Picking the Best Mattress

"Back for another after 20 years. Great buy!"

- L

Picking the Best Mattress For You:

The 13 P's of Sleep

Winston Churchill called mattress shopping [or maybe it was Soviet Russia] "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." Yes, mattresses are confusing, but we can help. Here's how you can help too:

Past:
What thickness of mattress are you using now? 4", 6", 8", 10", 12", 14", or 16"?
What kind? Wire, Foam, Latex, Memory, Futon, Air, Water or Other?______
How firm is it? XF, Firm, Med, Soft, Plush? How old is it?_____
Before that, what kind did you use, and how did you like it?
What size do you need now? T, D/F, Q, or K? And thickness? _____
Particulars:
What's depressing about your current mattress?
Plans:
How long will you be in Boston? Will your mattress move with you?
Performance:
How long do you need your new mattress to last?
2 yrs.? 5 yrs.? 10 yrs.? 15 yrs.? 20 yrs.?
Position:
What position[s] do you sleep in? On your back: % Side: % Stomach %?
Personal:
Any back or circulation complaints, osteo-arthritis, acid-reflux, etc.?
Prominence:
How tall are you? Queen mattresses are at 80" Long. Queens give tall people 5" more space than a double/full [75"L], & 6" more in width too. For a 6'2"person, a D/F offers only 1" leeway; a Q offers a 6'2" person 6X more [6"] leeway to stretch out.
Platform & Peak:
How high up do you want to sleep? Remember the formula: Deck Ht'' + Mattress Ht'' = Sleeping Ht''
Portal Problems:
Will a boxsprings set & spring sofabed go up into your apartment? Boston & Cambridge are notorious for tight staircases & tiny doorways.
Personality:
Are you a "Green" [layered cotton, wool & latex] or "hi-tech" [dacron, hi density & memory foam] person? Or a "never-change-from-bedsprings" type?
Partner:
It's very smart to ask your partner to participate.
Pocketbook:
Will your pocketbook be comfortable too? Remember the difference between "cost per year" and "original price". A $400 mattress that only works for 2 years actually costs you $200/year. An $800 mattress that is comfortable for 20 years costs you only $40/yr. What at first appears the costlier mattress is 1/5th the price.
Pillow:
Don't forget a good pillow. It is as important as the mattress.