We spend a third of our lives in bed. Reason enough to give some thought to choosing the right mattress. We give helpful tips and name the five best mattresses ever tested by Stiftung Warentest.
We also present a modern alternative to the classic slatted frame – the “Double Spring Box”.
The right mattress – the small 1×1
The innerspring mattress is still the classic among mattress types. It lets a lot of air through and is therefore the ideal model for people who sweat a lot when sleeping.
But also latex mattresses, for large, heavy people, and last but not least cold foam mattresses for every body type are becoming more and more popular. In the end, they all have the same goal: healthy, restful sleep.
In order to be able to guarantee this, a few basic things are required: “The comfort properties of a mattress include point elasticity, the post-swinging behavior, a noticeable contact with the slatted frame and noises when changing position”, according to Stiftung Warentest in March 2019.
Good lying position and hardness of the mattress
When asked how you can tell if you are lying well, Norbert Vogt, head of the Industrial Anthropology Research Group at the University of Kiel, answered in the same issue of Stiftung Warentest: “You should separate personal preferences such as appearance or mattress hardness from objective support qualities.
It is important to recognize deficits such as too deep a sinking of the pelvic region in the supine position. In the lateral position, the shoulder must not sink in too little, but must lie so low that the spine forms a straight horizontal line.
On the way there, it is essential to look at the person in question: height, weight, body shape – all factors that play a decisive role in the choice of mattress.
For example, small, light people often lie on a different surface better than large, heavy people do. Mattress manufacturers therefore divide their products into five hardness grades: from H1 (particularly soft) to H5 (particularly firm).
The basic rule is: the heavier the person, the harder the mattress. The reason: so that the body is better supported.
In addition, make sure that your mattress does not form a recess when lying down. This prevents movement at night and forces the body into a rigid position.
The result: tension and even possible back pain. Regular turning can help to increase the life expectancy of a mattress. The role of lying zones and slatted frames in the right mattress?
The lying zones are opaque: While many mattress manufacturers advertise that their product has seven different zones, others hardly consider more than three to be sensible.
The slatted frame has also been the subject of discussion of insomnia causes from time to time in recent times. While the thesis that mattresses need a suitable slatted frame was often valid in the past, the opinion that this is not true is now becoming increasingly accepted.
The fact is: A good slatted frame provides sufficient ventilation in bed, supports the mattress and increases lying comfort.
If you have the feeling that you are sinking when lying down, it is probably the wrong slatted frame and further research is needed. In any case, stay tuned – it’s worth it!