I'm looking to get a new mattress and have decided that after years of using a spring coil one, those just don't cut it anymore. For years my back kills me if I sleep more than 5-6 hours, which is what usually happens on weekends. I've tried several spring coil ones in my search for a new mattress, but I admit I've been intrigued by the Sleep Number bed and more so by the Tempur-pedic one. Does anyone use either of these? If so, what are your observations?

I'm leaning toward the Tempur-pedic one, but it seems that I can't order just the mattress; I have to get the whole bed, furniture assembly and all. Is that true, or can I buy just the mattress?

I've got to do something, and soon!

When we bought our house we sprung for an expensive mattress. Very good money spent. My husband had back problems, but the new bed helps quite a bit.

It is a spring-based mattress, but it is very firm with a soft pillow top. We paid more for a memory foam top, it is very nice -- so soft, yet firm. I would suggest a frim mattress with a soft top. But the best thing you can do is try out each mattress in the store. Also recognize that you will spend 25-30% of your life on this mattress. Don't skimp!

I bought a Sealy Reflexion mattress. This is from the website for the store I bought it from...

click on "mattresses" and then "Latex & Memory"

I'm very happy with mine. The store is "family owned and operated" -- and when I went there to make my purchase, I found they had a Rainbow Flag sticker on the front door. They also offer free delivery nationwide.

I sleep on a foam mattress from IKEA and am happy with that. The key is to put the mattress right on the floor--that gives you the support. And you save the cost of a bed frame.

I used the sleep # bed for about 2 years. I had the double bed which is made of two airmattresses. I always woke up having fallen between the two mattresses with my hip on the bed frame. It was not a problem at first but then the foam dividers between the airmattresses stopped supporting me.

Also, the sleep# beds actually have a smell to them, latex or plastic that never went away when you changed sheets.

I was happy for a while with the sleep # but long term it did not work for me.

I am much happier with my deluxe normal bed with extra padding.

Hope that helps

Hi Umpire, TempurPedic is the way to go...I've always loved really soft mattresses and my partner likes them hard (too easy...don't go there!) Anyway, we have an inn upstate New York and tried a TempurPedic in one of the guest rooms. I loved it! Everything that you've read and heard about them is true. It conforms to your body (and your bed partner's) but gives plenty of support. There are several types of TempurPedic (we have all types in all of our guest rooms - by the way, that's a great way of trying them out before paying their high prices - go to the TemputPedic website and look up inns & B&B's in your area that have TempurPedic mattresses, and spend the night to see if you like them) but you'll love whichever you pick. However...be advised that they are kind of hot in the summer (I guess that's due to the foam material that the mattresses are made of (but that's not enough of a reason to ignore them, IMO.) Finally, TempurPedic also makes different types of pillows (my partner swears by them) but personally, I'm not a fan.

I've never tried the SleepNumber thing so can not comment. Happy sleeping! Mike




Hey Umpire, I forgot to add this...you do not have to buy the frame, just the TempurPedic mattress. They do make a model that has adjustable sides of the mattress (i.e., each side has head and foot controls) and that model comes with the frame, wiring, etc, but for the other models you buy just the mattress and foundation, and put same in your bed frame.

Thanks for that info. I'm not really interested in the adjustable Tempur-pedic, and I'm glad I don't have to buy the entire bed assembly. I'm looking for just the mattress.

Thank you to everyone else who chimed in.

Tempur-pedic is by far the best for me. I have constant back pain(thorasic area) and I've tried a lot of beds and could hardly sleep on any of them. Tried a waterbed mattress, wrong choice. I was down and out, ready to give up hope of ever sleeping throught the night and in pain, until I tried the tempur-pedic. That bed is everything they say and more! I get a good nights sleep and it is the only mattress I will buy from now on. Also, you can buy just the mattress, I did. I used the old waterbed frame in place of the furniture.

Now the only time I dread going to sleep is when I'm traveling, I know I'll be in for a long night and just have to deal with it until I get home to luxury.

The one thing to note about the tempur pedic is it does take a few days to get used to it. With me, it was about 5 days before I felt confortable and didn't have any pain, but those first few nights were less than ideal. They told me this ahead of time at the place I bought it from, but told me to give it a good 7 to 10 days and if I didn't like it to bring it back. I think I paid $1800 just for the mattress several years ago, I'm sure they have come down since.

I think Tempur-pedic it is. Now I just have to figure out how to pay for it.

well,you could sell raffle tickets with the first prize allowing the winner to help you break that mattress in!

Sounds good to me! Now at what price should I sell them?

I guess that depends on how much the mattress cost AND how many Outsporters want to help you break it in!

I was in the market a few months back for a Tempur-pedic mattress but kind of gave up when I tested one out in the showroom. It just felt kind of hard to me. Now that I read that you need to sleep on it for at least 7-10 days it makes more sense. I might check them out again and reconsider. I asked ITJock (Rob) what kind of mattress he was keen on since he travels all over the world. He said to get a mattress from the Four Seasons Hotel. At Four Seasons Hotels, they sell more than 2,000 of the custom-made Sealy beds to guests every year. It costs about $800 for a queen but he said it is well worth it. He suggested to me and my partner to rent a good room at the nearest Four Seasons and try one out.

By the way.... has anyone heard from ITJock since Christmas? I haven't seen him on the board since December and he's not returning emails either. Just wondering.