Sleep Number 5000: overrated, overpriced, and not that special
Written: Feb 15 '07 (Updated Feb 15 '07)
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Pros: Adjustable firmness; lightweight--easy to make bed; no flipping!
Cons: Not a plush pillowtop; air chambers lose air over time.
The Bottom Line: The Sleep Number system is overhyped and overpriced. While it is nice to adjust the firmness, our sleep is no better than it was with traditional mattress. Skip it.
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| pilarzmom's Full Review: Select Comfort Mattress Sleep Number 5000 |
In 15 years of marriage my husband and I have probably owned more mattresses than most people own in a lifetime, thanks to our never-ending search for the perfect mattress. I thought we had finally found a perfect rock-hard one from Stearns & Foster, but then one day my husband actually ventured inside a mall and fell victim to a Select Comfort Sleep Number sales person who convinced him that their mattresses would solve his back problems. One week later we were the proud owners of a Sleep Number 5000 Bed. One year later, we now know that this mattress system didn't really solve his back problems.
The Sales Process
This is a critical step in snagging new customers. With some fancy heat-sensor technology, a sales person will help you find your "sleep number" while you are lying flat on your back. During our sales demonstration they showed us that with a lower sleep number you actually have more support with their mattresses than you would with a rock-hard mattress. I myself wasn't convinced. When I tried to find my number lying on my side, the sales person redirected me to lie on my back. While my husband is a back-sleeper I myself don't fall asleep that way and didn't find their demonstration very convincing. However, I gave in to my husband's wishes, with the promise he wouldn't buy the top of the line model.
When you purchase your set, the sales people will probably try to get you to buy some of their special pillows and bedding. Resist the temptation! These pillows are similar to ones sold in other stores where they're often discounted.
What makes the Sleep Number system different?
Most mattress sets sold include a traditional innerspring mattress and box. The Sleep Number system may look like a traditional system but instead of springs, it has air chambers that are controlled by a remote to adjust to your preferred level of firmness. In place of a box spring it sits on a sturdy plastic pedestal base covered with a damask cover. The whole bed is a lot lighter than a traditional set, too, which makes changing sheets a whole lot easier. In addition, you'll no longer have to flip your mattress!
In addition, Sleep Number mattresses have many options, including mattress thickness (from 7.5 inches to 15 inches), coverings, single or dual chambers, type of remote controls, and as well as frame styles. Sizes offered include: twin (standard and extra-long), double, full, queen (standard & expanded), King, & California King. Sleep Number also offers beds for sofa beds and RVs.
The 5000
This is Sleep Number's mid-level offering and also their most popular. As a point of comparison, a Queen bed with the same options we selected in the top-of-the-line 9000 would cost about $4000 and a Queen bed in the low-end 3000 would run about $1100. Our 5000 with delivery and setup rang in just under $2000.
Features of our 5000 model include:
-Dual chambers with one wireless remote
-11.5 inches of total mattress thickness
-Pillowtop with Belgian Damask ticking design and 100% rayon sleep surface
-High-density foam topper pad (on top of the air chamber) for support
-20-year limited warranty
-30-day trial period
Assembly
We opted for in-home set-up and delivery for $150 and we're glad we did. It took the guys who delivered it less than half an hour to set it up. Although the instructions included are clearly written and nicely illustrated, there are just too many steps and parts for me. I watched and it was more confusing than assembling a desk from Ikea.
Here's what you'll get (with some variation from model to model):
For foundation:
Side rails, support beams, end beams, deck panels, pins, brackets & coverlet
For mattress:
Mattress cover, foam base pad, foam border walls, air chambers, firmness control system (pump) and remotes, center foam walls, foam comfort pad
As you can see, that's a lot and frankly too much for me to mess with.
Firmness Control System
These small electric pumps sit under your bed. You will hear them when you adjust your Sleep Number but they are pretty quiet. It's important to first lie down on the bed before you adjust your sleep number. The bed adjusts in increments of 5, ranging from 5-100, with 100 being the firmest.
We noticed that the air chambers do lose a bit of air over time, so I would suggest checking your number about once a week. My number is normally 75, but slips to 65 over a period of a few weeks.
Our Sleep Number Experience
Despite my initial doubts, I was really excited for my first night's sleep on our Sleep Number bed. In the store the salesperson found my number to be 45 but he suggested I start higher and adjust lower as my back wouldn't be used to this type of bed. My husband and I both started around 60. However, our experiences were totally different. My husband actually went lower to 45 and I adjusted up to 75. A couple times I tried it lower but my back was aching in the morning. At 75 it felt pretty supportive.
My husband initially liked the lower setting but he discovered his back really didn't feel any better. Gradually, bit by bit, he raised it. Finally he gave up and now he keeps it at 100. I just sigh and roll my eyes. What a waste. We should have just kept our rock hard Stearns & Foster.
I myself enjoy being able to adjust my bed. As a side sleeper I sometimes get pains in my shoulder and hips and on those days I will lower my setting to 60 or so. However, even with a lower setting I'm not totally pleased with the comfort of the 5000. Although they call it a pillowtop, it doesn't really feel like one to me. It seems more like a traditional mattress. I loved the two higher end models 7000 & 9000--they had nice pillow tops. But we decided against them. We thought that with an adjustable bed a plush pillowtop wasn't necessary. Wrong!
I will give the Sleep Number credit, however. A lower sleep number is more supportive than a soft traditional mattress. It does conform to your body and cushion your pressure points. However, I'm still not buying the claim that their mattress will help you have a more restful sleep. Furthermore my husband still frequently has a sore back in the morning
Final Assessment
The Sleep Number 5000 is not a bad system. It is nice to be able to adjust your bed's firmness to accommodate your body's aches and pains. Likewise, making the bed is much simpler as it easy to tuck sheets under since it is lighter than a heavier traditional mattress. However, I miss a nice plush pillow top and feel that it's deceiving to even say that this has one. Our Stearns & Foster set was about the same price but I felt much more satisfied with that. I really felt like I had a quality set but somehow the Sleep Number feels just a little bit cheap. After all, it's just a glorified air mattress on a plastic platform. This bed hasn't enhanced our sleep nor has it made it worse. However, it's $2000 that I could have spent on something else. My advice: skip it!
Recommended:
No
Mattress Size: Queen
Mattress Firmness: Extremely firm
Amount Paid (US$): 2000
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