Rowan Rey Sutherland 
Mattress firmness might be a concern for some consumers, but the mattress industry is yet to have a standardized measurement for this. Therefore, what one manufacturer considers the optimal firmness for their product might be another maker’s medium or extra firmness. What they state as descriptive details are merely guidelines and not absolute.
Given this, it is best to try a mattress before buying. You will find descriptions like soft, medium, and firm on the products, but you also might come across mattresses with a 10-point rating system. A 3 – 5 rating denotes a soft mattress, 6 – 7 means medium firmness, and 7.5 – 10 suggests a firm mattress. But given how each manufacturer uses their unique rating system, a 7 in one product might feel like a 5 in another’s and might not provide ideal side sleeper firmness.
Is A Pillow Top A Worthwhile Investment?
Pillow-top mattresses boast velvety comfort, which contributes to their increased popularity. But that comfort is why these mattresses cost a bit more, yet the comfort does not last a lifetime. The pillow top is prone to going flat even before the mattress, and the period is shorter the heavier the load it supports.
The opposite of this might see you waking up with body aches because you are light; thus, your weight isn’t sufficient to engage the mattress’ support entirely. Hence, it is best to invest in a standard mattress and add a thick topper to enhance the comfort feel you desire.
Get Familiar With Your Options
While mattresses have evolved to the level of having different types available, the memory form, traditional innerspring, and hybrid mattress are the most common. Next to these three, the adjustable air mattress is also a popular option.
Every mattress type has its pros and cons. Familiarizing yourself with these facts before heading out to buy a mattress ensures you make the right choice. Here is a quick overview of each mattress type’s pros and cons.
- Innerspring Mattress: It is the most common and least expensive option in the market. But the innerspring mattress does provide excellent support and vast firmness ratings. On the flipside, innerspring mattresses are not as durable as you would wish.
- Memory Foam Mattress: It is impartially pricey, but for that price, you get terrific cushioning for aching muscles and sore joints. Memory foam mattresses are not ideal if you want romance-friendly ones because they tend to get hot.
- Latex Foam Mattress: This type is not that different from memory foam, only that latex has better elasticity, thus providing a better “hug” than the memory foam. And given the elasticity, the latex foam mattress has an exceptional bounce that makes it an ideal choice if you want something that does not feel hot or smothering.
- Hybrid Mattress: It is named as such because it is a combination of two mattress options. It has springs with a foam (memory or latex) overlay to give the mattress the comfort of the innerspring and foam mattress models. However, you are likely to experience the worst of both worlds if you buy inferior quality.
- Air Mattress: This mattress type is worth considering since you can customize it to the firmness you want. And you can do it on your half of the bed while your partner customizes the other side. But such conveniences come at a price.
