David Hill wrote:

I know that this is totally off topic but thinking about how many
gardeners have back problems I thought I'd ask my question here.
It's time for me to change my mattress and my back is giving me a lot
of problems. I'm wondering about a Memory foam mattress, but I don't
know anyone who has one.

Are they as good as the advertising says,

Yes

or is it just hype.

No

Caveat: try out as many bed/mattress combinations as possible. You
really should spend as much as you can afford - anything else is false
economy IMO - and you don't want to make the wrong decision.

--
Chris

On 01/10/2013 09:52, CT wrote:
David Hill wrote:

I know that this is totally off topic but thinking about how many
gardeners have back problems I thought I'd ask my question here.
It's time for me to change my mattress and my back is giving me a lot
of problems. I'm wondering about a Memory foam mattress, but I don't
know anyone who has one.

Are they as good as the advertising says,

Yes

or is it just hype.

No

Caveat: try out as many bed/mattress combinations as possible. You
really should spend as much as you can afford - anything else is false
economy IMO - and you don't want to make the wrong decision.

Which is why I am asking here.
Trying for a couple of minutes in a showroom isn't like using it for a
few weeks.

David Hill wrote:

Which is why I am asking here.
Trying for a couple of minutes in a showroom isn't like using it for
a few weeks.

Well, quite. But equally, everyone is a different size, shape & weight
so whilst I could say "Buy a Tempur memory foam mattress, it's
fantastic" I think it would also be imperative that you also try one
out, however briefly, before spending a lot of money.

So, memory foam mattresses are very good and worth the money but as
everyone is different, try them out first, however briefly. After all,
caveat emptor.

--
Chris

On 10/1/2013 9:54 AM, David Hill wrote:
On 01/10/2013 09:52, CT wrote:

Caveat: try out as many bed/mattress combinations as possible. You
really should spend as much as you can afford - anything else is false
economy IMO - and you don't want to make the wrong decision.

Which is why I am asking here.
Trying for a couple of minutes in a showroom isn't like using it for a
few weeks.

I was amazed at the difference our memory foam mattress made - it was
worth every penny.

On 01/10/2013 13:53, S Viemeister wrote:
On 10/1/2013 9:54 AM, David Hill wrote:
On 01/10/2013 09:52, CT wrote:

Caveat: try out as many bed/mattress combinations as possible. You
really should spend as much as you can afford - anything else is false
economy IMO - and you don't want to make the wrong decision.

Which is why I am asking here.
Trying for a couple of minutes in a showroom isn't like using it for a
few weeks.

I was amazed at the difference our memory foam mattress made - it was
worth every penny.




Since you're so impressed, perhaps you would be happy to answer a
long-standing query I have with regard to memory foam mattresses?

Although it can be demonstrated that they do 'remember', say, the
pressure of a hand (as in the advertising), how do we know they're
remembering a good posture, as opposed to a bad posture?

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 10/1/2013 3:22 PM, Spider wrote:

Since you're so impressed, perhaps you would be happy to answer a
long-standing query I have with regard to memory foam mattresses?

Although it can be demonstrated that they do 'remember', say, the
pressure of a hand (as in the advertising), how do we know they're
remembering a good posture, as opposed to a bad posture?

I've never thought that 'memory' foam was a particularly good name...

What my back appreciates about it, is that, for instance, when I lie on
my side, my well-rounded hip sinks in to the mattress, but my waist is
still properly supported - it allows my spine to be straight, rather
than curving sideways to fit the flat, firm, surface of my previous
sprung mattress.

In very hot, humid weather, I add a fluffy cotton-covered mattress pad.
It slows down the shape-accommodation of the foam, but stops me feeling
hot and sticky.

"S Viemeister" wrote in message
...
On 10/1/2013 3:22 PM, Spider wrote:

Since you're so impressed, perhaps you would be happy to answer a
long-standing query I have with regard to memory foam mattresses?

Although it can be demonstrated that they do 'remember', say, the
pressure of a hand (as in the advertising), how do we know they're
remembering a good posture, as opposed to a bad posture?

I've never thought that 'memory' foam was a particularly good name...

What my back appreciates about it, is that, for instance, when I lie on my
side, my well-rounded hip sinks in to the mattress, but my waist is still
properly supported - it allows my spine to be straight, rather than
curving sideways to fit the flat, firm, surface of my previous sprung
mattress.

Exactly the same here. Wonderful support!

In very hot, humid weather, I add a fluffy cotton-covered mattress pad. It
slows down the shape-accommodation of the foam, but stops me feeling hot
and sticky.



--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On 2013-10-01 16:17:04 +0000, S Viemeister said:

On 10/1/2013 3:22 PM, Spider wrote:

Since you're so impressed, perhaps you would be happy to answer a
long-standing query I have with regard to memory foam mattresses?

Although it can be demonstrated that they do 'remember', say, the
pressure of a hand (as in the advertising), how do we know they're
remembering a good posture, as opposed to a bad posture?

I've never thought that 'memory' foam was a particularly good name...

What my back appreciates about it, is that, for instance, when I lie on
my side, my well-rounded hip sinks in to the mattress, but my waist is
still properly supported - it allows my spine to be straight, rather
than curving sideways to fit the flat, firm, surface of my previous
sprung mattress.

In very hot, humid weather, I add a fluffy cotton-covered mattress pad.
It slows down the shape-accommodation of the foam, but stops me feeling
hot and sticky.

It would probably be better if it was just called a contour foam, or
something of that sort. I was highly sceptical because my last 'foam
mattress' was on a boat and its memory was altogether too good. It
adopted all the dents and hollows of which the human shape is capable
and held onto them indefinitely, after a very few months. My experience
with the Tempur pillow is that it simply supports the head and neck and
there is absolutely no shape of me left behind! And I am *very* fussy
about my pillows because not only can they affect my balance next day
but also my sleep each night. Given David's back problems I'd
certainly recommend one of those, too. I have two ordinary pillows on
top for reading etc. and Ray sleeps with one on top of his Tempur
pillow. But I find that the height, density and 'slope' of that
pillow is absolutely perfect. My daughter, who has had recent neck
surgery, lower back surgery (and is facing more, probably on her lower
back) absolutely swears by the pillow. She hasn't yet bought the
mattress only because she's waiting to see what her surgeon's final
pronouncement is! Otoh, an 80 year old friend who had back surgery
several times, a long time ago, has a Tempur mattress and is totally
enamoured of it. I really don't know if one make is better than
another so can only speak for those I know who have bought that
particular brand.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On 01/10/2013 18:42, sacha wrote:
On 2013-10-01 16:17:04 +0000, S Viemeister said:

On 10/1/2013 3:22 PM, Spider wrote:

Since you're so impressed, perhaps you would be happy to answer a
long-standing query I have with regard to memory foam mattresses?

Although it can be demonstrated that they do 'remember', say, the
pressure of a hand (as in the advertising), how do we know they're
remembering a good posture, as opposed to a bad posture?

I've never thought that 'memory' foam was a particularly good name...

What my back appreciates about it, is that, for instance, when I lie
on my side, my well-rounded hip sinks in to the mattress, but my waist
is still properly supported - it allows my spine to be straight,
rather than curving sideways to fit the flat, firm, surface of my
previous sprung mattress.

In very hot, humid weather, I add a fluffy cotton-covered mattress
pad. It slows down the shape-accommodation of the foam, but stops me
feeling hot and sticky.

It would probably be better if it was just called a contour foam, or
something of that sort. I was highly sceptical because my last 'foam
mattress' was on a boat and its memory was altogether too good. It
adopted all the dents and hollows of which the human shape is capable
and held onto them indefinitely, after a very few months. My experience
with the Tempur pillow is that it simply supports the head and neck and
there is absolutely no shape of me left behind! And I am *very* fussy
about my pillows because not only can they affect my balance next day
but also my sleep each night. Given David's back problems I'd certainly
recommend one of those, too. I have two ordinary pillows on top for
reading etc. and Ray sleeps with one on top of his Tempur pillow. But
I find that the height, density and 'slope' of that pillow is absolutely
perfect. My daughter, who has had recent neck surgery, lower back
surgery (and is facing more, probably on her lower back) absolutely
swears by the pillow. She hasn't yet bought the mattress only because
she's waiting to see what her surgeon's final pronouncement is! Otoh,
an 80 year old friend who had back surgery several times, a long time
ago, has a Tempur mattress and is totally enamoured of it. I really
don't know if one make is better than another so can only speak for
those I know who have bought that particular brand.

Looking at Memory foam mattresses on line I saw a Tempur mattress on
offer for only £2100,
Well a reasonably good mattress for around £400 would leave £1700 for
remedial massage on my back by an attractive young lady.
No choice.

On 01/10/2013 17:17, S Viemeister wrote:
On 10/1/2013 3:22 PM, Spider wrote:

Since you're so impressed, perhaps you would be happy to answer a
long-standing query I have with regard to memory foam mattresses?

Although it can be demonstrated that they do 'remember', say, the
pressure of a hand (as in the advertising), how do we know they're
remembering a good posture, as opposed to a bad posture?

I've never thought that 'memory' foam was a particularly good name...

What my back appreciates about it, is that, for instance, when I lie on
my side, my well-rounded hip sinks in to the mattress, but my waist is
still properly supported - it allows my spine to be straight, rather
than curving sideways to fit the flat, firm, surface of my previous
sprung mattress.

In very hot, humid weather, I add a fluffy cotton-covered mattress pad.
It slows down the shape-accommodation of the foam, but stops me feeling
hot and sticky.



Ah! That's very helpful. As you say, perhaps 'memory' foam is not the
best name. Thanks for clarifying.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

In article ,
lid says...

On Tue, 01 Oct 2013 09:54:07 +0100, David Hill
wrote:

Trying for a couple of minutes in a showroom isn't like using it for a
few weeks.

You might be surprised at the number of people who spend a lot of time
on a bed in a showroom!

:-)

The best mattress we've ever had came from John Lewis, after a very long
session of questions and advice choosing it, from their bed-dept
salesman... with lots of trying out. He took so much trouble I wrote to
the store manager to commend him.

Janet