Tempur-Pedic is truly deluxe.
Written: Jul 22 '03 (Updated Jul 24 '03)
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Pros: Most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on. Very luxurious feel.
Cons: Took a few weeks to get used to; gets harder in cold temperatures.
The Bottom Line: This may be the most comfortable mattress you can buy, but don't expect it to be a cure-all.
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| giacomoholdini's Full Review: Tempur-Pedic Swedish Mattress |
I first became aware of Tempur-Pedic mattresses in the early 1990s when I saw a display of their products in a Brookstone store. When my old Sealy Posture-Pedic finally bit the dust in early '03 (it looked more swayback than a war horse), I put Tempur-Pedic at the top of my must-investigate options. I tried out both the standard Tempur-Pedic, as well as the Deluxe Tempur-Pedic mattresses. The standard is 8 inches thick: .75 inches of Tempur comfort layer, 2.75 inches of Tempur base layer, and 4.5 inches of "Airflow System" base foam. The Deluxe is 10 inches thick: 1.25 inches of Tempur comfort layer, 2.75 inches of Tempur base layer, and a 6-inch two-layer Airflow System. The additional half-inch of comfort layer on the Deluxe adds a bit more softness to the tactile feel of the mattress, and the two-layer Airflow base helps increase ventilation properties; the Deluxe costs $400 more than the standard in all sizes. I also tried several name-brand coil mattresses, as well as a few other brands of foam mattresses, both memory and latex types, including Isotonic and Restonic. I ultimately decided on the Deluxe Tempur-Pedic, along with a new foundation. The combined cost was $1800 for a Full, ($1600 for the mattress, $200 for the foundation), which I understand is standard retail. According to several authorized sellers I have spoken to, Tempur-Pedic regulates their prices strictly, and all authorized sellers must adhere to Tempur-Pedic's pricing policies. Any place that would sell the mattresses for less is in violation of the company's policies and should be regarded with suspicion. (Please note: $1600 was for the Deluxe Full; the standard Full would have cost $1200 at the time of my purchase.)
I bought the mattress through a local, authorized Tempur-Pedic seller that offered next-day delivery. In less than 24 hours after purchasing the mattress, it was in my bedroom and ready to go. Delivery and removal of my old mattress was free. I was warned by the sales-person that new Tempur mattresses are usually rock hard, since they typically come from an unheated warehouse (I bought mine in early spring), and take some time to warm up -- usually 48 hours. Mine wasn't quite as hard as I had been led to expect, but it was certainly firmer than the store model. Despite what I read in the product literature about people sleeping in heaven on their first night on a Tempur-Pedic, my first night was pretty uncomfortable. I was not used to the feeling of the mattress -- it was fairly hard -- and I also think I may have been having some buyer's remorse: $1800 for a bad-night's sleep is enough to make anyone toss and turn.
I gave it time, though, and at the risk of sounding like a PR person for Tempur-Pedic, I can't imagine having any other mattress now. Mine has finally broken in (it helps that it's now summer), and it really is one of the most comfortable sleeping experiences I can imagine. The support is just right, molding to every curve of my body. I also love how the memory foam absorbs shocks, instead of transferring motion to the rest of the bed. This is especially important if you share a bed. I sleep alone, but I still appreciate this feature. In sleeping in a few hotel beds lately (standard coil), I found the earthquake-like feel of the motion transference very unsettling. I get no such feeling on my Tempur bed.
I also have rated the mattress Very Attractive. I understand many reviewers find these mattresses to be less than stylish, but I actually like the sleeker look of the Tempur mattress, as opposed to the over-stuffed look of many pillow-top coil mattresses. I will say, though, that the standard eight-inch mattress does look a little skinny; my rating applies only to the Deluxe version.
Once fall and winter come around again, I expect that the mattress will start to harden up a bit, but hopefully not to the extent it was when it was brand new. I will keep tabs on how this affects my sleeping comfort, and I will update this review as needed. The only other disadvantage I can think of is that the luxurious feel of the mattress is best appreciated while awake, which makes me want to lie around for about an hour after waking up. It makes for some very inefficient weekends.
I also wish to address Tempur-Pedic's claim that the mattress can do away with back pain altogether. About a month after I bought the mattress, I started to experience some minor, but annoying, lower-back pain. I was afraid it might be because of the unusually firm lumbar support the mattress gives. I even discussed this with the mattress seller, and we talked about exchange options. They urged me to give it time, however, and I agreed to wait. I started doing some lower-back exercises at the gym, and the pain went away shortly thereafter. I have concluded that the mattress did not cause the pain (I probably strained it while moving some furniture in the house), but it did not alleviate the pain either. In other words, this is a great overall mattress, but I would be wary of buying it with the expectation that it will cure everything that ails you, as the product literature tends to lead you to believe. A mattress can only do so much, after all.
One last point to ponder: Tempur foam offers its best support when there is as little between you and it as possible. Therefore, I follow the manufacturer's recommendation and use only a fitted sheet over the mattress, doing away with a mattress pad. I prefer it this way. However, because there is so little buffer between me and the mattress, and because I wish to keep the bedding as clean as possible, I have now taken to showering before bed.
FOOTNOTE: The warranty on the mattress is the standard Tempur-Pedic warranty: 20 years total -- first ten full replacement, second ten pro-rated value. The details on this warranty can be found in any Tempur-Pedic literature, either at authorized sellers, or on the company website. Also, Tempur-Pedic mattresses cannot be flipped, as the memory foam is only on one side. Rotation is not required, either, but I have done it once already, just to ensure even wear.
Recommended:
Yes
Mattress Size: Full/Double
Mattress Firmness: Somewhat firm
Amount Paid (US$): $1800
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Epinions.com ID:
giacomoholdini
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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