Mattresses 101

We had a hand-me-down bed and since Lex peed there a lot of times, we decided to let go of it and left it in the old apartment. Now I'm on the search for a perfect bed for Lito and I. While browsing for brands, I realized that the mattress alone is very expensive so I had to make a good research before shelling out that cash.

First, it helps to know the different types of mattresses that are available. There are three main types of mattresses; innerspring, air and memory foam types.

Inner spring mattresses are a common choice. The inner spring mattress uses coils inside the mattress to support the body while sleeping. The thickness of the coil determines the firmness and support of the mattress; the thicker the coil the firmer the mattress.

The basic construction of air mattresses consists of chambers within the mattress that hold air. The chambers are made out of latex with cotton exteriors.

Then there are also memory foam mattresses. I remember we used to have this kind of mattress in the Phils, URATEX brand lived up to our expectation. They conform to your body and are touted to be hypoallergenic. They come in a wide variety of types and prices.

I prefer Inner Spring mattresses so I will dwell on the different types of Coils used in this kind of bed. Amazing, there are different kinds of them and each type is what makes a good mattress.

Bonnell coil, and is found in lesser-quality mattresses. Its hourglass shape was directly adapted from buggy seat springs in the 1800's.

Marshall coils are of a much higher caliber. Each individual coil has its own fabric covering and is commonly made of tempered steel; in some cases the coils are pre-compressed. This pre-compression technology is what allows for tension adjustment on opposite sides of the bed; couples typically enjoy this feature.

The Simmons mattress company uses Marshall coils to achieve their goal of long-term customer service; they've been known for quality and caring, but consumers report that their mattresses are often a little on the firm side.

The Simmons Beautyrest series famously offers Marshall coils in their Baran models, which is one of the best mattresses based on consumer reviews; their California king-sized mattresses go as low as $659 on Amazon. Consumers note its firmness, which can be a pro or con depending on your individual needs.

Offset coils are also a higher-quality design, built on a series of hinges that move and shift to conform to your body's shape. This gives you perfect support for every curve and joint. Another benefit of the offset coil is its strength and durability, which mean that a mattress with this coil technology will last a long time without slacking up on the incredible body support.

Sealy is one of the most successful brands when it comes to offset coils. The Sealy Posturepedic is the best mattress series of this type and even elite models seldom cost more than $1500 for a queen or king size. Every Posturepedic mattress scores high in mattress reviews for its incredible comfort, with minor drawbacks such as difficulty finding sheets to fit the mattress's large size.

The last common coil is known as the continuous coil or the Mira-coil. As the name "continuous coil" might suggest, each individual coil is one long piece that runs from the head to foot of the mattress in a series of rows. Serta mattresses are famous worldwide for using this type of coil. While this does make it somewhat noisier than the typical innerspring mattress, it also gives unparalleled firmness to the bed and provides great support for back and neck pain sufferers.

I just hope we also find good price for any of these type of mattress. This is for mattress alone, no box and headboard yet. I can already see Lito's eyebrows meeting again LOL!