Mattress Opinions (Waterbed is Being Retired)

[Old Moparz]

After about 25 years, I think it's time to say good bye to the waterbed.   

It served me well & is still in decent shape, but I think my back needs some better support. My wife & I started to hunt around over the weekend for some bed ideas & became a little overwhelmed with how many different kinds of mattresses there are. We also can't believe how damn expensive some of these things can be.

$3000?  $5000?  $8000  for a mattress?    One salesperson even said they are aware of some that cost around $20,000 or so. For that kind of money it better come with someone that tucks you in every night. 

Anyway, we are both leaning towards some of the latex filled, or memory foam mattresses. We both seem to find it comfortable but just don't know how well they are over time. Has anyone here bought a mattress recently in the last several years & have some pointers? Any brands to look at or stay away from?

I'm not too worried about the bed frame itself, the platform I built for the waterbed 25 years ago is still in great shape & I can place the new mattress on it. Also, the beds we seem to like are pretty expensive & we just don't want to lay out that much on a bed, just the mattress is important.

Thanks. 

I like these...... 

[Brock Samson]

http://www.englander.com/

I spent quite a bit of time researching and checking them out... I also got a Queen size articulated bed that raises front and back to better watch TV or just sit up.. I paid $ 2.500 + Tax, for a package deal, that included memory foam pillows, a sheet set and natural pine cedar chest i store bedding in. this was quite a deal, but the mattress is very heavy requiring two people to struggle to turn, and the bed frame incl. motor and all is also quite heavy.
The best $2,500 I ever spent,.. not counting those three hookers in Vegas. 

[moparstuart]

sleep number

[bobs66440]

We have the Nautilus Sleep Systems for about 5 years. Nice and each side is adjustable...so far so good.

[twodko]

"The best $2,500 I ever spent,.. not counting those three hookers in Vegas. " Come on Brock, you know the drill here........pictures man, pictures!

We'd like to buy a new bed as well but the choices are overwhelming! Sealy has always been a dependable brand as has Serta. Our current (old) bed is made by SpringAir and has served us well for 15+ years. Pillow top mattresses defeat the firmness of the mattress itself IMO so we don't even consider those. We need a firm mattress too. We both like the TemperPedic memory foam mattresses but Christ-o-matic they cost a butt load of money! Some say these mattresses get a bit hard in cold climates and that they don't "breath" well causing sweating. If any members have one of these memory foam mattresses please give us your thoughts on them. I love the support these offer but who can afford one? Please keep us in thr loop as to what you decide on. Thanks

[68X426]

Miss my waterbed.    

Here's the one me and the wife have. Generally known as foam/latex/temperpedic. Costco. Great price. My back has never been better.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11619738&whse=BC&Ne=5000127+4000000&eCat=BC|93|1924&N=4001714 4294898653&Mo=10&No=5&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=

[stripedelete]

Pillow-tops at Sam's Club - You'd be surprised.

[TruckDriver]

Pillow Top

[elacruze]

sleep number

We've had a Sleep Number bed for about 7 years now. She likes a very soft mattress and I like very firm, so it works out well. We have the articulated frame too, so watching TV or reading is nice.  I think it was $2700 for everything back then, and it has been money well spent.

Our daughter has a Tempur-Pedic, and loves it. It's very comfortable for me for a couple nights, then is just a little too deep and soft. Also, the TP gets very warm which is uncomfortable here in S. Fla.

[last426]

I have slept on the same bed since I was 6, 52 years now.  I am on my 4th mattress, a 300 dollar sleep train thing (I am a cheapie).  Works good.  For my RV I gave 40 bucks for a foam one on Craigslist. Kim

[NHCharger]

sleep number

I've had mine for 7-8 years. Queen size with dual controls and a pillow top. My wife can be have convulsions on her side and I hardly notice
Don't buy at a store, you pay top dollar. Call the factory direct, big savings. Also you don't need to buy the $500.00 base it rests on. I built mine out of 2x6's, with 3/4" plywood top. Used a router to round over the top edge. Can;t remember what I paid back then, between $800-1,000.

[ChgrSteve67]

sleep number

I've had mine for 5+ years and I don't miss my waterbed one bit.

Its great to be able to change the firmness of the matress.

[bull]

Tempurpedic, hands down.

[Old Moparz]

I have slept on the same bed since I was 6, 52 years now.  I am on my 4th mattress, a 300 dollar sleep train thing (I am a cheapie).  Works good.  For my RV I gave 40 bucks for a foam one on Craigslist. Kim

Man, I hope it isn't one of those race car beds.  


I hate spending money on certain things, too. The original $300 I spent on the waterbed 25 years ago puts me way ahead in terms of getting my moneys worth. I don't expect any new mattress to last forever, but I hope it lasts longer than some of the appliances we've gotten in recent years.  

Question for the sleep number folks.....

What's inside the mattress?  Isn't is an air chamber?

[elacruze]

Question for the sleep number folks.....

What's inside the mattress?  Isn't is an air chamber?

Two separate air chambers, with a foam divider. It looks like a ripoff when you see it. 
But it's not about the appearance, it's about the sleep. And it has a lifetime warranty.
So far, we've replaced the cover once because my SO sits on the edge a lot and wore a hole in it.
The only thing that's annoying (to her) is that if you keep it very soft, the foam edges tend to pooch out and get off the edge of the frame. Never happens on my side. If you didn't have the movable frame like we do, you could just put a little retaining edge on the frame to eliminate the issue.

[BananaDan]

I've had a Kingsdown for about 8 years now and love it.  It has a pillow-top built in on both sides so you can rotate and flip the mattress, we do it probably 2-3 times per year.  The only complaint is that it's so thick/high, sheets are very difficult to find.

[last426]

Man, I hope it isn't one of those race car beds.

That would be cool but they barely had cars in 1960 and those fins, ouch.  Kim

[chargerboy69]

sleep number

Another vote for the Sleep Number


We have had our Sleep Number bed for 3 years now and we love it.  I used to crawl out of bed every morning with a sore back, but since we purchased our Sleep Number. . . nothing.  They will tell you you need to set the bed on one of their box springs, nope.  We have a Sleep Number king size mattress on a box spring we bought from Denver Mattress for a third of the cost and it works perfect.