A Brief Quide On How To Choose A High Quality Mattress
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If you’ve ever shopped for a new mattress you will learn that it isn’t easy and we all must encounter this step in adulthood. But with so many options available the last thing anyone wants to do is waste money and quality sleep, so we’re here to guide you on how to choose a mattress right the first time.
When researching for mattresses you’ve might of have heard the importance of buying a mattress based on your sleeping position from Sleep Experts and Specialists but we’ve decided that a little common sense suits best because we’re all combination sleepers due to use twisting and turning we do while we sleep and we can wake up in a different positions as well.
So, in this article, we will focus on mattress material, scientific testing, and body types. Now, let’s explore the key factors to consider when choosing a high-quality mattress that will save you the headache of buying and returning it a few times.
Deciding the Best Bed Material
We all have mattress material preferences. Some of us prefer a natural, eco-friendly, organic, and some of us wouldn’t mind either way. But this isn’t about that. This is simply about whether or not you should get a foam, spring, or hybrid mattress.
Foam — a mattress constructed entirely from foam. Foam mattresses provide comfort and support through various layers of foam, such as memory foam (pressure relief and contours to the body), polyurethane foam (varies in density and firmness, mainly a supportive foam), and latex foam (durable and bouncy).
Foam mattresses are made to last 6 and 15 years when made from high-quality materials. Rotating it every three months and having a supportive bed frame will help extend its lifespan.
Spring — (also known as an innerspring mattress) is made up of metal springs or coils ranging from 400 to over 1000 coil count that offers bouncy support. The higher the amount of coils, the better support and comfort the mattress provides.
The construction typically consists of several layers of coils and foam or just coils and felt. There are four types of coils.
Bonnell Coils — interconnected to provide a firmness.
Pocket Coils — individually wrapped in fabric to reduce motion transfer.
Offset Coils — same as pocket coils but has more flexibility.
Continuous Coils — offers firm support but not adaptability to the body.
Spring mattresses are made to last from 5 to 10 years, depending on materials used. Regular rotating of the mattress can extend its lifespan.
Hybrid — is a mattress composed of two different types of bed materials. This combination aims to provide pressure relief with foam on top of a supportive coil system.
Hybrid mattresses are made to last 6 to 10 years, depending on their materials and construction used. Mattresses made with high-density foam last longer.
Reference The Past or Present
For reference, use your current or previous mattress to answer these questions.
Is your mattress too firm or too soft?
Is it too bouncy or not bouncy enough?
Do you like sinking or not sinking too much into the mattress?
These answers will help provide detailed information on a starting point of what you are looking for.
For example:
If you have trouble getting off of the mattress, look for a mattress with more bounce.
If you sink too far into a mattress, look for a firmer one, the firmer the mattress, the more you’ll be laying on top of the mattress.
If you don’t like laying on top of a mattress, look for a softer mattress so that you can sink further into the mattress.
If you are bothered by your partner movements while sleeping, look for a mattress with low motion transfer (amount of movement felt on mattress when one person moves) or one with high motion isolation (how well a mattress absorbs and minimize movement in a specific area). Because the way it works is if you look for high motion transfer, you will get low motion isolation. And if you look for low motion transfer, you will get high motion isolation.
Mattress Test
Surprisingly, there are measurements and tests that can be done to a mattress, and one of the best websites to get this information is naplab.com.
Naplab.com provides scientific measurements of bounce, sinkage, motion transfer, and so much more to help you identify a better mattress with ease.
When you get to the website the mattress information can be overwhelming, so the first thing you need to do is identify your current mattress on the website and write down the numbers that matter to you, then proceed to look into other mattresses based on the information you’ve acquired.
Jot down things like sinkage, bounce, firmness, and etc. It’s best to create a list and then weigh the pros and cons, test out the mattress, and then determine the price to find the perfect mattress that suits you.
Example of How To Use NapLab
If your current mattress is an all foam mattress like The Plank by Brooklyn Bedding, the numbers are:
Bounce height — 8.05 inches
Motion transfer acceleration — 6.8 m/s squared
Sinkage depth — 2.11 inches
Note: If you can’t find your mattress on Naplab.com, then look for a review on your mattress on Google or Youtube. For example, you can search “Serta mattress review”.
Finding a similar or better mattress
Now, to solve The Plank’s mattress issue of difficulty getting out of bed, it’s best to look for a mattress with a higher bounce height number. In this case, any mattress that bounces higher than 8.05 inches is ideal.
To solve the issue of feeling a partner move in bed, it’s best to look for a less motion transfer number. In this case, any mattress with motion transfer less than 6.8m/s squared is ideal.
To solve the issue of feeling like you are sinking into the mattress too much, it’s best to look for a lesser sinkage depth number. In this case, any mattress that sinks less than 2.11 inches is ideal.
Each mattress review on Naplab.com has the measurements on their website or Youtube video so you can easily identify and create a list of mattress you would like to test.
New Mattress Shopping List
Create a list of potential mattresses that meet the measurements that you need. This will help narrow down the list and speed up the shopping experience.
In the case of shopping for a mattress equivalent or better than the Plank mattress, mattresses with lower sinkage depth than 2.11 inches would be:
Ikea Morgedal 1.33 inches of sinkage depth
Bear Original 1.6 inches of sinkage depth
Leesa 2.09 inches of sinkage depth
Nest Bedding Finch 2.03 inches of sinkage depth
Zenhaven 1.44 inches of sinkage depth
Sleep EZ 2.07 inches of sinkage depth
Zoma 1.73 inches of sinkage depth
Purple Plus 2.03 inches of sinkage depth
Casper 1.77 inches of sinkage depth
Novosbed 1.88 inches of sinkage depth
In the case of shopping for a mattress equivalent or better than the Plank mattress, mattresses with higher bounce of 8.05 inches would be:
Nest Bedding Quail 8.96 inches of bounce
Nest Bedding Starling 7.94 inches of bounce
Brooklyn Bedding Dreamfoam Essential
Bear Original 8.44 inches of bounce
Big Mattress Classic 12.41 inches of bounce
Zenhaven 8.40 inches of bounce
Spindle 11.59 inches of bounce
Sleep EZ 10.28 inches of bounce
Zoma 10.37 inches of bounce
Purple Plus 11.28 inches of bounce
Casper 8.77 inches of bounce
Ikea Morgedal 9.41 inches of bounce
In the case of shopping for a mattress equivalent or better than the Plank mattress, the mattresses with a motion transfer of less than 6.8 m/s squared would be:
Loom & leaf 5.02 m/s
Nest Bedding Quail 3.61 m/s
Leesa 2.06 m/s
Zenhaven 4.62 m/s
Spindle 4.01 m/s
Ghostbed 4.80 m/s
Amerisleep AS3 2.11 m/s
Novosbed 2.66 m/s
Ikea Morgedal 6.41 m/s
After you’ve made the list, narrow down each mattress by which mattress measurements meet your needs the most, as well as other factors like price, thickness, and any other preferences.
Based on our list of looking for a new mattress to replace the Plank we would choose the Zenhaven as a winner, but since it’s expensive, a more cost efficient winner is Ikea Morgedal, but it has a downside of being only 7 inch thick.
Body Type and Weight
We’re all shaped differently. Some of us have heavier upper body weight, and others have lower heavy body weight. This factor plays a more crucial role in determining the right mattress we need than you think.
Despite your weight, we believe choosing a mattress based on the heaviest part of your body works best because that body part will typically sink furthest into a mattress.
Shopping by Body Weight
For example, if your butt and hips area are the heaviest part of your body, it will sink the most so determine if you don’t find sinking comfortable, search for something firmer like an all foam mattress made of high density or high resilence foam, or a spring or hybrid mattress that consists of spring wires made of 13 gauges.
If you prefer a soft mattress, you can look at all foam mattresses made of memory foam and spring and a hybrid mattress with spring wires of 14 gauge or 15 gauge.
You could also approach it by comparing it to your couch. If you love the way your couch feels, search for a mattress that feels just like it. If you have a firm couch, you’ll probably like a firm mattress, and if you love a soft couch, you’ll probably love a soft mattress.
It’s important to note that these recommendations are general guidelines, and individual preferences may vary. The best way to find the perfect mattress for your body type and weight is to try out different options and see how they feel for you personally.
Test and Research
Now that you have a better understanding of each type of mattress and what to look for it’s time to put your knowledge into action. Here are some practical steps to follow:
1. Test In-Store
Visit mattress stores and spend time lying down on different mattresses. Take your time to assess the comfort, support, and overall feel of each mattress. Lie down in your preferred sleeping position for at least 10 minutes to get a real sense of how the mattress supports you.
2. Read Reviews
Look for online reviews, YouTube videos, and ratings of the mattresses you are considering. Pay attention to reviews from people who have similar body types as you. While individual experiences may vary, reading reviews can provide valuable insights and help you narrow down your options.
3. Consider Materials and Brands
Research different mattress materials, such as foam, latex, or hybrid mattresses. Each material has its unique characteristics and benefits. Similarly, explore reputable mattress brands known for their quality and customer satisfaction.
By testing mattresses in-store and conducting thorough research, you can make a more informed decision and increase your chances of choosing a high-quality mattress that meets your specific needs.
Conclusion
Remember, these are general guidelines, and each person’s preference and body type can vary, but ultimately, the key is to find a balance between comfort and support that suits your unique needs.
Choosing a high-quality mattress is a decision that deserves careful consideration. By considering your body type and weight and conducting proper research and testing, you can find a mattress that provides the comfort and support your body needs for a restful sleep. Remember, investing in a high-quality mattress is an investment in your health and well-being. So, prioritize quality, and get ready to enjoy the benefits of a good night’s sleep on a mattress that truly suits you.
Written by The Resource Manual
The Resource Manual publishes resourceful articles on the topic of personal, health, love, finance, well-being, and business. Our goal is to provide valuable resources to help others navigate through life more smoothly.