Mattresses Reviews

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Mattresses Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Mattresses. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Mattresses, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Mattresses. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Mattresses prices.

Mattresses Reviews Reviewed

Review Ratings

Citation

CS Credibility Rating

Mattresses Ratings
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1.  Consumer Reports How to buy a mattress without losing sleep

Editors of Consumer Reports


Jan. 2008
reviews rating Consumer Reports is our top source for mattress information. In this report, editors create a detailed how-to-buy guide. Topics include mattress myths, how to choose, price differences, anatomy of a mattress, mattress comparisons and sleep tips. The report is built on the outcome of several tests, including those of industry insiders who tore apart and analyzed 18 top-brand mattresses, an online poll and reports from 59 staffers who tried out different mattresses at a mock mattress store. In addition, four couples slept on specific mattresses at home for a month. Because comfort is a personal preference, Consumer Reports is unable to recommend a specific brand or model over another.
2.  Consumer Reports New Mattress-Flammability Standard To Go Into Effect – What you need to know when buying a mattress

Editors of Consumer Reports


May 2007
reviews rating This informative article doesn’t recommend any specific brands but it’s still very important reading for anyone buying a mattress. The most important thing to know is that while a new flammability standard has gone into effect, stores are still allowed to sell mattresses that do not meet this standard until they are all sold. The article, which is free to non-subscribers, also discusses the different ways mattress fires could start. Editors also comment on the Consumer Products Safety Commission's estimate of how many lives the new regulations could save. Editors also advise on how to tell if a mattress does or does not meet the new flammability standards.
Mattresses Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating Mattresses Ratings
Comments on Reviews
3.  Which.co.uk Memory Foam Mattresses

Editors of Which.co.uk


Apr. 2006
reviews rating This article at UK-based Which? magazine compares 17 memory-foam mattresses with subjective tests as well as durability testing intended to simulate ten years of use. There's also a short buyer's guide to accompany ratings for comfort, durability and more. Unfortunately, only one of the recommended memory-foam mattresses is available in the United States, and even that model, the Kaymed Classic, is very hard to find. Mattresses from Tempur-Pedic and Sealy are tested as well.
4.  WebMD.com Can a Mattress Improve Your Health?

Leanna Skarnulis


Apr. 5, 2004, medically updated June 27, 2005
reviews rating Leanna Skarnulis interviews several sleep experts with the intention of finding out if a mattress has the capability of improving health. The "firmer is better" myth is addressed, as are adjustable beds and mattress shopping.
5.  Daily Southtown Is your mattress just what the doctor ordered?

Jamie Oslawski


Nov. 19, 2004
reviews rating Jamie Oslawski interviews a number of chiropractors on the topics of air, foam, adjustable air and spring. Sleep Number, Tempur-Pedic, AeroBed and Posturepedic are all discussed. Chiropractors recommend Posturepedic over all other choices.
6.  The New York Times Rest Easy on Pricey Mattress? Not Always

Mary Duenwald


Nov. 23, 2004
reviews rating This article reports that despite high prices and manufacturer claims, very little research has actually been conducted to learn which mattresses are the most comfortable. The article provides advice and commentary from experts on what to look for when selecting a mattress, as well as some basic shopping guidelines and how to tell whether your existing mattress needs to be replaced. However, no specific recommendations are made as to the best models, brands or types of mattresses.
7.  Good Housekeeping.com Mattresses: Shop smart, sleep better

Sarah Breckenridge, Sarah Felix


Apr. 2005
reviews rating Authors Breckenridge and Felix discuss viscoelastic mattresses, providing numerous and helpful shopping tips. For those wanting a traditional coil innerspring without breaking the bank, they recommend the basic versions of the Simmons Beautyrest, Serta Perfect Sleeper and Sealy Posturepedic.
8.  Choice.com.au Buying Guide: Mattresses. How to buy a mattress you'll love sleeping on

Editors of Choice.com.au


Oct. 2006
reviews rating This excellent article in Choice, a publication of the Australian Consumers' Association, does not rate individual mattresses, but does provide overall buying information. It goes into great detail about coil construction and spinal alignment as well as mattress selection for individuals with special health needs. It’s an excellent overall primer for the shopper who wants to fully understand mattress construction.
9.  Travel + Leisure magazine To The Mattresses

Peter Jon Lindberg


June 2005
reviews rating Editor-at-large Peter Lindberg tests beds in six hotels. To aid in the testing process, the author wore a Mini-Mitter Actiwatch-L, a wristwatch device that measures restlessness. Few differences were found among the six beds as measured by Lindberg's personal experiences or the Actiwatch, although the Simmons Heavenly Bed is deemed the favorite. A sidebar article covers which beds are available in which hotel chains.
10.  Amazon.com Mattresses

Contributors to Amazon.com


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating Amazon.com features foam, inflatable and some conventional mattresses as well as mattress pads and other related items. Navigation is easy, since both the overall rating and number of reviews is listed right on the main search page. While the listings might look like a bit of a mix to users, there are most certainly some useful and worthwhile comments about mattresses from major manufacturers like Sealy. Again, the comments are so different from user to user, it only stresses the need to go into a store and test-drive the product you intend to buy before making a final decision.
11.  Macys.com Mattresses

Contributors to Macys.com


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating Though Macy's lists neither the rating nor the number of reviews on the main search page, we still give it high marks for ease of use. Customers can browse by price range, brand, size and firmness. Unfortunately, there were few comments left by users here and even mattresses listed under a “Customer Favorites” tab had only a handful of evaluations; some had none at all. We also question the criteria used to select “favorites” since some of the mattresses listed when we last visited had only mediocre customer ratings and some highly negative comments. On the upside, most of the comments are thoughtfully written and provided useful information. Only the Simmons Beautyrest Vanderbilt Classic “Adrian” Firm Pillowtop Mattress Set seems to maintain consistently high feedback.
12.  Walmart.com Mattresses

Contributors to WalMart.com


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating WalMart.com is also an easy-to-use site with slightly fewer search options than Macys.com. This site clearly has the most user comments so shoppers looking for consensus should find what they’re looking for here. The Simmons DeepSleep Mount Sill Plush Mattress gets solid reviews. One user called it the “best mattress I have ever owned.” The 8” Tight Top Spring Mattress-in-a-Box also ranks high in owner feedback.
13.  Viewpoints.com Mattresses

Contributors to Viewpoints.com


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating This opinion site boasts that it can help you find things you like based on the opinions of those you identify as being like you. The site also contrasts the most positive review of a product with the most critical review of a product, making it easier to spot potential issues as well as get to the good stuff about an item as well. Customers give solid reviews to the Tempur-Pedic Classic, Sleep Number Bed: Select Mattress, Simmons Westin Heavenly Bed, Simmons Beautyrest World Class and Tempur-Pedic 8” Memory Foam Queen.
14.  What's the Best Mattress Mattress - Which one's best?

Editors and contributors


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating WhatsTheBest-Mattress.com has an assortment of information pertaining to mattresses. The site is loaded with buying guides and user-written reviews, and has a forum for visitors to talk with other mattress shoppers. Many of the regular forum visitors are latex mattress fans. However, no recommendations are made on this site, and most mattresses get only a handful of user reviews.
15.  SleepLikeTheDead.com Mattresses

Editors of SleepLikeTheDead.com


Dec. 2007
reviews rating According to this site, mattress brands are rated using the compiled commentary from 1,600 reviews at 35 forums, message boards and blogs. The site makes a strong attempt at gathering unbiased reviews in bulk to support its rankings and details the research methodology used by the site’s editors. Bergad/Isoform and Comfortaire appear to come out on top.
Mattresses Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating Mattresses Ratings
Comments on Reviews
16.  Good Morning America Sleep Easy: Discover How to Buy the Best Mattress

Elisabeth Leamy


July 2007
reviews rating While no specific brands are mentioned or tested, this article stresses the importance of shopping for a mattress in person and offers some helpful hints about negotiating the price of a mattress.
17.  Good Housekeeping.com How to Shop for a Mattress

Editors of GH on TV


Not Dated
reviews rating This brief online video gives an excellent overview of the process of shopping for a mattress. Highlights include the difficulties in doing exact comparisons since the names of mattresses often change from store to store. Editors also discuss negotiating techniques for getting the best deal.
18.  MyFoamMattress.net Memory Foam and Latex Mattresses

Daniel Burrows, Liz Hoffman


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating Site owners Daniel Burrows and Liz Hoffman have compiled many pages of information on viscoelastic memory-foam and latex mattresses, along with a smaller amount of information on other types. Although no specific brands are particularly recommended, the site has good information on memory-foam densities, temperature sensitivity, types, construction and more. There are some good pro/con lists comparing types. It seems the editors prefer latex over other types, but there isn't a strong endorsement.
19.  Better Homes & Gardens Buying Air and Foam Beds: Sleeping on Air

Editors of Better Homes and Gardens


Not Dated
reviews rating In this brief article, the editors of Better Homes and Gardens touch on the growing popularity of air and foam beds. Select Comfort is mentioned as an airbed, along with the more expensive memory-foam mattresses. None appear to be tested or specifically recommended.
20.  Allergy Buyers Club.com Mattresses and Bed Sets

Editors of AllergyBuyersClub.com


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating Retailer Allergy Buyers Club provides ratings for the mattresses they sell. Unfortunately, the methodology for creating those ratings is not explained, and all are relatively high. That said, there is some useful information here, including recommendations as to what type of mattress is best for what type of consumer and a comparison chart that puts pluses, minuses and a typical user profile in an easy-to-see format.
21.  The Wall Street Journal The ABCs of Getting Some Zs

Melissa Schorr


Mar. 24, 2006
reviews rating Author Melissa Schorr's husband tries out five (under $300) memory-foam mattress pads, sleeping on each for two consecutive nights. He rates SleepWarehouse's Sensus 5-pound, 2-inch pad as best overall.
22.  ReviewCentre.com Mattress Reviews

Contributors to ReviewCentre.com


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating ReviewCentre.com is based in the United Kingdom and offers a variety of products consumers can review, including mattresses. However, there are few owner-written reviews here. The Ergoflex Memory Foam Mattress, which is sold in the U.K., receives more than four dozen reviews and maintains a 9.6 out of ten rating. Though this site is based in Britain, some of the mattresses reviewed here are available in the U.S.
23.  SpineUniverse.com Mattresses Matter: Ergonomic Guidelines

Alan Hedge, Ph.D., Richard D. Guyer, M.D.


Dec. 2003 updated Aug. 2007
reviews rating Alan Hedge, Ph.D., of Cornell University, compiled this article referencing the Cornell University Ergonomics group's mattress guidelines for spine health. Look for mattresses designed to conform to the spine's natural curves, distribute pressure evenly to help circulation, and minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other. Cornell's testers also favor mattresses with perimeter edge support. In a peer-review comment, Dr. Richard D. Guyer, M.D., Co-Founder and Fellowship Director, Texas Back Institute, adds some practical pointers on dealing with the mattress buying experience.
24.  The Lancet Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain

F.M. Kovacs


Nov. 15, 2003
reviews rating According to this study, previous recommendations by orthopedic surgeons in favor of the use of firm mattresses for low-back pain were largely unsubstantiated by the scientific literature. This double-blind study was undertaken by Spanish researchers to assess the effect of different firmnesses of mattresses for patients with low back pain. 313 adults with nonspecific low-back pain were randomly assigned to sleep on firm or medium-firm mattresses for 90 days. The study concluded that medium-firm mattresses lessened pain and improved disability.
25.  Memory Foam Mattress.org Mattress Reviews

Editors of MemoryFoamMattress.org


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating MemoryFoamMattress.org aims to be a source for shoppers looking for the best foam mattress to fit their needs. Tempur-Pedic, Selectabed and Osim were "personally tested," but we aren't sure by whom, though the site claims assistance from Dr. Rick Swartzburg, a California chiropractor. There's some good information here about the types of memory foam but little comparative information.
26.  Arthritis Today Mattress Matters

Susan Bernstein


Mar./Apr. 2005
reviews rating This short but informative article gives basic advice to those with back or joint pain without mentioning specific brands or models. Avoid adjustable beds and too-high or too-low mattresses, says Susan Bernstein.
27.  Epinions Mattresses

Contributors to Epinions


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating Owners at Epinions review a number of mattresses. Because mattress preference is personal, it's difficult to decipher which mattresses are "best" since many of the reviews are split down the middle. However, we do take the reviews into consideration while looking for trends. Among the more frustrating aspects here is that those mattresses that do earn a five-star rating with at least a few reviews are mainly discontinued models. In fact, almost all of the mattresses reviewed here are unavailable. Still, there is something to glean from reading comments about different major manufacturers.
Mattresses Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating Mattresses Ratings
Comments on Reviews
28.  MattressesReviewed.com Mattresses Reviewed

Daniel


As of Apr. 2008
reviews rating The mattress review blog is written by an anonymous poster known only as Daniel, but the half-dozen or so reviews that are posted to date do go into some depth about the products they discuss and contain thoughtful ideas about whether they’re worth the price and deliver on manufacturer promises. No real ranking system is given, but the writer is clear about which mattress he likes and which he doesn't. It is also not clear that Daniel has personally tested all -- or any -- of these beds.

Mattresses Reviews