Top 5 Mattress Types to Avoid
1. Super Cheap Mattresses.
As a store owner I run into this on a daily basis. Because there is demand for inexpensive mattresses for kids or spare rooms or just people with a tight budget I offer them. We are talking Queen Sets (with a foundation) for $195, $279, $339 and so on. A store like mine has actually decent mattresses for those prices compare to big stores but you really need to understand that you’re getting what you pay for.
Some of these mattresses are very comfortable on my show floor and i’ll feel that way for some time. HOWEVER, mattresses in the $200-400 range are not designed to last a long time.
The lack high density foams, the lack a high coil count or thicker gauge coils etc. They are not meant to have 2 adults sleeping on them nightly. They just won’t last long. You’re better off saving and buying something nicer if you’re an adult and its a nightly use mattress.
2. Thin Mattresses
Generally a thinner mattress is thin because it lacks substance. In most cases, a tin or promotional mattress is not going to be very durable. They will usually not get rated very well for comfort and pressure relief since you will sink in less and have less contouring.
The next big issue with thinner mattresses, in my opinion, is that they are not suitable for heavier sleepers 250+ lbs. On a thin mattress in many cases, the core is not very high density otherwise its hard to get the right feel and many people will think its too firm. The same goes for coil units. Therefore on a thinner mattress, heavier people can often bottom out the mattress and they just won’t last as long as they should.
The thickness of your mattress really is a matter of preference, although there are differences for people of different weights.
Heavier people prefer a thicker mattress, at about 11-15 inches. Mattresses of this thickness tend to be medium firm to firm. They are preferred for heavier people because body weight tends to force mattress to conform to the shape of the body. Heavy people also benefit from higher density foam or a higher coil count mattress. Choosing a thinner mattress for a heavy person may lead to the need to replace the mattress more frequently or bottoming out.
Lighter people will do well with a mattress that is eight to ten inches thick; with this thickness, you’ll find a medium to soft firmness. Smaller people can use a lower density foam or lower count coil mattress as well.
3. Low Density Memory Foams
Foam density can be important to your mattresses durability and performance.
As I just noted for foam cores you need a good foam for it to last. The industry standard for a foam core or transitional support layers is 1.8. I would try to buy a mattress with at least that. 2.0 or 2.2 is very good. I have seen a couple that uses a 1.5 density and this was as I noted about thin mattresses used to make the mattress not feel too firm. But what they are doing is sacrificing longevity for initial comfort.
When it comes to memory foam 3.5-4 lb and up is acceptable. 5lb is very good. Some people will actually like the feel of the lower density memory foam better since the reaction time is typically a little faster. 5lb is super durable but often times can feel a little stiff.
Lower density foams will likely develop body impressions and sag faster than higher density foams.
4. Over Priced Mattresses with Tons of Marketing
Since I have been in the industry with my store and now reviewing mattresses I have discovered many big names are better marketers than they are mattress designers. Be wary of brands that spend millions a year on marketing and advertising. Everyone needs to advertise but some brands spend millions a year or perhaps a month. A lot of this cost is passed on to the consumers.
So before you pull the trigger on your mattress it really pays to do some comparing on a site like this to make sure you are not paying $1000 for a mattress that you can get for $600 from another brand. Many have similar construction but have very different prices. ur top picks reflect mattresses that are worth the money.
5. Super soft or Super Firm Mattresses
This is another common occurrence in my store. I’ll have a customer come in and say “show me your softest mattress”. I’ll bring them over to it (it’s very soft) and it happens all time where someone does not think its soft enough.
Here’s the problem with that. Typically to get super soft you use foams that are low density. And a lot of them. This becomes a problem quickly. You will develop body impressions much faster on a very soft mattress. People also do not keep in mind that the mattresses are already naturally going to get softer as they break in
If a super soft mattress is your thing you should buy a firmer mattress and add a mattress topper to it to make it softer. Then once that topper is worn out you can replace it instead of the entire mattress.
Now for a super firm mattress. I don’t see a problem too much with this if that is the firmness a customer wants. But if it is overly firm you generally will not get any contouring on your lower back when back sleeping. Side sleeping you will not have any give for your shoulder or hips and stomach seeping it could irritate your ribs. With that said some people just like a firm mattress. I actually like the same idea of using a topper on a firm mattress and letting the topper wear out rather than the mattress.
