This is harder than buying a car! Really!

Mattress Talk Mattress Selection Process
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I am in the process of buying a new mattress, queen size, for myself and wife, we both like it on the firm side, and both weight around 140-145 pounds.

We are located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA in case someone wants to recommend a store.

We are not first time mattress buyers, but our last mattress purchase was 20 years ago and back than the process was not so complicated. We have one from Simmons, it was about 8-10" thick, still works fine, just that we are moving and want a new one, and didn’t realize so much has changed since our last purchase, so need to re-educate ourselves.

First of all, the old mattress we had, we regularly rotate and flip it over. I guess with the new mattress design, this is no longer a thing since it is no longer symmetrical, correct?

Second, since we are moving, and our bed which we are going to keep is a platform bed, we need just a new mattress, and we have no interest on any foundation, adjustments, tilts etc…our initial thought is we will buy the mattress first, and have it delivered to the new place, and when the movers arrive whenever with the bed, we will put the new mattress on the bed, so that means the new mattress will be unused, leaning on the wall for a few weeks. Is this OK?

We tried those memory foam mattresses, didn’t like it at all, my wife feels that the body is sunken into the bed, so that’s out, that means we are left with choices of traditional innerspring or hybrid mattresses, correct?

Not knowing what mattresses may be best for us, and not sure if a $3000 mattress is twice as good for us as a $1500 mattress, one salesman suggested we try the Bed-Match test where you lay on a test mattress and it asked you a few questions, and it came back and recommend we use a soft mattress, and my wife doesn’t like soft mattress, but the salesman said what we like may not be what’s best for your back. Comments?

Seems most new mattresses are very tall (thickness wise) like 18" even 20". My old mattress is only about 10" tops. This is a big adjustment. Is more layer and thicker really better?

Right now my choices, and I haven’t done an exhaustive search are:

KINGSDOWN Beckingham Firm Hybrid $1249
SERTA Blue Lagoon Nights Firm $699 (budget option)
BEAUTYREST PressureSmart 2.0 Extra Firm $1399

I want to try the Simmons Deep Sleep Hybrid Firm.

If there are some other options I should try out please let me know.

I am also a bit worried because whichever mattress I look up it seems every single one had the “2 weeks later it sagged badly and they won’t exchange or replace it” so 5 minutes test experience in stores may not tell the story.

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Which mattress store is using Bed Match in Florida? Sit N Sleep uses it out here in Califirnia.

John

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It’s definitely harder than choosing a new car!

I have no particular wisdom to share, but I wanted to commiserate. And wish you luck finding what you both need to sleep well.

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Not a mattress only store, but Baer Furniture has a mattress section and use this. They are in SE and SW Florida, Fort Lauderdale Naples Fort Myers etc…

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The old mattress I have is 20 years old and it can be rotated and flipped over.

Can someone confirm that the new mattresses nowadays should not and cannot be flipped?

Also can someone comment on whether a new mattress can be stored (for a few weeks) by leaning against the wall almost vertically? Or does it have to lay flat on the floor. The salesman at the store told me if I lean them the inner springs will just all fall to one side and ruin the mattresses.

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Dont lean the mattress!!!

John

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Hi miamicuse,

Around the early 2000s, mattress companies began making one-sided mattresses. Some people liked the idea, while others saw it as a cost-cutting move. Most of the big legacy brands, often referred to as the “S” brands, made the switch as the industry began to change with the rise of Bed-in-a-Box options. So today, many mattresses are one-sided and designed to be rotated, not flipped. Still, there are manufacturers who continue to make two-sided mattresses, and there’s a growing interest in that option again.

Mattresses can be heavy, and flipping them isn’t easy for everyone. But in the end, a well-built mattress made with quality materials is what really matters for comfort, support, and durability.

I sleep on a two-sided mattress myself. Many higher-end or luxury brands like Shifman, ViSpring, Hastens, and Savoir still make only two-sided mattresses, using traditional methods and high-quality materials. Brands like @DLX, a BiB brand, also offer two-sided options at more affordable prices, similar to other BiB price ranges. From my perspective, good quality is good quality, whether it’s flippable or not, but two-sided designs may last longer under equal conditions.

As for storage, I recommend laying the mattress flat. You might see stores like Costco or Sam’s with mattresses standing on their sides, but this can cause buckling or shifting of the internal layers. For foam mattresses that are glued well and vacuum-sealed, it might not be a big issue, but most of them are boxed today. Still, keeping it flat is the safer choice. Gravity always wins. If you’re moving it between rooms, sliding the mattress and setting it on its side for a few minutes is fine, just be careful. Don’t fold or twist it.

Lastly, my usual wisdom. Regardless of what style mattress you choose, your foundation is extremely important. Do not skimp on the foundation, here is something I have written on the subject. Older or newer, your mattress needs the appropriate foundation. Most mattress failures are a result of a poor foundation. I know, the next question is, why does Amazon or whoever, sell the inadequately made ones? The answer should be obvious, those manufacturers are interested in profit not your well being.

Maverick

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Have you tried EJ Schrader in West Palm Beach? Next time I am in town I want to stop in there, they are a mattress manufacturer and make all their mattresses on site.

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Brickell Mattress in Miami……but super high end.

John