Buying a Mattress? Read This

It is a fact that buying a mattress is a weird and perilous quest, with salespeople primed to talk you into the fanciest model, pamphlets and videos on "sleep numbers," back pain, night sweats, NASA research, the evil of innersprings, the greatness of innersprings, and obscure fibers from high-tech to low (hand-combed horsehair, say). But wait, don't hide under your leaden futon. Let me brush off the dust bunnies and offer a little perspective:

1. If you're like many people, you've waited till your mattress is ancient to replace it. That means your back hurts, your neck hurts, and you're a sad and pitiful grouch. Mattress salespeople love this. You're vulnerable, so you'll listen to their pitch. You're depressed; they'll love to hear your story! They want to be your friend, or even better, your savior. The more impatient you are to get some sleep, the faster you'll hand over your credit card. It's not that there aren't great mattresses out there, but you shouldn't feel pressured to buy the first one you lie down on. Visit a few stores, try beds of all prices, take notes, and consult Sleeper's totally objective mattress reviews.*

2. Your boyfriend's aunt bought a $12,000 bed and swears it cured her sciatica. That is really good news for her. Was she sleeping on a cheap twenty-year-old mattress beforehand? Could be that any number of beds would have helped her back. Yes yes, try the mattress your relative is raving about, and try others, too. (You know how when someone buys a really expensive thing, they sometimes try to talk you into getting it too so they feel better about their decision?)

3. Many department-store sales floors are not staffed by store employees but by mattress makers' reps. That means in the Serta area, the person will try to talk you into a Serta, and in the Simmons corner, same story. What you want, really, is someone who can show you a lot of different mattresses and compare them more objectively. Seek out independent shops. Long's Bedding in Manhattan is a good one.

4. Know that pillowtop mattresses have a shorter lifespan than regular mattresses. It's because you can't flip them, and the pillow wears out before the rest of the bed. If you like a soft top, consider a featherbed or mattress topper you can replace (the one exception being memory-foam pads; in my experience they're a poor simulation of the real thing.) This is not to say I haven't been seduced by pillowtop beds.

5. How much should you spend on a bed? I feel strongly that no one needs to spend $60,000. I've found that beds under $500 of the 1-800-Mattress variety are really disappointing. People say good things about IKEA mattresses. Our bed (an Englander latex) cost around $1,200. There's no real answer, of course. Sleep around as much as possible — we bought our mattress after sleeping the weekend on one at a friend's house. Trust the way the bed feels to you, not the brand name.

* I don't work for anyone in the industry. Why do I do this? I love sleep. And well-made, useful things.

Comments

[Shoshana]

About 11 years ago, I decided to upgrade from a double bed to a queen and at the same time get myself a great mattress because there's nothing like a good night sleep and I think I may have been sleeping on the mattress I got second hand (!) when I was in college (though it was latex and very firm and comfortable). I wonder: does anyone really buy those mattresses that people put up for sale on craigslist?
Anyway, I got a Shiffman. No bells and whistles but it's still wonderful. A warning: I didn't find out until the delivery men arrived that the box spring was too big and rigid to get up my stairs. I had to send it back and get a split box spring.
11 years is a long time for a mattress though. Should I get a new one?

[Sleeper]

A good mattress like yours should last about 15 years, if you've flipped it and taken good care of it (cleaned the vermouth off promptly after the parties, etc.). If there are no trenches in it, and you're still comfortable, hang onto it for a couple of years.

[David]

Any recommendations on mattresses that still require flipping? I had a wonderful matress until three years ago, when we foolishly decided to trade it in for a "no-flip" model. Perhaps the worst decision of my adult life, but now it seems that most of the major brands are no-flip only.

[Michael]

When buying a new matress some stores allow you to try out a new matress for 30 to 60 days. If you are not completely satisfied they will replace the matress or refund your full cost!

[Henry The Memory Foam Mattress Expert]

Purchasing a mattress is a very difficult task. I always was confused by the ads and claims out there about memory foam products. Cost should never be the deciding factor as to whether it is good or bad. I think a memory foam mattress is one of the best for sleep.