What Type Of Mattress Should I Buy

If you have a bad back, you should buy the firmest mattress you can find -- right? Not so fast. While that used to be the common wisdom, there's no solid research behind it. The latest thinking is that there isn't one type of mattress that's best for everyone, including people with chronic back pain. Let personal preference guide you, and choose what feels most comfortable.

what type of mattress should i buy

But making the right choice can be tricky. So many products are on the market, and just because a mattress feels good when you lie down on it in a showroom doesn't mean you're going to be happy sleeping on it for the next several years.

You may not realize it, but good posture is important when you sleep. The muscles and ligaments (tissue that holds joints together) in your back need to relax and recover while you snooze. If a mattress is too firm -- or too squishy -- it won't support your spine at your neck or lower back the way it needs to. What's firm enough (but not too firm) is different for everyone: If you have wide hips, for instance, a slightly softer surface may be better. You need some more give in order to keep your spine in alignment. Someone with narrower hips might be better off with a firmer surface.

Research is limited, but in one study, researchers assigned new mattresses to more than 300 people with low back pain. They used either "medium-firm" or "firm" mattresses for 90 days. Those in the medium group reported the least amount of discomfort.

You might consider getting a memory foam mattress (instead of a traditional innerspring one). The foam molds to your body. The downside: Some memory foam mattresses keep in heat; and the material might have more chemicals.

If you have a great night's sleep and wake up pain-free after staying at a hotel or in a friend's guest room, copy down that mattress's model number. Or choose a mattress that comes with a money-back guarantee: A growing number of companies will let you buy a mattress and use it for anywhere from 30 to 100 days and send it back for a refund if you're not happy with it.

The most important thing seemed to be that the beds were new. They noted that the average age of the participants' old beds was 9.5 years. And they concluded that "sleep quality may be dependent on timely replacement of bedding systems." The takeaway: If you've been sleeping on the same mattress for 9 or 10 years (or more), it's time to get a new one. Almost any new replacement is going to be better than the saggy foundation of an old mattress. But it may pay to spring for at least a mid-priced model.

Few things come down to personal preference more than choosing a mattress. What can feel like a cloud to one person can be back pain in the making for another. What makes the decision even harder is the sheer range of options, with mattresses available in practically every budget and type you can think of.

A versatile all-foam mattress, the Original can accommodate a variety of sleeping positions, and is well-suited to couples who might be struggling to find a compromise. Following a few price increases, a king size Original will cost you 849. That said, when there's a promotional discount in place, you can save 40% or more. The only caveat is that, like most foam mattresses, the Emma Original is not best suited to those who get very warm in bed.

One notable property of latex, when used in mattresses, is its buoyancy. Compared with memory foam, latex mattresses recover their shape quicker when you get up or move to a different part of the mattress.

Hybrids that combine synthetic comfort layers with springs tend to be warmer than their more traditional pocket sprung counterparts such as the Harrison Spinks Velocity 4250 (see above), but Simba's Hybrid Pro attempts to overcome this by using a wool top layer. We found the mattress both supportive and comfortable during our testing and definitely found that the wool layer helped with temperature regulation. In fact, besides its lack of removable top cover, there was almost nothing we disliked about the Hybrid Pro.

Indeed, the Sleep Council points out that after seven years, your mattress will have had over 20,000 hours of wear and tear; that includes the half-pint of fluid lost each night on average and pound of dead skin cells shed each year.

As a general rule, heavier people tend to prefer firm support, while lighter people find medium or soft mattresses more comfortable. However, you need to consider your sleeping position and personal preference too. In fact, personal preference counts for more than you probably think.

Your bed base can affect both the feel and the performance of your mattress, so always check which type of base the mattress manufacturer recommends you use. Many suggest a base with sprung slats, which provides good support and absorbs movement as you move about in your sleep.

A platform base can also support any mattress, providing a firmer foundation. It's worth noting that a slatted base can cause a mattress to bulge over the years, so you should make sure the slats are no more than 70mm apart to ensure its full longevity.

The Puffy Lux Hybrid is designed with body-contouring memory foam and an adaptive coil base that conforms to the curves of your body and minimizes strain on your joints. A support layer, which keeps your spine aligned and eliminates pressure points, sits in the middle of the mattress so you wake up rested and pain-free. Additional layers are designated for temperature regulation and humidity control and plush foams sit at the surface for optimal cushioning. All in all, it offers the balance of softness and support that most side sleepers crave.

Best for: Fans of plush mattresses, heavier people Type: Foam Firmness: Soft Delivery: Bed in a box Trial: 100 nights Warranty: 20 years

As a rule of thumb, the heavier you are, the thicker your mattress should be. People weighing between 250 and 400 pounds should look for a mattress at least ten inches tall. Those heavier than 400 pounds should aim for a mattress 14 inches or thicker.

Choosing the right size bed for your height can be even more complicated. As you consider what mattress to purchase, you should strike a balance between maximizing space in your bedroom and ensuring you have enough space, so your feet are not hanging off the bed.

There are a few different considerations you should review before deciding what mattress to buy. The best mattress for your body type depends on body weight, height, and sleep style. Picking the correct mattress for your body type will also be a determining factor in how long your mattress will last.

Bodyweight is very important when comparing bed sizes, particularly for heavier individuals. People who weigh more than the average individual should choose a mattress that provides maximum support, especially to pressure points on the body.

For many individuals in the above-average weight group, consider a firmer, thicker mattress to ensure your spine is supported and joints are alleviated. A larger-sized mattress might also be crucial to achieving restorative, quality sleep.

At the end of the day, mattress shopping can be the most frustrating for taller individuals. Many mattresses are designed for people of average stature, but if you're over 6 feet tall, then a Queen, King, or California King is probably the best group of mattresses to choose from for your height.

What size bed should I get for my height? Choose a bed that is six inches longer than the individual it is intended for. If you have a sleep partner, make sure you both can fit completely on the mattress without having to lie diagonally.

A final consideration as you decide what mattress is best for you is sleep style. The size and type of mattress matter when it comes to finding a bed that provides the highest quality rest. Your typical sleep position could be a huge factor in what size bed you need for your unique sleep style.

Looking for a new mattress? Besides our Purple mattress review, we've got recommendations for the best memory foam mattress, the best firm mattresses and the best mattresses for back pain.

It was hard to believe I was sitting on a bed during my Purple mattress review, because the material and feel was something I've never felt before. Unless you've already slept on a friend's or family member's Purple bed, you've likely never experienced something like it, either. I felt like I was floating on top of the comfort layers -- similar to floating on your back in water. My hairdresser even said the same thing about her Purple mattress when we were chit-chatting about my work as a mattress tester. Unique is a word I often see in reference to the Purple bed, and they really weren't joking around.

It's pressure-relieving and soft when I'm on my side, almost making you feel buoyant. At the same time, my back never felt like it sagged into the mattress. It's a really nice balance of both pressure-relieving and supportive. Not to mention it's extremely bouncy, which should be music to the ears of combination sleepers because it won't cause any resistance like memory foam does.

The Purple mattress is about 10 inches thick and stacked three layers high. It's technically a hybrid mattress because it contains two different types of material (foam and Hyper-Elastic Polymer) but the original Purple bed has no coils in the base layer. If you're looking for a coil hybrid mattress, we suggest the Purple 2 Hybrid or the other top-tier Purple hybrid mattresses.

To complement the stretchy polymer material, the original Purple mattress cover is also super-stretchy. Purple calls it its "SoftFlex" cover, and I think it's more breathable and moisture-wicking than your typical cotton or Tencel cover. It isn't machine washable though, so you'll have to clean any stains with warm water and a bleach-free detergent.

Some of the most important characteristics of a mattress are motion isolation, edge support and temperature. Especially if you share a bed with another person. Here's how the Purple mattress performed. 041b061a72