The nominees for best supporting mattress are AngelBeds & TempurPedic
Written: Jul 23 '07 (Updated Jul 28 '07)
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The nominees for best supporting mattress are... AngelBeds (sporadic clapping) and TempurPedic (sporadic cheering). And the Golden Sheep Award goes to... (the crowd hushes - tension fills the air)
Wait a second. Before we get into all of the fanfare, let's talk about the back story (a record needle skips across a record with a loud scrape). My wife and I wanted to get a bigger mattress when we got married. The queen size Euro-Flex bed just wasn't large enough for the two of us and an occasional spoiled German Shepherd.
So being the hunter/gatherer in our relationship, I started looking. This looking lasted for two months. I searched the net and I searched the stores. I took more mini-naps than a beaver in Winter.
After narrowing down my choice to either the TempurPedic Rhapsody or the AngelBeds' Riviera. Both were comfy - well, they are identical really. That is except for the price tag. The King size AngelBed set (mattress and lower piece) is $1800 versus the Tempurpedic equivalent for $3400. TempurPedic claims to have the only REAL space age foam on the market, but after napping on both, I can tell you they are, indeed, identical.
Adjustable Frames:
Both companies offer adjustable frames for the Niagra Adjustable Bed type of thing, but unless your health really requires it, I'd pass on this costly option. Why? Well, with the King size, you'll need to buy TWO full size adjustable frame mechanisms and TWO full size sets. You can wind up spending well over 6-7 THOUSAND dollars on a bed and then you're in the Duxiana territory of absurd bed pricing. Just buy bigger pillows and put them behind your back and/or under your legs for the same effect.
Other than huge cost for the King size versions, the queen sizes are considerably cheaper due to the fact that you need only buy one mattress/frame and one adjustable mechanism. This frame will allow the user to raise and lower his/her head and feet for better comfort and blood circulation. Oddly enough, if you buy a bed and adjustable frame, only the bed is returnable NOT the adjustable frame. And this goes for both AngelBeds and Tempurpedic. The only drawback for buying the adjustable frame in a queen or smaller is the fact that BOTH sleepers have to be raised or lowered at the same time. Obviously, the advantage to the King size is that one sleeper can be raised and the other be flat.
After a long exhaustive chat with an AngelBeds representative, I was convinced that the AngelBed and the TempurPedic are quite the same and that I'd save big cash going with AngelBeds. I ordered the bed and about two weeks later, the two ginormous boxes arrived. The box containing the mattress is considerably heavier and required two of us to carry.
The lower piece nests upon the supplied metal frame. The lower piece is what would be the box spring. Instead it's just a pine frame with a center support. It uses the European bed slat system of support. Meaning there are wooden slats that sit on the frame to support the top mattress. Once constructed, I placed the fabric "skirt" over this lower section. This dresses up the edges, even though I purchased a tailored bed skirt to go over that. After a few minutes of assembly, the lower half was ready to receive the top mattress.
The top piece was rolled into a squared tube of a box. When I opened the box, the mattress uncoiled and jumped out at me like a Jack-in-the-box toy. I read the warnings about not using a blade to open the box and that it would spring to life, so I was ready.
I remember having to call their customer service hotline about a few questions I had. They were really nice and helpful on the phone and the best part - They were NOT in India! They're in Texas.
Once the mattress was atop the frame I put the sheets on and hopped into bed. MAN, what a comfortable bed! I made a fancy headboard with built-in side tables and we were set. Function meets from - with a South Western flair.
I love the fact that if my wife or myself tosses and turns during the night, the other sleeper will NOT be effected. This is key for a better night's sleep. Now, I can only cure her of her incessant obnoxious snoring, life would be great!
I have to say that this mattress performs very well in cooler climates. The support I get is amazing. BUT it tends to be a bit too soft in warmer climates due to the make up of the foam. And from what I have read, this happens with the TempurPedics as well.
I think that due to the nature of the foam, once your body is on the surface, it tends to warm up. Great in Winter - not so great in Summer. I do find that with any foam mattress, it can get a bit more warm in Summer so you might need a fan or the A/C more often than not.
Do your research first. Go to a mattress store and take a test nap on a TempurPedic. There are different models and densities to suit most sleepers. Then visit AngelBed's website and buy the comparable bed.
Customer Service: Recently, I had rolled over to the middle section of the bed and felt a hard feeling under me. (Get your mind out of the gutter) It's the middle support beam that I felt. After I sent off an email, they responded with a lame form letter response. I wrote them again and this time I got a human being who asked a few questions. They asked me to write them a letter with detailed information and that they'd look into it. I think it's the fact that in warmer climates, the mattress softens and I'm feeling the metal support underneath. I never felt it in the Winter. We'll see. I just won't sleep in the middle.
So, the Golden Sheep Award goes to AngelBeds for a comfortable sleep system without the strain on my wallet. I give it four out of five stars due to the issues in the Summer months, otherwise it is an amazing sleep system. My neck and back issues seem to have vanished!
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? King size Rhapsody
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