27 replies to this topic

[dw1]

Ive been leaning to getting a memory foam mattress. The cheap ones strike me as using a cheap manufacturing process with noxious chemicals. The expensive ones like Tempur seem like they are manufactures to a standard in terms of the sourced materials BUT I've read they can be hot and that would make me have a terrible nights sleep. The design of the octaspring looks good as to me it makes sense that it would allow much more air flow and breathability and be generally cooler. However it is the price of a cheap second hand car! Not the king of thing to rush in to, but my backache is getting worse from the current bed. When I wake up, my heels feel stiff along with my back so I am getting to the point of being prepared to shell out serious wedge if it sorts it. However if it doesn't that is too much money for me to risk without absolute certainty. Any advice on mattresses? (I must be getting old)

[Ouchie]

I have 2 bits of advice. One is personal but works well for me, the other is obvious. 1) I prefer a mix of foam and springs 2) make sure the firmness is rated to your weight I am bordering soft/medium firmness ratings and prefer the softer mattresses despite back and hip ache normally needs firm beds to help. Would physio and massage not be a better investment then buy a less expensive but certainly not an el cheapo brand mattress.

Edited by Ouchie, 27 August 2012 - 08:48 AM.

[Bargi]

Got the same problem since moving in with my partner, her mattress is very firm.
Brought a memory foam topper as we didn't want to stump up for the full mattress right now.

It's a bit weird to start off with because you sink in so much, but I couldn't go back now. I can sleep on my back now and pain in my hip has gone.
I also get hot easily and was worried about about it, but only had a problem one or two nights and that was only recently when we had near 30 degrees during the day so probably would have been the same with a normal mattress.

If you do find it hot you could try putting a Coolmax cover on that is made to work with memory foam mattresses as well here

And what Ouchie said in Point 2 is very valid, how heavy you are makes a big difference.

Might be worth trying out a topper first and see how you find it, it's till not cheap at around £200 for a half decent one, but now I'm confident on spending big money on memory foam when we go to buy a new bed and mattress.

[ianrm]

I have been using a cheapish one for 6 months now. We did have an expensive sprung mattress which if I decided to have a lie in would give me back ache. I now wake up with no back aches no matter how long I lie in. It is a lot warmer than a sprung mattress though and at first you do feel like you are sinking in the middle.

[Craig S]

Got a latex topped pocket sprung mattress and it is very comfy, latex reacts faster than foam so no dead person outlines to fall into and it is much cooler than foam.

[GiGo]

I used a memofoam for some time now & when I stopped at the other halves for a week or so my back was killing me! I would recommend one from Bensons for Beds costs about 300/400 (can't remember) but they normally have them in store at the back rolled up. They are brilliant and wouldn't be without one now I love going in to bed stores and bouncing around on the beds, but that's just the child in me

[chrisgold]

I have 2 bits of advice. One is personal but works well for me, the other is obvious.

1) I prefer a mix of foam and springs
2) make sure the firmness is rated to your weight

I am bordering soft/medium firmness ratings and prefer the softer mattresses despite back and hip ache normally needs firm beds to help.

Would physio and massage not be a better investment then buy a less expensive but certainly not an el cheapo brand mattress.

I agree with this in part, I have a solid foam mattress (no springs), much comfier than my friends Tempur, but then we have another foam one in the house and its horrible because its a bit harder, so you have to get it just right......

Cheaper too if you just buy the foam!! But again, go to a foam shop and try a few different bits of foam and see whats best, go softer rather than harder if I were you, foam is quite supportive even when its soft.......

[CHILL Gone DUTCH]

Good unroll you want to change position when your back feels better, they make you sweat more, and smell bad.

[turbobob]

I've had two memory foam mattresses now. And I've not got on with either. Apparently different mattress types are suitable for different sleeping positions. If you are more inclined to sleep on your back or side towards your back then memory foam is OK. If like me you tend to sleep on or towards your front then don't get a memory form. I forked out nearly £500 on a memory foam that has masses of positive feedback and claim to be a competitor to tempur (but less than half the price) . There is nothing wrong with it, but I now want shot of it so i can get a sprung mattress again.

[Ouchie]

I used to have a tempur. As nice as it was I wouldn't get one again, I slept better as I moved less but as a result it was more likely to wake up in a sweat patch.

[dw1]

Interesting responses, slightly mixed, it seems like more people benefit from them than not, that they do tend to be hot. @bargi, does the coolmax make a significant difference? @turbobob, which make of mattress did you use so I can be wary of it. One of the reasons I'm looking at the octaspring is because it looks like it should be cooler, but at £1,700 that is a scary amount of cash for a mattress, even if it is guaranteed for 20 years.

[Craig S]

At the risk of repeating myself latex does not have the heat issues. http://www.dreams.co...fresh-mattress/ The better half has a bad hip so bad on a normal mattress she could not get a good nights sleep, we had a memory foam topper for a while which I hated as it was too slow to change shape and made you sweat buckets. If you do go down the dreams route I believe you can return it if you don't like it. She now sleeps pretty well on the mattress shown.

[Mike (Cliffie)]

We have both and the Mrs loves the foam and I love the sprung. My back is worse on the foam and I hate being hot in bed. Try using one good pillow behind your neck and another under your knees and sleep on your back. Works wonders for me and this was the advice I got from my Body Mechanics Therapist who knows what she is talking about. There was a piece on it on Chris Evans this morning with a sleep expert.

[aron916]

Mt mrs has a memory foam mattress, i find myself more tired after a night sleep on that over my normal sprung one. Also, i get very hot at night and find the foam really holds in the heat which can make it quite uncomfortable, especially on warm evenings. This mattress is an early version of the foam ones though, so think they have probably been developed quite a bit since.

[dw1]

Looks like latex sounds interesting. I think it could be time for a trip to Dreams. I'm going to try the pillow under the knees. Any recommendations on pillows for the head/neck?

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Supportive but not soft, it needs to support your neck only in the straight back line.

[Craig S]

Looks like latex sounds interesting. I think it could be time for a trip to Dreams.

I'm going to try the pillow under the knees. Any recommendations on pillows for the head/neck?

You can get proper pillows for this most are of a memory foam style. I will ask where the better half got hers as recommended by her sports physio.

Edited by Craig S, 28 August 2012 - 03:17 PM.

[Bargi]

@bargi, does the coolmax make a significant difference?

Don't know I didn't get one with the topper, was going to get one if it was to hot, but it's been fine.

On the topics of pillows the topper we had came with a free memory foam pillow. Because I sink so much into the memory foam a normal pillow is too high and my head kinks to much. The memory foam is smaller and a supportive type that's perfect.

I had also heard that if you sleep on your side a lot to put a pillow between your knees to keep your upper leg supported on not pulling down on your hip.
I tried it and it did seem to take the pressure off but I couldn't sleep with the pillow around my legs, way too uncomfortable.

[turbobob]

BTW, my comment was not to warn off this brand. It was to bear in mind your sleeping position and mattress type. I wouldn't knock the brand I have. I'm just not suited to a memory foam. The brand is ergoflex. As said, a LOT of positive reviews. Oh and the layer construction has a number of 'breathable' layers. Plus you can get covers for them that also allow breathing to ensure you don't overheat. I haven't noticed any negative issue with heat with my mattress. Edit from what I gather, a 'typical' height for head above mattress is 14cm, so try not to over or under size.

Edited by turbobob, 28 August 2012 - 08:22 PM.

[ghand]

Any old mattress and plenty of scotch seem to work fine for me Never had a bad nights sleep,unless I run out. .

Edited by ghand, 28 August 2012 - 08:55 PM.