Mattress shopping, input please...

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stainfighter

stainfighter

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We perused the various offerings @Ikea Saturday, personally I like very much the "Hogla" model ($479) vs their "Holmsta" ($579). She prefers the Holmsta, which has more padding, yet she wants some firmness...a few years back we spent over $1200 for a latex mattress...it felt firm enough, but by the time we paid that off it went to a guestroom b/c it wasn't' firm enough :-(...

We currently sleep on  Simmons Beautyrest, it has been in use for 10 years so it's time to buy a new one.

Do any members have an Ikea coil bed like the ones I've mentioned? If the model you purchased wasn't

What you wanted, did they honor their mattress return guarantee? It seems like an excellent value for less than the Simmons.

We're going to go try out the local mall today to the Sleep Number air bed...a competitor is Select Comfort...

Personally I find this far more challenging than purchasing a new vehicle; mattress manufacturers change 

details like the wind, making it almost impossible to comparison-shop.

Anyone have input on S.N. and/or Select Comfort???

Perplexed!
 
We bought the "Hogla" about two years ago, for the guest room. It's a very firm mattress. Well built, I think. People who have slept on it, myself included, think its a bit too firm at first but end up liking it. I didn't wake up sore at all. I don't think you can go wrong with it, though I don't have data on long term use, regular use.
Their return policy is as stated. We purchased a different mattress about 60 days prior, they honoured they accepted the return without question. I would purchase an Ikea mattress again.
The mattress we sleep on is a model 5000 Select Comfort, that's almost 10 years old. We love, love, love our mattress! It's worth the higher price tag. I couldn't wait to get rid of our previous mattress, I woke up very day in pain. It resolved almost immediately with the Select Comfort.
I'm a clinical massage therapist, therefore, people who seek my help are also asking for solutions to their our pain. I've recommended this bed on several occasions to clients who are looking for a new mattress. Everyone has told me that it was a good investment.
One caveat on the Select Comfort though, don't buy the cheaper models! We bought one for my parents guest room cuz we loved ours so much. Big mistake. The padding of the higher end ones make the air chambers comfortable.
Hope this helps, Todd
 
My favorite mattress was a Simmons Beautyrest. I kept it a bit too long - 23+ years - and towards the end the padding was pretty much compressed to nothing, but in its day it was the most comfortable. I replaced it with a Sealy, which while a good mattress, was a bit hard to adjust to. When I replace the Sealy, I'll be looking for another Beautyrest or a mattress with similar independent pocketed coil construction.

So... why not get another Beautyrest? 10 years is probably a good time to replace any mattress, but you haven't said the Simmons has worn out yet.
 
worn out...

When shopping @Ikea made us realize ours is on its way out. Ikea uses independent coils like Simmons...can't beat price...thanks for all feedback. ..off to try Sleep Number ...swung by Tempurpedic @HH H Gregg. ..that is off the list for sure
 
We shopped for beds earlier this year and wound up with a Simmons "Recharge" and one other Beautyrest. Both beds are comfortable but the Recharge is firmer, I'd recommend it for back and side sleepers.

According to several salespeople steer clear of their new "Beautysleep" line.. it has a cheaper and less comfortable coil system.
 
Original Matress Factory

Builds by far, a much more heavy duty product than anyone else I've seen.  Katie and I bought a king size Orthopedic Pillowtop set 3 years back and couldn't be happier. 

 

We shopped around for the national brands and were very unimpressed with the low quality overpriced products we found.  I had a OMF mattress before and I knew the quality and comfort were outstanding.   The prices are about 1/3-1/2 of a TOL national brand and it's 2x the product. 

 

What makes it a better product is the heavier gage inner springs thicker padding and they are the only mattress still finished on both sides. 

WK78
 
We have a Sleep Number bed that we love. He likes it a bit firmer and I like it a bit softer and we get the best of both worlds. I sleep like a log on the bed, and when we are not in bed my cats use it during the day. My side seems to be where they gravitate on. We have had our bed since 2006 with no issues at all. No flipping either. It does cost a bit more but we found that its been worth it. Plus you know how some nights you just can't comfortable , well you just change your bed side with the handy dandy remote control. There is an air pump that fills the ar bladder or decreases the air pressure inside it .
 
You might want to compare the coil count of your Simmons vs. the Ikea. As far as I can tell, the Ikea Sultan line has about 500 coils for a queen size mattress. The Simmons, about 800. Might make a difference, I don't know.
 
Beautyrests have 800 coils on the lower-end models, 900 on the midrange and upper-end beds. The 900 coil uses slightly thicker springs in the middle third of the bed (for hip support).
 
As important as coil count

Is the thickness and number of turns in the coils.  I learned about this difference comparing cutaways side by side in the OMF store.  One more thing to look at is the box spring.  Is it a real working box spring or just a wooden crate?

WK78
 
Hotels use them.

When I go to a Hotel, I peel back the sheets just out of curiosity, most of them use Serta. Serta still makes a double sided mattress, which will last longer than a single sided one. Many sellers only stock a single sided mattress, including Macy's and Sears.

I got a Serta King set at Sam's Club (double sided) about 10 years ago and it is still in good condition. Serta does tie their coils together but this makes the coils last longer. If you can afford it McCrosky makes a great bed in San Francisco. However a king is about $5000.00

http://www.us-mattress.com/serta-hotel-sapphire-suite-pillow-top-cal-king.html
 
We are on our second Stearns & Foster bed. This one is 12 years old. Before that, we had a Stearns & Foster bed for 24 years. Both beds have held up exceedingly well. We like out beds very hard. These fit the bill, even though Stearns & Foster also makes softer beds.

Our beds have never sagged or developed any wear marks on them. They are double sided too. We also like the fact that if somebody turns over during the night, the other person isn't disturbed.

And the Stearns & Foster warranty is that if the bed sags at all during the 25 year warranty they will replace it. Now that's a deal.
 
BIG LOTS...............................

IS HAVING AN OFF THE HOOK MATTRESS SALE THIS WEEKEND......BUY THE SERTA MATTRESS AT A LOW PRICE, AND GET THE BOX SPRING FOR ONLY 10 DOLLARS, YOU CAN GET A SERTA BALLARD QUEEN SET FOR UNDER 300 DOLLARS, BOUGHT IT FOR MY DAUGHTER FOR SCHOOL...THEY HAVE HIGHER END MODELS AS WELL.....CHECK THEM OUT ON LINE OR IN STORE!!!!
MIKE
 
Original Mattress Factory

Friends from central New York State were in the market to replace their three year old Serta, which was failing and causing them nightly torture. While I don't own a mattress from the Original Mattress Factory, I recommended that they check into the company's mattresses and box springs, based on the firm's television commercials that I used to see nightly, when living in Pittsburgh.

They were down for a visit three weeks ago, and we drove to Pittsburgh to check the mattresses out. We took the factory tour, tried mattresses, and they purchased a set. While my friends have only been sleeping on the set for three weeks, they are very happy with the build quality and the quality of sleep that they have been getting.

Someday, when I need to replace my ancient mattress, the Original Mattress Factory is where I will make my purchase.

Good luck!

Joe
 
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Ten Mattress Myths from Consumer Reports.com: </span>

 

<span><span> </span></span>

<h4><span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Firmer is better</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The best bed is the one that’s most comfortable to you. Medical experts we interviewed say there have been no well-controlled studies to indicate the best firmness overall. </span>

<h4><span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Coil count is critical</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Any number above 390 in a queen-size mattress should be plenty. Our consultants concluded that coils in all but the cheapest mattresses—less than about $800 list price for a queen-size—are “overdesigned for their function” and ought to provide years of service for most people. </span>

<h4><span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Silk, cashmere, and wool make a bed more comfortable</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The small amounts usually used in the upper padding only make a bed more expensive. When you cover your mattress with a pad and sheets, you can’t directly feel the surface anyway. </span>

<h4><span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">4. A higher price guarantees a better bed</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Anything but the cheapest mattresses can be a fine choice.</span>

<h4><span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">5. If you move in your sleep, the bed is to blame</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Turning is normal; it’s a problem only if it disrupts your sleep. The mattress may or may not be at fault.</span>

<h4><span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">6. A mattress should be used until it sags</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Changes in the human body tend to make a mattress less comfortable long before it wears out.</span>

<h4><span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">7. You must include a box spring, to save the warranty</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Despite sales pressure to buy both mattress and foundation, it’s not always required. Check with the store or company. You may be able to keep your old box spring, if it’s in good shape. </span>

<h4><span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">8. Warranties cover a sagging mattress</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Manufacturers say a mattress can compress by as much as 1 1/2 inches before it’s considered defective.</span>

<h4><span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">9. Stores sell the same mattress under different names</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Retailers often claim that their mattress A is comparable to a competitor’s mattress B. Though you may find beds that are truly alike, most “comparables” we bought had little in common. </span>

<h4><span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">10. Salespeople are always objective</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Manufacturers dangle financial incentives known as SPIFs (for “sales person incentive funds”) to push various brands and models. Commissions can amount to about $100 a bed. </span>

 
 
Also, that firm mattresses are necessarily better for one's back. Not quite the truth. Why? Well, studies found that people tend to toss and turn more on a hard mattress than on a soft one. This was thought to result in less back strain, but instead it tends to result in more interrupted sleep. A supportive but soft mattress is probably best for a restful night. The firmness probably has more to do with one's preferred sleeping position: those who sleep mainly on their side tend to prefer a softer mattress. On their back, a firmer one.

Your mileage may vary.
 
YMMV...

Agree with you, Rich, we left Sleep Number in sticker shock, went to a chain called Mattress Firm, still couldn't stomach $1500 for a coil set. Tomorrow headed to local mom n pop Michaelis Mattress. Keeping options open,but if one had to choose right now would be Ikea.

Will keep all posted,

Robert
 
I have had the worst luck in mattresses from Sleepy's although they have been good so far on honoring their warranty. All have had problems with body impressions greater than 2 1/2 inches and I really think the one sided sleep surface is to blame. So in the last 6 years, the first was a Serta Perfect sleeper, then came a Sealy, then a Kingsdown and now I'm on a Dr. Breus specialty bed (he's one of Oprah's guru's) All were expensive and each time I paid the difference for a new mattress. I think the last one was $1000. but I got a $700 credit. The Dr. Breus bed is holding up pretty well and it is really comfortable.
Good luck in your mattress search, it probably is easier to buy a car!

http://reviews.sleepys.com/1361/DB1783/reviews.htm
 
We got a memory foam mattress from Costco.com...king size. We use it with Ikea box springs (because we could buy them separately). It's very soft but very isolating too--I scarcely feel Brian turning over. You do kind of have to haul yourself up because you sink in. We did have to go with the memory foam because of our 2 story house made it tough to get a mattress upstairs. We also liked Costco's return policy--their normal unconditional warranty. If we were going to be moving around a lot we might pick a Select Comfort---they come apart into several boxes but you can move them easily.
 
Within 2 years my new Sealy pillow top with memory foam lost its memory and I'm always rolling into a divet. I'd never buy another pillowtop. It was one of their more expensive ones too,, although as usual you only ever pay half price or less 
 
I too have an extra firm Sealy with the memory foam pillow top.
I've had mine since 2010, while the bed is still firm, as stated above the memory foam lost its memory and I have a big divet I roll into.

I didn't want a pillow top but I got it since the model was on clearance for $600 for a double bed and the only other super firm Sealy without a pillow top was like $1400
 
Last year Costco had its usual Sealy mattress selection as well as (I think) Sterns and Foster Beautyrest style mattresses with individually pocketed coils. Oddly, the king size version was significantly softer than the queen size version (I flopped down on both when I had a chance). Both were single sided, but I think the king size had a thicker pillow top on it. I preferred the feel of the queen size mattress.

From what I recall, my '77 Beautryrest gave decades of good service. At the end the coils still seemed to be fine, but the padding had compressed sufficiently that it just never felt right. I suppose an enterprising individual could unstitch the cover and install new padding and rejuvenate an otherwise good mattress. In fact, why don't the mfgs make them with covers that just zip on?
 
I've never heard of OMF so don't know if they have a counterpart in this area operating under a different name.

 

The best decision we ever made was to get rid of the box springs under our king size mattress and replace them with a platform.  Our dozen year old Sertapedic that was giving both of us back aches became firm and comfortable again once it had solid support below it.  I learned from that experience not to be so quick to blame the mattress because the box springs are more likely what's shot.

 

Dave still wanted a new mattress so we got a Simmons Beautyrest, not quite the firmest that they offered, but very firm.   I told the guy I wanted the mattress from the commercial where they dropped a bowling ball onto one side of the bed and didn't disturb the person lying on the other, so he led us to a Beautyrest, we tried it out and we were sold.  The Beautyrest doesn't use box springs but instead a sort of platform type base, which we didn't include in our deal since we already had a platform.  I used to hate it when I was able to sleep in but Dave would be getting ready for work, tying his shoes while sitting on his side of the Sertapedic, and I would be shaken awake.  With the Beautyrest, neither of us feels a thing when the other is getting out of bed or tying their shoes on it, and the side construction keeps the mattress firm when sitting on the edge.  It's probably seven or eight years old.  You also don't have to flip a Beautyrest, which I hardly consider a drawback.  Flipping a king sized mattress is a PITA.  With the Beautyrest, you just give it half a spin once or twice a year, if that, and you're done.  Another reason why we won't buy anything but an independent coil spring mattress next time we're in the market.

 

We did the free 90 day trial with a Tempurpedic before shopping for the Simmons.  We sent it back after less than 30 days.  Not only is it like landing on quicksand, but it also made us perspire -- in the middle of winter.   Additionally, it became rudely apparent that people who do have Tempurpedics don't have sex -- or at least not in bed, or at the very least not in that bed.
 
Observation.

I am beginning the painful process of researching a mattress. I have a non-TOL Serta that has turned bowl-shaped. I've thought about the best night sleeps I've had while away from home and they seem to have been at Hampton Inn and Double Tree hotels. I thought about it and it makes sense. These hotels (part of the Hilton chain, for whatever it's worth) pride themselves on comfortable beds. They also need their mattresses to be in top form at all times, their business model depends on it. Mattress replacement is a big factor in the hotel business, so thy use high-quality mattresses.

These hotels do retail mattresses, if you would like to buy one, but they charge a premium and then some for them. I believe they are a high-end mattress from national manufacturers, significantly marked up. If I could find something akin to one of these mattresses for less than $2,000 for my full sized bed, I'd be thankful!

Dave
 

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