How to choose a mattress that will be comfortable to sleep on

Even for severe sociopaths, Lifehacker recommends getting to a real store and testing mattresses before purchasing. You can buy a mattress online without trying it on only if you know exactly which model you need. For example, you slept on one at a party or in a hotel.

If you happen to lie somewhere on the most comfortable mattress in the world, do not hesitate to ask the owner the name of the model and manufacturer. Perhaps one such question will solve your problems with choice for a long time.

If you don’t have a favorite mattress model yet, you need to find one. Here's what you need to look for when choosing:

1. Type of mattress.
2. Case.
3. Filler.
4. Rigidity.
5. Size.
6. Price.

Types of mattresses

Mattresses are inflatable, water, spring and springless. Let's look at the pros and cons of each type.

Inflatable mattress

An air mattress is more suitable for camping trips or for temporary accommodation of guests. And although you can sleep quite comfortably on it for a couple of nights or even a week, long-term use of such a mattress will not have a very good effect on the health of your back.

intex2.ru

Pros of an air mattress:

1. Mobility. If you frequently move from place to place or temporarily rent an unfurnished apartment while waiting to move into your own, an air mattress can serve you well. However, not always for a long time, since it is very easy to damage it.
2. The bed can simply be deflated and stored in the closet. During a party, for example.
3. The simplest air mattress will cost you 1,000 rubles; cooler models cost about 5,000.

Disadvantages of an air mattress:

1. Does not provide adequate spinal support, so after a while you may experience back and neck pain and poor sleep. Among those who have used air mattresses for a long time, very few are satisfied. Others complain of pain and bad mood in the morning.
2. The mattress can be easily damaged, especially if you have pets at home. One joyful jump from a cat can render your sleeping place unusable. Over time, microscopic holes appear in the mattress (most often in the places where individual air chambers are held together). You won't be able to detect where exactly the air is coming from, but by morning you will wake up practically on the floor.
3. It is uncomfortable for two people to sleep on an air mattress. When one tosses or stands up, the other feels all these movements.

An air mattress is a good temporary solution, especially if you'll be sleeping on it alone. But don't take it as a long-term option.

Waterbed

In the simplest versions there are no chambers, that is, the mattress is a cover filled with water. It’s impossible to even sit on it without causing a mini-tsunami. Naturally, you will also feel waves when your neighbor turns or moves.

For couples, this option is completely unsuitable, since the lighter partner may end up on a bubble, while the second one comfortably falls into a water hole. And some people even get seasick on such a mattress, so the morning is not particularly good.

The outlet for couples is a water bed divided into two independent parts. Another option is a mattress consisting of several chambers filled with water. It will not go in waves at the slightest vibration.

Pros of a waterbed:

1. Ideally adapts to the shape of the body, perfectly relieves the spine and joints. Blood circulates freely throughout the body; you cannot rest your arm or leg.
2. There will be no dust mites in the mattress.
3. Does not deform over time.
4. The water mattress is installed in a special electrically heated box. Every night you lie down in a warm bed and fall asleep faster. And such warmth is also useful for those who suffer from arthritis, rheumatism, and muscle pain.
5. The mattress cover does not require special cleaning; you just need to wipe off the dust with a cloth.
6. Contrary to all fears, the mattress is very difficult to damage. You can repair the damage yourself using the included repair kit. Well, the most careful ones can insure their bed.

Cons of a waterbed:

1. Those who are comfortable on hard mattresses are unlikely to be able to adapt to a water mattress.
2. In the reviews, some complain about increased back pain, which suggests that this mattress is not suitable for everyone. Consult a podiatrist before purchasing.
3. The mattress weighs from 100 to 900 kg. Of course, it won’t break the floor in the apartment, but moving it to another corner will be difficult. The process is also complicated by the fact that the mattress box is connected to an outlet (remember about heating?). In general, rearranging, repairing or moving will become even more of a challenge.
4. The water in the mattress should be changed every 2-3 years, and a special conditioner should be added to it once a year to prevent the formation of microorganisms.
5. The minimum cost of a double water mattress, on which you will not feel dangling on the waves, is 65 thousand rubles. You will also need a heater and a box. The final price of a waterbed is about 130 thousand rubles.
6. A good waterbed is not easy to find in a small town. You can take a chance and order online, trusting the reviews of other buyers, but most likely the delivery costs will be scary. And you still have to look for a craftsman who will install the bed correctly.

A water mattress will probably be the best purchase of your life, providing a comfortable, sound and healthy sleep for many decades. But a mistake will cost you dearly. Before you decide to buy, try sleeping on such a mattress for several days, for example, somewhere in a hotel.

Spring mattress

Probably, almost everyone has heard that there are mattresses with dependent and independent spring blocks.

Mattresses with dependent springs

The springs are interconnected into a single sheet. I pressed on one and they all started moving.

Video: spim.ru

Advantages of a mattress with dependent springs:

1. Perhaps the only advantage of such a mattress is its cost. You can find some pretty budget options. Although sometimes the mattress contains fillers, which raise the price to the level of high-quality springless mattresses or mattresses with independent spring blocks.

Disadvantages of a mattress with dependent springs:

1. Gradually, the mattress deforms, taking on the shape of a hammock. It becomes uncomfortable to sleep on it. Plus it's bad for your back.
2. Inconvenient for couples, since when one of the sleepers turns, the other will feel vibrations. Also, a lighter partner can slide towards a heavier one in a dream.
3. The spring block may break, and the sharp edges of the springs may pierce or prick the mattress upholstery.
4. The mattress is difficult to transport. So when you move, you will have to leave it, sell it, or hire at least a minibus for transportation.

In principle, a mattress with dependent springs is suitable for occasional use. You can buy it, for example, for a summer house, choosing a cheaper model.

Mattress with independent springs

Each spring is in a fabric cover and works autonomously. The number of springs varies from 250 to 1,000 per square meter. The more springs, the better the mattress adapts to the contours of your body.

Video: spim.ru

Advantages of a mattress with independent springs:

1. Supports the spine in a natural position: if you sleep on your side, the springs will press down more under the shoulder and hip, and less in the area of ​​the waist and knees. mattrasik.ru
2. Models with independent springs are convenient for couples, especially since you can choose a mattress with halves of different hardness.

Disadvantages of a mattress with independent springs:

1. Like the previous type, it is difficult to transport.
2. Springs may break.
3. Over time, the springs may begin to creak.

A mattress with independent spring blocks is a good choice for daily sleep.

Springless mattress

It’s easy to guess that this is a mattress consisting only of a cover and some kind of filler.

Pros of a springless mattress:

1. A high-quality springless mattress will provide proper support for the spine. For back problems, these are the mattresses that are recommended.
2. Remains silent throughout its entire service life, unlike spring ones, which can begin to creak.
3. Convenient for transportation: usually such a mattress can be rolled up and transported even in a car.

Disadvantages of a springless mattress:

1. The disadvantages of a springless mattress are the disadvantages of its filler. We will talk about the types and properties of fillers a little later.

If you find a comfortable springless mattress for yourself, it will provide you with sound and healthy sleep for many years. You can buy such a mattress for children, since a spring one can quickly fail when jumping on the bed.

Care Tips

Holcon mattress filler does not require maintenance. It is not afraid of high temperatures, so you can clean it using a steamer. This is especially true if, in addition to cholcon, there are also natural ingredients. Machine washable at a temperature not exceeding 60°C. You can squeeze it in a machine.

Important! Even if the bed has slats, the cholcon filling must be ventilated once a year.

Before using the product, it must be ventilated. After purchase, the filler will have a slight specific smell that will quickly disappear. To do this, place the product near the wall and leave it for 2-3 hours with the window or vent open.

Types of fillers

If everything is quite simple with covers, then there are many fillers. Almost all of them are used in both springless and spring mattresses. Most often you can find a combination of several materials. Let's go through the properties of the most popular fillers.

cotton wool

The only advantage of a cotton mattress is its cost. For just 1,000 rubles you will become the owner of a handsome striped single bed. But the cost of double models is already comparable to more modern types of mattresses, so the question arises: does it make sense to buy a cotton one?

Cotton wool does not provide sufficient elasticity for proper support of the spine, it rolls up quite quickly, absorbs moisture, but does not breathe well, that is, the mattress must be dried regularly to avoid the active proliferation of microorganisms. A cotton mattress can be considered as an inexpensive temporary solution.

Sintepon

A springless mattress with padding polyester filling is light and inexpensive, but also cannot provide the necessary support for the spine. But it is convenient to store it at home or take it with you on hikes and to the country. You can use it temporarily and then put it in the closet in case guests arrive.

A padding polyester layer is often used in spring mattresses to provide softness.

Holofiber

Holofiber is usually used together with other materials. Thus, a layer of holofiber gives elasticity and softness to a rigid base made of coconut slab.

Holofiber is breathable, hypoallergenic and quite durable material.

Holcon

This is a material made from synthetic polyester fiber, sometimes with the addition of natural materials: cotton, bamboo, coconut, wool. Holcon fibers are vertical springs, so the filler is fluffy and quickly restores its shape if you press on it.

Holcon is warm, light, does not absorb odors and moisture, hypoallergenic, and inexpensive. Mattresses only made from Holcon are quite thin. These can be used if you sleep on the couch or like to sleep on your stomach.

Polyurethane foam (foam rubber)

Of course, in high-quality mattresses you will not find that yellow thin foam rubber that we are used to seeing.

Modern polyurethane foam for mattresses is resilient and elastic and follows the shape of the body well. A thick springless mattress made of polyurethane foam is already capable of supporting your back. Thanks to its porous texture, polyurethane foam breathes well, is durable and hypoallergenic.

Various foams

All kinds of foams are derivatives of polyurethane foam, which contain additives of different densities, due to which the hardness of mattresses can vary. There are models with several zones of varying rigidity: they provide proper support for the spine. Also, for example, silver ions can be added to the foam to protect against bacteria.

There are many types of foam, they may differ from one manufacturer to another. In general, modern foams are elastic, resilient, hypoallergenic, and last 10–25 years.

A special mention should be made of memory foam. A mattress with such a filling completely follows the shape of the body, supporting it well and relieving the spine and joints. Plus, the mattress doesn't wobble when your bedmate turns, so your sleep will be more sound and restful.

However, not everyone can get used to sinking into a mattress, and for some it is too hot. It will also be uncomfortable for those who are used to sleeping on their stomachs. However, the layer of such foam can be thin, and then the effect will not be too pronounced.

Artificial and natural latex

Manufacturers claim that dust mites do not live in latex. However, the same is said about foam mattresses. Latex provides good support for the spine. Thanks to the porous structure, the mattress breathes, so moisture evaporates instantly.

The disadvantages include the specific smell and heaviness of the mattress. Some owners note that after a few years, a depression from the body appears on the mattress, which subsequently interferes with a comfortable position. People also sometimes complain that it is hot to sleep on a latex mattress.

The main differences between natural and synthetic latex:

1. Natural latex will last more than 30 years, some manufacturers even provide a guarantee for this period. Mattresses made of synthetic latex will please you a little less. It is better to check with a consultant when purchasing exactly how much.
2. Synthetic latex is more rigid than natural latex.
3. Mattresses made from natural latex are more expensive than mattresses made from synthetic latex.

Perhaps the advantage of natural latex over other fillers that we wrote about above is precisely its naturalness. And comfort is a subjective concept. You might be as comfortable on a foam mattress as you would be on a latex mattress.

Koir

Coir is a natural filler made from coconut fibers. Typically, coir is used to give mattresses rigidity.

Sisal

A tough fiber obtained from the leaves of the Agave sisal plant. Used as a layer between the spring block and the soft layer to properly distribute the load on the mattress.

Wool

Wool absorbs moisture well and breathes, so this mattress is warm and dry. A springless mattress filled only with wool will not provide adequate support for the spine. However, wool is often used as one of the layers in orthopedic mattresses.

Heat-bonded flax

Natural material that wicks away moisture well. Used as a layer.

Mattress hardness

Typically, mattresses are divided into hard, medium-hard and soft.

Hard mattresses

Rigid models are dominated by coir, sisal, and thermally bonded linen. Such mattresses may have a reinforced spring block, which allows them to withstand maximum loads. Recommended for people with large body weight, as well as for problems with posture.

Medium-hard mattresses

Medium hardness is achieved through a combination of hard and soft fillers. As a rule, coconut and sisal are used as a rigid base, and a layer of orthopedic foam or voluminous stitching provides comfort.

Soft mattresses

The softness of the mattress is given by various comfortable layers: latex, orthopedic foam, holofiber. The more materials there are above the box spring, the softer the mattress. Such models are suitable for the elderly and people with a fragile physique. Soft mattresses are also recommended for certain diseases of the lumbar spine.

Robert Oksman, expert sleep specialist from Askona

The hardness of the mattress is selected individually depending on the age, weight and preferences of the person. The greater the weight of the sleeper, the harder the mattress should be. Not only comfort during sleep depends on this, but also the service life of the product, since rigid models use more load-resistant materials that eliminate early deformation.

The mattress passport indicates the maximum weight of the sleeper. Focus on it, as well as on your feelings when testing the mattress in the store. If you have problems with your back or joints, it is advisable to consult an orthopedist. The old advice “the tougher the better” does not work for many diseases.

It is also worth consulting with a good orthopedist if you are choosing a mattress for a child: the spine can be seriously damaged by an incorrect sleeping position.

There are models with sides of different hardness. This allows you to turn the mattress over depending on your desire or health condition.

Double mattresses can have halves of different hardness. But if you can’t find a mattress that suits both partners, you can put two single mattresses in a box and fill the gap between them with a common mattress cover.

A mattress protector will also save you if you buy a mattress that is not suitable for its hardness, and there is no way to replace it. A properly selected cover will add firmness or softness to the mattress.

What makes it stand out among analogues

Holcon in a mattress has similar and different characteristics with other similar fillers:

One of the main advantages of Holcon is its lightness; mattresses can be used outdoors without the risk of catching a cold or damaging it. Does not create a greenhouse effect.

Author:

Zakharova Nina Afanasyevna

I hope you like my article! If you find any shortcomings, just write to me about it! I am always ready for a conversation and will answer any questions you have, ask them!