xps24,
I think that perhaps the best place you could start is to read the guidelines on this page. This will help you avoid most of the common traps and pitfalls of mattress shopping and likely lead you away from the chain stores (like mattress firm) and the major brands (like Serta) and help you focus on the much higher quality and value that is usually available from local factory direct manufacturers or sleep shops that sell smaller alternative brands.
The motion perfect is basically the Ergomoton 400 at adjustablebeds.org with a few minor enhancements. I personally bought the Reverie Deluxe because the value was a little better although both would have made good choices. Reverie makes all the bases for Tempurpedic.
There is an analysis and review of the entire iComfort lineup in post #11 here.
There are some innerspring mattresses which can be used with an adjustable base (the outlet will tell you if they are suitable) but they are usually used with either memory foam mattress or latex mattresses which would all work fine on an adjustable base if they have a foam core (instead of an innerspring).
Some good basic information that may be worth reading just to give you some general information that will help you clarify some of the “mystery” about mattresses are in the overviews in the mattresses section of the site. I would scan these rather than “study” them so you can ask better questions.
There is a regional factory direct maufacturer in your area called Denver Mattress which carries a range of mattresses that would likely have better quality and value than most of the other choices in your area. I would focus on the brands they make rather than the major brands that they also carry and in particular I would look at the Aspen and the Snowmass which are latex mattresses which have good value. With your weight … the firmer Snowmass may be a better choice between the two if you are comfortable with the pressure relief, support, and the overall feel of the mattress.
Another option I would consider if you are comfortable with the idea is to consider a purchase from one of our manufacturing members that make mattresses with much better quality and value than are available in many areas of the country and specialize in shipping anywhere across the country. They are all highly skilled in helping you make good choices and many of them allow you to actually choose the layers of foam in your mattress to best suit your needs and preferences. Some time spent on the phone with these (and they are listed in post #21 here) telling them about your needs and preferences will help you a great deal whether you choose to go in this direction or not. Not all of these would be within your budget range but some of them definitely would and they are all much better quality and value than mattresses that most people in a similar budget range or even much higher would typically end up purchasing.
[quote]I do get hot when I sleep. Also, I believe if I were to get a big foamy, foamy mattress I would sink into the bed to much and might be a little harder for me to turn to my side.
I understand it is an important investment but I was looking to stay under $1,500 for the mattress… if needed or simply feels amazing I could go up in price…[/quote]
Of the two main types of specialty foams that you will find in mattresses (memory foam and latex) … latex tends to be much cooler and is also much more motion friendly (it doesn’t have a “memory” that can make movement more difficult). It is also the most durable and supportive generally available. I would tend to stay away from thick layers of polyfoam in the upper layers of your mattress because this tends to be lower quality and breaks down faster than higher quality foams. A layer of softer foam in the range of about 3" (either memory foam or latex) over a firmer layer for good support would be typical for someone of your weight and sleeping position. Depending on your preferences and pressure relief needs … a medium soft top layer in the range of 24 - 28 ILD may work well. Your experience on the Aspen and the Snowmass may also help provide a guideline for the type of comfort layer that works for you.
Relax2Sleep is retail outlet that carries Sterling Sleep and Natura both of which make some high quality mattresses. While they will likely be outside of your budget … they can provide some helpful guidelines about the type of mattress that may work for you if you decide on an online purchase.
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Hope this helps and feel free to post any questions or comments along the way.
Phoenix