Looking to replace a worn out mattress. I’ve found on line a mattress that is totally foam that is less expensive than any spring mattresses I’m seeing. Does anyone have any experience with such a mattress, are they any good, or am I better off paying a little more to get a traditional one?
I personally have had a memory foam mattress for several years and it’s been very comfortable for me. However, when it comes to beds, I think there’s a lot of difference in what people consider comfortable.
I’m not sure if “traditional” spring mattresses exist any more. There are all-foam mattresses or hybrid mattresses that have springs but that also invariably have a substantial foam layer too.
I got a new mattress a couple of years ago, and I discovered that there seems to be almost as large an industry of mattress reviewing as there is of manufacturing. You could spend a week just watching reviews, but I’m not sure how worthwhile it is - ultimately, as @ricksummon says, it’s pretty subjective. I think one objective difference is that foam mattresses are warmer. They are also obviously less “bouncy”, but whether that’s good or bad is very subjective.
But what I also discovered is that the market is so competitive that most reputable manufacturers let you sleep on it - often for several months - and then return it if you ultimately don’t like it. I ended up doing just this. I got a Bear Hybrid based on strong reviews, but discovered that I just couldn’t get on with it - no objective criticism of Bear, apparently I like firmer mattresses. I returned it with no hassle at all and got a Saatva Classic Firm (also hybrid) instead.
The “return” ended up being a pickup for donation (but with full refund). Since they are obviously building in an allowance for some percentage of returns into the price, and since a homeless person in a shelter ends up with a nice little-used mattress if you return it, don’t be afraid to take advantage of this!
When I got re-married a couple years ago I had a nearly new traditional spring mattress with a thin “pillowtop”. My new wife has slept on only foam (NOT memory foam) mattresses for years.
At work I’ve spend decades sleeping in a different hotel 10-15 nights per month so I’m pretty tolerant of mattresses both good and bad. She was … not. Real quickly mine was gone and hers was ours.
I don’t find her foam one to be magic, but it’s perfectly ordinarily OK.
Of course it also depends on the type of bed – box spring or slat. I have no idea what’s currently trendy, but my entire adult life my standard has been a Scandinavian-style slat bed with an all-foam mattress (to be clear: not that awful “memory foam” stuff, just a high quality dense foam mattress). At the time I bought all this, way back in my youth, it wasn’t particularly popular. The bed, which is a typical Scandinavian minimalist affair in light oak and is also adorned with bookshelves in the headboard and a matching little mini-dresser on the side, had to be special ordered, and the foam mattress was custom made. But man, I love it! I’d never settle for an ordinary mattress and box spring. I believe these Scandinavian concepts have since become much more popular.
This should probably replace “fighting ignorance since 1973” as the slogan of SDMB.
What’s this supposed to mean? To me, “trendy” is practically the opposite of “well-informed” or “practical”.
More anecdotal examples, but I’ve found that -all- memory foam mattresses seem to take a little while ‘break-in’ (IE may be stiffer for a while) than a hybrid or spring mattress. So you -may- want something (assuming you’re test-resting) that feels a touch firmer than your final desire. Then again, said test mattresses may already be fully broken in.
We bought our last hybrid 5ish months ago, and it was fine (well for my wife, it was more firm than I preferred but she’s the one having back problems) - they’d do up to a 30 day return as long as you had a sealed bed cover.
After a lifetime of traditional spring mattresses, our previous mattress was a pure memory foam. We loved it, and it lasted about 10-12 years. If you are a harder-to-kidnap-person (read heavier) you might want to consider ones that specifically say they are intended for larger folks, but otherwise, I loved it. My wife bought our replacement and it’s a hybrid (springs and memory foam) and I’d still go with memory foam if given the chance.
With no disrespect meant to @wolfpup
You, Sir @Riemann, are a genius. A cruel genius, but a genius nonetheless.
(The sentiment being: “SDMB is full of out-of-touch fogeys acting like fogeys.” A situation I increasingly resemble myself in more aspects than I care to admit.)
'Zactly. To me “wanting something trendy” means exactly “I want to substitute the judgment of algorithm-driven massed mindless followers for my own.”
But that is distinct from knowing what those massed mindless followers are currently following so you can profit by the knowledge. To know them is to defeat them.
Mrs Magill and I are considering a new mattress. She’s considering either a memory foam or a hybrid. My concern is whether memory foam gets hot.
I switched to a generic, house brand memory foam from Target, & I have never regretted it.
Might not last as long, but both cheap & very comfortable.
I re commend “Firm” or “Extra Firm” foam mattresses, but…your choice.
I don’t care to “defeat” the masses, but I’m just happy that for nearly half a century I’ve been enjoying the comforts of a foam mattress on a slat bed while the masses took many decades to clue in to the fact that a box spring and conventional mattress was a shitty way to sleep.
Around 30 years ago, my wife and I bought a pair of adjustable beds with memory foam mattresses. We have both been very happy with them.
All I can add is that you generally get what you pay for and cheap is cheap.
It’s really a matter of taste. We have a great spring mattress at home that I love and a foam mattress at another place that I hate – I sleep poorly and can’t get comfortable. The spring mattress was expensive, and I don’t know how much the foam mattress was.
So, whatever you do, make sure it’s returnable.
Regular mattresses are definitely still available, but they might have pads built-in on top if they are higher end. I suppose there might be a little foam in those pads?
If you are young, it does not matter. You can sleep on anything, anytime. If you are old then nothing helps. You are not going to sleep. Ever.
We just threw down for a split king Nectar on powered bases. I’m injured, so being able to raise my legs at night is a plus. It’s wayyy softer than our previous mattresses ( Tempurpedic then Amerisleep), which initially was very weird. I’ve always been a side sleeper, but now my arms go numb if I do. I’m learning to sleep on my back with this set-up. Does make intimacy a little more challenging. YMMV… All of these mattresses have been all foam. The Tempurpedic sacked out and was replaced under warranty.
But when you’re young, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” means you’re staying up all night. When you’re old, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” could mean later this evening.
Late to the thread but I’ve been sleeping on a super-waveless waterbed for 30 years. I got one after a recommendation to aid with sciatica. It (or something) worked and I very rarely have that problem anymore. I have no issue with firm hotel beds and could easily sleep on one all the time but the waterbed is nice. No, there are no lava lamps about.
I got a Tempurpedic for really cheap, and I stopped turning over because my shoulder was sore from lying on it. I wouldn’t pay the retail price for this brand, but it’s very nice.