The Test

I picked 5 top brand inflatable mattresses for under $300, then slept on each for a couple of nights, picking the overall best value and returning the rest. Since I didn’t have my garage handy when I am traveling, it needed to have a portable air pump included. Also, since traveling means trucking around all our stuff along with my family, I also wanted it to be relatively portable and not take up too much of our valuable trunk space. I graded each inflatable mattress with 10 points for comfort, 5 for portability convenience, and 5 points for ease of set-up and tear-down.

Here is a summary of my findings:

• Aerobed Full Size Classic Plus $149.99
  • Points: Comfort: 8, Portability:3, Ease:3, Overall:14/20
• Coleman Queen Size Double High Quickbed (with pump) $84.99
  • Points: Comfort: 3, Portability:4, Ease:4, Overall:11/20
• Wenzel Flocked-Top Insta-bed Airbed $64.89
  • Points: Comfort: 5, Portability:4, Ease:2, Overall:11/20
• Simmons Beautyrest Sky Rise Express Air Bed with Pump, $109.49
  • Points: Comfort: 8, Portability:4, Ease:4, Overall:16/20
• Home Trends Raised Air Mattress With Built-In Pump $59.82
  • Points: Comfort: 10, Portability:3, Ease:4, Overall:18/20
• AeroBed Premier Raised Queen $275.99
  • Points: Comfort: 10, Portability:2, Ease:5, Overall:18/20

Details:

Aerobed Full Size Classic Plus $149.99

Points: Comfort: 8, Portability:3, Ease:4, Overall:15/20

So I was a little nervous about sleeping on these beds and possibly sacrificing some quality sleep over the course of the experiment. But I was on a mission to avoid my parents hide-a-bed this year. To my surprise, this air mattress had a lot of promise. It inflated quickly in a matter of a minute (and consequently was even faster during deflation) with absolutely no hassles. The firmness could be controlled via the remote which made it easy to find the right support level. There was no air leakage in the morning and I felt pretty good. Getting out of it was a pain however as it only sits a few inches off the floor. Since I can hardly move in the mornings, having to get up from a low position like that provides a challenge, one in which I felt I was paying to avoid.

Being the first one I had tried, I was optimistic that I would find a good one. I thought that the price was reasonable for what I was getting, I just wished it sat a bit higher off the floor. It also didn’t store very well which encouraged a slightly lower score on portability.

Coleman Queen Size Double High Quickbed (with pump) $84.99

Comfort: 3, Portability:4, Ease:4, Overall:11/20

This is a very compact inflatable mattress and would have been very easy to transport around. Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent on my first night that my sleep was going to be sub-par.  You can buy it with or without the pump, I bought it with the pump (for an extra $15 of course) which took under five minutes to inflate. The little bag attached is pretty easy to fit the mattress back into and it deflated pretty painlessly. I just couldn’t get comfortable on it as there seemed to be support in all the wrong places. Everything was great with it, except the main thing… comfort!

Wenzel Flocked-Top Insta-bed Airbed $64.89

Comfort: 5, Portability:3, Ease:3, Overall:11/20

The air pump that it comes with is battery operated which is nice so you don’t need to find a plug in. It inflated really fast (2 minutes or so), and also had a reverse switch to deflate it.  I wondered what would happen if you forgot to pack extra D sized batteries though, and although it says it can fill and deflate up to 20 times on one set, an optional AC adapter would be nice.

The sleep itself was better than my previous night on the Coleman, but it certainly wasn’t premium. I woke up with a sore back and grumpy. The other thing is that it didn’t come with a storage bag. So I would have to get a seperate duffel bag to carry it around. That annoyed me. I would rather sleep on my parents broken hide-a-bed than this.

Simmons Beautyrest Sky Rise Express Air Bed with Pump, $109.49

Points: Comfort: 8, Portability:4, Ease:4, Overall:16/20

It’s Simmons right, so it must be a pretty decent bed, right? Well, it wasn’t bad. For the price tag, I thought it was really a good value. My sleep was similar to the Aerobed that I tried the first night and it was pretty easy to use. It comes with a duffel bag and repair kit which is a benefit since my kids will likely come and come on the bed when I’m not looking. Really easy to adjust the firmness level for finding the right support and all in all, it was the best mattress I had tried yet. Since I didn’t want to spend too much on a mattress if I could avoid it, it was certainly top of my list at this point.

Home Trends Raised Air Mattress With Built-In Pump $59.82

Points: Comfort: 10, Portability:4, Ease:4, Overall:18/20

When I was at Wal-Mart picking up the Simmons inflatable mattress, I happened to come across this Home Trends mattress which was super cheap. I pulled out my iPhone when I was there to see what I could find for reviews on it and low and behold, there were some very positive reviews for it. So I picked it up out of convenience and to my great surprise, this is one hell of a mattress. Comfort was comparable to my permanent latex mattress and everything from the pump to the height was spot on with what I was looking for. Ease of operation was fine once you figure out how the dial works and the portability was easy for folding up and came with a little carrying bag.

For the price, this was taking the cake hands down. I was pretty confident that this would be the one, and in the end, it won out.

AeroBed Premier Raised Queen $275.99

Points: Comfort: 10, Portability:3, Ease:5, Overall:18/20

So I had really liked the first bed I had tried, the AeroBed Classic Plus, and I thought I would give the brand another chance to see how good they actually could get. After all, I did want to find the best inflatable mattress and I really thought that this one looked promising. All I can say is wow. This bed certainly is comfortable. Similar to the Classic Plus, it had the firmness adjustment device which was easy to calibrate to support requirements. But, why does it have to be so cumbersome to set up and transport? If I was using it as a guest bed, I would probably have gone for this model. It was really easy to use and superior in comfort. The other factor was the price. For one quarter of the price, I could keep the Wal-Mart special which was also comfortable and convenient for travel.My wife really liked this AeroBed model and we debated whether the extra price was worth it.

Conclusion

In the end however, comfort, portability and price were the winners for the Home Sense inflatable mattress. We’ll see how it goes over the holiday’s. My only concern is whether the Home Sense inflatable mattress will be as durable. Mind you, I doubt I will go through four of them which would justify paying the premium for the Aerobed Premier.

I hope this helps you pick the right inflatable mattress for you!

There are many different major box mattress store around. Some of the major stores are Sleep Country (both USA and Canada), Mattress Mattress (Canada only), as well as many other independent furniture stores. Furniture and department stores such as Walmart, Sears, or your local family start-ups will also typically sell them. To find mattress stores in your area, type your city name and “mattress store” in the google custom search at the top right of this page for best results. Regular searches on google will work as well, but the search to the top right will search specifically within the mattress genre.

When dealing with the mattress sales people themselves, make sure you take precautions as they can be very convincing. You would be surprised how easy it is to walk out of a mattress store with a mattress the sales person will make top commission on. Here is some advise from a previous post on discount beds:

Know how to barter with the sales persons. Mattress stores are absolutely insane with their mark-ups and notorious for making you feel like you are getting a “once in a lifetime deal”. You may be surprised how cheap you can actually get mattresses for (many times 40% or more off the sticker price). They will often guide you to the mattress they want you to buy so you must be very careful to not end up with the most marked up bed (but cheap quality). Never buy the mattress on the spot. Write down the make and model of the mattress and do some homework. Check reviews online (and prices!). They will give you the same (or better) deal no matter what they say to seal the deal immediately. They know that the chance of making the sale decreases substantially if they let you walk out the door. Look up the product and be patient. You’ll be surprised how much you can save by seeming really uncertain and uneasy about the price!

Good luck finding the best bed for yourself! Remember, take your time since you will be spending one third of the rest of your life in it!

Innerspring Adjustable Bed Mattresses

The spring system within the mattress must be designed to accommodate folding on particular intervals in order for the mattress to work properly. Therefore, not an innerspring mattress will do. There are a number of brands that provide mattresses with this in mind and most adjustable bed frames are designed with particular fold points. The primary manufacturer of the adjustable bed frames is Leggett and Platt and most mattress manufacturers will accommodate to those dimensions.

Some leading brands for this type of mattress are Sealy, Serta, and Simmons as well as sleep comfort who make a variety of mattresses suitable for adjustable beds.

Latex Adjustable Bed Mattress

Latex mattresses have really surged onto the market with many health benefits as well as typically strong warranties. The beds will last a long time and are antimicrobial which are perfect for any health related bed rest. Another benefit to the latex mattresses is that they will generally conform to any shape that they are put under. So, any latex mattress that is sized properly for the adjustable bed frame will do. It really comes down to the level of comfort you desire for the actual mattress. This is convenient for testing out mattresses because most mattress stores will have a wide selection of latex mattresses, but often a limited selection of innerspring adjustable bed frame mattresses.

Memory Foam Adjustable Bed Mattress

Since memory foam is so pliable these, like the latex mattresses can be used without concern of flat or adjustable bed frame being used. Memory foam has several advantages for comfort and has seen massive success in recent years for mattresses. However, there are a few disadvantages as well. The first is that it tends to trap moisture, which can be quite uncomfortable for some users should they be sweating much while they sleep. There are also often some offgassing of the materials for a period of time after purchase. Comfort levels are extremely versatile as the mattress has a great variance potential in firmness, based primarily on deflection, resilience, weight, and tensile strength.

Tempur-pedic is am excellent company producing quality memory foam mattresses.

Air Adjustable Bed Mattresses

There is a great benefit in these beds as they commonly have the ability to adjust the firmness level on the fly with a remote control system. This is really great for being able to find comfort no matter how you need it at particular times. The adjustable air mattresses have to be designed for the frame since not all air mattresses will work properly and are not designed to handle the pivot points. However, the air beds themselves are great for their versatility in firmness levels. Since the pressure within the air mattress remains constant throughout, pressure points are significantly reduced and thus increase circulation ensues. The bed of course must be adjusted in firmness to ensure the adequate back support is provided based on the individuals weight.

Dual adjustable air mattress beds are also common with each side being able to control the firmness for the individual sleeping on it. This is perfect for couples who each have their preference to firmness levels and also minimize the “bed shake” from getting in and out of beds by their partner.

Select Comfort specializes in the adjustable air mattresses and have a number of adjustable bed mattresses. They are famous for their “sleep number” system and have dual adjustable air mattresses.

All in all, an adjustable bed is a valuable addition to your sleep comfort. For many baby boomers, these mattresses allow for maximum comfort to help maintain health and wellness and can add value to your day to day life.

The company itself has been around for a little over a hundred years, used to specialize in box springs, but have also always been making innerspring mattresses to accompany them. I don’t believe they make latex, memory foam, futon, or air mattresses but are exclusive to innerspring mattresses and judging from customer complaints, they don’t make them well. From massive sagging problems, humps, holes, inclines and declines, the problems start often within the first 6 months of owning them. I don’t like to talk bad about anyone or any particular company, but the number of complaints I have had over the years from Kingsdown mattresses outweighs all the others combined.

One thing that was always interesting about Kingsdown is that they generally don’t provide specifications of what is inside the mattresses. As a general rule, don’t buy mattresses that you don’t know what is inside! Yet, people will spend $2500+ on these mattresses that will typically fail within the first few years. The commissions were relatively high on the Kingsdown mattresses as well, so we were often strongly encouraged to sale these to maximize profits.

It is possible that this review is not accurate as I have never had problems directly. However, judging by the number of back complaints (including people coming in to replace their Kingsdown mattresses often with less then 4 years use) I have always geared to steer customers away from them.

So, if you have comments (positive or negative) on this review, or you have stories about your experience with Kingsdown mattresses, please do leave a comment and share what you know.

Stay sharp!

So what makes these beds so appealing?

1. Does not disturb your partner: Independent cell construction means that your partner does not move when you move.

2. Relieves pressure points: Particularly in the hips and shoulders the latex mattresses relieve pressure points allowing for better circulation to the arms and legs.

3. Better moisture wicking: The open cell structure of the latex mattress allows moisture to move away from your body allowing you to not overheat. This is a big advantage over other foam mattresses such as memory foam which does not have very good breathability which often results in waking up sweaty.

4. Antimicrobial and hypoallergenic: Good news for allergy sufferers, these beds prevent mildews, molds and dust mites from becoming a problem, meaning better sleeps with less irritations. Conventional mattresses can be a great environment for bacteria growth which increases risk to immune deficiencies and potentially becoming sick more often. latex mattresses naturally prevent the development of these deleterious critters.

5. Durability: A quality latex foam mattress will outlast any innerspring mattress on the market today. Some manufactures have 30 year warranties on their latex models because there is far less mechanical break-downs that can occur with springs. This means you’ll be sleeping in comfort for many years to come without needing to replace the mattress as often.

6. Customizable: Latex mattress cores are made by creating a core that has holes punch through it. Depending on the size and frequency of these holes, the firmness changes. Although custom mattresses are more expensive, if you are planning to have the mattress for a while, it might not be as outrageous as you might imagine.

All things considered, latex mattresses are miles ahead of other mattresses on the market today. I personally sleep on a latex mattress as I think they are the best mattresses available.  Like everything else however, not all latex mattresses are made equal. For more information on buying a latex mattress, check out my latex mattress buying guide.

Good luck in your quest for a good sleep!

Now, if you want to find the best mattress for YOU, it is essential that you go to a mattress store and start laying on several different ones. Depending on you body, including weight, weight distribution, body dimensions, and height,the beds will have different feels to them and some will be much more comfortable to the individual. The best mattress for back pain, as an example, is one that will support your body properly, which means you need to go test some out. If you are sleeping with someone, they should come along as well to see how it works for them too.

Now, if you came here, you are probably looking for a quick answer. In my years of selling mattresses, I have never been more impressed than the Serta Serenity Collection, Vera Wang Bridal Bed. This is a latex mattress using quality latex foams, which is great for several reasons. Check out my post for a better understanding of the benefits of latex mattresses. The downfall with this mattress however, is that it has a bit of a price tag attached with it. Expect to pay between $2000-3000 for a queen or king sized bed. This is often a little steep for some people, but keep in mind that it also comes with an unmatched 30 year warranty. Yes, you heard me correctly when I said 30 years. So if you are 30 years old now, expect to still have warranty on it when you are getting ready to retire.

Now, if you are not looking to spend that much, there are other quality mattresses that are available for less. But, generally they are not as good. But, it is important to note that by not as good, I mean, you don’t have every luxury that comes with the Vera Wang bed. They are still great beds that will help you to get great sleeps. Most of the mid to high end Simmons, Serta, and Sealy mattresses will meet this mark for you and you can expect to get them for $1000-1500 for a queen/king size bed. These are their latex mattresses and innerspring models which are all quality beds with high spring counts.

If you do go with an innerspring mattress, avoid the pillowtop covers. Although they make the bed much more comfortable, they are the first part of the bed that will wear out. The added comfort is obvious when you lay on them, but it is far better to buy a separate mattress cover with pillowtop that you can replace when it wears out. That way, you can extend the life of your mattress by only replacing the topper, not the entire mattress itself.

As for me, I love my latex mattress and I think that it is the best mattress available today.

Good luck in finding the perfect bed!

Waterbed mattresses are typically categorized in terms of motion, such as full motion, semi-waveless, and waveless. Often there will be an association with the degree of “wavelessness” via a percentage. This number doesn’t represent anything in specific, but indicates a degree of how fast the mattress will stop rocking after to get into it. For example, a 95% waveless waterbed mattress would stop rocking in less that 2 seconds. This is largely due to new fiber inserts which also provide lumbar support and of course the “swishing” effect and are often referred to as waveless, fiberfill or baffled waterbeds. Fiber layers are part of the composition of the bladder, being an internal component which the water would surround. Varying degrees of firmness can be achieved depending on the number of these lumbar layers which means that going to a supplier to test the firmness you prefer is a necessity. This might be a bit of a challenge as many retailers are not selling waterbed mattresses. However, if you live in or near a large center, with a bit of shopping around you should be able to find someone with a few options.

Traditionally, there was only the wood enclosed waterbed mattress (called hardsides) which essentially contained the bladder of the waterbed within the usually wooden frame. Today, there are many variations of the soft side waterbeds which look quite similar to a conventional inner spring mattress but contain a waterbed bladder on the inside. These typically have a mattress cover on them built up as a either a plush pillowtop or foam.

There are many waterbed mattresses that also have two bladders on the interior of the soft side variety. This allows for different “firmness” on either side of the bed for couples to have control over their individual preferences, and to eliminate the “hill and canyon” effect of the lighter person/heavier person in a full motion bladder. These mattresses can have different numbers of lumbar layers as well as water quantities.

Of course, if you are still in love with the old school full motion waterbed mattress, they are still available through online suppliers. However, those are typically not recommended as they almost certainly will lead to back problems. There were times in college that I thought I never wanted to sleep on anything else but a full motion waterbed mattress, since my girlfriend was a big fan when she stayed over. Needless to say, the periodic joys of waterbed copulations ended up being largely outweighed by the frequent backaches and we eventually purchased a new bed.

Fundamentally, the waterbed mattresses do what they are intended to do, namely provide a reduction in pressure points via even force distribution. Air mattresses use a similar concept to provide an even distribution of pressure often with the added benefit of customizable pressure adjustment on the fly. Waterbed mattresses have come along way and the modern designs can be really comfortable. I have never purchased a new one, but during my time as a mattress salesman there was quite a lot of interest generated by them and several customers said they would never sleep on anything else again.

The bottom line is that everyone needs to find a bed that suits them best. The best way to do that is to go test them out for yourself. Good luck finding retailers that are still selling these beauties however, after the 90’s crash due to back related complaints, waterbeds really fell off the map. As mentioned earlier though, if you are in a large center, there should be one still selling them.

Good luck!

Folding beds come in a variety of forms. There are metal frame models which will fold up on the easily and require a closet or area in your basement to store. These are nice because they keep your guests elevated from the floor. The main problem with these types of beds is the spring count possible. The folded area when in storage mode requires the springs to be more sparse near the middle of the bed so it is easier to fold. Unfortunately, this is the area of the mattress which should have the most support for maximum comfort. Better models will have an actual crease where two distinct mattresses are sewn together. This provide better comfort and is the ideal style.

Another type of folding bed is the trifold design which typically is designed to be laid out on the floor. These are easier to store and are generally more supportive then the metal frame fold up beds. However, the downfall is that it needs to be on the floor. This is generally not to much of a problem unless the guests are elderly and have a hard time getting down to it.

The notable style is the wall or cabinet fold up beds. These look like a chest, dresser, or cabinet and have a futon frame folded up within it’s contents. These are sometimes called bed chests, bed in a box, stowaway beds or bed cabinets. Probably the most comfortable of all the options but requires that you have space for a cabinet.

Regardless of your spacial constraints, there are many different types of beds that can add additional sleeping space capacity to your home. Check out places online to find the design that would be suit your needs.

Good Luck!

With most adults getting less than 7 hours of sleep per night, a good 6 or 7 hours would add great benefit. Unfortunately, there are too many people not getting good sleeps since their mattresses are garbage.

The primary problem really exists in the durability of the discount mattresses. In the short term, an expensive and cheap mattress seem quite similar. The major problem is how fast the discount mattresses tend to wear out. Most people only replace their beds once every ten years or more! A quality mattress should be replaced every ten years, but this is often unfortunately put off for 15 or more. With a cheap mattress, the bed could be shot in as little as 3 years leaving the sleep quality to constantly degrade causing back problems, restless sleeps, and ultimately a poorer quality of life.

But most people can’t afford the expensive mattresses on the market right now, which can run greater than $2000! However, there are ways to avoid paying a high premium and still end up with a quality bed.

These are your best solutions:

1. Get a Futon Bed – These beds are becoming exceptional with the new technology being infused into them every year. They are well priced, provide good back support (the quality futon mattresses) and can be found for $500 or less including components to modify your current bedframe (allowing the futon to breathe better).
2. Buy a bare bones, but quality discount mattress. Forget about the pillow top’s, memory foam toppers, or any of the bells and whistles. Find a mattress with a good (high) spring count. If you want the extra’s, you can always purchase mattress toppers later that will add the memory foam or other comforts. Try to stick with the 3 big name (Simmons, Serta, Sealy) manufacturers. Almost exclusively, there beds are superior.
3. Know how to barter with the sales persons. Mattress stores are absolutely insane with their mark-ups and notorious for making you feel like you are getting a “once in a lifetime deal”. You may be surprised how cheap you can actually get mattresses for (many times 40% or more off the sticker price). They will often guide you to the mattress they want you to buy so you must be very careful to not end up with the most marked up bed (but cheap quality). Never buy the mattress on the spot. Write down the make and model of the mattress and do some homework. Check reviews online (and prices!). They will give you the same (or better) deal no matter what they say to seal the deal immediately. They know that the chance of making the sale decreases substantially if they let you walk out the door. Look up the product and be patient. You’ll be surprised how much you can save by seeming really uncertain and uneasy about the price!

Ultimately, buying a bed should not be haphazardly chosen. Consider that you spend nearly one third of your life in bed. Spending 5-10 hours to select the best mattress that you are able to afford will be time exceptionally well spent.

Good luck finding a good sleep! Please leave a comment if you have any questions.

First of all, what the primary use of your futon?

1. Is it a futon sofa bed for your living room, or;
2. Is it a permanent futon bed in a bedroom.

This makes a big difference on what type of futon frame and mattress you will want to select.

Futon Frames

Futon Bed Frames

If it is a permanent bed, you can select almost any kind of regular bed frame you like. There is only the requirement of allowing the futon to breath. This means that the frame will need the ability to have wooden slat’s under the futon to provide support and allow breathing. You should not have the futon on a solid flat surface like a floor for long periods of time. Aside from that, any bed frame can be used.

Of course, there are specifically designed futon frames that can be used, but you should not feel limited to those.

Convertible Futon Frames

This is one of the dominant benefits of futons in that they are quite easily convertible between a sofa and a “hide-a-bed”. In bedrooms these can be used to provide additional space as well and are not limited to living rooms. In fact, spare bedrooms are a great candidate for these types of frames as well to allow for the room to be used as a sitting room when it is not being used by guests.

There are 2 groups of convertible frames:

1. Bi-Folds

Bi-Fold

These are fold in the middle designs and are typically easier to convert between the bed and the sofa configuration. These can look like regular sofa’s and come in a wide variety of designs for converting between the sofa configuration and bed configuration. Wood frames and metal frames are available however, wood frames tend to be a bit pricier. Most frames require you to move it away from the wall prior to folding it down, however, there are models called “wall huggers” which can fold down directly from the sitting position without sliding it out.

There are a few different conversion mechanisms.

1. Ratchet – This is controlled from the front of the futon which lets you push against a spring to fold between sitting, reclining and sleeping easily
2. Kicker – This is essentially a small wedge at the back of the futon from which lets you slide the sofa into a bed position with relative ease. A bit more work then the ratchet design.
3. Sliding Pivot – This is primarily used in the “wall hugger” designs which allow the sofa to sit directly against the wall and does not require moving the frame away from the wall during conversion. If you are planning to convert often, this mechanism would be worth the premium.

2. Tri-Folds

Tri-folds are one of the original designs. These require the frame to be folded twice in two places rather than one like the bi-folds. Many of these frames sit directly on the floor and can be really cheap if you are looking for a inexpensive solution. These designs allow for the beds to be larger since the futon is often folded onto itself. So the width of the couch can be the width of the bed rather then the length. There are similar mechanisms as listed above. However, the designs which sit directly on the floor often require the futon to be completely removed. These are not recommended if you plan to convert between a bed and sofa frequently.

Futon Mattresses

There are many different kinds of futon mattresses with varying factors. The cheapest mattresses is likely the lowest quality, however the opposite is not necessarily true. A good Cotton/Foam futon mattress can be relatively inexpensive and rival the most expensive models available.

There are essentially 5 types of futon mattresses:

1. 100 % Cotton Futon Mattress – This was the original design. Although extremely flexible it will certainly begin to sag in a short period of time and compresses the cotton making the be much more firm as time goes on. High levels of maintenance is required to keep it in good shape for regular sleeping. These are often a bit cheaper. It is only recommended to use this if it is not to be a frequently used bed. They are also very heavy and hard to move.
2. 

   Cotton/Foam Build-Up

   Cotton/Foam Futon Mattress - This is a better alternative than the 100% cotton mattress since it will resist sagging because of the foam. This is probably the most common futon mattress. It is quite economical but still adds additional life span and continued support with lower maintenance. There are several different combination’s and construction methods depending on foam location, density, type of foam (ex. Latex).

3. Cotton/Wool Futon Mattress – Wool is quite soft and allows for a softer mattress without the compaction over time and sag issue like the 100% cotton mattresses. It also has antimicrobial properties to avoid mold and moisture wicking characteristics which allow you to have a better sleep. This is a bit more expensive but might be worth it if you are sleeping on it regularly.
4. Cotton/Polyester Blend Futon Mattress – Like the 100% cotton, it has a greater tendency of sagging over time. However, it is considerable lighter and will last longer than a pure cotton futon.
5. 

   Inner Spring

   Innerspring Futon Mattress - There has been quite a bit of advancement in inner-coil technology into futons in recent years. Many of the big mattresses producers like Simmons, Sealy, and Serta are all making different versions of these trying to combine the best of both worlds of futons and spring mattresses. As a general rule, you will not be able to use the tri-fold design with any of these mattresses as they do not fold as well. They are quite a bit more expensive, but probably the most comfortable of all the futons.

Futon Covers

There are lots of different materials available for futon covers. Typical ones are cotton, corduroy, stain resistant, faux suede (usually made from polyester). You will want to ensure that whatever you buy is machine washable and has a strong stitch. Ripping of the covers can be quite common during moving of the futons since the cover is often what is used for leverage.

There are thousands of places to buy futon covers on the internet making it easy to match the decor of any room.

Additional Details

No matter what kind of futon you get, there will be some maintenance that you will need to do.

1. If it is a regular mattress that you sleep on nightly, the futon mattress should be flipped monthly to reduce the likelihood of sagging and compaction.
2. Periodically (once every year) hanging it somewhere and beating it like a rug will enliven the comfort and maintain freshness.
3. Try to allow the mattress to get as much open air as possible. This means taking the covers off completely for an afternoon to let any moisture dissipate. Each morning, leaving the covers off your sleeping spot will also help.
4. Use a futon cover to protect the mattress.
5. Protect the bed from moisture. If it does get wet, allow lots of air circulation with a fan to let it dry out.

Futon mattresses have a typical lifespan of about ten years if cared for properly. This is similar to coil mattresses. Most quality manufacturers will offer a warranty, however, it is a fight to claim the warranty just like the coil bed market. However, try to find a mattress with at least a year warranty which will protect you from primary defects. The mattress warranty is almost impossible to claim, but the frame should not have any problems.

Recommended Futon Bed and Mattresses

If you are feeling a bit over-whelmed, check out the following suggestions to help you with your search.

Recommended Sofa Bed assemblies:

The first one is a modern Bi-Fold that has a convenient storage space under the frame. This is perfect for blankets and pillows for making it up in a hurry. This is a perfect Futon sofa bed for a condo or as a space saver. It is for a pretty good price as well, listed for approximately $500.

Storage Sofa Bed

This is a simple futon set with Serta Mattress. It’s cheap (~$400), good quality and should last for a long while.

Serta Bi-Fold Cotton/Foam

Recommended Futon Mattresses:

This is a quality 8″ Loft Cotton/Foam Futon Mattress for ~$175. It has a double foam interior to reduce the time related sag.

Cotton Foam Mattress

This one is a Loft Pocketed 9″ coiled futon. Independent springs allow for the “do not disturb you partner” technology found in modern spring mattresses. This one retails for approximately $300.

9" Loft Coil Futon Mattress

Another exceptional design is this premium inner spring mattress.

Evolution Spring 2

Good luck and Happy Hunting!