Guide to Mattress Shopping

Be Wary of Mattress Comfort Guarantees

When it comes to buying most things, money-back guarantees are typically a good thing. But do you really want a mattress that someone may have used for several weeks? Straight off the bat, you should know that major bedding manufacturers do not allow retailers to return mattresses just because they didn’t feel good. So any retailer offering you the chance to return a mattress after you’ve given it a test run is almost certainly putting returns back into inventory and selling them as new. Just the thought is enough to keep you up at night.

Buy Box Spring and Mattress in a Set

Box springs and mattresses that come in sets are built and fitted for one another. Separate units can cause problems. And since box springs absorb up to 50 per cent of the impact, using a well-fitted box spring can prolong the life of your mattress.

Avoid Box Foundations

Unlike box springs, these plain wooden platforms covered with fabric have no springs. They are usually meant to make a cheap mattress feel firmer and can actually cause the mattress to break down more quickly. Without box springs, the mattress ticking, padding, and other upholstery can wear out more than twice as fast.

Don’t Assume a Firm Mattress Is Best

There’s been a change of thinking when it comes to mattresses. Studies show that the long-held belief that firmer mattresses are best for people with back pain may not necessarily be true. Chiropractors say your spine should look the same when you’re lying down as it does when you’re standing. If you sleep on your side, a too-firm mattress may not have enough give to let your shoulder and hips sink into the mattress. Your body will be unnaturally compressed. Instead, you should look for a mattress designed to conform to the spine’s natural curves and to keep the spine in alignment when you lie down. The mattress should also distribute pressure evenly across the body to help circulation, decrease body movement, and minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other.

Choose the Right Coils

Learn about the four basic types of mattress coil systems so you can make an informed choice.

The Bonnel Coil System

A system of hourglass-shaped coils tied together by thinner spiraling wire. The maximum number of coils in this system, often found in lower-priced name-brand mattresses, is 364 in a full-size mattress.

The Continuous-Wire System

As the name suggests, this is made from a single wire, often more than 180 metres long. These are most commonly found in Serta mattresses. While the continuous coil tends to be strongest, it does not necessarily offer the most support.

Individually Wrapped Coils

Sometimes known as Marshall or pocketed coils, these are encased in fabric. These are found in Simmons and Sealy mattresses. One advantage: Because they’re not connected, one sleeper’s movements don’t affect another sleeper in the same bed.

Offset Coils

Like Bonnel coils, these are hourglass shaped, but the coils are squared off on top and bottom for maximum support. Some Sealy mattresses use this system.

Coil Conclusions

Whatever the type of system, coils should be tempered with heat or electricity for long-lasting springiness. The edge should have a sturdy wire or foam border for stability and to keep the edge firm. The higher the coil count, the more stable the mattress is. Most mattresses feature 300 to 800 coils, with 500 to 800 considered firm. But mattresses with lower coil counts can feel firm if the coil wire is thicker. (Wire thickness is referred to as the wire’s gauge. The higher the number, the thinner the wire. Look for a minimum of 14-gauge coil wire and 6-gauge border wire.) While firm, these low-coil-count mattresses can grow lumpy more quickly.

Skimp On the Kids’ Mattresses

Yes, you read that right. Mattress manufacturers and retailers know how young parents dote on their children. They prey on this tendency to provide “the best that money can buy” by offering high-priced bedding designed expressly for children. Top quality is fine when it comes to car seats, fresh food, and other things directly related to your child’s health and safety. But almost any moderately priced bedding will give children proper support. So why buy the most expensive mattress for your six-year-old, when he will eventually outgrow it—if he doesn’t destroy it first by bed-wetting or trampolining?