Plank Firm Luxe

Firmest that I know of and have slept on is the plank luxe. The extra firm side is a little crazy. The diamond carbon ice hybrid is also extremely firm, but most firm memory foams are.

Firmest mattresses I’ve tried so far was the Plank Luxe, King Koil Ultra firm otto, King Koil Ultra firm natural orchid, and Technogel. I forgot the model of the Technogel mattress unfortunately but all of these I compare to basically laying on the floor, in a good way. Worth mentioning but Avocado has a new mattress out that they describe as a 10/10 firmness and are marketing towards people who like that ultra firm feel and heavier individuals. It just came out in July but I’m curious about it.

You don’t have to give up memory foam entirely, but I would suggest a more supportive hybrid. Something like the firm Aurora Luxe by Brooklyn bedding or the Bear Elite just to name some off the top of my head. Personally I have the plank luxe with the Active Cooling topper from Viscosoft, it’s a really good combo a super firm inner spring and a memory topper, but if you want just a single mattress then pick a supportive hybrid.

I was over 250 when I bought my mattress, now 220. A Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe, I am 6' wife is 5'4 135, we lover the firmer side. The mattress still looks like the day we got it over 3 years ago. We have had great luck with it. We have a Titan Plus Elite in the guestroom, a ThermoBalance Elite Firm in the other guest room and a GlacierSleep Apex in the other room. Coincidentally, all of the Brooklyn Beddings use their 13.5 gauge support coil system, although the Plank Luxe is 6" while the TitanPlus Eite and the ThermoBalance Elite Firm are 8", I really like the Helix Plus Elite too, it was a great feel and comfortable mattress.

I am a big fan of the Helix Line, in fact I just got my daughter and fiance a Helix Twilight Luxe several months back. she is 5'3 140 and he is 5'7 165ish. He loved the mattress from day 1, she took about 3 weeks to adjust, as she was transitioning from an old, soft, beat up mattress and was not used to the firmness. Loves it now though. I am surprised at your size, you are not thinking about the Helix Plus Luxe, for you it has a more robust spring support that is 13.5gauge coil support side to side, rather than the Twilight which has zoned support and since your wife is on the petite size may not align well with the zoning. The Plus offers a medium-firm leaning firm feel, with a cushier comfort layer, with more robust support that your body will appreciate, and the medium-firm comfort layer that your wife may prefer over the slightly firmer comfort layer of the Twilight. Even though the Plus is designed for Plus sized folks, I think the uniform zoning and better support may offer you a more comfortable, durable, with more longevity over all. I think a lot of folks overlook the Plus sized 3z mattresses and think that because it has that designation, average sized sleepers can not benefit too. I am 6' 200 and wife is 5'4 135, and we sleep on the BB Plank Luxe, which also has that same 13.5gauge support, with a firmer comfort layer. The plank luxe uses a 6" spring system due to it ability to be flipped, while the Helix uses an 8" coil layer as it is a one sided mattress. FYI, our Plank Luxe is over 3 years old and shows no signs of sagging, dipping or any other compromise. I rotate the mattress every 3 months, and have a very sturdy foundation on our bedframe. These are a couple of key points in adding longevity to a mattress. Either way Helix does a nice job and makes a fine mattress in it's category. Good luck with it, and use it in good health.

Edge support is something I like to talk about all the time, and it’s not what most people think it is. The misconception usually starts when someone goes into a showroom and sits on the edge of a mattress. If they don’t sink much, they assume, “this mattress has great edge support.” That assumption can cost you in the long run. Most mattresses either have edge-to-edge coil designs or perimeter foam encasement. The majority of S and legacy brands have incorporated perimeter foam into their designs, with a few exceptions. Even high-density foam, 3-5" thick, cannot reliably support an adult sitting on the edge every day to get dressed, put on shoes or socks, or anything else. Like the Titanic, that foam edge is destined to weaken and eventually collapse. Another misconception revolves around sleeping surface area. Many companies claim that perimeter foam edges increase usable sleep space, but I disagree. I am an edge-of-the-mattress sleeper. I literally sleep with my body right on the edge, either on my back or side. If your mattress has a 5" thick foam edge all around, a king mattress that is 76" wide is effectively reduced to 66" of spring-supported surface for your body to rest on. That is roughly the surface area of an Olympic queen mattress. Sleeping directly on the foam edge is not the same experience. Half of your body could be resting on 80 ILD foam while the other half is supported by the comfort layers and coils. Foam rails can also trap heat, creating a warmer sleeping environment because the mattress has fewer ways for heat to escape. When someone sits on the edge in a showroom and sinks a few inches, their immediate thought is, “the edge support is horrible.” But a mattress is not a chair. The spring support and comfort layers are designed to hold your entire body weight distributed over the length of the mattress. Sitting concentrates your weight onto a small number of springs. If you rotate your body 90 degrees so your legs and upper body are on the edge, now 5 to 10 times more springs or more are supporting the same weight. The springs under your butt area are no longer sinking 3-4 inches. In fact, the mattress may barely sink an inch, simply conforming to the support of the springs and comfort layer. Which mattresses offer the best edge support? It varies with each sleeper based on height, weight, weight distribution, and mattress construction. Many hybrid or pocketed spring mattresses use slightly more robust coils around the edge, with tighter coil diameters, thicker gauge coils, or more turns to create the same height. These design choices typically outlast most perimeter foam edge-support designs, giving you stronger, longer-lasting edge support. It is also worth noting that showroom salespeople often make a big deal about sitting on the edge of a mattress and use foam edge support as a sales pitch. Understanding the real mechanics behind edge support will help you make a smarter decision and avoid being misled by what might seem impressive in a brief demonstration. Oh, our master bedroom mattress for the past 3 years has been a Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe. 13.5 gauge firm coils. I am 6' 220 and when I sit on the edge of the bed, it barely sinks at all, and when I lie the length of my body on the edge of the mattress when going to sleep, very little if any sinking. It is actually quite a flat surface, firm but not hard. Of all of the mattresses in my house, there are 4 other's, the plank luxe has by far, the flattest, least sink at the edge, regardless of lying or sitting.

So, I’m 6' and was over 250 lbs when I bought my Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe. Now I’m 220 and a side sleeper. My wife is 5'4", 135 lbs, and also a side sleeper. We both happen to like a firm mattress; I call it “against the rule” sleeping. If I were suggesting some options based only on what you’ve told me so far, and understanding that you’ll be using a foundation that is rigid and specifically designed for your mattress or mattress category: The Titan Plus Elite is a nice mattress, with firm underlying support and a luxurious side-sleeping, euro-style pillowtop. Other mattresses to consider include Shifman Emerald PT, GlacierSleep Apex, DLX Latex Lux Medium, Diamond Black Luxe Quilted Medium, Windom Azalea, a custom design by Sleepez or Arizona Premium, Millbrook Hampshire Soft or Medium, Helix Midnight Elite, Evaya Original Plus Pillowtop, King Koil Reserve Luxury, and European Sleep Works Nordic II. The BackScience 2 or perhaps if you really like softer, their 3, would be a perfect choice. There is going to be more than one mattress that can accommodate anyone’s preferences, and they may feel a bit different from one another. When I tested the ESW Nordic II, I never thought I could be comfortable on a latex mattress, but it is fantastic. Even the Hastens 2000T I tested felt like floating on a cloud; you literally feel nothing, no pressure, no bumps. You almost wonder what is holding you up. But then again, for $90k, it should. The point is, there is not a single mattress that works for everyone. I love a very firm mattress, but a well-thought-out and designed mattress that, for example, Hastens categorizes as medium, can feel like heaven to rest on. Materials matter. Foundations matter. Your pillow will make or break your sleep. So, when you do get a new mattress that is comfortable, make sure the pillow has the right loft for a 6'1" side sleeper and aligns properly with how your body rests on the mattress. With a bit more information on your preferences, likes and dislikes, based on previous choices, you can narrow down choices.

I am 6' 220, formerly 250+. I would stay away from the Nectar, Zinus and some of these mattress that are not specifically designed for plus sized folks. As a side sleeper, you want a support system that is very robust and can handle your larger frame. 3z brands have several mattresses that use their titan core support, which is their firm 13.5gauge spring support, with a variety of comfort layers options depending on which mattress you choose. I have the Plank Luxe, but we love a firm mattress. My wife is 5'4 135 and we sleep of the firmer side of the plank luxe as mostly side sleepers, The Titan Plus Elite is a great option for those who like a more cushioned comfort layer, with strong support below. The Nolah Comfort Plus, Helix Plus Luxe and Elite have similar feels. The DLX Classic Firm, while not as firm as the Titan Plus or the Plank Luxe, is still a robust mattress that will support your frame without giving out on you. There are a bunch of others out there, like the BackScience 2, but now you are starting to get into the 2k+ or even 3k+ range where there are plenty more recommendations. Best of luck to you

From a general point of view at a 120 pounds.You are probably a little light for the plank luxe. But my wife is 5' 4" 135, and sleeps on the firmer side with no issues. The first question i've always asked , besides , what foundation you're using and what pillow you are using. A firm mattress for a side sleeper requires a pillow with enough loft to keep their shoulder from digging into the mattress and keep their head and neck aligned. If you truly believe the plank luxe is too firm for you.The next mattress you should consider is the titan plus elite. It has the same 13.5 gauge spring support system, except it is 8 inches as opposed to 6 ,because it's a non flippable mattress, but the comfort layer is much more accommodating for a side sleeper.Who needs more pressure relief.

ours is great, we have never had an issue. almost 3 years in.

I bought my Plank Luxe at Yawnder and they are one of the best places to do business with and I live in NJ, and they were just great. They are fair and staff is focused on customer satisfactions. Some of the better choices would be the Plank Luxe, Titan Series, the Titan Plus Elite for side and back sleepers, Helix Plus and Plus Elite. Nolah Comfort Pluse, and Bear Elite Hybrid Firm.

It depends on which two mattresses you are comparing. Then the question becomes whether you’re comparing quality of materials, longevity, comfort, or some other factor. Keep in mind that hotel mattresses are designed to last 3 to 5 years and are built specifically for that purpose. BiB options can be a bit of a conundrum. You can get a $10,000 bed in a box or a $500 one. Just like with traditional mattresses, you can spend across a similar price range, sometimes with better results and sometimes not. When researching mattresses, the r/mattress subreddit and The Mattress Underground have some really solid information on what to look for. There are higher-density foams that are more durable and typically last longer. Paying more doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a more comfortable or better mattress. Brands like Purple, Tempur-Pedic, and Beautyrest can get expensive very quickly, but most bedding and mattress enthusiasts wouldn’t choose them because there are much better options in the same price range. Many people can be comfortable on more than one mattress type. A thoughtfully chosen latex hybrid, a natural fiber mattress, or certain polyfoam hybrids can all feel great, last a reasonable amount of time, and help you wake up feeling refreshed. We just came back from a vacation at a highly rated resort in San Diego, then stayed at a Hilton near San Francisco. The San Diego resort was a much nicer place overall, but the bed was terrible. We woke up with backaches every morning, and the feather pillows were equally uncomfortable. The Hilton had slightly better pillows and a better mattress, but it had visible depressions and was 11 years old. Both mattresses were made by S brands. One was a Eurotop, and the Hilton mattress was a pseudo-tufted model. Both had foam perimeter encasement, and the edge support on both was clearly wearing out. It seems like every hotel we’ve stayed in that uses an S brand mattress leaves us with sore backs. At home, we’re using a $1,500 Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe. It’s a very firm and comfortable mattress. While it’s not a luxury option like a Shifman or ViSpring, the simple design, high-density foam, and thicker, firmer gauge springs have worked quite well for us over the past three years. I am not suggesting a $500 mattress, but if it works for you, chances are it may hit the comfort spot, but not the longevity one. Dont be discouraged with the BiB genre, there are some very good ones, particularly the domestically made ones.

I have five mattresses in my house. I sleep on a Plank Luxe. Whenever we go away, whether it's a five-star hotel or not, we always end up sore until we get back home. The Plank Luxe brings us right back to normal. I’m 6'0", 220 lbs, and my wife is 5'4", 135 lbs. So you can throw out the stereotype that only lighter people can side sleep on a firm mattress. Our Titan Plus Elite is another great mattress. It is very comfortable. I tested it at the LVM Mattress Convention last year and was so impressed that I bought one for the guest room. My GlacierSleep Apex is not as firm as the Plank or the Titan Elite, but it is a pleasure to sleep on. It is better than any hotel mattress we have tried, including the Ritz-Carlton in Lower Manhattan, and far better than the mattresses used at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. I also have two very budget-friendly mattresses that I call my “curiosity mattresses.” These are the Brooklyn Bedding Standard Hybrid and the FlexiSpot U3. Both are surprisingly comfortable, although I am not sure either will hold up for seven to ten years of everyday use. I bought my mother-in-law a DLX Premier Hybrid Firm/Medium split. It feels like a Stearns & Foster Lux Estate but with better components. She has had it for over a year and a half now. It performs flawlessly and ultimately still perfect, like the day it arrived. Before that, her Beautyrest Black lasted only 14 months. I also got my daughter a DLX Classic Hybrid. It is a very comfortable mattress. It is too soft for me personally, although still comfortable. I would have preferred the firm option, but I chose the medium to appeal to a wider range of guests in my daughter’s home. I have tried a variety of Shifman’s firmer mattresses, and I would say they are just about the best out there, right there with ViSpring, Millbrook, Savoir and some other very fine mattresses. I recently bought my other daughter a Helix Twilight Luxe. She loved it in the showroom, so we will see how it performs once it is delivered tomorrow. Helix's new line-up is definitely an improvement over their already decent series of mattresses. Most people come to this sub, and others like The Mattress Underground, to troubleshoot sleep issues. In my experience, the root cause is often the foundation. After that, it usually comes down to a poor match between the sleeper and the mattress. Many shoppers pay more attention to advertising than to the actual materials and construction. Understanding what is inside the mattress and how it fits your body and sleep style is much more important. While specifications do not guarantee comfort, they are the best indicator of durability. If you are shopping for a mattress, start by looking at what it is made of and how well that aligns with your needs, rather than relying on marketing claims.

Yes, I have the luxe. I think brooklyn bedding and 3z brands have some respectable mattresses. I am bias toward the plank luxe as it is a 2 sided mattress, simple design, no gimmickry, decent density foams, 1.8lb, 13.5g springs. No BS. I find that the luxe is just as firm as the all foam version, but the edge support is way better and long term durability is better than the all foam. I got mine through Yawnder who is an independent authorized dealer with great customer service. Happy to offer any other advice.

Sorry, I was out at dinner earlier. When I first got the Plank Luxe mattress, I weighed over 250 pounds. I'm now around 220. We find the Plank Luxe super comfortable. I test a lot of different mattresses, toppers, covers, and pillows, so things have rotated in and out a bit, but I definitely have a few favorites. The Plank Luxe is noticeably flatter, firmer, and has better edge support than the Titan Elite, and that makes sense. Both mattresses use the same support system with 13.5-gauge coils, but there are some key differences. The Plank Luxe has a 6-inch coil unit, while the Elite has an 8-inch one. On the firm side, the Plank has 2 inches of high-density foam and a 0.75-inch quilted cover on top. The Elite has about 5 inches of comfort layers above the coils. So, when you sit on the edge of the Elite, it feels a bit softer than the Plank, which is expected. When you lie down on the Elite, you still feel very supported, and it has that "floating on a cloud" luxury feel. The Plank, by comparison, gives you a much firmer, more grounded feel. You can really sense the firmness of the mattress. I’ve used a variety of toppers, like a 2.5-inch Active Dough topper, a 3-inch organic wool topper, a 3-inch firm Talalay latex topper, and the Perfectly Snug smart topper. Sometimes I even combine them. Right now, I’m using the firm Talalay with the Perfectly Snug on top. It definitely adds some cushion, but the overall feel is still firm. I started using the Talalay topper after I had several herniated discs back in April, which left me stuck in bed for over a month. The topper really helped make things more bearable during recovery. There have been a few folks who claim that Plank is not firm at all. Frankly, I dont know what the heck they are talking about. Most of the time, I think it is a case of mistaken identity. The Plank is firm, not hard. Hard is more like an Original Mattress factory heavy gauge spring with and insulator pad and a thin layer of foam, making the mattress feel hard like a rock, whereas the Plank is firm, but it doesnt feel like a table top. The key for someone such as yourself, is to have a mattress with a very robust support layer, and a comfort layer that meets your sleep position, along with a foundation that is strong, rigid and flex free. Despite the firmness, we sleep on our sides without issue as we are careful to use pillows that offer structure, support and keeps our bodies in alignment without allowing our shoulder to dig into the mattress. Yes, the right pillow can do that. Sorry for being so long, but I will pause here, let you take it in and let me know if you have any questions.

Correct, I have a titan and a plank luxe in my home. The Plank Luxe from a certain perspective can be considered close to a traditional mattress. It's flippable and uses only 2" of HD foam on the firm side, with a .75" cover. Those mattresses mentioned - Shifman, Vispring and the rest, and there are others, use traditional innersprings to be used with old-fashioned hand tied active box springs. Which OP appears to be asking about. But there are some BiB that rival some of today's modern legacy brands and, in many cases, surpass them.

I know we talked about things, but if you feel the Helix Plus Elite is not firm enough, if MW carries the new Brooklyn Bedding ThermoBalance Elite it is a tad firmer than the Plus Elite, More like the Twilight/Dawn. Remember, just because the Helix Plus is for Larger Plus sized folks, that is about more concentrated support not firmness. It is on the firmer side, but not like the dawn or the Plank Luxe. The ThermoBalance Elite firm is on the firmer side, more so than the Helix Plus Elite, and the ThermoBalance Elite Firm version uses their 13.5 gauge coil system.

I totally understand your frustration and why you’re done. It makes sense that spending only 10 minutes each on what feels like 20 different mattresses, they absolutely start to feel identical. It is not your imagination, it is deliberate. Mattress companies design some of their showroom models to pass the 10 minute test, what happens when you get home with a mattress is a different story. In many ways most hybrids are built with the same basic formula. Showroom fatigue is real, and once your body gets overloaded, everything just registers as “medium” and blends together. That doesn’t mean you’re bad at choosing, it means the process is overwhelming. While testing a mattress in a showroom has its merit, a 10 minute test only identifies mattresses you know are too soft. Beyond that, the best test is to find a mattress that meets a set of criteria, get it home and test it for 30-60 days. And honestly, this is also why ChatGPT (or any AI) isn’t great for mattress brand advice. When it suggests something like Saatva, especially when you can’t even try it locally, but even if you could, it takes more than that to find the right mattress. It’s just matching general traits like “side sleeper” and “hot sleeper” to commonly recommended brands. Same with names like DreamCloud, Purple, Nectar, do the most advertising, so chat is going to rate them irresponsibly high, mostly do to the advertising and review sites being incentivized to rate them in their top 10. Chat picks that up and points you to them. It can’t feel pressure at your shoulder, tell how your body reacts after 30 minutes, or factor in that you’re just plain burnt out. At some point, it’s less about finding “the one” in a showroom and more about picking a solid option with a good trial and seeing how it feels after real sleep at home. I am not quite certain I can agree with the buy one that feels best for the least money, although, that is a better path than chat or review sites. If you do a little research on how to select a mattress, here in this sub or the Mattress UnderGround's educational section, it can help you make the mistake of buying something that feels good in your 10-20 minute showroom test, and then you are back at it in a year because the selection you picked used lower quality foams that failed in short order. Materials matter, quality matters, density of foams matter. These do not always translate into the ultimate comfort, but it does translate to durability and longevity. The key is to balance the two, comfort and quality. You will here comfort is subject, it is. Hotels use a medium-firm mattress for the majority of their rooms. Reason being they hit the sweet spot for most short term. Just as some showroom mattresses are designed specifically for the 10 minute test, hotel mattresses are designed for the short stay traveler. You just need to weed through the noise and have a conversation with a seasoned mattress associate who has experience with really fitting folks to a mattress. I would try speaking with a few independent dealers who sell a variety of brands, just to pick their brain, do some research and gather some key information based on what you believe are your preferences. They will ask you, how much you weigh, how tall are you, your age, what have you been successful with, if any, sleep position, any health or ailments. Based on age, height and weight, you can narrow down to a specific area of choices. For example, I like a firm mattress. A mattress like the brooklyn bedding Plank Luxe, Titan Series, ThermoBalance Firm, Helix Plus Elite, DLX Premier Hybrid Firm are just a few that fit my category. If you prefer a natural mattress, Birch, Naturepedic, Sleepez, or a Charles P Roger lifetime 8, can be a choice that are within normal price ranges, as compared to Hastens or Vispring. Once you narrow down to category, price and preferences, you will see the field will narrow quickly.

Funny, you are the one with the question, and someone downvotes, when the OP gets a sensible response. Try an independent if there is one in your area, rather than a big box. If there is a local place, usually you will get a knowledgeable person who have been around a while. And even if something seems great, let them know you just want to take it all in and think on it a day or two. Another good option is Macy's Furniture store. Not their department store showroom, but in some areas they have a furniture outlet or store. I have always found that the folks that work there, have been around for years. They tend to meet all the talking points. So listen to their talk on how they would fit you, not what brand they would suggest, at least initially. You can always come back here, and get some additional advice from some of the more responsible folks here in this sub. Someone who works at a Macy's or Raymour and Flanigan, or a Room and Board, do not want to steer you to something that is going to fail, no one wants that return against their commission, so they aim to get it right. Where do you live, perhaps there are some good options in your area. And there is nothing wrong with a BiB, some of the mattresses in that category, lets say $1 - 3k, can go toe to toe on quality, durability and longevity, if not exceed some of the famous S and legacy brands out there.

At 6'6” 230, you might actually be better served looking at the Saatva HD over the RX and the Helix Twilight over the Midnight. Not saying the Midnight won’t work, but you’re right on that line where a slightly more robust support system will hold up better over time. Not a big Tempur-Pedic fan for bigger guys, not because they’re bad, but I’ve just seen and read too many cases/reviews where the foam starts to give and you lose support. They feel great in store, but that doesn’t always translate a year or two in. They are another company that has changed their foam formula, and most would say not for the better, although the attempt is to reduce the heat retention of their formerly more dense foam. So the choice was to reduce density to cool the mattress down in exchange for less longevity of the mattress. If you like a softer feel for side sleeping, then the Helix Plus Elite is probably the best balanced mattress of the bunch. It gives you that pressure relief without giving up the kind of support you’re going to need at your size. In the Plus series from helix, they do have that microcoil layer which is good for cooling and airflow, but the Plus uses a more robust spring support layer. I actually have the Brooklyn Bedding Thermobalance Elite in my guest room and it’s a very solid mattress, but the firm definitely leans firm. My other guest room has the Titan Plus Elite, and that thing is built. Very robust support layer, similar to the Helix Plus and Thermobalance Elite, but with a slightly softer comfort layer and great airflow from the microcoil setup. At your height and weight, the biggest issue isn’t how the mattress feels on day one, it’s what happens over time. You’re going to put more stress into the comfort layers, so if the support system underneath isn’t strong enough, that’s when you start seeing sagging and body impressions. The better-built mattresses don’t eliminate impressions completely, but they rebound instead of collapsing with you due to a more robust spring support layer. Also, don’t overlook your foundation. People spend all this time picking a mattress and then throw it on something that can’t support it. A solid foundation like the Big Fig HD or Mattress Foundations Terra makes a real difference, especially for bigger framed sleepers, and heavier total weight on top of the foundation.

Yeah, it happens. Not every mattress or firmness is for everyone. But your trial allowed you to recognize what to look for and what your body can handle, which is very valuable. We sleep on a very firm mattress 9-9.5 /10 at 6' 220, I am very comfortable with firm, particularly with my back issues. My wife is 5'4 135 ish and complains when we sleep on med-firm hotel mattresses as they are not firm enough. She cant wait to get home to our Plank Luxe. The new ThermoBalance Elite Firm is reasonable firm and when she wakes up in the middle of the night and hops onto that mattress in the guest room, she loves it. Firm but a quilted layer that does not make it feel like the floor. You’re correct that a firm mattress can be made softer with a topper, while a soft mattress can’t easily be made firmer. However, the underlying mattress and foundation must be properly engineered so the entire system works together effectively.

Do not swap anything yet. 1 week is not enough time to evaluate firmness. It will soften. Call them and ask them to send you a free topper, temporarily, while you adjust. I am very familiar with the Midnight Elite and I own a ThermoBalance Elite (firm) for our guest room, it is a great comfortable mattress. Depending on your height and weight, that will determine how long it will take to adjust to. It’s important to remember that new mattresses often go through a break-in period. The firmness you feel in the first week is usually not indicative of how it will feel once it has settled; most mattresses soften slightly as the materials adjust to your body. Replacing it too soon with a softer mattress/comfort layer can create bigger problems later, like hammocking in the middle or relying on a topper that won’t adequately fix the support issues when a mattress is too soft. Give it a few weeks to fully settle before making any decisions, what feels too firm now may become perfectly comfortable once it has had time to adjust. I have posted about this previously. My daughter tested a Twighlight Luxe and Midnight luxe in a showroom. The Midnight felt firmer because it was new to the showroom floor and the Twilight had been there for almost a nine months. She is \~5'3 135, He is \~5'6 165. I ended up buying them the Twilight Luxe, knowing it would be firm for her. For him the Twilight was great right after expansion, it too her about 3 weeks to adjust (coming off an old mattress that had lost all support- that matters too). Now they both love it. I know everyone wants to feel great right out of the gate, and with some natural fibers that might happen, but synthetics are a bit different. Hang in there. I know it is easy for an outsider to say it, but you will be happier in the long run. Let the trial run 3/4's of it's course, then decide. You can always get a softer insert, but ask them for a topper it should help.

We like a firm mattress. We sleep on the Plank Luxe. I 6' 220 and my wife is 5'4 135. So were are on different sides of the weight spectrum. Having experienced the Helix Plus Elite and the Thermobalance Elite, although they both have heavy duty spring support systems, they are both in the medium-firm 7/10 level. Many folks automatically equate Plus sized mattress with super firm mattresses and that is not the case. I have to say the Thermobalance Elite and Helix Plus Elite feel quite similar. Whereas the Titan Plus Elite (our other guest room mattress) feels more luxury plush before you get to the support layer. Between the Helix Elite and TB Elite, they feel very similar to me. I like them both. Compared to my Plank Luxe, the Helix and TB are much more cushioned. Luxury Firm. Remember the Helix Elite line (except the plus) has ergoalign layer that adds lumbar support in the comfort area and in the spring support layer. This may be adding to the firmness you feel. I would not place much stock in the cooling ribbons. There is certainly science behind the concept, but when you dress the bed up, it is questionable that any of these types of cooling mechanisms as a solution for a hot sleeping bed. You are very light, so it ***will*** take longer for you to break the Midnight in. The gently crawling around on the bed might be a good idea to speed up the softening, but it will take longer at your weight.

The TB Elite does come in 3 firmness levels. Based on every thing you said, your weight, and preference, if you go that route, soft would be the way to go as it still has a very robust spring support layer. Just get a cotton mattress protector, like the Birch, Avocado or one [this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFMPGRX3?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1) on Amazon. You want it to be as breathable as possible so it does not collect heat.

Look, the S brands aren’t horrible, but they’re not as good as they once were. They still outsell most other brands, largely because their marketing is very good and they do an excellent job positioning their products. They capture a lot of buyers that way. That said, there’s still a pretty common theme when it comes to complaints. Good spring support, too much foam above them. More foam ends up having more sinkage. Personally, I’m not a big fan of Beautyrest or Sealy and most of the S brand lineup, even as a former owner of Sealy and Serta, but that goes back to 1980's until early 2000's, but not any more, hard pass. My previous mattress was a Sealy Posturepedic, and before that Serta Perfect Sleeper so I do have firsthand experience with them. My mother-in-law had a Beautyrest Black several years ago and the mattress only lasted about 14 months before it developed a pothole in the hip area. She bought it without asking me first. A painful disaster. After that, I ordered her a DLX Mattress Premier Hybrid. I went with a split-internal queen, firm on one side and medium on the other. She ended up loving the firm side. Unfortunately she only got about a year and a half on it before she passed away in November. But the mattress itself was still in perfect shape, no dips, no sagging, no soft spots, nothing. Still like new. That’s one reason I think it’s a great option. Being able to split the internal comfort layer is really useful, and they’re a great company to work with. I also like the GlacierSleep Apex. It has a nice 2" cushion top and sits around a medium firmness. Another one I think you might actually like is the Titan Plus Elite from Brooklyn Bedding. If you want to go outside BiB, there are some other solid companies worth looking at. BackScience makes a really good mattress and will customize each side, which can be a big plus for couples. Charles P. Rogers also makes a very nice mattress, and their Lifetime 8 is a mostly natural option. Then there is the latex lineup. Companies like European Sleep Works, Diamond Mattress with their Ethos Hybrid line, SleepEZ, Natural Dreams, and Arizona Premium Mattress all offer good latex options. Winndom is another brand worth mentioning. Their Azalea isn’t an all-natural mattress, but it’s still a solid product. There are honestly a lot of good options out there. When it comes to latex, though, you really have to try it first. Even if for a half hour in a showroom. It can be a bit tricky. Latex is extremely durable and offers great longevity, but it feels very different from traditional foams. You get a lot more pushback, even in softer to medium feels. Whatever you choose, take a close look at the construction. That matters more than the marketing. The mattress should be using quality foams, such as at least 1.8 lb high-density polyfoam in the comfort layers. If memory foam is used, I usually like to see a minimum of 4 lb density, and it’s important to know where they are using it in the mattress. Viscoelastic memory foam used as the comfort layer will usually sleep a bit warmer unless the mattress is designed with airflow or heat-dispelling channels. You may also get that stuck in quicksand hot lava feel. Some manufacturers place memory foam deeper in the mattress so it only engages during deeper compression, which can help with durability and temperature. I am a big fan of Shifman Mattresses, ViSpring, and I love the oh so expensive Hastens, cant say enough about the Hastens 2000T. If you want a mattress that you feel nothing, like floating on a cloud, keeping your body in alignment without feeling any pressure, for a mere $82k, this Hastens is the one you want.

Their Premier Hybrid is one that if you like the old BeautyRest or Sterns & Foster mattress feel, you will like the Premier Hybrid. I got my daughter in Florida their Classic Hybrid-Medium. I wanted a bed that was comfortable when we visit. It is comfortable, but in the medium, not as firm as I would prefer for full time use, and little springy for me, but better than any hotel mattress, as I dont wake up sore. It is flippable and feels quite like an old fashion innerspring mattress of pre y2k.

Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe, DLX Latexlux Extra Firm, Arizona Premium Mattress or Sleepez Firm latex, Helix Dawn, Big Fig Firm, Most any firm Shifman, ViSpring, CPR 1855, or other natural fiber mattress with a robust support spring layer

I sleep on a Plank Luxe, I have tested and tried, Sleepez, Helix, Shifman and Vispring.

I have a TBE in my guest room and the mattress is fantastic. I think BB hit a home run with this mattress. Stomach sleepers will prefer the firm. Mine is a firm, and we are side sleepers, when my wife can not sleep (anxiety) 5'4 135ish, she falls asleep in a minute and loves the mattress. I find it super comfortable. As much as love my plank luxe, I would get the TBE Firm in a heart beat as a replacement for the Plank Luxe

I know that independents like Yawnder will, I would imagine helix direct would too, just not on a split internal king. The firm feels very supportive and uses their 13.5 coil in the elite, but the cover/panel has nice contouring. Not as flat firm as my plank luxe, but if I were doing it again, I would do TBE Firm, the cover feels like a very nice pressure relieving topper

Some brands really do make a noticeable difference. A firm Brooklyn Bedding, Glacier Sleep, Engineered Sleep, or DLX mattress can feel completely different from a firm Amazon, Nectar, DreamCloud, or other imported models, especially those that use lower-quality or lower-density foams. This is where a bit of research and education pays off. It’s not just about how a mattress feels during the first month; it’s about how it performs over time. Mattress build and construction, material quality, foam density, and overall design all influence long-term comfort and support. So, while trying mattresses in-store or taking advantage of trial periods is helpful, understanding what’s inside the mattress can save you from disappointment later. A mattress that maintains its firmness and support over years is worth a little extra attention upfront. Of course to address your question of balancing budget, firmness and comfort may depend on what you consider "budget." Once a budget range is established, age, height and weight along with sleep position, that is when you can move on to an educated way to select your mattress.

**Update 5/21/26** \- Thank you for an amazing AMA and thank you to everyone who asked a question. I hope this thread was able to help! I will continue to answer any questions that come in until the thread archives. If you need a personalized mattress recommendation be sure to use my mattress quiz here -[ https://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/](https://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/) (I manually respond to all of these requests, it's not an automated form). For all other questions please feel free to DM, chat, or email me here -[ https://naplab.com/contact/](https://naplab.com/contact/) \- And for all else, check out my site at[ https://naplab.com/](https://naplab.com/) \- there you can find all of my reviews, comparisons, best of lists, research guides, and a more. Not sure where to start? My [best mattress](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/) guide can help. Hi Reddit! My name is Derek Hales. I am a professional mattress tester and I’ve been testing mattresses since 2014. Over the years, I’ve tested 558 mattresses (and counting) from 116 different brands.  5 years ago I launched [NapLab.com](http://NapLab.com) and developed a new way to test mattresses. Instead of merely sleeping on a mattress and then writing a subjective assessment, I use a battery of 10 objective and data-driven tests (with 64 individual data points) to help quantify the performance criteria that are important for most sleepers. [Derek in our mattress testing garage](https://preview.redd.it/a4m6jfzdeb2h1.png?width=2000&format=png&auto=webp&s=c321e47ceca62a659200ed1bf97c9e7b0ccd9c8f) **My testing process includes:** * Objective durability tests using a 3700-pound industrial mattress testing machine called a rollator (see photos & videos in the imgur link below) * Thermal photographs to assess cooling performance / heat retention * Motion Transfer Testing - IE, how much energy and motion will you feel on the mattress when your partner moves around. We use an accelerometer to objectively measure the intensity and duration of motion transfer across the mattress * Sex performance testing using a weighted equation including 5 factors (bounce, edge support, noise, pressure relief, and cooling) * High FPS video and high resolution photo analysis to take precise & objective measurements for sinkage, material responsiveness, edge support, and bounce * In-depth Material Analysis - foam density tests using a densimeter (a plastic box that does digitally controlled water displacement density measurements) and coil gauge (thickness) using a digital caliper  * You can see our full range of tests and testing process here - [https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/](https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/) I’ve spent the majority of my adult life working to create videos, photographs, data, comparisons, guides, and reviews that can help people find a mattress that is perfectly suited to their needs. Over the years I’ve assembled a small team of friends and family to help me test mattresses bigger and better than I could do alone. Happy to answer any questions about mattresses, sleep, NapLab, the sleep / mattress industry, or anything else on your mind 🙂 Proof - [https://imgur.com/a/naplab-u-derek-naplab-reddit-ama-2026-proof-swQsrAI](https://imgur.com/a/naplab-u-derek-naplab-reddit-ama-2026-proof-swQsrAI) More Proof - we really love mattresses, so we made a [parody of the Pokemon Pokerap with 150 mattress brands](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV-pR6eXmTU) (just dropped today!) PS - if you need help choosing a mattress check out my mattress quiz - [https://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/](https://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/) \- I provide personalized mattress recommendations based on your needs, preferences, and budget. FYI, the quiz isn’t automated, I manually review all submissions so it does take me a little time to answer, but I can usually respond within 24 hours. 

The first 120 mattresses we tested my wife and just had sex on the mattress a few times over the course of a week. I would document those experiences and use them to determine our sex score. Our more recent 438+ mattress tests use more objective and quantifiable data. Our sex score is a simple equation where we look at 5 different factors. Each factor is given a specific weight based on how important we think that factor is for most people. Our sex equation considers bounce (65%), sitting edge support (20%), pressure relief (5%), cooling (5%), and noise (5%). Bounce is the most important, representing 65% of the score. You can see more about our testing and scoring process for sex here - [https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/#h-sex](https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/#h-sex)

Absolutely. We can and do frequently test and review mattresses that do not have affiliate / referral programs. Ultimately, I want to test mattresses and write reviews on the brands that my readers are most interested in. Most of those are bigger brands that have referral programs, but some aren't, and that's perfectly fine. If enough readers are looking / requesting a review, we'll order that mattress, test it, and write the review. Regarding custom mattresses - I haven't done much in the world of custom made mattresses. It's something I've long considered, but most of the brands that make those types of mattresses are incredibly small and as such, just not something most of my readers are interested in.

The best mattress we've tested to date is the Winkbed. It's a high performance hybrid that's $1.7K (Queen), which I'd argue is a very reasonable price given the performance and material quality. You can see my review here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/winkbed-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/winkbed-review/) The mattress I've personally slept on since 2017 is a mattress called Loom & Leaf. It's a higher-end memory foam mattress. Memory foam as a material type isn't ideal for everyone, but my wife and I simply love the body contouring hug, low motion transfer, and incredible pressure relief it creates more than the drawbacks. You can see my review here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/loom-leaf-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/loom-leaf-review/)

If you're out of the trial period, probably not. While the trial periods are quite generous while they are active, as soon as you're out of the trial period most brands will not accept a return / refund except through the warranty. And warranties generally only cover defects and a certain level of sagging / dips. These policies are pretty typical and standard industry wide across most brands. Winkbed does have their 50% replacement guarantee, which lets you get any new Winkbed for 50% off. You'll still keep the mattress you have.

So the good news is we've got some options. First, I know you mentioned you can't sleep on your back due to snoring, but I may have some advice to help that. 1) The best option would be to get an adjustable foundation. This would let you raise the head and foot of the mattress, which in your case will both help to open the airway (reducing snoring), while also alleviating pressure on the lower back and, in many cases, the sciatic nerve. 2) If getting an adjustable isn't an option, you can get most of the way there by simply using a wedge pillow for your upper body and a regular pillow for the feet. The wedge pillow is nice because it's big solid block of foam (better than just stacking pillows together). 3) If neither of the above sound like good solutions then we'll tackle this while sleeping on your side. First, put a pillow between your legs. That'll help reduce pressure and keep the spine in alignment. Second, make sure you're using a sufficiently tall enough pillow for your head. Side sleepers especially need taller pillows to keep the neck supported. If the neck isn't support it can create ripple issues down the spine, causing pressure points elsewhere. 4) If it's possible to get a new mattress it would be worth considering an HD / Plus-size mattress. Most mattresses are tuned to support up to 250-300 pounds. If you're over that then the mattress may simply not be providing sufficient support. In which case, a plus-sized / HD mattress can help, because they use materials and designs that support 300-500 pounds. If you've got a regular mattress you could simply be seeing too much sinkage in the middle of the mattress, which means spine is misaligned, which means pressure points, which means more sciatic / lower back pains. Take a look at this page here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-heavy-people/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-heavy-people/) \- it can walk you through the good options for those HD mattresses.

For me personally? No, I've not had a mattress I used for long-term personal use that was just a night-and-day type improvement to my sleep. That said, I've also only really slept on high performance / high quality mattresses for personal use in the last 12 years. Before that, I was a young 20-something that also could sleep on anything. That said, I have talked to countless NapLab readers who have had life changing experiences by getting a new mattress. I'd say it really depends on 1) what you're currently sleeping on and 2) your body's needs. Depending on your age, injuries, personal health, and other preferences, a mattress can make a massive positive impact to your sleeping experience.

In terms of cooling performance, systems like the Eight Sleep are genuinely impressive. They really do make a significant impact on cooling. That said, based on my personal experiences, emails I've exchanged with my readers, and reviews I've read on the wider internet, they are also high maintenance and prone to leaking. Beyond that, and arguably more distressing, is simply the price. Eight Sleep's Pod 5 is $2.6K for a Queen and $25 / month (for the mid tier version). While there are certainly some sleepers who could justify that price, I think most sleepers are better off pursuing improved cooling through sheets, protectors, fans, and other less complex / less expensive methods.

Latex is highly durable, resists heat retention, is highly responsiveness (easy to move around, you'll never feel stuck), a natural product (comes from rubber trees), and great for sex (due to high bounce). However, latex also creates higher motion transfer (easy to disturb your sleeping partner), is incredibly heavy and difficult to move, and has a very unique feel. The unique feel I would argue is the biggest downside to latex. The feel of latex creates a more generalized body contouring hug, is more restrained in how to holds the body, and is highly polarizing. Some sleepers really love the feel of latex, some really hate it. If you're considering latex you should definitely try it out in person first. While the pros are notable, it's not a perfect material for all sleepers.

If you've had it for less than 1-2 months, it's probably just your body adjusting to the feel. If it's longer than that then it could be there are more pressure points that you're body is feeling, even if they aren't causing you to consciously wake up. To that end, you might consider using a sleep tracking (even just an app on your phone) for a few weeks to see how deeply your sleeping. You might be moving around more in your sleep than your realize. One possible solution would be adding a mattress pad or mattress topper, which can help improve comfort and pressure relief further.

Quite by accident. My wife and I got married and needed a new mattress in 2014. I ended up doing a ton of research, had a terrible in-store experience, and bought a mattress online. That first mattress we liked, but it wasn't amazing, so we returned it and then I bought another bed online. It was better so we kept that one. As a fun weekend hobby project I built a website and wrote reviews for those 2 mattresses that I had tried. People really love the reviews and asked me to test other mattresses. So I kept ordering mattresses, testing them, and then writing reviews. It quickly blew up, was getting a ton of traffic, and within a few months I was able to leave my full time job and started my career as a professional mattress tester. In the first year we didn't have our expensive testing equipment or even nice cameras. I shot videos on my phone and did photographs with an old Nikon I had from when I was a kid. Our other equipment beyond that was pretty simple stuff, yard stick, ruler, medicine balls, etc. Gradually over time we expanded our tests and our equipment, adding nice cameras, professional lighting equipment, quality mics, etc. and then in more recent years we've grown big enough to afford the same type of industrial and technologically advanced equipment that bigger mattress brands use. I wouldn't recommend taking out a loan. Instead, start small, use what you have, and gradually grow into more complex and expensive testing if the reviews / site / channel does well.

Over the years we've explored other options for cooling tests, including temperature readings under the person, inside the mattress (at various material levels), extended multiple hour tests (across various testing protocols), tests with heated water (seeing how long a drum of heated water takes to return to X temperature in the drum and the impact on the mattress itself), and more. Each of these testing protocols came up against roadblocks and in many cases, I worried what we were testing wasn't truly reflective of a real person's experience on the mattress. All that said, I'm always looking for ways we can improve / expand our testing, especially in cases where we can bring data that's closer to a real world experience. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'll compile these with others from the thread at the end of the AMA and see if there are improvements we can make.

We use a mattress durability testing machine called a rollator. Basically, it's a 240 pound wooden rolling pin that rolls 100,000 times across the mattress, a process that takes around 5 days of 24/7 rolling. We use a digitally controlled measurement plate to take precise before and after measurements of the mattress height, sinkage, and firmness. This gives us objective data on how the mattress holds up, if it's losing height (sagging), and if it's getting softer. This page explains our durability testing process in greater detail - [https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/](https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/)

I don't have the data to know how it would compare to a 200 lbs. weight sitting in one place for a long period of time. Though that's something I'll consider testing in the future. That said, the mattress rollator test is the industry standard across all major mattress brands within the US. This test has been used since 1994 and by all accounts is the most trusted method of durability testing that we have. I'm glad to hear the mattress you bought is working out well! Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Medium-firm to firm is best for most sleepers who struggle with back pain. Very few need soft, as the soft simply allows the lower back to sink too deeply into the mattress, often causing the spine to drop out of alignment with the body thereby creating pressure points on the lower back. There are a ton of medium-firm to firm mattress brands on the market. You can find the best medium-firms we've tested here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-medium-firm-mattress/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-medium-firm-mattress/) And the best firm mattresses here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-firm-mattress/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-firm-mattress/)

We get a decent number of questions about the sex rating. People are mostly intrigued by the idea that we'd test it at all and want to know how we test. That said, the vast majority of questions and interest we get are more about what mattress to buy for X type of sleeper. Certainly I think our earlier scoring systems were less-than-great. The scores were all too high and too close together. Over the years we've made our scoring system more difficult to earn the highest scores, which has helped create more clear scoring distinctions between different mattress models and make it more clear who is the best (and who is the worst). Lastly, thanks for sharing your feedback about your experience on NapLab (and elsewhere). I'm glad to hear the we're hitting the right marks and the site is easy to use. I hope your new mattress a perfect fit for you! And if not, be sure to email me via the quiz tool and I can help you find something better suited to your needs.

Value scoring is something we've worked on behind the scenes a few times over the years. Despite our work, we've yet to find a value scoring formula that feels good, fair, and that it actually adds something to the review. In my view, the value scoring would be less about materials and more about overall performance per dollar. In any case, it's good to know you and others are interested in it. Historically, we just haven't had that many people ask for a value score, so I've not been in a rush to add it. If we continue to get more requests for value scoring I'll circle back around to our work on it and see if we can come up with something. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

In this situation I'd go with a hybrid mattress type, medium-firm feel, and a budget of around $1K. The vast majority of sleepers will be comfortable with this type and this firmness level. With these parameters in mind, the ideal choice is the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid (medium version). Review here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/brooklyn-bedding-signature-hybrid-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/brooklyn-bedding-signature-hybrid-review/) If you need to keep the budget to $700 (for a Queen) then I'd recommend the Boring AF. Review here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/boring-mattress-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/boring-mattress-review/)

Regarding Purple - I've been really unimpressed. While I really liked Purple when they first launched, I think their newest mattress design refresh was a significant step backwards. Performance was worse and the prices are higher than ever. As a result, it's not a brand I often recommend. Regarding DTC brands more broadly - it really depends. Some are incredible and some are essentially scams. For the high performance / high quality DTC brands they are a fantastic way to get a really high-end mattress at a very reasonable price point, since they don't have the same type of overhead, margins, transportation costs, etc. that more traditional / legacy brands and retailers do. A $2K DTC brand is going to be more like $4K for an equivalent brand / design / materials from a traditional retailer in a brick-and-mortar store.

Unfortunately, I have not tested many mattresses available in Europe. That said, many popular brands in Europe also sell different model versions within the US. I've tested many of those models, so I can provide you with a gut check on some of the most popular brands available to you. In addition, I've also listed information on other popular brands, some of which I haven't tested. Emma - I've tested a ton of models from the US and Canada and always found them to be good quality and good value mattresses. That said, the last few models I tested from Canada were pretty bad. Emma recently discontinued those models and launched 2 new models, so I'm hopeful the new models will be better. Nectar - same as Emma. I've tested a ton of US models and always found them to be solid. Simba - same as Emma / Nectar, good mattresses, though rarely at the same level as Emma / Nectar. I'd go with Emma or Nectar over Simba in most cases. Tempur - expensive, but a good choice if you like the feel of memory foam. Bett1 - not one I've tested, but feedback from my readers has always been really positive. In looking at their product page it seems to use good materials and a proven design. I expect the performance will be great. Dormeo - I haven't done full testing on this brand, but I have tried them at mattress trade shows and conferences. They seem to be a solid brand, but also one that's really expensive. IKEA - I've tested numerous models in the US and been incredibly disappointed with everything I've tested to date. I would recommend any of the above brands before IKEA.

3 primary reasons: 1) Insufficient support via the frame / foundation. It's possible your bunkie board isn't rigid or supportive enough for that mattress. 2) You're not using a mattress protector. In doing so, water from sweat, breathing, and oils from your head / skin are getting into the mattress and breaking down the foams. 3) The mattress is made with materials that are not durable and are simply breaking down with time Could be 1 of these issues or a combination of issues.

The least expensive, easiest, and most impactful thing you can do to improve cooling is 1) get a more breathable set of sheets and 2) get a more breathable mattress protector. When it comes to cooling sheets, protectors, and bedding, I've yet to find anything better than Bedgear or SHEEX. I've been using these for personal use for nearly a decade. If you're looking to replace the mattress here's what I advise: 1) Look for a hybrid (foam on top of coils; avoid all foam mattresses) 2) Look for mattresses that have less memory foam 3) Look for a mattress that uses phase change materials and/or thermo reactive / cooling fibers (these are often included within the cover and/or just below the cover) 4) Spend at least $1.5K (for a Queen; cheaper models just don't have enough budget room to get quality cooling materials within them) While there are absolutely exceptions to these rules, the above guidelines will get you far better cooling outcomes in most cases. Shopping for a cooling mattress is really difficult. It's very easy for a mattress brand to make their mattress look and sound like it's incredible for cooling. And because mattress brands know everyone wants a cool mattress they will aggressively market their cooling features, even if the cooling performance isn't all that great. Even with my experience, while I can make pretty good educated guesses on how good / bad cooling performance will be, until I actually test it, lie on it, feel it, cut it open, and take thermal photographs of the mattress, I'm never 100% certain on what the performance will be like. Lastly, take a look at our list of the best cooling mattresses we've tested so far here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-cooling/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-cooling/)

Tempurpedic makes a solid mattress. That said, they are indeed outrageously expensive. At a minimum, I think it would be worthwhile to explore other options to see if you could get something at a similar performance level and material quality for less money. There are a ton of really good options that compete very similarly to Tempurpedic's performance / quality, but at considerably lower price points. If you send in your requirements / needs / budget here - [naplab.com/mattress-quiz/](http://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/) \- I can get you a personalized recommendation back later today.

In general, yes, price is correlated to quality. But there is a point for diminishing returns. For DTC / online mattress brands you start to see diminishing returns at around $2K for a Queen, but especially once you hit $3K for a Queen. Mattresses that are less than $1K for a Queen are very hit or miss (and mostly miss). That said, there are a few gems in that sub-$1K bracket (see my favorites here - https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-affordable-mattress/). Brick-and-mortar retailers and traditional / legacy brands are all over the place when it comes to diminishing returns. It varies more widely and by specific brands. In general, you won't find terrible expensive mattresses. They might not be amazing, but they are not terrible. Also, in general, you will not find awesome, cheap mattresses. There is simply only so much you a mattress manufacturer can do with respect to materials and material quality when they have less margin to work with. I always recommend spending at least $1K (Queen) for a new mattress.

1) Always use a waterproof mattress protector 2) Rotate the mattress at the 6 month mark and then every 12 months after that (if you prefer, you can rotate more often, just make sure you keep a consistent schedule so it wears evenly) 3) Use a high performance foundation / frame. That can be a box spring or other types of foundations. You want to make sure it's rigid, fully supportive, no broken slats, no gaps more than 3", support slats that are 3" thick or more, and with 5 or more supportive legs below. Take a look at this guide here for more - [https://naplab.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-bed-frame/](https://naplab.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-bed-frame/)

The first 120 mattresses we tested my wife and just had sex on the mattress a few times over the course of a week. I would document those experiences and use them to determine our sex score. Our more recent 438+ mattress tests use more objective and quantifiable data. Our sex score is a simple equation where we look at 5 different factors. Each factor is given a specific weight based on how important we think that factor is for most people. Our sex equation considers bounce (65%), sitting edge support (20%), pressure relief (5%), cooling (5%), and noise (5%). Bounce is the most important, representing 65% of the score. You can see more about our testing and scoring process for sex here - [https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/#h-sex](https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/#h-sex) Fortunately, I got married in 2014 and also started mattress testing in the same year. So I've always had the same partner for tests 😄

I think MU is a good resource. I've always respected their work. As far as latex vs. memory foam goes, here are the highlights: Latex - highly responsive, durable, resists heat retention, natural...but, high motion transfer, heavy, has a polarizing feel that not everyone likes, and doesn't create much body contouring Memory Foam - excellent pressure relief, more body contouring hug, lower motion transfer, great support...but, more prone to heat retention, edge support can be worse, worse for sex, ease of movement is harder, and quality is on a vast spectrum (some brands make amazing memory foam, some brands make a bad memory foam) This page breaks it down further - [https://naplab.com/guides/latex-vs-memory-foam/](https://naplab.com/guides/latex-vs-memory-foam/)

Quite by accident. My wife and I got married and needed a new mattress in 2014. I ended up doing a ton of research, had a terrible in-store experience, and bought a mattress online. That first mattress we liked, but it wasn't amazing, so we returned it and then I bought another bed online. It was better so we kept that one. As a fun weekend hobby project I built a website and wrote reviews for those 2 mattresses that I had tried. People really love the reviews and asked me to test other mattresses. So I kept ordering mattresses, testing them, and then writing reviews. It quickly blew up, was getting a ton of traffic, and within a few months I was able to leave my full time job and started my career as a professional mattress tester. If you want to do this yourself you could try following my path. Review the matttress(es) you have on-hand. And if you get traction start buying / reviewing other mattresses. You might be able to try mattresses at friends / families homes to help you build up your review base and your experience.

Our longevity assessment is 2 fold. First, we're assessing the quality of the foam materials, coils, and overall design / build of the mattress. We document the material specs in each review and you can find compiled data here - [https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-foam-density-coil-gauge-tests/](https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-foam-density-coil-gauge-tests/) \- we use this data to explain probable longevity outcomes in each review. Second, we conduct tests using a mattress durability testing machine (called a rollator). These tests show accelerated 10 years of use and give us precise data on how the mattress softens, sags, and loses height over time. You can see the full explainer here - [https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/](https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/) \- We've only recently started collecting longevity data, so we only have 10 mattresses tested so far, but we're adding a new mattress each week.

Internal splits are fairly rare, but there are a few brands / models doing them. Take a look at these for internal splits: Bedgear M3 - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/bedgear-m3-performance-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/bedgear-m3-performance-review/) Nest Bedding Sparrow - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/nest-bedding-sparrow-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/nest-bedding-sparrow-review/) DLX - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/dlx-premier-hybrid-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/dlx-premier-hybrid-review/)

I have. In terms of cooling performance, systems like the Eight Sleep are genuinely impressive. They really do make a significant impact on cooling. That said, based on my personal experiences, emails I've exchanged with my readers, and reviews I've read on the wider internet, they are also high maintenance and prone to leaking. Beyond that, and arguably more distressing, is simply the price. Eight Sleep's Pod 5 is $2.6K for a Queen and $25 / month (for the mid tier version). While there are certainly some sleepers who could justify that price, I think most sleepers are better off pursuing improved cooling through sheets, protectors, fans, and other less complex / less expensive methods.

These are my favorite EU mattress brands: * **Emma** \- I've tested a ton of models from the US and Canada and always found them to be good quality and good value mattresses. * **Nectar** \- same as Emma. I've tested a ton of US models and always found them to be solid. * **Simba** \- same as Emma / Nectar, good mattresses, though rarely at the same level as Emma / Nectar. I'd go with Emma or Nectar over Simba in most cases. * **Tempur** \- expensive, but a good choice if you like the feel of memory foam. * **Bett1** \- not one I've tested, but feedback from my readers has always been really positive. In looking at their product page it seems to use good materials and a proven design. I expect the performance will be great.

The foundation, be it a box spring, modern foundation, platform bed, slats, metal, adjustable, or other foundation types are absolute critical to the performance of the mattress. A poor quality foundation fails to provide sufficient support to the mattress, which leads to earlier and deeper sagging, body impressions, dips, and deformations in the mattress. Those durability issues lead to comfort and support issues. An amazing mattress on a cheap foundation / frame will see its performance and longevity severely degraded.

1 - It's not something most people report, but it absolutely happens. I often document this exact issue on the mattresses that I test and review. It's especially common on cheaper mattresses, softer mattresses, and memory foam / memory foam hybrid mattresses (because they allow for too much sinkage). That said, don't make the mistake of believing all mattresses with reinforced edge support are bad. Reinforcing edge support materials are really helpful. That said, lower quality mattresses will create the of slant towards the center of the mattress. 2 - Yes, but it's going to soften around the same pace as the rest of the mattress, so it's not something that's going to fix itself over time. If edge support mismatch with the center is a problem on day 1, it'll continue to be a problem.

Here's the questions and thoughts I'm thinking about... 1) Is it hurting your back because it's soft or because it's just a it's not a great mattress (it performed below average in my tests) or because it's not a mattress design well suited to your needs? Any of these could be true (and so could all 3 at the same time). 2) Body needs can change over time, so while a soft mattress may have been good for you in previous years, perhaps that is no longer the case. 3) The vast majority of sleepers need a medium-firm / luxury-firm. Only you can really say what your body needs in terms of firmness. Based on what you've shared here I would be hesitant to go to another soft, but perhaps this is just a case of S&F being a poor fit for you and a different model would be better. If I had to make a gut call based on the information here I'd say step up to a medium / medium-firm. It's usually a more well rounded choice and as you say, you can always soften with a topper. It's much harder to improve support via a topper if you end up going too soft and get stuck with a mattress that you don't like.

If you're out of the trial period, probably not. While the trial periods are quite generous while they are active, as soon as you're out of the trial period most brands will not accept a return / refund except through the warranty. And warranties generally only cover defects and a certain level of sagging / dips. These policies are pretty typical and standard industry wide across most brands. Winkbed does have their 50% replacement guarantee, which lets you get any new Winkbed for 50% off. You'll still keep the mattress you have.

It's pretty straight forward for most brands that offer a trial period. Basically, you have X number of days to try the mattress. Within the trial period you can request a refund / return. The mattress brand will typically try to get you to keep the mattress after you request a refund. They'll offer you a discount and/or a topper (if it's still soft / too firm). You can accept those offers if you think they'll fix your problem. But if not, just decline and request the refund / return be processed. Typically they will send a couple of guys to pickup the mattress and those often get donated to a local charity. In some cases, they end up in a landfill if there are no local charities that can accept the mattress. All that said, you should have zero expectation of getting a refund / return if it's AFTER the trial period. If the trial period is 100 days and you make a request on day 101, it's too late. While most mattress brands are very easy to work within during the trial period after the trial period is over you have very little chance of getting a refund / return. So don't make that mistake and wait until after the trial is over. One last note, most brands require a 30 day break in period. Basically, you cannot return the mattress in first 30 days. This gives the mattress a chance to break in and your body a chance to get used to it.

We don't have a specific test for fiberglass leaking, but we do always investigate to see if the mattress contains any fiberglass. In my view, if the mattress contains any fiberglass at all (whether or not the brand says it's likely to leak or not), then it's just better to avoid that mattress all together. You can see a full list of mattresses we've analyzed for fiberglass here - [https://naplab.com/guides/fiberglass-mattress/](https://naplab.com/guides/fiberglass-mattress/) Fortunately, Sweet Night uses fiberglass. If you still want to go that way I'd recommend getting a full encasement mattress protector so that if fiberglass does escape the mattress cover, it will not escape your protector cover.

Yes, pillow tests / reviews is definitely something I'm considering for the future. Earlier in my career I did a ton of pillow testing, but more recently we've just been overwhelmed trying to keep up with all of the new mattresses that launch every year. In any case, we're going to start doing a pilot testing program of pillow reviews via shorts videos. If we see good traction there then we'll likely expand those reviews elsewhere. Lastly, I 100% agree with your thoughts on the combination of great pillow + great mattress is critical to the best sleeping experience.

Our longevity assessment is 2 fold. First, we're assessing the quality of the foam materials, coils, and overall design / build of the mattress. We document the material specs in each review and you can find compiled data here - [https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-foam-density-coil-gauge-tests/](https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-foam-density-coil-gauge-tests/) \- we use this data to explain probable longevity outcomes in each review. Second, we conduct tests using a mattress durability testing machine (called a rollator). These tests show accelerated 10 years of use and give us precise data on how the mattress softens, sags, and loses height over time. You can see the full explainer here - [https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/](https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/) \- We've only recently started collecting longevity data, so we only have 10 mattresses tested so far, but we're adding a new mattress each week.

Unfortunately, I'm not qualified to make a recommendation based on specific medical conditions. That said, knowing you like firmer mattresses that helps. If you want something extra-firm I would recommend the Plank Firm Luxe - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/plank-firm-luxe-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/plank-firm-luxe-review/) It's incredibly firm, incredibly supportive.

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles to find a quality mattress. Certainly the humidity where you're at is part of the problem. You should consider a full encasement mattress protector to help keep moisture out of the mattress. The more moisture in the mattress the faster it's going to break down. Given how well your body did with latex before I would do everything within your power to get a latex mattress shipped to you. Have you considered using a shipping forwarding service like https://www.shipito.com/en/? Basically, you order the latex mattress you want, it ships to an address in the US, and then they forward you the package to your home in Mexico.

1) What firmness do you prefer? Most people need medium-firm 2) What mattress types do you prefer? Memory foam has more hug, poly foam more balanced, latex more restrained, hybrids more balanced, coil more traditional feeling (these are VERY high level). Hybrids are best for most people. 3) What thickness do you prefer? In general, thicker is better, I recommend 12"+ 4) What features are important? Think motion transfer, cooling, edge support, sex especially 5) What policies are important? Think trial period, refunds, returns, shipping costs, return costs. Make sure you fully understand these terms, especially when buying in-store I've explained all of the above and more in tremendous detail here - [https://naplab.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-mattress/](https://naplab.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-mattress/) \- Take a look and let me know if you have any other questions.

It died pretty immediately after the warranty ended. I'm not prone to conspiracy theory, but it was very convenient timing for their bottom line. We traded to a plank luxe, which I think is supposed to be one of the firmest mattresses there is because at that point we were tired of sleeping on what felt like a half-full waterbed. We haven't had it long but it's holding up nicely and it's double sided so if and when this side becomes too soft we can flip it over to effectively double the life, which can't be done with the 1-sided purple. That was a big selling point for me. I'm still using the pillow that came with the purple mattress, but I'm looking to replace that too because it actually hasn't broken down at all and shoves my neck forward into an angle that I think isn't doing me any favors.