Mattress Buying Guide

The mattress industry is growing by leaps and bounds. Hence, buying a new mattress is becoming a convoluted process day by day. We are here to provide you with an all-inclusive mattress buying guide for choosing the mattress that will give you a pain-free good night’s sleep.

Here are some questions you need to ask yourself before buying a mattress:

1. 1. Does your existing mattress give you trouble?
   2. Which sleeping position makes you comfortable?
   3. Which firmness is right for you?
   4. Is body weight a deciding factor?
   5. Types of mattresses to choose from
   6. What is your budget?

Does your existing mattress give you trouble?

If you are suffering from aches and pains in your hips, shoulders or back, and not getting a good night’s sleep, your mattress may be the culprit.Even the best mattresses start deteriorating after 7 years of constant use. If signs of damages like sags, holes or staining are visible on your mattress, then it’s the right time to buy a new one. Furthermore, if you sleep better elsewhere; for example, in hotels, then consider it as a caution call to change your mattress.

Which sleeping position makes you comfortable?

Before buying, you must consider your sleeping needs, like, your preferable sleeping position. Different positions need support at different regions of the body. Support at the wrong position or excessive softness at specific regions may result in pain and stiffness. However, every sleeping position requires spinal support and pressure point relief. If you are a side sleeper, your shoulder must sag a little into the mattress, otherwise you will suffer from neck and joint pain. Here comes the need for a mattress with different firmness levels at different zones. The firmness levels are determined based on a scale ranging from 1 to 10. For back sleepers, the mattress must be designed in such a way that it does not put pressure on bony areas. Combination sleepers must seek a mattress which will make position change easier by providing local support at the shoulders, thighs and heels. Here, we present some guidelines for choosing the right mattress based on your sleeping positions.

• • Back Sleepers: If you are a back sleeper, you will get the most comfort out of medium-firm mattresses having a firmness level ranging from 5.5 to 7.Mattresses having elevation in the lumber region can also be a viable option as they distribute the pressure throughout the body and help in decreasing the pressure on the thoracic and the pelvic regions. All these keep the spine aligned in a neutral position.
  • Side Sleepers: People sleeping on their sides need softer mattresses than back sleepers people. For side sleepers, the mattress must contour around the hips and the shoulders. For the best pressure relief and contouring effects, side sleepers may opt for memory foam mattresses within a firmness range of 4 to 6.
  • Stomach Sleepers: For stomach sleepers extra support in the abdominal region is crucial for proper spinal alignment. These sleepers should prefer mattresses lying on the firmer side of the medium-firm range (7-9). Such mattresses are designed to support chest, abdomen, hips and knees. Mattresses with pillow tops, providing extra cushioning can be the most suitable for stomach sleepers.
  • Combination Sleepers: Combination sleepers require a mattress which will give comfort in all the above three sleeping positions. The mattress apart from being soft enough in the shoulder region to relieve pressure, should also be firm enough to provide optimum lumber support. Medium-firm mattresses having firmness around 6.5 are best suited for such sleepers. If a sense of bounce on the mattress is appreciated by the combination sleeper, then s/he should go for latex mattresses or hybrid mattresses.

Which firmness is right for you?

An important question for buying a mattress is its firmness and what level of firmness you want. To put it more simply, you have to decide whether you want a soft, medium-firm or firm mattress.

The mattress industry is there to lend a helping hand to you, by designing a ‘firmness scale’ with a range of 1-10. A mattress scoring 1 out of 10 is the softest one. These mattresses are made of extra cushioning materials like quilted pillow tops or thick layers of memory foam on top. Those scoring10 out 10 are the firmest of all. These mattresses insert only a thin layer of soft foam on top of high-density poly foam or springs. In between is the medium-firm one with score 6.5. These mattresses combine soft foam in the top layers with strong foundations of high-density poly-foam or pocketed coils.

You have to be sure about what firmness level you need. To be sure about your preference, you can consider the following:

• • Body Weight: A heavier person may not prefer a soft mattress, as s/he will sink uncomfortably in it. That will also make it difficult to move in and out of the bed. On the other hand, a light person normally might not buy a firm mattress, as it gives the feeling of being pushed out on top of the bed.
  • Sleeping position: Your preferences will vary directly with your sleeping habit.
  • Side sleepers: Generally love softer mattresses, as these are in harmony with the pressure points on their shoulders, hips and arms.
  • Stomach sleepers: Generally, tend to choose a firmer mattress. These mattresses help relieve the extra pressure on the hips and pelvis for stomach sleepers.
  • Back sleepers: Normally have a wide range of choice, as they are comfortable in all three types of mattresses. For such sleepers the pressure is more or less evenly spread across various points on their body.

Is body weight a deciding factor?

Do not forget about your weight before choosing a new mattress. It is a crucial deciding factor, because your specific need for a sound sleep will vary according to your body weight. Roughly there can be three categories of people, according to their weight, for the purpose of choosing the right mattress:

• • Light Weight: Normally persons weighing 150 pounds or less have some special needs while sleeping. The important fact is that these people do not sink too deeply into their mattresses, like heavier sleepers. They can choose:

1. 1. 1. 1. Soft Mattresses, which are all-foam ones, having a layer of memory foam.
         2. Medium Mattresses, with less firmness. The reason is, a top layer consisting of thick foam may be uncomfortable for them.
         3. Firm Mattresses, without extra-supportive base layers.

• • Average Weight: Normally persons weighing from 150 pounds to around 200 pounds are included in this category. They may choose:

1. 1. 1. 1. Soft Mattresses, which are all-foam ones, having a layer of memory foam, if they are closer to 150 pounds. But little heavier persons, closer to 200 pounds have to choose mattresses with a top layer consisting of thick foam for cushioning.
         2. Medium Mattresses, as these are most ideal for average weight category. These mattresses ensure support, as well as comfort during a good night’s sleep.
         3. Firm Mattresses, with extra supportive base layers and less thick top comfort layers.

• • Heavy weight: Those people weighing over 200 pounds come under this category. They must be extra careful in finding the right mattress, because they sink deeply into their mattresses. They may choose:

1. 1. 1. 1. Soft Mattresses with thick layers (4-5 inches) of top foam over a firm coil section.
         2. Medium Mattresses, with the top layer of foam a little less thick.
         3. Firm Mattresses with strong inner springs and a pillow top layer.

Types of mattresses to choose from

Now it’s time for you to know, how to choose from the different types of mattresses available in the market. Here we will give you a brief overview of four of the most popular types of mattresses.

• • Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses are made up of layers of foam of different densities. They have holes, which when compressed, spread the air pressure to the adjacent holes. This molds the body and distributes the pressure evenly, thus, helping in neutral alignment of the spine. This can be very helpful for persons suffering from back pain. These mattresses also offer least motion transfer, which can ensure a good night’s sleep. Denser foam mattresses have higher conforming ability than the less dense ones. However, memory foam mattresses tend to trap body heat, which can be a problem for the ones who sleep hot. Some memory foam mattresses have this problem solved for you. Cooling agents like gel, copper or graphite infused memory foams are capable of keeping you cool throughout the night. Memory foam mattresses can be best for side sleepers as they need a proper contouring feel. Stomach sleepers may not benefit from it as they require a little firmness to support them.
  • Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses are the most common type of mattresses. They are fabricated using specifically arranged steel coils under a top layer of soft padding, which provide excellent support. The coils make the mattress more breathable. For proper edge support, the outer coils are attached with a wire. The wire also stabilizes the coils and helps to keep the mattress in proper shape. Higher the number of coils, more is the sustainability. Higher number of coils are also capable of supporting heavier people. Generally, mattresses with 500-800 coils are considered to be firm mattresses and are good for supporting heavy people. Mattresses having lower number of coils (around 300) can be good for kids. Back and stomach sleepers are also expected to get satisfactory support from innerspring mattresses. However, innerspring mattresses do not provide ample pressure relief and are not appropriate for people suffering from pain. The types of coils seen in these mattresses are: Bonnell, offset and pocketed. These pocketed coils are the most durable and provide, contour, support and even weight distribution to the sleeper.
  • Latex: Organic latex mattresses have hypoallergenic and antibacterial properties. They provide similar support and durability like memory foam mattresses. Latex mattresses are quite responsive to pressure and also provide a cooling effect to the sleeper. They are generally multi-layered with each layer having different densities and firmness. The top layer is the softest of all layers. Depending on the method of manufacture, two types of latex mattresses are available: Dunlop and Talalay. The Talalay latex is softer and more comfortable, while the Dunlop is more stable and firmer. These mattresses make it easier to change sleeping positions and are most suitable for combination sleepers.
  • Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses combine pocketed coils with foam layers or natural fibres to provide the optimum support and comfort. The coils are good for pressure relieving and proper spinal alignment, while the foam layers on top deliver comfort and cushioning. You will not feel the sinking effect, that you may experience in an all-foam mattress. These mattresses give a feeling in-between traditional innerspring mattresses and all-foam mattresses. Hybrid mattresses generally lie in the medium-firm range, which makes it suitable for back and stomach sleepers. However, there are hybrid mattresses available in different firmness ranges. Side sleepers, who require pressure relief and comfort on shoulders should go for mattress on the softer side, preferably medium soft.

What is your budget?

The market has a wide variety of mattresses, but you must cut your coat according to your cloth. That is, you must buy according to your resources. A number of points must be remembered, before you finally venture into shopping:

Do not be solely guided by advertisements

Most of the brands have a tendency to exaggerate their quality, compared to the price they are charging. They may choose the audio-visual, print, social media—all to hammer the same words in your ears. Do not get trapped by their loud advertising techniques, but apply your own judgment to purchase according to your budget and specific needs.

You should not fix sky as the limit

A buyer has to remember that the quality of the mattress will be according to the budget. If you expect something magical despite your limited budget, you will be disappointed. You have to remember the trade-off between pocket-friendliness and luxury.

Give priority to warranty

If warranty is for a longer period, that will ultimately save your money. The mattress will be replaced in case it is damaged or defaced quite a long time after purchase. For example, lifetime warranties are helpful in this respect.

Do not miss the big discounts

If you do not want to exceed your budget, keep an eye on big discount days of important brands or e-commerce platforms. Sometimes these can be availed on special occasions or festivals.