I guess it depends on which $500 and $5000 solution you had in mind.

Are you saying your mattress is older than you by nearly a generation?

 

So you're saying that if not for this mattress Omega Forums might not exist?

 

Don't get ANYTHING that uses Chinese foam. No regulation on it's manufacture and it often off-gases toxic fumes (yes, I expect you guys to use that as your straight line ).

If you go with an innerspring mattress get one that has individually pocketed coils. Each coil is in it's own little baggy and can operate independently of the others. It's more comfortable and can conform to your body better. There's also less motion if you have a partner (temporarily or permanently ). We've had a Simmons Beautyrest for several years and it's been great.

If you go with a memory foam mattress, buy the best you can afford. The two brands that are head & shoulders above the rest are Tempurpedic and Comforpedic. Windy & I are getting a Comforpedic - which should tell you all you need to know about which one I think is better for us. BTW, that's also made by Simmons.

Latex foam has one major issue that no salesperson (on commission) will tell you - if there's a layer of Tallalay latex thicker than 1.5" (@ 4 cm) it will sag within a couple years. That type of foam just doesn't hold up. They blow too much air into it to make if feel fluffy and soft for it to have the necessary substance. We call latex mattresses like that, particularly the pillowtops, boomerang beds because we know they'll come right back at us with warranty complaints.

Also, don't fall for those "green" mattresses. There's always some chemicals used unless you find a guy who lives off the grid to stuff a home made hemp sack with straw. Remember that synthetic material is usually more consistent and durable than it's natural counterpart.

Lastly, don't think you need a hard mattress. You aren't a cube so you can't be comfortable on a slab. Hard and firm mean the same in English but not in Mattress. Firm is on the inside, and the bed doesn't have to be hard on the top to give good support. Firm-ish support with a comfortable top layer or two is the way to go. You want the mattress to conform to the way you sleep; you don't want to be tossing and turning because you can't get comfortable due to pain in your shoulders or hips from pressure. I'm not saying to get a marshmellow either.... go somewhere in the middle. When you feel comfortable after laying on your side for 3 to 5 minutes - no pain or pressure building up - then you're on the right track.

 

Those great sleep number ads are tempting, right? Ash, you could have one setting for yourself and another setting for your watches. Honestly, I think if you stick with a reputable name...Sealy, Simmons, Serta, etc, you should just choose what you feel best on at the best price. None will last forever. My best advice: If you have Costco or Sams down under, buy from them. They carry good names at fair prices. And for a guy sleeping on a 1984 mattress, anything should feel great. I can't imagine using the mattress on which I had been conceived. That seems wrong somehow.

 

I've actually had a Sleep Number bed for about fifteen years and still love it.

I think they're available in AU, well worth trying out.

 

Sleep Number / Select Comfort air mattresses are not for everyone. Some love them, some don't - and they're awfully expensive for what they are. If you have the means and like it then go for it, but be sure to ask about cleaning & maintenance.

Be VERY wary of price club mattresses. Sometimes they're stripped down versions to hit a certain price point. Those retailers are about price more than quality. Sometimes you get a damn good deal. Other times you don't. I used to be a Sam's Club member, and have tried the other places (BJ Wholesale, Cosco) without finding them much different.

I don't like Serta products anymore. When I first started 20 years ago I was delivering beds. Sertas were f***ing heavy and we hated schlepping them up steps. Thickest wire in the coils, densest padding, a long lasting product. Now they're so light I can pick up queen matts with one hand. They've cut their quality to fit into the price clubs. Lower end Sealy Posturepedics are similarly light. It's tough to find a decent queen under $600 anymore but the lesser known names have a few. If they aren't spending $20,000,000 annually on advertising they can sell for lower margins.

 

Duuuude.... To much information !.