TOPIC:

I am currently pregnant and in dire need of a new mattress in the Portland, OR area. Both my partner and I have major back issues. I’m 5’8” 195 lbs and he is 5’11” 160 lbs. Our search began about two and a half years ago and so far no luck. I am hoping you can help me. We have found two beds that felt comfortable (temperpedic hybrid medium and the Simmons beautyrest black alcove medium firm,) but I now know from reading this page that they will most likely have no longevity due to being big store brand names. The beautyrest had reviews that reflected as much. We’ve tried two local places, and one is now manufactured nationally due to covid and has low reviews. The other we bought one of their beds, and it didn’t even last 2 years.
We think that what would work to benefit both my partner and myself is to get a hybrid of some sort since that’s what felt best to us both. I have read the options and am confused honestly at all the choices. It seems like latex is good but not always. And most foam is bad however foam is recommended from multiple mattresses in the mattress underground companies listed. Ultimately, I want the dream-something that feels great for us, last a long time and costs around $1500. We’re willing to spend a little more, but really $3000 is pushing it. I’m a side sleeper primarily, and he is a toss and turner in every which way with side, back and stomach sleeping. He prefers a more “firm” mattress and I “softer” which is why we met in the middle with “medium.”
Can you recommend a store possibly in Portland we could go to try out the mattresses before we buy? Could you also recommend online options that have money back sleep trial guarantees that fit our criteria? I would be so grateful to get a tangible option. With this year being what is is and pregnant, I’m feeling the push to get a mattress now.
Thank you!

Hey Nelly226,

Welcome to the Mattress Underground ! Thanks for your question.

I am currently pregnant and in dire need of a new mattress in the Portland, OR area. Both my partner and I have major back issues. I’m 5’8” 195 lbs and he is 5’11” 160 lbs. Our search began about two and a half years ago and so far no luck. I am hoping you can help me.

Congrats on your new mattress shopping journey ! Good grief Nelly226, two and a half years is a long time for seeking a good nights' sleep! Now that you're here at the TMU forum, let's see if we can help you sort things out.

We have found two beds that felt comfortable (temperpedic hybrid medium and the Simmons beautyrest black alcove medium firm,) but I now know from reading this page that they will most likely have no longevity due to being big store brand names. The beautyrest had reviews that reflected as much. We’ve tried two local places, and one is now manufactured nationally due to covid and has low reviews. The other we bought one of their beds, and it didn’t even last 2 years.

When you speak of Tempur-Pedic and Simmons and say, "I now know from reading this page that they will most likely have no longevity due to being big store brand names", please understand that a mattress being a "big store brand name" doesn't equate "no longevity" in itself. The longevity of any mattress is a function of durability of the mattress's components and construction. Oftentimes with big brand mattresses, disclosure of the component specs/ lack of transparency is where consumers face a challenge in making educated decisions. With a lack of complete component specs, "weak links" in the layers/ materials that would cause a mattress to have a shorter than expected performance cycle aren’t readily apparent. You may find Phoenix's articles, "Mattress Durability Guidelines: How Long Will a Mattress Last?" , as well as "Major Mattress Manufacturers- Top Twenty" helpful for better understanding the correlation between the two topics.

We think that what would work to benefit both my partner and myself is to get a hybrid of some sort since that’s what felt best to us both. I have read the options and am confused honestly at all the choices.

Both the Tempur Hybrid Medium and Simmons Beautyrest Black Alcove hybrids you mention above feature phase-change materials and memory foam in the comfort layers, suggesting a preference for both "sinking into" the mattress, as well as "sleeping cool"; is this the case?

It seems like latex is good but not always.

The choice of latex in either the comfort or support layers, or both/ an all-latex mattress is one of personal preference. Latex is considered the premium choice of all mattress materials, from many standpoints including pressure-relieving qualities, natural breatheability and long-term durability. It does indeed have quite a different "feel" from memory foam, a viscoelastic, slow response foam. Phoenix's articles "Memory Foam- Pros and Cons" , "Latex- Pros and Cons" , and "Mattress Specifications You Need to Know Before Making a Purchase" will explain these distinctly foams further, as well as offer some useful mattress construction tips.

And most foam is bad however foam is recommended from multiple mattresses in the mattress underground companies listed.

Don't know how you arrived at the conclusion that "most foam is bad", Nelly226. There are lower quality foams to avoid from a body impression/ long-term durability standpoint, you can learn more about those in Phoenix's article, "Mattress Comfort Layers- Polyurethane Foam" . You will find foams recommended by TMU trusted members using them in their components, as well as the appropriate certifications supporting their safe use and quality, such as CertiPUR-US, Eco-INSTITUT, OEKO- TEX and GOLS.

Can you recommend a store possibly in Portland we could go to try out the mattresses before we buy? Could you also recommend online options that have money back sleep trial guarantees that fit our criteria? I would be so grateful to get a tangible option. With this year being what is is and pregnant, I’m feeling the push to get a mattress now.

After doing a google search of "mattress shopping Portland OR" to see who the players are in the area, it seems there are a variety of choices out there; the only one I'm vaguely familiar with is BedMart Mattress; however, I have no personal experience with them. The TMU doesn't maintain a geographical database of "reputable" retailers as it is impossible to accurately track them as well as have an understanding of their products/ business practices and thus how the TMU trusted member program came to be. As far as online options go, I would highly recommend a look through of our trusted member directory , you will find there a wide variety of hybrid mattresses for consideration. And as you may know, each TMU consumer subscriber who asks at least one question (and you did here) may receive a small discount when purchasing a mattress from participating TMU manufacturers/ retailers.

Looking forward to hearing more on what your next steps are .

Thanks,
Sensei

Thank you for the response. We have been to Bedmart and every mattress store chain store. The only mattress that worked at bedmart was the tempurpedic. And as I’ve said the beautyrest. So since going in person seems to be out of the question, are there a few specific mattresses that you could recommend from your trusted list? The choices are overwhelming. I just really need help narrowing in on a specific mattress even if we have to return it again.
Thanks

Hey Nelly226,

Thanks for your reply .

We have been to Bedmart and every mattress store chain store. The only mattress that worked at bedmart was the tempurpedic. And as I’ve said the beautyrest.

That small detail would have been helpful had it been included in your first post, Nelly226; my impression was you were asking for a "reputable" manufacturer resource in your area, and I offered the one supplier that I knew through industry contacts to be of help to you. While I totally get your frustration as the mattress shopping process can be quite tedious, let alone in these trying pandemic days, you must still be prepared to do some basic research if moderators here at the TMU are to help you. Perhaps if you would review my previous response to your earlier post, post #2 , you will find I asked several questions to clarify what more of your materials preferences are; without a better understanding of those, there is no meaningful way to help you narrow in on any choice of a mattress. Please also make the time to review the Phoenix resource articles referenced too; they are recommended to help you based on the information given in your post.

So since going in person seems to be out of the question, are there a few specific mattresses that you could recommend from your trusted list? The choices are overwhelming. I just really need help narrowing in on a specific mattress even if we have to return it again.
Thanks

A final thought here for all consumers who may be following your post: Mattress manufacturers offer returns/ comfort exchanges to consumers as a measure of trust, as well as to extend the useful life of a mattress, should removable layers need updating over time. A mattress purchase is a significant investment involving both a purchase price and performance expectation, and the ability to make future comfort changes removes an element of risk from the equation. A reputable manufacturer will make the time to guide the consumer through the decision making process, further reducing the likelihood that an exchange or return will be required in the future. The takeaway here is that the ability to return a mattress or make multiple comfort exchanges is not to encourage irresponsible consumer abuse of those programs. The results of these actions are contributing to an already escalating recycling nightmare for future generations. The last thing I would do is recommend something "even if you have to return it again"; as a friend of the Mattress Underground and as a proud supporter of environmental ethicality, that would be totally unconscionable on my part.

Looking forward to your answers and thanks.

Sensei