Mattress Buying Guide
How to choose a mattress and bed base to suit you.
A good mattress is essential for a good night's sleep and the energy you have throughout the next day. It also affects your posture. It's important to match a mattress to your sleeping style. We look at what mattresses and bed bases are available and how to test them out.
TYPES OF MATTRESSES
Spring mattresses
This standard mattress has a core of metal springs covered by foam and padding.
The springs
The springs are the part of the mattress that supports you and also gives the mattress its lifespan, so it's essential to get a decent quality spring system.
There are various technical elements that spring mattresses are classified by:
1.) Number of Springs
It generally varies from 250 to 500 depending on the manufacturer, more number of springs means more support.
2.) Number of turns or coils in the springs
The more of this means better the support
3.) Thickness or gauge of the wire used
The lower the gauge, the more durable the mattress
4.) Way the springs are arranged
Some mattresses have extra rows of springs in the centre of the bed where most of the body weight is concentrated or at the sides, which are usually first to break down.
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COMPARE MATTRESS PRICE AND FEATURES
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5.) Types of Springs
Bonnell springs
The classic spring type, tied together with wires to form a unitary block of springs
Continuous coil spring
These are made from a single wire shaped into the form of several rows of springs
Open-ended springs
All joined together by a wire network set up in the middle of each spring, thus leaving the top and bottom of each spring to move freely in order to independently adjust to the specific weight placed on it
Pocket springs
Each spring is placed in its own separate fabric pocket and not connected in any way with the other springs, which allows independent compression of the springs, even if the mattress covering does limit some of the springs' freedom of movement (these are the most expensive models and are said to be the most comfortable)
While different mattresses use different types of spring systems the overriding factor behind your choice should always be comfort.
Some double-size spring mattresses have separate 'areas' for each person, and may come with the option of having different firmnesses on each side, customised for both. The other advantage of these mattresses is that you're less likely to wake up someone if you're tossing and turning.
The padding
Whereas the springs give the support, the padding gives the comfort. The springs are essentially enclosed in a box of padding, to cushion your body from all those wires. The padding can make a big difference in price, because at the top end of the market more exotic - and comfortable - materials are used. These premium paddings include silk, wool, cashmere, premium foams, latex and goosedown. Cheaper materials include lower grades of foam, reclaimed cotton fibres and coconut fibre.
Foam mattress
Although it's possible to find some higher quality foam mattresses, most of those available are not recommended for long term since they do not provide support to the spine. You may use this in spare bedrooms or guest rooms which are used sparingly.
Latex mattress
Latex mattresses are an expensive option but do have benefits. They can last 25 years which is almost double the lifespan of a spring mattress. Those prone to allergies may sleep better as latex mattresses don't attract as many fungi and bugs as their foam padded cousins.Latex is natural and has good air circulation and temperature regulation.
Memory foam or visoelastic mattress
This special foam mattress is made of dense,heat-sensitive material that reacts to your heat and weight and supports you evenly - no more pressure points and bedsores. It's called memory foam because it keeps your shape for a while after you get off it.
Futons
An inexpensive alternative, a futon is essentially a big heavy cushion. It's firmer than a mattress which makes it unsuitable for larger builds, but many people swear by them. It's quite common to find a futon that doubles as a couch, making it perfect for studio apartments and spare beds.
Waterbed mattress
Like today's viscoelastic mattresses, waterbeds claimed to be the perfect solution because they offered even support. That support depends on how full the mattress is of water, so keep it topped up. Blissfully for couples, there are some waterbeds on the market that split the bed into two sleeping areas, reducing disturbance.
Coir mattress
Coir mattresses are mattresses containing layers made from the coir fiber which are fiber taken from the husk of a coconut. These have been popular in India.
There are many benefits of coir mattress which include:
- Heat and moisture resistant
- Good ventilation
- Moth proof
- Flame retardant
- Excellent insulator
Tempur-pedic mattress
TEMPUR material was originally based on NASA’s research to develop a material that would cushion aircraft seats and improve survivability in the event of an accident
TEMPUR is an open celled visco-elastic, pressure relieving and temperature sensitive material that moulds to the exact contours of your body. Ordinary polyurethane material features irregular cell shapes that simply compress under weight. With TEMPUR, billions of open cells gently moves around the curves of your body giving you total support where you need it, with no counter pressure. When you lift your body off the TEMPUR Material it returns to its original shape.
Tempur is a brand that sells these mattresses in India.
MATTRESS FEATURES
Thickness
Though thin mattress may be cheaper, they tend to become hard and uncomfortable over time. Thicker mattresses are comfortable, they might be cumbersome to move around. Ideally go for a mattress with medium thickness, the ideal thickness of a mattress for a regular individual is about 4 inches to 5 inches.
Firmness
It's important that the mattress provides proper support to your backbone and keeps your spine in natural S-shape.
Medically Approved
There are mattresses like Spinekare from Kurl-on, 100 D from Century, Crown from Duroflex and more from Springwel which are medically approved. These may cost more but will be better for overall health.
Such approvals from organizations like Indian Spinal Injuries Centre ensure mattresses fulfill all medical physiological requirements and giving the right posture support while sleeping.
Other features
There are mattresses that prevent dustmites which can cause respiratory diseases like asthma and bacteria from breeding. If you sweat a lot, opt for a mattress that allows sweat to dissipate easily. These mattresses also prevent fungi from breeding fungi from breeding and keep odours at bay.
Warranty
Make sure your new sleep set comes with a warranty that protects you against manufacturer defects.
MATTRESS SIZES
Width(inches) |
Height(inches) |
Common Name |
| 72 |
84 |
California King |
| 76 |
79.5 |
King |
| 59 |
79.5 |
Queen |
| 53 |
79.5 |
Double XL |
| 53 |
74.5 |
Double |
| 48 |
74.5 |
3/4 |
| 39 |
79.5 |
Twin XL |
| 39 |
74.5 |
Twin |
| 36 |
74.5 |
Single |
| 30 |
74.5 |
Cot |
You can also get branded mattresses custom made with different sizes according to your needs.
BASE
The bed's base makes a difference to how the mattress supports you, not just how it looks in your bedroom.
Ensemble: The mattress sits on top of a base that looks like a second mattress. The base of an ensemble will offer more support than others.
Slatted base: This base is a frame with wooden slats arranged from side to side. Slatted bases can come with 'posture slats' which aren't as firm as standard, solid wood.
Built-in base: This is a standard-looking spring mattress, but it comes with a wooden frame already built in to the bottom. The frame has holes in it to screw legs into, meaning there's no need to buy another base.
SLEEPING POSITIONS
Different mattresses are suited to the three main sleeping positions - side, back, and stomach.
- If you lie on your stomach, a firm mattress will keep your spine aligned.
- Something middle of the road is suited to back sleepers. They need support for the shape of the spine, back and neck, but also extra comfort.
- A soft mattress is best if you sleep on your side, as the mattress will support your body's curves.
BUYING A MATTRESS
A mattress is an important purchase. With an average life of 10 years, you'll spend a lot of time on it. So take your time picking a mattress, and don't be put off by other shoppers - you have to have a good lie on them for a few minutes.
A bed can be firm to the touch but you won't know if it provides adequate support until you lie on it. Don't be fooled by a firm outer layer - always test the mattress for yourself.
Here are some tips for testing a mattress:
- When you're lying down on a mattress, relax into your normal sleeping position.
- Check that the mattress is supporting your entire body - it should take your shape.
- There should be no space between you and the bed. For example, if you're lying on your back, your spine should be aligned properly with your body, and there shouldn't be a gap where your back arches.
- If you're buying a mattress that you'll be sleeping on with a partner, test it out with them. A good mattress should prevent you from rolling into each other.
- Get info from a reputable and knowledgeable retailer who can cut through the jargon you'll find if you go hunting around yourself.
- The specifications of the mattress are important, but not as important as what you find most comfortable.
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