The traditional mattress industry is a racket. Vox wrote a long story last August teasing out all the ways mattress retailers rip you off, and showing how new, online, high-quality bed-in-a-box brands can help you skip the scam. But let's say you've decided to buy online — which company should you go with? It turns out the answer has a lot to do with how you sleep. As a person with a bad back, I spent a lot of time researching which one to buy before settling. The online mattress industry still lacks clear, easy-to access comparison information, and most companies only make one model. I tried out my two final choices in person. Here's what I learned. For back and stomach sleepers: Casper Unquestionably the most famous of the bed-in-a-box brands, Casper blankets the internet and the New York City subway system with its ads. So when I decided to buy a new mattress online they were my first choice. A visit to their Manhattan showroom revealed a comfortable mattress.
But I found it a bit too firm for my tastes. The reviews site Sleep Like the Dead has this to say about the differences between different sleep styles: BACK sleepers tend to prefer medium to firm firmness. Back sleepers often do not require a soft mattress because pressure on the body is more evenly distributed than is the case for stomach and especially side sleepers. Back sleepers with large buttocks in proportion to the rest of their body may prefer medium (or even soft) firmness as opposed to firm to minimize pressure. SIDE sleepers (especially those of average to below average size) tend to prefer medium to soft firmness. This is due to the fact that pressure tends to be focused on the hips and shoulders, a fairly small surface area. If a side sleeper has shoulder pain, it likely means they have too firm a mattress and or too low a pillow. STOMACH sleepers (also known as front sleepers) tend to prefer medium firmness. Too much firmness for these sleepers can result in pressure on the knees and front of hips, while too much softness can cause the sleeper to sink too far into the mattress perhaps undermining neck / head alignment and or ease of breathing.
The medium-firm Casper mattress, perfect for back and stomach sleepers, was a bit too tough to conform to my body on its side. A Full-sized Casper costs $750. For side sleepers: Leesa Softer than the Casper, Leesa offers a bed-in-a-box perfect for side sleepers. Unfortunately, they don't have a showroom in my area. But both Leesa and Casper have excellent return policies so I decided to place an order and see how I liked it. After about a month, I can report that the Leesa is perfect for my side-sleeping, back-aching, medium build. Back sleepers with large buttocks and more heavyset stomach sleepers might also appreciate the brand's softer cushion. Full-sized Leesa mattresses retail for $715 after a $75 discount code is applied. A cheaper alternative: Tuft and Needle For those who want to spend less than Casper / Leesa prices on a mattress, but still want to circumvent the sketchy mattress store's cheapest offerings, Tuft and Needle may be a good alternative.
I haven't tried one out personally. However, Sleep Like the Dead reports that T&N's mattress is well made but very firm. It may be a good option for back sleepers who don't mind a harder bed. A Full-sized Tuft and Needle costs $500."We received excellent service with absolutely no pressure to buy anything." "Who knew that a mattress could be so high-tech?” “...no longer having heartburn, sleeps later and his snoring has stopped.” “Genuine high-five moment for us to score such a high quality mattress.” “...ended up with a king because the prices were so reasonable!” "...listened to our needs and showed us what they had to offer." "Love my new bed! And have been getting much more restful sleep." “Extremely knowledgeable in mattresses.” “...getting ripped off at the big commercial mattress stores, but not here.” “I thought I slept well on my mattress until I tried one of these.” “Texas Mattress Makers made it very easy to buy our new bed.”
"...courteous and respectful business professionals I have ever worked with” David Z. "You feel good about supporting a family-owned business." “Very helpful in finding the right fit for me.” "Thank you so much for the great sleep!!!” A great day starts by experiencing recharging sleep on a perfect mattress. Experience the assuring comfort that comes from a refined sleep environment. Do you want to sleep like Tom Brady, the Greatest Of All Time, on the best mattress of all time? Tom Brady and BeautyRest Make Your bed a smart bed.™ SmartMotion™ bases work seamlessly with the Sleeptracker® app for better sleep. Custom Made since 1928 Welcome to Best Mattress Family Owned and Operated since 1928. Made in the USA All of our Mattresses are handmade with pride in West Columbia, South Carolina Each Mattress is easily customizable for your needs. Winner of Best of Columbia for many years. Best Mattress was founded during the Great Depression by the enterprising Mabel Beecham.
She believed in making a quality product that people needed at a price they could afford. We still believe that to this day. Quality Means Doing it Right When No One is Looking. In an industry marred by a dizzying number of options and exorbitant costs, the hip start-up Casper offers a single solution to both: a comfortable foam mattress-in-a-box for a cool $850. Order one online and try it out for 100 days without penalty—if you don’t dig it, you can send it back. Since 1852, these guys have been making mattresses from the best materials available. And while it was founded six generations ago, for the past three, Hästens has been the official bedding supplier for the Swedish Royal Court. Yes, that means you can cop a king-size bed fit for a literal king. In 1971, Monty Bram was something of a pioneer on the path to the now-ubiquitous foam bed. If you want something absurdly comfortable (imagine a marshmallow-cloud hybrid), then this is your go-to. Essentia—Natural Memory Foam Mattresses
These au natural mattresses are derived from some surprising sources—including hevea milk, the gooey white sap from rubber trees, which are harvested in Indonesia and mixed with grapefruit seed, cone flowers and jasmine to make their memory foam. Whatever, as long as it’s comfortable! This mom-and-pop shop in Midtown has all the big-brand names in stock at reasonable prices. If you’re looking for a mattress but have no idea what exactly you’re after, this spot is a good stop—you can check out all the options in a cozy showroom. Environmentally obsessed New Yorkers will sleep soundly on this company’s mattresses, found at the brand’s flagship. Side and stomach sleepers will like the supersoft Tea Leaf Classic mattress ($839–$1,369), while pillow hogs may prefer the supportive Keetsa Cloud styles ($789–$1,259), designed to mold to your body’s shape. And if you’re looking to replace that worn-out egg crate from your college years, opt for a pillow-top layer ($149–$429).