Mattresses Full Story

According to Dr. Scott Bautch, a Wisconsin chiropractor interviewed by Mary Duenwald for an article in The New York Times, "Your spine should look the same when you're lying down as it does when you're standing up." That means that when you are lying on your side, your shoulders and hips should sink into the mattress, while your waist is supported. A too-firm mattress -- whether made of foam, springs or air chambers -- may not allow enough give for that to happen. An excellent article at Australia's Choice magazine explains that a hard mattress may tax back and neck muscles, which will have to work harder to keep your spine straight. At the same time, Choice's editors say a too-soft mattress will also cause spinal alignment problems, as "your muscles work to compensate for the lack of support." Keep in mind that heavier people, however, may need a firmer mattress than average people in order to provide similar spinal support. But most people probably need something in the middle, neither the hardest nor the softest mattress.

Cornell University's Ergonomics group recommends looking for a mattress designed to conform to the spine's natural curves and to keep the spine in alignment when you lie down. Also suggested are mattresses designed to distribute pressure evenly across the body to help circulation, decrease body movement and minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other, as well as one that includes perimeter edge support.

Although three-fourths of mattress buyers still go with a traditional innerspring mattress set, the noisiest industry buzz is reserved for expensive new technologies like Tempur-Pedic mattresses (*Est. $1,900 queen size) made of viscoelastic, also known as memory foam. Originally, NASA created viscoelastic for use in astronauts' seats to help absorb G-forces.

We found many glowing testimonials from owners who say the Tempur-Pedic is enormously comfortable. We also found a couple of professionals who say memory-foam mattresses are a good choice for those with back pain or osteoarthritis. Jeffrey K. Bergin, dean at the National University of Health Sciences, reports to WebMD.com's Leanna Skarnulis that memory foam "supports the entire body at all the pressure points as though you're floating."

Experts say the Tempur-Pedic mattress receives a wider range of opinions from testers than other mattress types like air or spring. And while owners generally like Tempur-Pedic, a few issues pop up repeatedly in owner-written reviews. Users say that Tempur-Pedic mattresses take some getting used to, in part because they aren't as squishy as an innerspring mattress with fluffy quilted ticking. Some users say that in colder weather, the Tempur-Pedic mattress feels hard; that's an impression we found confirmed elsewhere, that the foam gets firmer in cooler temperatures. Some owners report that their new mattress has a strange chemical smell from several days up to a couple of weeks, and Tempur-Pedic acknowledges that this odor is a result of "our unique manufacturing process." The odor goes away eventually, but some find it noxious. A Tempur-Pedic spokesman told testers the company would replace the mattress if the smell continues to bother the sleeper.

While most reviews say the Tempur-Pedic mattress is very supportive, some say that because the foam conforms to your body so much you can feel a bit like you're being swallowed by the mattress, and that it's hard to move around or change positions easily.

One obvious drawback to a Tempur-Pedic is price. A queen-size mattress costs in the neighborhood of $1,900, and that doesn't include a box spring (*est. $300). That's twice as much as a high-quality innerspring mattress set. Other manufacturers are now making less expensive foam mattresses to compete with Tempur-Pedic. The most notable of these is Bergad, makers of the Isoform line of foam mattresses. According to reviewers, the Isoform Classic (*est. $800) compares well to Tempur-Pedic and costs a fraction of the price. Sealy, Serta and others are now making their own versions of memory-foam mattresses.

Your mattress choice these days includes deciding between a traditional innerspring mattress and one of the newer types on the market, including foam (such as the Tempur-Pedic), air (such as the Sleep Number bed) or latex (such as Royal-Pedic). Experts agree that any of these types can provide proper support, and that choosing between them comes down to how much you can spend and whether you're willing to pay a premium for a foam or latex mattress that doesn't need flipping and reportedly lasts for 20 years.

Based on expert and user reviews, we were not able to form a definitive opinion on whether foam, latex or air mattresses really are a superior choice. Accordingly, while we list various mattress types in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers, the safer choice remains with the more traditional spring-type mattresses for consumers who don't want to personally test mattresses before buying them. Keep in mind, however, that all reviewers say shoppers should test a mattress -- at a store, hotel, even at a friend's home -- before buying. Some retailers and manufacturers offer an in-home test. Just keep in mind you'll most likely be responsible for paying shipping charges both ways.

Innerspring mattresses

Innerspring is the most popular and familiar type of mattress. But at the same time, a dizzying variety of brands, models and features can make mattress shopping confusing. Simmons, Sealy and Serta rule the mattress market along with Spring Air, Duxiana and Stearns & Foster, and there are still dozens of other brands out there. Each offers a variety of lines, from the basic models up to fancy pillow-top mattresses with hand-stitched embroidery. To make matters worse, manufacturers have dozens of names for models that may vary only slightly in features, and many offer "exclusives" to certain stores. The result is that it's impossible to comparison shop based on the model name.

Although model names and cosmetics vary widely, innerspring mattresses share the same basic structure. Differences between less expensive models and more expensive innersprings include qualities you can see -- such as pillow tops (an extra layer of cushioning on top of the mattress), mattress height and the fabric used for the cover. But it is the construction details that you can't see -- such as coil gauge, coil count and construction materials -- that determine the firmness of the mattress, quality and how long it will last. Stain-resistant fabric is one trend. The Simmons HealthSmart has a removable, washable cover, while Serta's Perfect Sleeper models are made with stainproof yarns.

Most mattress stores offer cross sections of mattresses so you can see and feel the interior materials for yourself. The ultimate goal, as with any product, is to score the highest-quality mattress within your price range, but that's hard to do unless you know what you should be looking for. Innerspring mattresses use coiled springs, which give support and make the mattress firm or soft. Springs come in three shapes: hourglass, continuous-coil and pocket spring.

Hourglass-shaped springs. Traditional hourglass-shaped springs, which are attached through spiral wires, compress easily when new. But as the springs compress over time, the mattress becomes firmer. Mattresses made with hourglass springs aren't as durable in the long term, and may become too firm. Sealy budget BackSaver and Posture Premier lines use hourglass springs.

Continuous-coil springing is an arrangement of coils compiled from a single length of wire. These tend to have thicker coils and offer more support. Both the hourglass and continuous-coil springs connect to each other at the top and bottom, affecting the springs around them when compressed. Continuous-coil springs are more durable and maintain their shape longer than hourglass springs. Serta's Perfect Sleeper series uses continuous coils.

Pocket springs. The third spring type is a pocket spring. These are different because they are in their own "fabric pocket" rather than being connected to each other like hourglass and continuous-coil springs. Pocket springs react individually to pressure and weight. Mattresses with pocket springs are a good choice for couples. Because the springs move a bit more independently, you may be less affected by your partner's movements. Simmons' Beautyrest Classic mattresses use pocket springs.

Spring descriptions don't stop with shape; they also differ in strength, called wire gauge. Lower-gauge numbers offer thicker wires, which in turn make a firmer mattress. Thinner wires have higher-gauge numbers, resulting in a softer mattress. A good-quality full-size mattress has a wire gauge of between 12.75 (more firm) and 15 (less firm).

Springs may also vary in distribution throughout the mattress. Commonly, firmer springs are found in the middle, since that is where the body needs the most support. Some newer models have edge-to-edge support, with firmer springs along the edges of the mattress for the times you sit on the edge of the bed. Stearns and Foster innerspring beds are known for good edge support, with a foam enclosure around heavy-gauge 12.75 coils.

Mattresses can boast up to as many as 1,000 individual coils, but you don't need such a high coil count to get a quality mattress. Editors at Choice say a good mattress should have a minimum of 300 coils in a full-size bed, 375 in a queen size and 450 in a king size. Editors at What's The Best Mattress discourage judging a mattress on coil count alone. Coil counts can be misleading, since two mattresses of equal coil count can have completely different characteristics such as gauge strength.

Many manufacturers use the same spring system in all of their mattresses, but use a variety of filling materials, which can significantly boost both comfort and price. The middle padding, usually foam, lies directly beneath the quilted top layer. Consumer Reports says "egg carton" foam is softer compared to flat foam, and helps spread your weight over a wider surface area. Look for more resilient foams, which feel almost moist to the touch. Foams that feel dry or crunchy won't spring back as readily. Low-end models might use materials such as lower-grade foam or reclaimed cotton fibers in lieu of foam. The editors at Choice say the cheaper materials don't tend to last as long because they can break apart or form lumps and pockets, losing the ability to spring back.

Deluxe mattresses might also include layers of wool, cashmere, latex, goose down or memory foam. Luxury layers such as these add significantly to the price, but might not make a big difference in durability or comfort. You can compare and feel the difference in many mattress shop cutouts.

The final layer of padding is the insulation padding. This layer lies directly on top of the springs, preventing you from feeling them. A "coco pad" (from a coconut husk) and a "shoddy pad" (matted fabric) are glued together and often used as mattress insulation. There should be a metal screen or layer of plastic webbing between the springs and insulation to prevent the springs from chewing up the padding. The only effect this layer might have on your comfort is if multiple layers of coco pad are used alone (without a shoddy pad). This can make a mattress feel too hard.

The outermost fabric covering of the mattress is called the ticking. The materials used in the ticking vary from foam-backed vinyl, found in low-end mattresses, to the more common polyester. Many manufacturers tout silk coverings, but experts say this is more of a marketing gimmick. Silk is no more durable than polyester.

Manufacturers add a number of enhancements to the outside of the mattress. A pillow top is an extra two- or three-inch layer that sits on top of the main mattress. This adds an extra layer of plushness without affecting mattress support. Euro-top mattresses differ from regular pillow tops in that they're made with higher-quality material and have a nicer finished look. If you like the "feather bed" feeling, a pillow top might suit you. Experts say thick layers of padding (like pillow tops) are more likely than the springs to compress, resulting in the impression that the mattress is beginning to sag even though there's nothing actually wrong. Several reviewers discourage buyers from purchasing pillow-top mattresses for this very reason, and instead suggest buying a separate mattress topper, then replacing it as needed.

Most mattresses are now being sold with only one sleep surface; they no longer need to be flipped. Rotating the mattress, however, is still a good idea.

The final factor in buying an innerspring mattress is the humble box spring. You may or may not be able to keep your old box spring. Because newer mattresses are heavier than the mattresses of ten or 15 years ago, you could need a new box spring to support the increased weight. Many, but not all, manufacturers will void your warranty if you're not using a matching box spring. Though the salesperson may work to convince you that you also need a box spring, be sure to ask whether you must buy one to maintain the warranty.

Box springs are less costly to produce, but often the price for the box spring is close to the mattress price, so it's not much of a leap to guess that this is where most of the profit margin lies. For that reason, you might be able to negotiate a discount. It doesn't hurt to ask. In fact, buying guides often stress negotiating for price or extras since, depending on the retailer, marked prices in this market are often just a starting point.

Foam mattresses

A high-quality foam mattress will offer good pressure relief and will contour to your body in response to your body heat and weight, giving good support. Foam mattresses are made with a variety of materials; the most popular are viscoelastic, latex and polyurethane. Viscoelastic, such as that used in Tempur-Pedic and Isoform beds, is the most expensive and most durable. Less expensive polyurethane might feel comfortable at first, but over time the material can degrade and compress more quickly than viscoelastic. Latex is a good choice for allergy and asthma-prone people since it is hypoallergenic and dust mite-resistant. Latex's breathable characteristic is known for keeping the sleeper warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and some prefer it to viscoelastic. According to MyFoamMattress.com, latex mattresses spring back more quickly so it's easier to move around in bed than on a viscoelastic mattress.

A viscoelastic memory-foam mattress can be affected by cold weather, making it feel firmer. The mattress will feel softer once it warms from body contact. Reviews say that viscoelastic foam feels warm with body heat, a sensation that's nice in the winter but could feel too hot in the summer. Latex foam isn't as affected by room temperature, and won't feel firmer in cold weather. Viscoelastic and latex foam mattresses are good choices if one person tosses and turns more than the other. Memory foam in particular doesn't bounce, so one person's movements are more isolated.

Foam mattresses, however, aren't for everyone. We found many comments from owners who say they had to spend some time getting used to sleeping on one. That's because foam mattresses don't feel as fluffy or squishy as an innerspring mattress with pillow tops and cushy quilted ticking. Before you buy, you'll want to take a test nap on a foam mattress. In an interview with Daily Southtown reporter Jamie Oslawski, chiropractor Corlin Stein says foam beds might not be the best choice for heavier people because the foam "tends to get crunched together," resulting in loss of spinal support. Both viscoelastic and latex are durable. Latex mattresses are more expensive.

Viscoelastic foam comes in several densities; that's why you'll see a big price difference between premium brands and budget lines. Although foam density doesn't tell the whole story, in general, you want a higher foam-density number of four to six pounds. Tempur-Pedic beds (*Est. $1,000 to $4,100, depending on size) have a foam density of 5.3 pounds. Less expensive, less durable foam beds have a much lower density of two or three pounds. Experts say you should also look for a foam core of between four and six inches.

One less expensive alternative to Tempur-Pedic is the Isoform Classic (*est. $500 to $1,050, depending on size), which has a 5.5-pound viscoelastic foam density -- comparable to that of Tempur-Pedic. We read over 100 reviews on Epinions from owners, many of whom assert that despite the lower cost, Isoform beds are comparable in comfort to Tempur-Pedic.

Bergad, which makes the Isoform bed, is an Internet-only company. While you can try out a Tempur-Pedic bed in stores, you can't test an Isoform bed prior to purchase. Both manufacturers tout a no-obligation trial period. If you decide you don't like the mattress, you can return it to the company and pay only shipping charges (which vary according to where you live). However, we read several complaints that Bergad customer service is unresponsive. And, while Tempur-Pedic says customers who return mattresses pay a return shipping charge equivalent to the delivery charge, Bergad doesn't issue this guarantee. We read comments from owners who were charged a much higher shipping rate to return a mattress. Since you can't test this bed before you buy, you should be very confident that you want a foam mattress, which, as discussed above, isn't for everyone.

Other manufacturers are now producing foam mattresses. Sealy offers its Reflection True Form visco foam line and Simmons produces Caresse viscoelastic line.

Right now, viscoelastic memory foam is more popular, but latex memory foam is also an option. Some experts prefer latex because latex foam doesn't get as hot as you sleep and is a bit springier, so it's easier to move around and change positions. Latex foam is also resistant to dust mites.

AllergyBuyersClub.com, a website designed for allergy sufferers, endorses Royal-Pedic latex foam mattresses (starting at *est. $4,435 for queen size with box spring). Latex mattresses don't feel as warm as viscoelastic, but they still have memory properties, plus they are dust-mite resistant. However, latex mattresses are heavy. A queen-size Royal-Pedic mattress weighs about 145 pounds.

Sealy has a latex mattress called Sealy Posturepedic Springfree (*Est. $2,070 for a basic queen set). While the Royal-Pedic mattresses are made of real, natural latex, Sealy uses synthetic latex for their version. Experts prefer natural latex, which lasts for 20 years or more and is biodegradable.

If you think you'd like a foam mattress but don't want to spend so much, one alternative is a foam mattress pad that you can simply lay on top of your regular innerspring mattress. Tempur-Pedic sells a one-inch-thick viscoelastic pad (*est. $250 to $520, depending on size), which you can roll on top of your existing mattress. Bergad also sells Isoform viscoelastic pads from two to four inches thick. Epinions reviewers are generally positive about Isoform toppers, touting them as an inexpensive method of achieving a high comfort level. The nice thing about a mattress pad is that it can easily be replaced.

Air beds

Select Comfort is one of the fastest-growing U.S. bed providers and the maker of the well-known Sleep Number Bed. In place of springs, Select Comfort has air chambers that pump and release air in and out of the mattress. The Sleep Number has settings between zero and 100 that represent a combination of mattress comfort, firmness and body support for each side of the bed. If your partner likes a firm mattress and you like a soft mattress, no one has to suffer. You can both adjust your own side to your liking. Select Comfort beds are also available without the divider and with only one control pad. Panelists involved in mattress tests favored the pillow-top style over the basic Sleep Number model.

Better Homes & Gardens recommends Select Comfort beds because the mattresses, which look like "real" mattresses, have air chambers that are completely enclosed and protected within layers of foam. Owner comments for the Sleep Number bed are mixed. As with all types of mattresses, many owners are very happy, but others comment that the Select Comfort bed isn't worth the high price. Some complain that it is not as comfortable as they had hoped. Some say they can't adjust the mattress to be firm enough for them. Again, the only way to tell if the Sleep Number bed is right for you is to give it an in-store trial.

Inflatable guest beds such as the AeroBed (*Est. $175, queen size) are not meant to replace a regular bed. These can be inflated and deflated as needed. Chiropractors say that inflatables don't offer enough support for long-term use. ConsumerSearch has a separate report on this type of air bed.

Adjustable beds

Experts say adjustable beds, which can bring you to a sitting position, should be used primarily by people who are immobile or who have medical problems such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, circulation problems or a difficult time sleeping on a flat bed due to health conditions. Experts also add that mattresses sold as "therapeutic" solutions are actually not much different than hospital beds. Rather than purchasing an adjustable bed, they suggest simply using additional pillows, which can help simulate an adjustable bed.

Adjustable beds prevent free movement during sleep. While full-blown tossing and turning may impede one's sleep, small movements are important for spine health. In an interview at WebMD.com, Roger Herr, PT (president of the American Physical Therapy Association Home Health section) says movement during sleep is normal and in most cases shouldn't be discouraged. Arthritis Today author Susan Bernstein also disapproves of adjustable beds, suggesting instead a pillow-top or a foam mattress topper under the sheets for those with back or joint pain. She also recommends satin sheets to improve one's ability to turn over and get out of bed. As always, check with your physician on the best sleeping arrangements for you if you have any health concerns.

Waterbeds

The vinyl waterbed recently celebrated its 40^th anniversary, and although they're not as popular as they used to be, they still have a good reputation, especially with allergy sufferers. One benefit of a waterbed is the lack of pressure points, since the water forms to your body. The key is to ensure the mattress is full enough so there is enough support. When shopping for a mattress, be sure to look for one that minimizes the amount of disturbance you may receive if you sleep with a partner.

Waterbeds are quite a bit savvier then they used to be. You can find models with luxury touches like washable pillow tops. Some claim to be 85 percent or 95 percent waveless. The extra-firm, waveless Sorento (*est. $1,180 to $1,425, depending on size) has an added layer of memory foam. The Land and Sky New Century NightFlight Elite (*est. $1,000 to $1,575) has a variety of customizable waterbed mattresses, which can offer you as much support (with or without waves) as you need. Some styles come with a waveless inner coil that offers additional support.