Mattress expert!

[Deleted User]

Hello folks!

I'm looking to buy a new mattress, but have quite specific requirements - I seem to remember that there's a lovely MSE person who's a bed/mattress expert, I hope he he or she sees this!

I've had 3 x lower spinal disc surgeries and am finding my current mattress (6.5yr old) is not helping my lower back stiffness in the morning when I get up. It's a decent, luxury type mattress, non-turn, with a rod edge and a good thickness, cost me £200 down from £400 when I bought it in 2003/4.

However I think I'm going to have to upgrade to a higher, thicker bouncier type. The thing is, that until I sleep a few nights on it, I can't tell if it's the "right one" - I don't want brand-name/model recommendations just the type of mattress I should be zeroing in on & then looking online. It's all a bit confusing now what with all the options available.

I have around £400 max to spend - my bed is a metal framed bed with wooden sprung slats, the only option as my bungalow is quite little and a conventional divan can't be manouevred in without taking out a wall!!

Tim_Deegan

joolzred wrote: »

Hello folks!

I'm looking to buy a new mattress, but have quite specific requirements - I seem to remember that there's a lovely MSE person who's a bed/mattress expert, I hope he he or she sees this!

I've had 3 x lower spinal disc surgeries and am finding my current mattress (6.5yr old) is not helping my lower back stiffness in the morning when I get up. It's a decent, luxury type mattress, non-turn, with a rod edge and a good thickness, cost me £200 down from £400 when I bought it in 2003/4.

However I think I'm going to have to upgrade to a higher, thicker bouncier type. The thing is, that until I sleep a few nights on it, I can't tell if it's the "right one" - I don't want brand-name/model recommendations just the type of mattress I should be zeroing in on & then looking online. It's all a bit confusing now what with all the options available.

I have around £400 max to spend - my bed is a metal framed bed with wooden sprung slats, the only option as my bungalow is quite little and a conventional divan can't be manouevred in without taking out a wall!!

What is the make and model of your current mattress?

trets77

okay i would like to join this thread .

i want to buy a memory foam mattress that can help with back pain i get in the night .

Tim you really do seem like a expert , from what i have read in your posts . but why you cannot point people to a certain make or website is beyond me . is there such a thing as the Mattress KGB who monitor everything you say and make sure you don't step out of line . like another poster said , i recommendation from you is like a holy grail. often sort , never found .

So question , a personal question for you as a member of this forum to another member of this forum . i am not asking you for recommendation , i will not take your answer as a recommendation .


E.G you ask me what Car i drive ?

i drive a Honda Civic . i am not saying if this is a good or bad car .

so:

What type of Mattress do you sleep on ?

Tim_Deegan

trets77 wrote: »

okay i would like to join this thread .

i want to buy a memory foam mattress that can help with back pain i get in the night .

Tim you really do seem like a expert , from what i have read in your posts . but why you cannot point people to a certain make or website is beyond me . is there such a thing as the Mattress KGB who monitor everything you say and make sure you don't step out of line . like another poster said , i recommendation from you is like a holy grail. often sort , never found .

So question , a personal question for you as a member of this forum to another member of this forum . i am not asking you for recommendation , i will not take your answer as a recommendation .


E.G you ask me what Car i drive ?

i drive a Honda Civic . i am not saying if this is a good or bad car .

so:

What type of Mattress do you sleep on ?

If I wasn't in the bed industry, then I could recommend a brand, or a particular model. But as I am then MSE rules prevent me from doing so.

I can give out general advice about types of mattresses, and what is good and bad with them. But I'm afraid that's as far as I am allowed to go, and then you will have to do the leg work on google.

As far as my mattress goes, it is a 2 sided, medium to firm, 1000 pocket sprung, with 2" deep layers of memory foam on both sides.

[Deleted User]

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

What is the make and model of your current mattress?

Thanks Tim,

it's a Sealy 'Posturepedic / Solitaire / Non-turn / Edge to Edge'

I got it from Bensons Beds in 2003, before I saw the light and joined MSE :-D

trets77

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

If I wasn't in the bed industry, then I could recommend a brand, or a particular model. But as I am then MSE rules prevent me from doing so.

I can give out general advice about types of mattresses, and what is good and bad with them. But I'm afraid that's as far as I am allowed to go, and then you will have to do the leg work on google.

As far as my mattress goes, it is a 2 sided, medium to firm, 1000 pocket sprung, with 2" deep layers of memory foam on both sides.

:doh::doh::doh::doh::doh::doh:


i owe you an a bit of Apology , i now realise what what it is your doing with your posts and why you cannot break MSE rules .



sorry i had not woken up when i posted this morning , and it's only clicked later . (plus i was Grumpy with back pain this morning) .:o:o:o

let's just say i have found what look like great indie mattress retailer and intend being a customer real soon . ;);) :money::money:

problem i may have is that Mrs Trets is Five and Half months pregnant , is terrified of ruining a new Mattress if her waters break in bed . if we had just purchased a Memory Foam Mattress with a finish that controls temperature , would a water proof sheet do any damage to a new mattress and would it protect a Mattress well enough .

We might well wait , till after the Baby arrives to be safe , our current Mattress is not in a desperate state or anything .

Thanks for the Advice Tim . i will be using Said retailer soon .

BTW ever been to the capital of Spain ? i hear it's quite Romantic

i can be PM'd BTW MSE members

Tim_Deegan

joolzred wrote: »

Thanks Tim,

it's a Sealy 'Posturepedic / Solitaire / Non-turn / Edge to Edge'

I got it from Bensons Beds in 2003, before I saw the light and joined MSE :-D

I hate to tell you this, but it isn't a decent mattress, but you wouldn't have known that when you bought it.

To start with the Posturepedic is a continuous spring system, the same as the infamous Miracoil (probably made in the same factory). They seem to last on average 1 to 2 years.

For the best support you want to be looking at a mattress with full size steel pocket springs (not reflex foam encapsulated ones), with a 2" layer of 60 to 70kg per m3 memory foam (on both sides if possible to make it last longer). Or with 2" of latex foam.

[Deleted User]

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

I hate to tell you this, but it isn't a decent mattress, but you wouldn't have known that when you bought it.

To start with the Posturepedic is a continuous spring system, the same as the infamous Miracoil (probably made in the same factory). They seem to last on average 1 to 2 years.

For the best support you want to be looking at a mattress with full size steel pocket springs (not reflex foam encapsulated ones), with a 2" layer of 60 to 70kg per m3 memory foam (on both sides if possible to make it last longer). Or with 2" of latex foam.

Will pocket sprung mattresses be ok on sprung slats though? On a 'certain' site I read that slatted beds may have to be modified.

Tim_Deegan

joolzred wrote: »

Will pocket sprung mattresses be ok on sprung slats though? On a 'certain' site I read that slatted beds may have to be modified.

Pocket sprung only mattresses, or non turn pocket sprung and memory foam mattresses aren't suitable for unmodified slatted bases. However two sided pocket sprung and memory foam mattresses would be suitable for bases with slats of up to 3" apart, as the memory foam on the bottom spreads the weight out.

The easiest way to modify a base is to lay a sheet of thin pegboard or hardboard over the slats.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Tim

I don't think the pegboard solution would work, as the slats are slightly sprung upwards for support.

Would a decent alternative be a very good open coil mattress with or without a memory foam layer on both sides.

I have seen a mattress called Romantica Sennet - 11" deep - the extra height would also be a plus, higher the better and nicer than resorting to bed risers on my girly bed.

I guess anything half decent would feel better than my current bed!!

Tim_Deegan

joolzred wrote: »

Thanks Tim

I don't think the pegboard solution would work, as the slats are slightly sprung upwards for support.

That's why you would use pegboard or hardboard, because they are very thin and flexible, so they flex with the slats.

joolzred wrote: »

Would a decent alternative be a very good open coil mattress with or without a memory foam layer on both sides.

I have seen a mattress called Romantica Sennet - 11" deep - the extra height would also be a plus, higher the better and nicer than resorting to bed risers on my girly bed.

I guess anything half decent would feel better than my current bed!!

A decent open coil sprung mattress would be ok, but pocket sprung gives better support.