Have you gone mattress shopping lately? I need advice.
 

My mattress is only 6 or 7 years old but I keep waking up with an upper back ache. My side of the bed is noticeably shallower even though we flip it every 6 months. I know I have to lose weight but I need to implement a fix now.

Anyone know the ave lifespan of mattresses? Is the "Sleep Number" mattress the real deal or marketing hype? What about the memory foam one? I don't see that one lasting as long but if you have one, tell me about it. I know those beds aren't cheap but I'll pay big bucks for a good night's sleep.

I flip and or rotate mine every week.... it is a Saturday ritual... wash the bed linens and flip rotate the mattress...

6 months is way to long a period to flip/rotate

After breaking my neck and back and the degenerative discs that the wife has we bought a sleep number mattress. I can tell you it will take a day or two to find your number and you will also make subtle adjustments to the firmness from time to time but yes it is the real deal. Your quest for a mattress is over. The only problem I have found is because it is two chambered and the wife keeps her side softer than mine we hit the auto fill buttons when we are knocking boots.

I have a Select Comfort (Sleep Number) king mattress. It is great - set your side to whatever firmness you want, wife does the same, I find during the summer I like it firmer and during the winter I like it softer. 5 years old. We haven't had any problems with the mattress, but the air pump unit had to be replaced, I think that cost us $50 (?).

Only problem is if the two sides are set to very different numbers, the softer side will be "lower" than the firmer side, by a small amount (maybe 1/2 inch at most). This happens if, say, you set "75" and your wife sets "20". I guess you could add a thin foam topper to the softer side, if it bothers you enough to do anything about it (we haven't).

Cantdrive55, I get ConsumerReports online (I know, I know, some knock this organization, but CR seems pretty objective over the many years I have subscribed..) and they recently rated mattresses.
The top 3 mattresses were:
#1 TempurPedic, $2,408., #2 Original Mattress Co., $891., #3 Select Comfort $2, 125. They rated within a very close range, 83, 81 and 80 respectively. Strictly for what it's worth.
The report doesn't mention a life span of a mattress.

We bought our current mattress from this foo-foo designer furniture place. It was supposedly high end and never needed flipping. BS. The only high end thing about it was the price. Never again. I'm going to a mattress only place next time.

Great advice so far! Looks like we'll be going to Sleep Train later this week.

I'm getting there, my is an 8 or 9 y/o Stearns and Foster. We flip/rotate about every month or two. $2xxx for a mattress, wow, I think I paid 1/2 that, but that was a while ago.

Check out this facebook link,

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Best-Back-Sleep-Store/130014483675673

We can help you out, and shipping is not an issue..
My business partner Jame (30+year PCA guy) can help you and has the answers.. CALL him..

Quote:

The Best Back & Sleep Store The Back Store - call us at 239-280-9050 MattressesAdjustable BedsHypnos BedsPillowsSheets & PillowcasesVersai Italian LinensNeutral PostureThe Perfect Chair®iJoy Massage ChairPanasonic Massage ChairsHuman Touch Technology® ChairsLift ChairsLifestyle ProductsAmeriBag®TravelproTempur-MedTempur-Marine

Thanks for the link, Byron. I'm not sure though if buying mattresses online is right for me. I have to try each bed out and arrange for my old bed to be hauled away.

We have had a Select Comfort for close to 20 years. One bladder leaked about a year ago and they sent me a new one free, plus they paid for the shipping of the leaker back to them. We could not be happier and I don't think I could go back to a conventional mattress ever again.

Call James, he can answer any sleep and bed questions you have and tell you where try the mattresses out, and I guarantee that we can make you a better deal than anyone else..

I echo what the others report above. Average mattress life is no more than 10 years. With the newer technology, flipping of new mattresses is not required.

With that said, DO NOT pay asking price for the mattress at any of the national chain mattress stores. The markup on mattresses is more than jewelry. I educated myself online before I went shopping recently, found the one my wife and I liked, and got a quote. Roughly $5K for a high end pocketed spring coil with pillow top, yadda, yadda... I acted insulted, whipped out my trusty iphone, and found the same mattress at competitor for $2K less. The guy called his "boss" and no haggle immediately matched the price, proving the mark up is extreme. I pressed them harded and got even more off. Sorry sound like a cheapo, but I hate getting that kinda shaft. YMMV.

Two words: Sleep Number, aka Select Comfort. For the money, by far the best mattress out there, in my view. We've had ours for more than 10 years and it remains as great today as it was the first day we got it. We'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Cant really discuss mattresses without talking about sleeping position.

Side sleepers need a SOFT mattress. Back sleepers need a firmer mattress.

We've had Comfortaire beds in out house for 7-8 years and we love them. They are just like the "Select Comfort", but there isn't a number to select, just a "+" and a "-" on the air pump. We have never had any problems with them and Beth and I are both prone to backaches on beds that are too soft/firm.

We tried a "Sleep Number" bed for a few weeks...HATED IT! Both my wife and I thought it was like sleeping on a pool float. Had a 90 day trial but sent it back after two weeks.

Sleep number. We couldn't be happier. We had a Certa before that and were happy with it. But then again, we were much younger, so sleeping on a rock was good and had no issues.

Temperpedic. Best thing we ever bought. Ever. I'd do those stupid commercials if they asked me. I never want to leave it. I love it. Seriously.

we bought a memory foam mattress through costco. it is the fkn bomb. no kidding. if you wish, i will look at the tag and get you the manufacturer information, etc. i can probably find the whole enchilada in my email history. when i fall asleep on that mattress, i wake up in the same position, completely rested, no circulation hotspots, no back pain, it is amazing.