Home mattress recommendations

[Rogue Bay]

My wife and I are searching for a new bed. We’re middle aged and are both experiencing fitful sleep and sore backs/hips. We’ve been using Memory Foam mattresses of one brand or another for years and it seems to be the same story each time.

I’ve been searching best mattress for lower back pain online and, not surprisingly, each website lists a different mattress. The top pick from one site may be 9th out of 10 on the next. I understand this is like asking for the best boot. It’s going to be different for everyone.

Has anyone made a life changing mattress purchase recently? I believe we need a mattress that’s more firm than we’ve been purchasing, but I don’t know for sure. Some online medical resources suggest going with a medium-firm mattress if in doubt. I’ve had poor luck listening to sales associates so would appreciate any opinions you all would be willing to share.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I've got a lower back issue from an injury years ago. I get the highest quality mattress I can afford, no memory foam and the most rock hard one available.

 

[Rogue Bay]

Last winter we visited some of my wife’s family for a week or so. The bed we slept of felt hard as a rock but I had no back pain while we were there. It wasn’t necessarily comfortable to just hang out on, but the sleep results were compelling. I was second guessing that because in my online searching it was mentioned that the conventional wisdom of firmer is better wasn’t supported by research. But it’s hard to argue with your experience and my brief exposure.

Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Fowl Play]

Not sure of the nature of your back pain, I have an injury from an old car accident that mimics bad sciatica pain at times. We went with a Tempurpedic Medium-Hybrid originally as that’s what felt “best” in the store. After sleeping on it a month, my back pain had never been worse. Memory foam heats up from your body heat and actually gets a little softer, so what felt “right” in store, became too soft in actual use.

Thankfully the warranty swap was no problem. Called them up and they recommended I change to the Firm model. I paid $100 and they came and took the 1 month old one away and brought me a brand new firm model. Best decision ever. I don’t want to get out of the thing in the morning it’s so comfortable. Have had it for just going on 5 years. Like it so much we replaced the mattress in our travel trailer with one as well.

 

[WeiserBucks]

It wasn’t necessarily comfortable to just hang out on

It's a bed, not a couch.

 

[Rogue Bay]

Not sure of the nature of your back pain, I have an injury from an old car accident that mimics bad sciatica pain at times. We went with a Tempurpedic Medium-Hybrid originally as that’s what felt “best” in the store. After sleeping on it a month, my back pain had never been worse. Memory foam heats up from your body heat and actually gets a little softer, so what felt “right” in store, became too soft in actual use.

Thankfully the warranty swap was no problem. Called them up and they recommended I change to the Firm model. I paid $100 and they came and took the 1 month old one away and brought me a brand new firm model. Best decision ever. I don’t want to get out of the thing in the morning it’s so comfortable. Have had it for just going on 5 years. Like it so much we replaced the mattress in our travel trailer with one as well.

That’s great info, thank you! So you stayed with the Tempurpedic Hybrid but went with firm?

 

[Rogue Bay]

It's a bed, not a couch.

Exactly.

 

[Fowl Play]

That’s great info, thank you! So you stayed with the Tempurpedic Hybrid but went with firm?

We ended up with a Tempur-Adapt Firm. We returned the hybrid.

 

[Bluefish]

Really depends on the person. I tried one of the memory foam in a box. Was hard and I did not sleep well on it. Ended up with a soft temperpedic and bought a second one when we had a second house. Now my brother doesn’t like it, too soft for him. I would go with something that has an exchange/warranty after sleeping on it.

 

[TaperPin]

We just went with new mattresses a touch more firm than I’m used to and it puts more weight against my hips when on my side. I wake up at 2 am every other day and have to take a Tylenol. I’ll be fine with a second mattress topper pad, but I didn’t expect that.

I’ve always had restless legs and one overuse injury of my hip didn’t heal for almost two years. Stayed in a rental for three weeks with a plush memory foam mattress and it kept my legs from squirming and that hip healed up and hasn’t hurt since. Weirdest thing ever. I didn’t care for how it felt once you get sunk into it, but thankful it worked out. No desire to own another like that.

I’m cheap and like cheap mattresses from Costco with a good quality foam topper, sometimes two, but they don’t last as long as more expensive mattresses, so this time we spent 3x as much. Mattresses seem like a racket don’t they?

 

[Rogue Bay]

We ended up with a Tempur-Adapt Firm. We returned the hybrid.

Okay, thanks for the clarification.

 

[Rogue Bay]

We just went with new mattresses a touch more firm than I’m used to and it puts more weight against my hips when on my side. I wake up at 2 am every other day and have to take a Tylenol. I’ll be fine with a second mattress topper pad, but I didn’t expect that.

I’ve always had restless legs and one overuse injury of my hip didn’t heal for almost two years. Stayed in a rental for three weeks with a plush memory foam mattress and it kept my legs from squirming and that hip healed up and hasn’t hurt since. Weirdest thing ever. I didn’t care for how it felt once you get sunk into it, but thankful it worked out. No desire to own another like that.

I’m cheap and like cheap mattresses from Costco with a good quality foam topper, sometimes two, but they don’t last as long as more expensive mattresses, so this time we spent 3x as much. Mattresses seem like a racket don’t they?

They do for sure, especially when they recommend replacing them every few years anyway. But, as was pointed out to me, we spend a third of our lives in bed so I guess it makes sense to get a good one.

Thank you for the input.

 

[Rogue Bay]

This is what I love most about Rokslide. The willingness of this group to provide input and real life experience. Thank you to everyone who has replied or taken the time to even read my post. I appreciate you all!

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Have you considered a Sleep Number. We've had one for 25+ years and have loved it.

 

[Rogue Bay]

I’m definitely considering it but need to find out more about them. In our spare room we had an old one (not 100% sure it was the Sleep Number brand) and our guests weren’t crazy about it. I never slept on it but it felt like a regular air mattress. I’m absolutely going to look at them before we make a purchase. Thank you for the recommendation!