12 replies to this topic

[wootwoot]

Since around 1/3 of our time is spent sleeping I thought it would be good to find the best bed possible for my health. I am looking at buying a new bed and can go up to around 2k for one. I have seen commercials for the sleep number and according to them they are the best. I currently have a bed from Ikea and while stylish I don't get a very good nights rest from it. What is the best bed out there that I could get for under 2k? What should I look for?

[zoolander]

wootwoot I bought a new bed (mattress only). Buying a new bed is one of the hardest consumer purchases. There is no perfect bed and a lot of the decision dependant on the buyers preference.

In general you will be given a choice of cloud soft, soft, and firm in the top comfort layer . Then you will also have to choose what sort of spring.

I recommend going to the stores and lying on each of the beds for 10-15 minutes each. If you have a partner try and take them. Then purchase the best bed that you can afford.

[wootwoot]

I keep getting that same advice. Is there any type of bed that is better than another? Or any brand I should look for or stay away from? I want a bed that will give me the best nights sleep.

[caston]

Can the way you sleep make a difference to your lifespan?

Is the bed itself even best way to sleep?

I replace my pillows about every 6 months or so as they've been known to fill with dustmites and the thought gives me the creeps.

[jubai]

I don't know about the "best", but form experience, the Simon's Beautyrest provide great comfort at an ok price. The springs are individual, reinforced sides, and hasn't lost much firmess in a year.

You want to avoid anything (matress, pillows) from Tempur and related companies. They use Elastic Viscosis which IS extremely comfortable, but is subject to the laws of entropy: the material loses it's "bounce" constantly, and after a few months/year the firmness is gone and you have average to low support.

[niner]

Doesn't Consumer Reports do a mattress shoot-out every once in a while? You might try their archives at your local library, or on the web if you're a subscriber. While there are going to be a lot of subjective comfort parameters, mattresses have varying levels of quality and value and these things can be quantified. I'll bet that you can get a great mattress for a lot less than two grand.

I replace my pillows about every 6 months or so as they've been known to fill with dust mites and the thought gives me the creeps.

Everyone in my family uses dust mite-resistant mattress and pillow covers. They're breathable, so they aren't uncomfortable, but the pores are small enough that dust mites can't get through. These are a big help. If you Google a bit, they are pretty easy to find. Sheets, pads, and blankets still need to be laundered regularly.

[graatch]

> Can the way you sleep make a difference to your lifespan?

Anything that improves sleep quality (and mattress quality obviously can) I would think is extremely effective WRT lifespan and quality of life, joie de vivre.

[zoolander]

so to answer the question

Best Bed?, Best bed you can buy

I have given you an answer to which you replied....

I keep getting that same advice.

So perhaps the advice other people have given as well as myself is good advice and all that there is.

Trust me wootwoot, when I buy things I am one of most thorough consumer buyers out there and the best advice I can give you is to go and lie on the beds. Of course there are some basic things that you need to keep in mind when you purchase but most reasonable companies will provide these things anyway. The point here is that there is no best bed.

I'm moving this topic from the health fora where questions on health are usually asked to topics unrelated to life extension. Once again I suggest you search the world wide web for consumer information

[Live Forever]

I like my bed as soft as humanly possible. I'd go with zoolander's advice, though, for purchasing a new one. Go take a few for a test lay to see if they are comfortable.

[caston]

At the momemt I'm using a bunk bed with a $20 single matress that I got from some kind of OPshop is that going to shatter my hopes for immortality?

[sentinel]

I'm buying a combined pocket spring and memory foam mattress. The base is almost irrelevant if you have this kind of mattress, unlike older style pocket sprung ones, so just get something that looks nice, slatted or divan, it's all about the mattress.

The memory foam varies in quality (but not always proportionately to price) with the higher density of "bubbles" the better. The idea of memory foam is that you spine should always be kept straight (or as stright as a spine should get) even if you sleep on your front. If have a big stomach or back-side the foam compresses to encompass it, rather than you lying in a curved shape on top of the mattress, bending your back.

Also you don't have to turn it over which is handy.

I went for a combined mattress because I don't like my ride too soft and because I'm old and slow at accepting new concepts, so I hedged

[zoolander]

Sentinel I bought something similar. I ended up buying a sealy posturepedic bed with a latex and memory foam comfort layer.

[sentinel]

Oh right, is that the Images one from the Ultra range?