I'm buying a bed: memory foam?

[Robo]

Looking to buy a new bed to replace the cot I've been sleeping on for the past year and I'm interested in getting a memory foam mattress.  Anyone have any experience with these?   Good brands to look at?  Things to consider/watch out for?  Alternatives?  Places to shop?

[Mupepe]

My wife and I got a tempurpedic about 2 years ago.  It's a quality mattress and it hasn't degraded at all.  But even their firm mattress is too soft for us.  It made sex more difficult (like you're fucking in quicksand) and just wasn't firm enough.

So we got a soft Posturpedic this last November and it is a million times better.  But that's just my personal preference in regards to how soft a mattress should be.  The Tempurpedic is now our guest bed and everyone that's slept in it wakes up the next morning telling us how amazing it is.

Oh, and get one of those little cover sleeves over it if you get a Tempurpedic.  They have amazing 20 year warranties but the warranty is void if there's any sort of stain on the mattress.  It's an extra hundred bucks but it's better than voiding your warranty because of something stupid.

[Robo]

I was wondering about the sex.  I'm still looking forward to bringing it up to the mattress salesman: "Yeah, I'm sure it's nice to sleep on and all, but how about when I'm banging out some last call pickup from the back raw dog and pressing his head down hard into the mattress, is he going to be comfortable?"

I probably need to test drive a few, I guess.  I need to buy a frame, so the only condition I have is that I'm not trying to spend a grand on the mattress alone.  Do I need to get a box spring, too?

[Robo]

I considered a topper, but I'm currently sleeping on a twin-sized cot and it's ruining my life, so if I'm going to replace the whole thing, I think I might as well just go with the full mattress.

[Mupepe]

Not trying to spend a grand on the mattress? What size? Because I remember the cheapest tempurpedics being $999. Shit is expensive. And yeah it needs a box spring too

[Robo]

Full or Queen; leaning to Queen, but I might not have the space for it.  I'm only really considering off-brand mattresses at the moment for that exact reason, but that could very well change once I start shopping around.

Like if this thing is an adequate alternative, I'm not about to spend the extra $600+ for something that isn't a significant improvement simply because of the brand name: http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Innovations-12-inch-Memory-Mattress/dp/B003CT37L0/

But again, I have no idea what I'm looking at.

[Mupepe]

Oh ok. We checked out off brand ones and they were just a bit softer then tempurpedic. The only thing I heard about off brand and why we decided to go tempurpedic was that cheaper brands tend to degrade faster and before you know it its so soft that it's like sleeping on a pillow. That's just what we read and heard. But they were definitely softer to start with too

[Robo]

How's the heat on the ones you bought?  I've heard to be wary of cheaper ones because they can be like sleeping on a stovetop—not even sure how you would know that until you've already taken it home and slept on it a number of times.

[Mupepe]

No heat issues with mine.  It's a bit warmer than a traditional mattress but not annoyingly so.  And with a good set of sheets on it I can't tell the difference temp wise.

[tehjaybo]

When I got a new mattress, I just got some cheapo matt and box springs, and got the memory foam pad to go over the top, but also got a down pillowtop to go over that.  Everyone that comes in here and sits on the bed says it's the most comfortable thing they've ever set asses on.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

i need a new mattress. the last one I got was in 6th grade. im 22 now  :'(

[cool breeze]

I've had a tempurpedic mattress for a few years.  It makes waking up difficult and I have a harder time sleeping in other beds now. 

[Bildi]

I've had a memory foam mattress and pillow for a number of years - they're terrific.  I used to have a partner who was a hairdresser and her back killed, but the memory foam bed helped a lot apparently.  I know a nurse who hates them simply because they remind her of work, but said in hospital they minimise bed sores and provide support so more good feedback there.  No temperature problems (and this is coming from someone who really hates heat when sleeping).

I don't know what availability is like there, but when my mum wanted a new mattress a couple of years back we went the "cheap" route instead and bought a quality foam mattress and a quality memory foam overlay (about 2 inches thick) from a foam store.  While I haven't slept on it I did lay on it when she bought it and I liked it even more than my "proper" mattress.  You can buy a little tin of foam glue if you don't want the layers to move around.

It's Australian dollars but for comparison sake but mine cost something like $2500, whereas hers cost about $600-$800.  I'm really glad I didn't buy a Tempur mattress though - I'm sure they're great and I have a Tempur pillow, but they were something like $4000.

[G The Resurrected]

You should check out the I-comfort by serta its cheaper than Tempurpedic and its cooler temperature wise. It also keeps its firmness compared to the tempurpedic over time. I got one for my grandfather and immediately got one for myself and the missus.

[Flannel Boy]

I considered a topper

Should consider a power-bottom.