How difficult it is to find non-payola mattress reviews online is perhaps the clearest example of how how the commercial internet fails us. At the same time, in a not-unrelated development, mattress technology and marketing has changed dramatically in the 15 years since I last bought a mattress, with the arrival of the compressed-bed-in-a-box disrupters and their “why do you need a showroom when we let you try it for 100 nights?!” entreaties.
I’ve a feeling my mattress is slowly killing me in my sleep: it’s a old school, not particularly well-made king size coil mattress set on a pair of twin box springs. From an earlier time. I have never loved it, perhaps in part because my experience of it before it was wrangled up our stairs by burly delivery drivers was a 10 minute test drive at Sears. For a time it was set on a prison-like wooden bed frame that ultimately fell apart; in recent years it’s just sitting on the floor.
So, dear readers, tell me about your mattress if you will. Where did you buy? What style? How did you choose? How do you sleep? Every body is different, yes; but I need to get the lay of the land in a forum outside of the influencer echo chamber.
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Comments
I sleep on a FULI shikibuton
I sleep on a FULI shikibuton from Amazon on a carpeted floor. I prefer this greatly to the firm 10” latex mattress and the Leesa hybrid mattress elsewhere in the house. I do like a very firm surface for sleeping though!
We purchased our mattress
We purchased our mattress from Sleeptek 3 years ago. The company has been renamed Obasan. Made in Canada, organic materials, very comfy. We also have their wool comforter which we love.
Rhiannon and I bought a Queen
Rhiannon and I bought a Queen size Endy mattress online about 3 years ago. It was our first adventure in compressed mattress in a box buying. We love it. The first 20 nights I wasn't sure about it, and I haven't questioned my choice since. We've recommended it widely to others and have not received any negative feedback from people who wound up purchasing an Endy for themselves.
Two beds. One has an
Two beds. One has an expensive firm mattress from a local mattress vendor. The second is from Endy. I prefer the firmer local bought item for reasons that are hard to quantify. The Endy is less firm at the edge which I don’t care for.
I have always used a
I have always used a traditional coil mattress. About 15 years ago I bought a pillowtop at Sears and was happy with it for comfort. I have daily lower back pain that has worsened over the years to the point where I was waking up with back pain. Recently, as the result of a move, I swapped out our spare room mattress (from MacArthur's), newer with a less plush top and I have been supremely happy. Even though I am older, i usually wake with no back pain unless I did something stupid the day before. I have not tried a foam mattress more than one night at a time and found the experience to be an adjustment to the feel of the thing. One of my kids had a temperpedic, swapped it for Endy and went back to Temperpedic. Pricey as I understand, but they are happy also.
+1 for the Endy. I used to
+1 for the Endy. I used to tell myself I liked a firm bed, but as a side sleeper the cradling effect is appreciated by my aging hips and shoulders. I have it set up on a wooden slat base, and now find conventional coil/spring-type mattresses uncomfortable. Taking the old box spring to the IWMC depot gave me particular pleasure: those things have always creeped me out.
Based on the comments here
Based on the comments here and by email, I’ve ordered an Endy to see whether I like it or not.
The “free trial” of 100 days applies only to the mattress, alas: the frame, which I also ordered, only has a 30 day return policy, and as I’m not going to use the mattress without a frame, that means my trial will be, effectively, 30 days.
Thanks to everyone for the advice; I’ll report back once I’ve had some sleeps.
IKEA has been my saviour on
IKEA has been my saviour on all these hops around the world.
I have bought mattresses from them a couple of times, in different locations (not always the same model, due to regional availabilities). It has been a life and time saver, to search for all the brands. I would recommend if you have an IKEA around to check their mattresses offering.
I also sleep on a shikibuton,
I also sleep on a shikibuton, from Atelier Boréal (a Montreal company). Some qualifiers first: I do like a firm mattress, I usually sleep on my back, and I'm in early 30s (though barely).
The mattress is on the floor since our previous bedroom layout couldn't fit their matching tatami mats and we haven't gotten around to getting them now. We've had zero humidity issues in Toronto even though we don't put it away daily (to be honest, we only flip it every couple of months when we remember). (A cheaper Ikea mattress on floor in Vancouver did get damp underneath - Vancouver winters are wet, Toronto winters much drier.)
About the only downside is that having it directly on floor accumulates dust along mattress edges. Somewhat unexpected upside: a bedroom looks/feels a lot bigger when you can walk on top of your bed.
Oh, and another note for
Oh, and another note for completeness' sake: having mattress on floor (or very low platform) makes most bedside tables or nightstands impractically high.
I sleep on a sort of hybrid
I sleep on a sort of hybrid futon, which looks and feels to the touch like a traditional futon, but has a core of foam and springs. It rests on wooden slats in lieu of a box spring, ala IKEA. It's 's firm and perfect by me. I like that it doesn't sag or squoosh like foam things do, and I like that it doesn't have sheer edges like a modern mattress, but smoothly tapers out from under me as I slide out of bed. I also prefer to any mattress I had before the give and feel of the bottom sheet against the dimpled cotton cover of the futon. I think I lay on it briefly and turned once or twice onto my side before purchase--second-hand from a stranger on Craigslist, who said she'd bought it new the year before. I don't think she mentioned the manufacturer, and it has no label. Over ten years later, I can't tell if it's deteriorated at all.
PS eyeballing it on edge
PS eyeballing it on edge against a ruler, I'm guessing my futon would be spec-ed as 9" thick. Which I guess counts as a thick one.
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