The Bed

[Steve Paulson]

We've run the gamut, and we're wondering what to do.

After 7 years the king size Spring Air mattress we began our married life with and made our babies on was done. We decided to go "big" on the replacement, and got a factory sale price on a Select Comfort "Sleep Number" bed, again a King size. I believe it was the model "5000" (this was somewhere around 2006). We wanted to give it a good long trial, and so forced ourselves to continue sleeping on it long past the point where we figured out it wasn't working for us at all. I ran the whole range of sleep numbers, looking for the one that would let me wake up without a sore back. Wife had the same issue. Finally, we decided to sell it and move on. Next up was the Tempurpedic, to the tune of about $3500 (this was 2008). The smell of the foam was an issue for her, and while I might have been able to stick it out with that bed she really didn't like it. We had 90 or 100 days to figure out if we wanted to keep it or return it for store credit. We made the call and out it went, and our massive store credit was sunk into a top-o-the-line Sealy Posturepedic Back Supporter coil spring blah blah blah. This was a one-time trade, no going back.

It's been, in a number of ways, the worst of all. It was fine at first--lovely even--until the body impressions started. It's a one sided monstrosity, so there is no flipping--only turning. We've even taking to rotating it 90 degrees each time, sleeping on it sideways, to try to keep things evened out. It's a losing battle, and Sealy is no help. "Conforming to your body" they say. Bulls**t, says me. I swore off ever spending that kind of money on a bed again.

But there is nothing so important as The Bed, because it's the one piece of furniture you spend most of the hours of your life upon. Accordingly, I may indeed have to spend a lot of money, again, to get something that will serve us well. But I don't want to keep doing this. I REALLY don't want to keep doing this.

So we're taking another look at Sleep Number beds, understanding that their technology has matured. We both got "pressure mapped" the other day in one of their stores (I was underwhelmed and unconvinced of the conclusions, but whatever). We're wondering about the M7 memory-foam model. They have a 100 day trial, which is appealing.

But I figured I'd put it out here. What are you sleeping on, and what do you like/dislike about it?

[Option1]

Last year my wife and I invested in a Tempurpedic. There is no smell at all and it's the nicest mattress we have ever owned. The smell issue seems to have been solved with the newer ones. No more back aches or aches of any kind for that matter. You might want to revisit them. YMMV. Best nights sleep we have ever had.

[strengverboten]

I honestly sleep better on a rock hard floor than the sealy (or any number of other mattresses) that we have.

My wife may start out in the floor with me :cool: but she always makes it up to the real bed for actual sleep.

My point is, try sleeping on something really different (like just the carpeted floor) and maybe You'll find that you could live with a "common" bed. :dunno:

[coastalcop]

went with a "Bed in a box" foam a few years ago to try the whole memory foam thing without the investment in tempurpedic (we figured that if we didnt like it , we could put it in the guest bed). Chemical smell that disspated over a few days, still love the bed, a small part of one corner is gone due to a new puppy, but we still love the bed. I dont toss and turn nearly as much ( I always move) the XO sleeps like a log with no issues. back then the cali king delivered was $499.00 . Best 5 benjamins I spent in years. dont know what they go for now cause I havent needed another one

[bae]

NSFW, but this Penn & Teller episode pretty much sums up my take on the matter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KREkwkmRLBs

[CB3]

My wife and I have had a split king adjustable Tempurpedic for the last six years. No smells, no problems. We love it and have recommended it to two others who bought one. One of these neighbors has severe back problems.

[Mr. Anthony]

I have a decent king sized mattress, but put a memory foam top on it that is pretty beefy and robust. No idea where I got it or what brand it is, but it's amazingly comfortable.

That said, I still sleep better in my sleeping bag on my small backpacking air pad out in the middle of the woods. Go figure.

Sent via A-10 Warthog

[John Chambers]

Sleep number bed with four inches of tempurpedic foam on top. Awesome bed.

[AlwaysVigilant]

I use an innerspring sealy with 3 inches of memory foam on top. The whole set up was only about $1000.00, and this was after blowing 4 times that 2 other times in the gimmicky beds. I finally went out and tried about 30-40 beds and settled on this.

Mattress is extra firm for support, with the foam for luxury. Perfect combo.

[jdonne]

Tempur-pedic here. I won't buy anything else.

[irishmike]

I spent $6000 on a Dormia California split top King and never looked back. I tell you its darn hard to wake up in the morning and leave that nest! Invest wisely in bedding. You spend very valuable time in that place. Make it count and make it beneficial to both of you. C

The misses and I bought a king size sleep number and invested a whole bunch into nice bedding., nicest bed I've ever slept on. It really is tough climbing out of it every morning at 5 am! You spend a third of your life sleeping, make it count.

[red-it]

Tempur-pedic
lower back issues gone after 6 weeks (this is after 3 years of spinal injections)
I got my life back
Pricey? Maybe but as others have said, the time spent trying to or actually sleeping is precious.
Without sleep we are barely functional.
Without good sleep we are not living.

[pangloss]

My wife and I have a Stearns & Foster, which I believe is owned by Sealy. It has been adequate, but depressions where we sleep began to form very soon after we bought it (2005). If I had it to do over, I would buy something not made by S&F/Sealy. Consumer Reports gives the highest score to Simmons Beautyrest Gloverpark Firm Pillowtop followed by Serta Perfect Sleeper Elite Pastel Firm for inner spring. For memory foam, they like Tempur-Pedic and Novaform.

[EDELWEISS]

Yeah $3500 for a Tempurpedic seemed a LOT--cuz it IS; but I love it. I work nights so day sleep is enough of an issue (complete Black-Out helps); but this bed makes a major difference. I used to toss and turn all "night", with this bed wake in the same position that I was in when I fell asleep. My only complaint is the the pillows--one isnt enough.

***on a side note my GF (met her AFTER I got the bed). hates it, so even though I get a great sleep, I "hear" complaints about the bed all the next day.... (hint suggesting the sofa is NOT a solution)

[Option1]

How in the world could someone hate a Tempur-pedic? :-)


Yeah $3500 for a Tempurpedic seemed a LOT--cuz it IS; but I love it. I work nights so day sleep is enough of an issue (complete Black-Out helps); but this bed makes a major difference. I used to toss and turn all "night", with this bed wake in the same position that I was in when I fell asleep. My only complaint is the the pillows--one isnt enough.

***on a side note my GF (met her AFTER I got the bed). hates it, so even though I get a great sleep, I "hear" complaints about the bed all the next day.... (hint suggesting the sofa is NOT a solution)

[irishmike]

How in the world could someone hate a Tempur-pedic? :-)

I've heard the main draw back of memory foam is for people who change positions alot in their sleep (im one of those). You "sink" into the foam and this makes it tougher to reorient your sleeping position. The misses happens to move around alot too, so we went with the tier one sleep number in lieu of temper pedic. (After shopping extensively for them I think I would be just fine with either). The other complaint I've heard is that the can get very hot if you're a hot sleeper.

I really do think the bedding makes a big difference though. We have the cool comfort sleep number sheets that wick away heat (im a very HOT sleeper), a myriad of down pillows, and the silk cover over the goose down comforter. Luxurious. I have very Spartan and austere tastes, the misses is all about comfort. (And is spoiling me rotten in the process with it).

[EDELWEISS]

I've heard the main draw back of memory foam is for people who change positions alot in their sleep (im one of those). You "sink" into the foam and this makes it tougher to reorient your sleeping position........ The other complaint I've heard is that the can get very hot if you're a hot sleeper...

Correct on both accounts. For me the benefits out weight the negatives--except for the BIG ONE.

[SheepDog68]

I looked at most of the options and after researching what is available and sleeping on several I ended up getting a natural latex mattress that has been a good thing for us so far.

SD

[Jons999]

Ive got a cheap, $200 bottom of the line firm mattress with a 3" memory foam topper and its so comfortable i really never want to get out of bed. I replace the topper every couple years for $180 bucks when it starts to really loose its support. Im still pretty young but i cant see spending thousands on a mattress.

[TACC]

Still sleeping on a 95% motionless CA king water bed. Finally after 26 years had to replace the mattress/bladder. Still getting great nights sleep.

[larryes]

We have a regular spring mattress with a thick foam top. I think the foam was about $100 at Wall World. We love it!

[michael]

We have a tempur-pedic mattress topper over a Sealy or Serta (I forgot which) that is very comfy. That said, I don't own this but have slept on them a bunch, and they are hands-down my favorite:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/westin-heavenly-bed-ordering-the-heavenly-bed