Is it possible to choose a mattress?

[wildfellhall]

Every time I start to research them - I'm completely baffled by the choice.
Ours is really old and needs to be replaced.
I can't have any wool at all as I'm a bit sensitive to it.
Someone said John Lewis don't collect your old one any more.
I don't want a sweaty mattress.
I know some you can return after 30 days - but who wants that level of palaver?
I'm suspicious of something so plastic it unfurls out of a box - but it does sound convenient.
I want supportive firmness but not bruising.
The toppers confuse me.
I'll never getting him indoors to come and lie on one in a shop.
How did you choose?

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I went to Bensons for beds. They were happy for me to try as many as I wanted for as long as I liked. I took my headphones to listen to stuff and stop me getting bored as it's a good idea to lie on a mattress for a good 10 to 15 minutes to let it warm up to your body temperature before you get an idea of what it will be like all night. The assistant at the shop was perfectly happy to listen to my requirements and help me narrow it down a little then leave me alone to try them. I'm sure Bensons won't be the only mattress shop with this approach so I would suggest trying some near you and seeing how you get on. Your mattress is a significant investment so it's worth doing the research.

If husband won't come then go by yourself. His problem if he isn't comfortable!

I bought an Emma online 8 yrs ago. So comfortable right from the first night. Not had any problems with it and still like new.
Even so, it's a risk buying online because everyone's different.

Ideally go and try out mattresses with your partner, because they feel a bit different when you're lying there on your own. Good luck. It's an important purchase!

Buy it once but properly.

We’d gone through a few mattresses, as we both prefer firm memory foam, absolutely hate bouncing mattresses… For a long time, we had our eye on a Tempur mattress, but the price felt impossible to justify. Eventually, we decided to go for it—and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.

Two years later, it’s still like sleeping on a brand-new mattress. No sagging, no dips, even with my husband being significantly heavier than me. It’s incredibly comfortable. Honestly I cannot recommend it enough.

We need a new mattress but I can't face the shopping part of it. I'm worried about making a wrong decision
Currently have an Emma and I hate it. My back & hips ache every morning when I wake up. It's utter shite (DH is happy with it though)

Usually on mattress threads John Ryan By Design of Didsbury, Manchester, gets mentioned as offering great mattresses and service.

In the same boat as you OP. The old mattress cost £1,000 about 8 years ago which seemed a fortune. We started getting backache shortly afterwards and then ended up spending £200 on a mattress topper!

Need a new one now and scared on spending a fortune and getting back pain again. It’s a minefield to know what to get. I like the idea of a machine in Dreams though so will look at that.

No. It’s impossible.

it took me two years because the choice melted

Oops

….my brain every time I tried.

We bought a mattress with a fixed topper from local company with a few shops. The mattress was made for their store and was a bit cheaper than the really expensive ones there, but still quite expensive. We took the option to buy a special mattress protector so we could have returned the mattress after 90 days if we didn't get on with it, this was reassuring as we went for a medium mattress as I had lost some weight and this was appropriate for our weight. Unfortunately I have put the weight back on plus a bit more and now wish we'd bought the firm but up until now we have been very pleased with the mattress

I would say, from our experience, that I wouldn't buy a mattress with a fixed topper. We cannot turn the mattress over as this would mess up the topper, so can only rotate it.

When we next change mattress we will buy one without a fixed topper and buy a separate topper if we think this is necessary

When we moved about 10 years ago, we needed a new bed at short notice. No time for shopping and not had to be in stock. I ordered a basic divan and a bottom of mid range mattress in the sale. Both were about £650. We expected it to be an interim purchase, moved swiftly to the guest room once we had sorted the new "good" bed. It is the comfiest bed we have ever had - very firm - and I have significant back issues. It needs replacing now and I shall replace it with the same or similar.

I bought a mattress from 'John Ryan by design' a few years ago and it's still going strong. They are expensive but seems to have been worth it. I did hours of research.

Even if you don't by from them, the articles on their website are really useful to understand different types of mattresses, springs, and what to look for - for example, mine is two sided so I regularly both flip and spin the mattress to ensure even wear to the padding and springs. Being able to use both sides makes it last longer.

I think a mattress topper increases the longevity of the mattress so I wish I'd got one. I also like it to be quite firm and I think this would have helped.

Edited to add: just looked at the site again and they are much more expensive than they were when I bought! The info is helpful though.