the amount of give that the upper layer has when pressing a hand or arm into it to move (as opposed to our very old traditional coil mattress, which didn’t give, at all).

Additionally, she doesn’t feel that her lower back is supported as well while sleeping supine. I wonder if she experiences this more than I do as she weighs less (130 pounds vs 180 pounds).

Either way, we’re not sure we’re in love with the product so far. We understand that the mattress will take a week or more to fully break in, but are also wondering if we should be considering an additional pillow top or something to help. We have a couple weeks to go before making the decision to keep it or not. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Hi WildSide,

I would tend to wait a few weeks (30 days is a good idea) for your mattress to break in and for you to adjust to a new sleeping surface before deciding on how you feel about it or whether to keep it or perhaps add a topper. There is more about the break in and adjustment period in post #2 here and there are some suggestions in post #2 here that may be very helpful as well (including the suggestion about the type of mattress protector or mattress pad you are using which can make a significant difference in the feel and performance of your mattress).

The most suitable use for a topper is to add some additional softness and pressure relief to your mattress so if after 30 days or so you decide that you need some additional softness and pressure relief then you can certainly add a topper although there is always some uncertainty involved in choosing the type, thickness, and firmness of a topper would be the best “match” for you in combination with a specific mattress. Tuft & Needle also has a great return policy that allows you to try their mattress with little risk so if you aren’t certain about adding a topper then you can also return it and choose a mattress that is a better “match” for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences).

Phoenix

I also just recently acquired this mattress. I’ve seen nothing but great results from it. Although it didn’t get rid of some minor back pains like it promised to, I have noticed that my sleep quality every night has definitely increased and it takes me a shorter time to fall asleep. I guess now I’ll just wait and see if it helps ease my back pain, but so far it’s been a generally positive experience.

Hi clarkaster1,

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with Tuft & Needle … I appreciate it :slight_smile:

I don’t think that any reputable retailer or manufacturer would ever promise that a mattress would get rid of back pain so I’m not sure where you read this. The best a mattress can do is keep your spine and joints in good alignment which can help prevent back pain if your back is in good condition and can also help in the healing process if you have preexisting back issues (along with medical treatment or course) but a mattress that keeps one person in good alignment may not work nearly as well for someone else because each person is unique in their body type, weight distribution, sleeping positions, and physiology. The only reliable way to know whether any mattress is a good match for someone in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) or how it will affect someone’'s back pain is based on their own personal testing or sleeping experience although firmer mattresses (but not too firm which can also cause back discomfort or pain) will generally have the highest odds of success for “most” people with back pain.

I’m not sure how long you’ve had your mattress but there will also be a break in and adjustment period for the first few weeks as you get used to a new sleeping surface (see post #3 here) so I’m looking forward to any ongoing feedback you have the chance to share.

Phoenix

My wife and I have been sleeping on our new TN for about a week now. I was happy that there was not an odor after unpacking and I let it air out for about 8 hours before putting on sheets. We both felt it was very firm initially, but seems to be slowly breaking in over the week. I’m anxious to see how it is in a month.

Hi drdt10k,

Thanks for the update … I appreciate it :slight_smile:

Phoenix

Planning on ordering this mattress today, as I’ve read nothing but positive reviews about it!

Hi CommanderChris,

Congratulations on your new mattress :slight_smile:

You are certainly making a good quality/value choice and I hope your new Tuft & Needle works out as well for you as well as it has for many others that have purchased it although if for some reason it doesn’t turn out to be as good a “match” as you hoped for then there is little risk in trying it because of their great return policy!

I’m looking forward to your comments and feedback when you receive it.

Phoenix

I am pretty sure I am going to order a Tuft and Needle very shortly. I am very confused about the kind of foundation. The mattress I am replacing is embarrassingly old (25 years) and so is the foundation. So, I feel like I need a brand new foundation. I have seen reviews on various sites where people say that you should not use a standard type (like the one that came with my old innerspring mattress) because of ventilation issues, and there may be a problem with mold. If that is the case, then I would think that putting a foam mattress on a wood platform bed would create the same problem (not that I plan to buy a platform bed). Some have recommended a metal box spring frame, although I am not sure how that would fit since I have a bed which has, not just a headboard and footboard, but sides as well. Obviously I need something to go under the mattress. Your help is much appreciated.

It’s all explained here. Very thorough analysis.
-Jeff

Thank you!

I am truly amazed at how much great information exists on this site. I am currently in the market to upgrade to a new bed off of my very soft kirkland king size bed when I move into my new home soon because it leaves me with lower back soreness that I just cannot shake. I was almost set to go with a sleep number bed i8 that my SO and I had tried out in the store, when I stumbled across these newer companies like T&N and Casper. After ton’s of research and great posts from the members on this site and other places, we will be ordering a 10" T&N later this evening. The way I see it, with there be little to no risk involved because of their great return policy, and we could find ourselves really liking and getting a bed we didn’t even know we were looking for, or maybe we won’t and we move on to try the next one. With almost a 3k price difference between the sleep-number and the T&N, I am all for a bed testing experiment. I will check back in later to report my findings on how the new bed turns out soon!

Hi mars315,

Jeff already linked the reference post for foundations and support systems which includes many good options for a suitable support system for your mattress (thanks Jeff :))

Assuming that you decide to pull the trigger on the Tuft & Needle as well … congratulations on your new mattress :slight_smile:

Phoenix

Hi Joebohoebo,

Welcome to the Mattress Forum! and I’m glad the site could help you.

You are certainly making a great quality/value choice and I hope you have the chance to share your feedback when you receive it to let us know how it works out for you. As you mentioned with their free return policy there is little risk in trying it.

Congratulations on your new mattress :slight_smile:

Phoenix

We are also about to try out the 10" Tuft & Needle. Went to a local mattress shop and we liked the memory foam ones the best, but we were concerned about off-gassing, so we are going to give the Tuft & Needle a go because of their Certapur certification.

The thing to keep in mind Lizabeth is that the T&N 10" is very different from a memory foam mattress. Make sure you understand that the characteristic soft and sinking feel of memory foam will not be what you experience with T&N. I love our T&N, but it is a firm mattress that keeps your body on top of the mattress as opposed to the sinking feeling you get with memory foam.

When I first laid on it I thought it was way, way too firm even though I knew it would be and that is what I wanted. It’s a totally different feel and one that might take a few days or weeks to adjust to. Once adjusted, however, I really love it. The support is amazing and even though it feels firm pressure points do not build up, at least for me.

So, just and FYI. T&N feels a whole lot different than memory foam mattresses.