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Home » How To Guide » Buy a Mattress »
How to buy a mattress
| How-To-Tips |
• Wear comfortable clothes and slip-on shoes, so you can lie down on each model for at least 15 minutes, preferably with your mate, and turn over in all the positions you sleep in.
• To determine the quality of an innerspring mattress, look at coil count, wire gauge, and the thickness of the mattress.
• Pay attention to the gauge of the wire. The higher the number, the thinner the wire.
• Shop at a store that has a full selection of all various types of sleep products, so that you can compare the feel of all the different styles.
• Couples should select a queen or king-size bed.
• Make sure you receive and understand the warranty on the mattress
• Buying the best you can afford is a healthy investment in yourself. |
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Tossing and turning all night is okay for a song lyric but wreaks havoc on your health and attitude. When you lie down to sleep, that’s exactly what you want: to sleep for eight hours and wake up refreshed and pain-free. The major instrument for achieving this is a good mattress…one that’s good for you.
Don’t be sidetracked by trends or gimmicks. If you choose a product such as an air bed, where you can change firmness at will, you may lose some support for your body. If you choose memory foam, you may miss the give of an innerspring. It’s all about personal preferences.
Know the difference between firmness and support. Firm is not necessarily better, if it doesn’t allow for your body’s curves. You want a mattress that will relieve pressure points while supporting your body.
While name brand products are usually very high quality, don’t ignore the smaller-scale manufacturers, such as Banner Mattress, that produce comparable, and often superior, products at a fraction of the price. Be sure to ask about warranties on any mattress you are considering. Some types of mattresses have a longer life than others.
Trade associations such as the Better Sleep Council and the American Innerspring Manufacturers advise that you buy a mattress from someone you trust. They also suggest shopping for comfort and quality over price—“spend as much as you can afford" is their mantra.
Getting Ready
Since you’re on a search for rest and comfort, wear comfortable clothing and slip-on shoes. You’re going to be trying out a lot of beds. Bring your partner with you. Take off your shoes and lie down on each model for about 15 minutes. Try all your sleeping positions. Note what happens when your partner moves. Check to make certain that your hips and shoulders, the heaviest part of your body, are supported. Chiropractors and retailers agree that comfort is highly individual.
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses are constructed with a center consisting of a number of wire coils or springs joined together. To determine the quality of an innerspring mattress, look at coil count, wire gauge, and the thickness of a mattress. A retailer should have the manufacturer’s specifications for each model it sells. Mattresses can have up to 800 coils or more, but you can get a very good mattress with about 375-400 coils for a queen-size mattress, says George Evanoff of Banner Mattress and Furniture.
According to the Better Sleep Council, the gauge of the wire is important, too, in determining durability. The thicker the wire, the better—although again, it’s a matter of comfort; the thinner the wire, the softer the suspension. Know all the features and benefits from the inner workings to the mattress cover, some covers are antimicrobial; some breathe better, and some come off to be laundered.
A thicker mattress typically implies better quality, because it usually means a thicker wire gauge and more padding. Mattresses generally start at 6 inches, and some top-end models go as high as 21 inches. For those you may need special sheets.
Beds are usually sold in sets with a mattress and a box spring, the foundation for the mattress, and are designed to work together. Pay attention to the construction of the foundation or box spring. Putting a new mattress on a mismatched partner could shorten the life of the bed, not to mention affect the warranty.
Memory Foam
Originally developed by NASA for use in astronauts’ seats to help reduce G-force pressure, viscoelastic foam is one of the hottest products in the mattress business. Led by Swedish manufacturer Tempur-Pedic, who spent ten years developing its product, it’s breathable and temperature-sensitive, adjusting itself to body size by using weight and body heat to distribute pressure evenly. Other manufacturers have also perfected this technology for mattresses. Plus, it doesn’t bounce, so you’re less likely to be bothered by a restless bed partner.
Latex
Latex foam is another option that conforms to your body to relive pressure points. It’s hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites, so is often billed as a top choice for allergy or asthma sufferers. It is breathable, so it’s warmer in winter and cooler in summer. It also has a bouncier feel than viscoelastic foam. It is available in different densities to provide various firmnesses. However, those with latex allergies should consider something else.
Air Mattresses
The chambers pump and release air in and out of the mattress, providing varying degrees of firmness. The air chambers are covered in a layer of support foam, and that in turn is topped with a comfort pad. A pump lets you adjust your side of the bed to whatever firmness level you like.
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