Comfort is subjective
What is comfortable for one person might not be for another. The best way to shop for a mattress is in person. Ultimately, you can order your mattress from an online source, but first do your due diligence. If you are a couple, shop together, and if possible, take your pillows with you. Make sure you lie on a mattress for at least 10 minutes in your normal sleep position. A mattress should gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same shape as if you were standing with good posture. And never rely on labels to tell you which mattress will give you the right support; one person’s “firm” is another’s “rock-hard.”
It’s what’s on the inside that counts
Basically, there are two types of mattresses: innerspring and foam. Neither is better; it’s just about personal preference.
Innerspring mattresses, which get their support from metal coils, are the most common. Don’t let a salesperson convince you that a mattress is good based on the number of coils it has – it’s not important. What is important is the gauge, or thickness, of the wire the coils are made from, which affects the firmness of the mattress: The heavier the gauge, the stiffer the mattress; the lighter the gauge, the springier the mattress. (Remember that the lower the gauge number, the more durable the wire is. For example, a 12-gauge wire is thicker than a 14-gauge wire.)
Foam mattresses are filled with a combination of natural fibers and synthetics. When most people think of foam mattresses, they are thinking of memory foam or viscoelastic foam that molds to the contour of your body. Expect to pay more for one of these mattresses – at least $1,000 for a queen.
It’s more than just a name
It is very difficult to buy a mattress based on name only. Manufacturers make minor modifications to their mattresses – for example, changing the exterior cover and model name – for each retailer. This means that the same mattress will be sold by different retailers under different names and most likely at different prices. The best bet is to go with what feels good to you.
Skip the bells and whistles
Mattress prices can be driven higher by unnecessary special features. Some manufacturers say that wool- or silk-covered mattresses help to keep you warm or cool – a claim that is questionable considering you are covering the mattress with a mattress pad and sheets, thereby eliminating any direct body contact. Similarly, don’t be taken in by the look of a mattress covered in beige damask or 800-thread-count sateen; you are going to put linens on it the minute it’s in your home.
Don’t buy one without the other
A box spring – or slats, in the case of a platform bed – acts like a shock absorber to prolong the life of your mattress and provide more consistent support. It will also help reduce the motion you feel when you or your partner tosses and turns. Box springs, like mattresses, wear out. If you lie directly on your box spring and it feels uneven, or you roll toward the middle, you know you need a new one.
Be careful of trying to save money by buying just a mattress and doing without a box spring. The two are designed to work together, so if one is worn out, the other probably is, too. In a short amount of time, a new mattress will conform to the weak areas of your old box spring and reduce the amount of support and comfort you will get.
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