Remember the waterbed craze of the 70s and 80s? Sit ‘n Sleep does. It’s hard to believe that many people actually preferred to be sloshing around on a rocking, roiling wave of water for a third of their lives. But as with all fads those days have passed, and the tide has turned back in favor of a good old-fashioned firm mattress. These days, people seem to be more concerned about their health and less concerned about having the latest in trendy bedroom furniture – especially if that furniture leads to back problems and night after night of restless sleep. So it’s not surprising that more and more Americans are opting for a firmer sleeping surface to carry them comfortably through the night. It used to be that if you wanted a firm mattress, your only choice was an innerspring coil mattress sitting on top of a sturdy box springs. Depending on the mattress, this often required sacrificing comfort in order to get firm support. But with today’s advanced sleep technologies, there are many different types, makes and models of firm mattresses that offer both firmness and comfort.
These include memory foam, memory foam, latex and hybrid mattresses. Firm is Good for You! People who have migrated to a firm mattress can usually offer a long list of reasons for doing so. But chiropractors, doctors and other medical professionals also tout the benefits of spending seven or eight hours a night resting on a firm mattress. Getting the Right Firmness for You Believe it or not, a mattress that is too firm can also cause sleep and health problems. The mattress needs to support your body in a neutral position, one in which your spine has a nice curvature and your buttocks, heels, shoulders, and head are supported in proper alignment. If your mattress is too firm, it will push on those key pressure points and actually take you out of alignment. Conversely, if the mattress is too soft, those pressure points won’t be properly supported, so your whole body flops back. So it’s important to get the right level of firmness for your body. According to sleep experts, a mattress with less cushioning is more likely to support a neutral-spine position during sleep.
When you sleep on a firm mattress with minimal cushioning, your bones bear most of the pressure. This frees up your muscles and allows the arteries and veins to relax. This, in turn, improves circulation, which also helps you sleep better. The right mattress also prevents your lower back from collapsing when you lay on it. This stops your airway from becoming constricted, allowing the lungs to inhale more oxygen – another important factor in getting a good night’s sleep. For the best night’s sleep, choose a level of firmness based on the following factors: For example, if you tend to sleep on your side, a surface that provides a lot of pressure relief while conforming to your shape may be the best option. If you sleep on your stomach, a firm top surface will provide the best support and prevent that “smothering” feeling that can occur when you sink down into the mattress. If you tend to sleep on your back, look for a mattress that provides firm support but has a little “give” so your spine stays in proper alignment.
Sit ‘N Sleep: The Mattress Experts These are just some of the reasons to consider a firm mattress. Your particular body type might need a softer mattress, but that’s for you to decide. It may take a while to determine what type of mattress you need, but when it comes to buying your mattress, there’s only one smart choice – Sit ‘N Sleep. Check out our contact page for more info, or call our customer service team at (800) 908-0354. We look forward to serving you, whether you decide on a firm or soft mattress. And remember, our VIP customers save $100 on any purchase of $999 or more!The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. Shopping for mattresses was once awkward and inconvenient; laying down in a warehouse with a sales clerk next to you is hardly the best way to judge your level of comfort. But one surprising market that has flourished in the direct-to-consumer space is mattresses.
Below we're rounding up our favorite direct-to-consumer mattress startups, all of which come with pretty solid offers. In most cases, you're saving money on what you would be paying if you went to a showroom, and each has the added convenience of being delivered directly to your door. Further, every mattress listed here comes with a 100-night trial, so if you try one out and don't think it's the right fit for you and your sleeping habits, you can simply return it a try out another one. If you're the type to truly chase down a deal, you could work this to get 793 nights of sleep on free mattresses, but we're going to guess you'll find something you like enough to buy before it comes to that. Once you do settle on a mattress, be sure to treat yourself to a new set of sheets as well. Helix emphasizes the customization of its mattresses, with the goal of outfitting every customer with the perfect sleeping surface. After filling out a questionnaire with information such as your height, weight, firmness preference, and sleeping style, Helix will develop your very own sleep profile, which will be analyzed to optimize the performance of your mattress.
They can even set you up with a split mattress so that you and your partner can both be perfectly comfortable on your side of the bed.What it costs: twin ($600), twin XL ($700), full ($800), queen ($900), king ($995), California king ($995)Standout feature: Mattress customized for you based on your individual sleep profileLearn more about Helix here In just two years of existence, Leesa has quickly become a major player in the straight-to-consumer mattress marketplace. As opposed to Helix’s customization model, Leesa has focused on creating one mattress that works for everyone. There are different strategies to get to a great night’s sleep; backs these claims up, confirming Leesa is perfect for his side-sleeping, back-aching, medium build. Letzter also notes that "back sleepers with large buttocks and more heavyset stomach sleepers might also appreciate the brand's softer cushion."What it costs: twin ($525), twin XL ($625), full ($790), queen ($890), king ($990), California king ($990)Standout feature: One mattress designed to work with all body shapes and types of sleepersLearn more about Leesa here
Tuft & Needle was one of the first companies in the straight-to-your-door mattress marketplace. Launched in 2012 by two Silicon Valley software engineers, the company is unique in that it still has not raised outside capital, meaning the only people cofounders JT Marino and Daehee Park are beholden to are their customers. And their customers should be fairly happy, as Tuft & Needle still boasts the most affordable mattresses in the industry, with its California King going for just $750.What it costs: twin ($350), twin XL ($375), full ($500), queen ($600), king ($750), California king ($750)Standout feature: Most affordable mattress in the direct-to-consumer marketLearn more about Tuft & Needle here Casper is another sound option for a good night’s sleep you might’ve heard advertised on podcasts and subway cars. The mattress is a luxurious marriage of latex and foam that contours to your body for just the right amount of support — which won’t overheat or lose its bounce like other modern, foam-based beds are wont to do while you sleep.
These mattresses also engineered and made in the U.S. What it costs: twin ($500), twin XL ($650), full ($750), queen ($850), king ($950), California king ($950)Standout feature: Designed for perfect support, made in the USALearn more about Casper here While many companies focus on comfort when designing their mattress (as they should; comfort is very important to sleep), Bear has expanded that view to also provide optimal cooling to its sleepers — a huge relief for anyone struggling through a summer without AC right now. Specifically targeted toward athletes and those that live an active lifestyle, Bear mattresses are designed with recovery in mind; so if you’re tired of waking up sore after a tough workout, this might be the brand to try.What it costs: twin ($500), twin XL ($650), full ($750), queen ($850), king ($950), California king ($950)Standout feature: Made specially for athletes, with recovery in mindLearn more about Bear here After 12 years and 70,000 mattresses worth of tinkering the balance between comfort and support, eve is convinced they’ve developed the perfect mattress for all sleepers.
With a memory foam mattress designed to give a bit more bounce and allow you to sleep cooler, eve is another beautiful and simple option that might meet your mattress needs.What it costs: twin ($499), twin XL ($599), full ($749), queen ($849), king ($949), California king ($949)Standout feature: Memory foam made to keep you cooler at nightLearn more about eve here 4Sleep was developed by something of a small business power couple. 4Sleep CEO Lori Zack had always been a troubled sleeper, and decided to take her knowledge of marketing and memory foam and put it toward a project that might help others find a better night’s sleep. Her husband and COO David Alter had worked with numerous foam bedding companies over the past 25 years and had hands-on experience on both the manufacturing and retail sides of the business. Combined, Zack and Alter cover all aspects of the business. All 4Sleep mattresses are made in the USA. What it costs: twin ($549), twin XL ($649), full ($799), queen ($899), king ($999), California king ($999)Standout feature: 10-year warranty and made in the USA.