Beds - mattresses, more specifically

My wife just bought a memory foam topper for our full size, 5 year old lumpy mattress that she hated and I was indifferent towards.

I hate the topper. I slept on the floor the past two nights. My arms never fall asleep and my back never hurts there.

Real mattresses are stupid expensive.

So, GRM. What mattress solutions exist that are not normal, are comfy, and are cheap? What did people sleep on before thee giant monstrosities with foam and springs on top of another monstrosity made of wood and springs? Wool? A pile of leaves? No idea, but there has got to be a better way than dropping half a challenge car on something you sleep on.

Sounds like the memory foam topper is too firm. We got a king-size memory foam mattress for like $400 from overstock.com - will have to look and see exactly which one it was when I get home from work. Then all you need is a piece of ply to set down instead of a box spring (we have a 4x8 of masonite).

szeis4cookie wrote: Sounds like the memory foam topper is too firm. We got a king-size memory foam mattress for like $400 from overstock.com - will have to look and see exactly which one it was when I get home from work. Then all you need is a piece of ply to set down instead of a box spring (we have a 4x8 of masonite).

we have ply between the box spring and old mattress already - I liked that change. I think the topper is too squishy - especially if I like the carpet better.

Can you cut the topper in half? You have the non-padded side, she the padded side?

CGLockRacer wrote: Can you cut the topper in half? You have the non-padded side, she the padded side?

She denied that plan, as well as the plan to put the ply under just my half.

Memory foam also holds the heat in. I used my tire pyrometer on several mattresses we have after a night of sleeping and found the plain old latex was by far the coolest and it was also the most comfortable.

In the winter the memory foam mattresses and toppers can turn into rocks if you like your bedroom cold.

The downside is that Latex isn't as easy to find.

I mean more like:

"Oh yeah, man, I sleep on a roll of microfiber towels"

Seems like a "bed" should not be necessary - we were cavemen at one point, since when does a human need six feet by four feet by two feet of bedding materials to sleep properly?

I know of a number of families who just sleep in sleeping bags all the time. They roll it up and have lots more usable space during the day.

tuna55 wrote: Seems like a "bed" should not be necessary - we were cavemen at one point,

We also died of fear and old age at 23

Mattress Source in StL offers There Drive By Whoring Collection. Highly suggested.

I've known people to slip a sheet of plywood in between the matress and boxspring. I may break down and try this myself before I send old lumpy away.

One of the Walmart cheap brands of latex matresses has very good ratings. And by cheap, I mean in the $150 range, as I recall.

You could go all Japanese style and try a tatami mat. Basically, just a futon mattress with no frame. Did that being a cheapskate in college and it was one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept on. Buying a frame ruined the feel of how comfortable that was.

tuna55 wrote:

szeis4cookie wrote: Sounds like the memory foam topper is too firm. We got a king-size memory foam mattress for like $400 from overstock.com - will have to look and see exactly which one it was when I get home from work. Then all you need is a piece of ply to set down instead of a box spring (we have a 4x8 of masonite).

we have ply between the box spring and old mattress already - I liked that change. I think the topper is too squishy - especially if I like the carpet better.

Makes sense - I must have gotten myself confused somehow. Anyways - will see what I can do about linking the cheap memory foam mattress. We love ours, even a year down the line.

I may have to try some of these ideas. My fiance can't sleep on my bed cause it is too soft.

Waterbeds are cheap. Some find them comfortable too.

how about a piece of plywood with some carpet padding and carpet attached to it, just lay it on your side of the bed. you could probably just call it the "carpet topper" and start selling them and become a millionaire.

When I work nights, I sleep in the spare room, which I've made quiet and dark. The bed in there is an old (free) futon. It was brutally uncomfortable, so I threw a 3" slab of foam from my old tent trailer bed on top, and it's the best nights sleep I've ever had. No more sore back, and discomfort.

Salanis wrote: You could go all Japanese style and try a tatami mat. Basically, just a futon mattress with no frame. Did that being a cheapskate in college and it was one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept on. Buying a frame ruined the feel of how comfortable that was.

Intriguing!

Salanis wrote: You could go all Japanese style and try a tatami mat. Basically, just a futon mattress with no frame. Did that being a cheapskate in college and it was one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept on. Buying a frame ruined the feel of how comfortable that was.

Hmm - food for thought. Thanks :)

failboat wrote: how about a piece of plywood with some carpet padding and carpet attached to it, just lay it on your side of the bed. you could probably just call it the "carpet topper" and start selling them and become a millionaire.

So... you suggest I continue to sleep on my floor?

QVC purchased Sleep Number bed here.... The payment plan rocks!!

In reply to tuna55:

you implied that it didn't really cause you any discomfort.

Salanis wrote: You could go all Japanese style and try a tatami mat. Basically, just a futon mattress with no frame. Did that being a cheapskate in college and it was one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept on. Buying a frame ruined the feel of how comfortable that was.

I agree.

foxtrapper wrote: I've known people to slip a sheet of plywood in between the matress and boxspring. I may break down and try this myself before I send old lumpy away. One of the Walmart cheap brands of latex matresses has very good ratings. And by cheap, I mean in the $150 range, as I recall.

Walmart's aren't latex. I sure wish they were, as it would have saved me a lot of money.

FYI Latex mattresses are the only ones with an industry standard firmness rating system. Once you know what firmness you want you can shop for it anywhere.

I've found we like a 19 topper with a 25-28 core. That's pretty soft by a lot of mattress construction standards but Latex supports you more than other types so softer, which is better for side sleepers, can still support the back sleeper enough that they don't wake up with a sore back.

OK, maybe they aren't latex, but they are foam. Look at the reviews for the spa sensation foam mattresses at walmart.

Also, go to sleeplikethedead.com and research there. Great site for mattress info.