Beds...

Not the county.

For the past 10 years I (we) have slept on a futon mattress on top of a fairly large and very cheap pine ikea bed frame. The futon was custom made for the bed so is considerably larger than a normal double futon, it has been (in the past) great for my back and incredibly relaxing partly because it's completely motionless when you move around or your partner get's in/out of bed. However it's is now absolutely rock hard - think council pavement...

So it's time for a new bed. The futon was always very firm, I liked it when it was still comfy and would probably have one again, but the lady in my life doesnt dig the futon thing anymore. I'm reluctant to go with (my perception of) the typical British bouncy sprung (but unsupportive) mattress having slept on a futon since '89.

So what about a water bed?

I realise it sounds somewhere between Barry White and Abigail's Party, and has the comic potential of a Peter Sellers film, but apparently (or at least I'm lead to believe) things have moved on in the water bed world. They dont leak, are pretty reasonably priced, dont necessarily need a mirrored ceiling and don't make you sea sick. Supposedly they are the ultimate in comfort and back health. TBH I'm scared of a 1 metric tonne bed coming crashing through the ceiling - maybe I'm a little overly concerned.

So my esteemed members - any thoughts?

Am I underestimating the modern sprung mattress? If so which are best?

Has anyone got a water bed and if so what's it like? Anything i need to be aware of?

 

The best beds are Relyon as used by all the top hotels, the Queen and me. By far the most comfortable and well made. A tad expensive but if you're after year on year lasting comfort you won't go far wrong.

 

Go pocket sprung, much better than "orthopedic" which AFAICT just means harder springs. Don't compromise on the no of springs, the more the better. Gives the best support for your back. IMHO of course.

Jeff

 

I wasn't keen on a divan bed, but I had trouble finding anything I liked after looking around several shops. Eventually I included divans in the search, and then came up with what I bought, a Sealy Posturepedic. It's firm and supportive and I've stopped having back and neck twinges which I had been having.

 

Divans are easier for moving house too.

Light, and the base splits in 1/2 - good for going up stairs. Headboards are a rip-off though.

 

Hmm I have had futons since about 8 years ago. Currently I have one really nice one that was called 'Bed in a Bag' and came from Habitat. I also have one that came from John Lewis and thats crap.

Both are the sort that just go straight on the floor with no base under it. I want to replace both really as the Bed in a Bag is a little old now but I can't seem to find any that don't have a base under it and are still comfortable. Any suggestions? It needs to be able to roll up under my desk you see...

Funny really, only one of my girlfriends has ever liked the futons. They all seem to think they are uncomfortable. I think its much nicer because it is firm, but still soft. I do seem to be getting slight neck troubles recently though so have been sleeping in the normal bed in the spare room but I think that may be due to stress as much as anything.

 

new bed, new haircut, new g/f. The idea of a water bed fills me with, er, water. Why not just get a decent orthopedic mattress for about 200 quid?

Comfortable, forgiving, reliable, stable and firm - should set a new precedent for how life should be from now on. Unlike a waterbed you can apply some pressure to it without it bouncing back.

 

It's interesting the values we put on things. Hi-fi is naturally pleasurable and we spend thousands or even tens of thousands on it. A bed is functional and therefore only cursory amounts are allocated. A decent bed, like a decent hi-fi, will cost more than a basic model. At the outset all beds may appear the same but cheap ones sag, lump and flatten pretty quickly. And if you've ever slept in an expensive bed you'll know just how much better life can be. Personally I wouldn't spend less than £1000 on a bed. (Apart from when camping then a nice self-inflating thermarest will do )

 

On the recommendation of a relative I went for a memory foam mattress and they're great. Supportive and comfortable without a damn spring in sight, I never have found a sprung mattress I've been happy with.

Futons are nice for about the first year and then wear out really quickly no matter how much you turn and 'fluff' them. IMHO

 

I quite like the idea of a memory foam layer on top of a proper mattress, but memory foam pillows are a waste of time in my experience. I bough a Tempur one to help with my neck which used to cause me great deal of discomfort - it was a complete waste of time. Initially upon lying back onto it it felt great and completely supportive - molding around my head and neck. However as it warmed up it becomes less and less supportive. By the morning it was flat. Over the first couple of weeks it caused me more trouble than prior to using it.

The pillow I use now uses standard foam, but is shaped to support you sleeping on your back in the middle and on your side on either side - using sorted my neck out completely over a few months.

 

200 quid will get you a decent mattress that will last you 15 years or so. The bed itself will probably cost more than that.

 

200 quid will Not get you a decent mattress at all. It will be Eltex of the mattress world.

We have a Visprung mattress, which cost £1400. Each spring is wrapped and its hand made. It is by far the most comfortable nights sleep I have had.

I have had 400 quid mattresses, I would say this is the total minimum you should be spending.

 

fantastic beds, wouldn't buy another brand now, supportive, cool/warm, no sagging, best nghts sleep I've ever had, you'll not regret it, very well built too, you spend a 1/3 of your life in the thing, 2 of you mostly, yet some folk spend more on trainers than a bed, madness.

 

lots of info here from the sleep council

 

Exactly my thinking, though I'm impressed you manage 8 hrs in yours. I think the quality of the other 3/4's of my life is being affected by poor sleep due to our bed.

 

I don't, I'd like to, but you knew what I meant anyway

 

I'd give a thumbs up to memory foam as well..
I've got a JayBe bed like this (though not with this lady..)

And it's proper pimped up, with the chrome and white leather, and the Nimbus mattress is brilliant.