How Do I Shop for Mattresses?
Mattress shopping can be a very difficult and exhausting experience. Here at Bradley's, we try and break the process down into easy-to-understand segments that will help you to better choose the best mattress for your sleep pattern and needs.
Category:
The three main mattress categories include Innersprings, Hybrids, and Alternative Foams. Innersprings are the most common and least expensive with Serta's featuring the long-lasting continuous coil system on their Perfect Sleeper models. Alternative foam mattresses include Latex and Memory Foam beds and have the longest warranties in addition to the best support and least motion transfer, but typically are the most expensive. Hybrids are a new category which combine an innerspring unit with an alternative (latex or memory foam) topper. These are generally less expensive than the complete foam mattresses and still offer great support, but aren't as good at motion reduction or longevity. Still, these beds can offer great features over a simple innerspring set.
Coil Style:
Sealy, Simmons, Stearns and Foster, Kingdom, and Spring Air use pocketed coils which are great for comformity... but because the coils in the high-impact areas wear down quicker, these individual coils tend to break down faster than connected coil styles. In certain Sealy and Restonic mattress collections, coils are connected to better distribute weight and prevent body impressions and sags. Unlike any other company, Serta uses a continuous coil system, in which a single metal wire makes up an entire row of coils for atdditional strength, support, and weight distribution. This system has proven itself to be the longest lasting in the market.
Type of Foam:
Comfort Foam is made with different densities with the denser foam being better for support
and durability. Visco Elastic is a synthetic foam, also known as Memory Foam, that is known for it's
contouring capabilities. Latex Foam is a natural, hypoallergenic, breathable, and incredibly durable foam that is designed to be 100% conforming while resisting to any body impressions. Talalay Latex is a process that ensures consistancy throughout the latex cells to prevent air pockets and helps to reduce impressions or sagging. Serta and Bountiful Rest only use Talalay Latex.
Reinforcements:
These are important to ensure that a mattress resists body impressions or sags for the life of the warranty. Besides the types of coil reinforcements (such as using head-to-toe-lacing in all Serta Perfect Sleepers), edge reinforcements and center zoning reinforcements are key to increasing the life of a bed. They are effective at increasing the surface area and edge strength of a bed. Foam Encasements do the same, but use a dense foam to surround the entire coil system. Serta and higher priced companies always use the Foam Encasement, and Serta uses a unique 5-zoned system by placing more coils in areas on all of its Perfect Sleeper collections. The hip, shoulder, and knee area are stronger than other areas of the mattress, which further prevents sags and makes for a more comfortable mattress.
Warranty:
There are both prorated and nonprorated warranties. Nonprorated warranties are the best, and never decresase in value over time. Prorated warranties (Like with tires) ensure the product's function over the full time, but if there is a warranty issue the buyer pays a percentage of his use for a new or repaired mattress. A 1/5 warranty means that for one year, a mattress is fully covered, but if after 4 years there is an issue the buyer would pay 4/5 of the cost of a new bed. Serta always has at least a 10 year nonprorated warranty, with their latex beds featuring a 10/30 year warranty!