How to shop for a new mattress 

Choosing the right mattress is an important decision. The average person spends about 1/3       of their life in bed, making their bed the most used piece of furniture in the home. Meanwhile, over 70% of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives, and nearly 25% complain of sleeplessness.  

The good news is that by keeping your spine in proper alignment and offering you a comfortable night's rest, the right mattress can help with both of these problems. 

That said, today's mattress shoppers are often overwhelmed to find thousands of models available across an extremely wide range of prices, each with complex features that can be hard to understand, and even harder to compare.
Dotcombeds goal is to simplify the process of finding the best bed for you. 

The first step to choosing the right mattress is to understand the three general criteria that differentiate mattresses from one another: comfort, support and  durability. Within each of
these categories, beds can be compared objectively; however, mattress buyers must also factor in their personal needs and preferences, as well  as with  the amount they are willing to spend on their new bed. To help you with this process, Dotcombeds has provided a brief summary of the three criteria below to help you find the mattress that feels like it was made for you.

Mattress Comfort 

"Comfort" is the way the surface of the mattress feels against the surface of your body. It is
what makes you feel cozy and relaxed in your bed, and it is probably the first thing you notice when you lay down on a bed. 

In an innerspring (Coils, springs) mattress, comfort is driven primarily by the upholstery layers, particularly the cushioning and quilting (top layers). Mattress companies typically use words like "firm," "plush," and"pillow-top" to describe the comfort attributes of a bed, though what they are really getting at is whether the top layers of the mattress (e.g., what you feel when you press the mattress surface with your fingertips) feel "soft" or "hard." The Innerspring mattress comfort layer is designed to provide all of the comfort "feel" before your body weight takes you into the support or coil system of the mattress.
In an all foam (no coils or springs) mattress, the comfort layers are designed to enhance the feel of the foam core / support system of the mattress. 

Other comfort-related attributes include features that minimize disturbance from your partner's movements, or that provide for differing levels of comfort on each side of the bed. More than any other aspect of your bed purchase, judging a mattress' comfort will be a matter of personal preference.  

Mattress Support 

With mattresses, the term "support" refers to the aspects of the bed that push back inorder to hold your spine in position while you sleep. Unlike with comfort, which is largely a matter of personal preference, everyone requires support from their mattress, though to varying degrees based on some of the factors discussed below. Improper or inadequate support (too hard or too soft) can result in tension or back pain, as your muscles try to compensate to keep your spine in alignment, and frequently cause pain and/or stiffness when you wake up. Though mattress companies use words like "firm" or "extra firm" to explain the support provided by a bed, what they are really describing is the extent to which the inner core of the mattress (e.g., what you feel when you put one knee on the bed and then lean your weight into it) is "springy" or "stiff." In an innerspring mattress, support is driven primarily by the coils, both in their quantity and their construction. Another aspect of coils is common sense- you must remember coils are designed to push back when weight is applied so the heavier you are, the more "upward pressure" there will be at the support level. If you are a side sleeper and have problems with your shoulders and or hip areas "falling asleep" this could be the problem. Being an overweight person myself, I have found that a quality "all foam" mattress solves this problem. If you are comparing innerspring mattresses to all foam mattresses remember this statement. With an innerspring mattress your body must conform to the support system while with a quality all foam mattress the support system conforms to your body.

Mattress Durability 

"Durability" refers to the length of time a mattress will continue to provide you with adequate support along with your desired level of comfort. The durability of a mattress is driven primarily by the quality of its materials and the way it is constructed. In general, durability tends to correlate with both the weight and price of the mattress, since higher durability materials tend to be denser and more expensive. Not surprisingly, higher quality construction techniques also tend to be more expensive (e.g., hand-tufting). 

Durability can also be impacted by special features in a bed. For example, some mattresses contain specific features to protect against common durability problems, such as "edge break-down," stains, or sagging. Conversely, mattresses with more layers of upholstery  on top (e.g., pillow-top beds) are more likely to develop body impressions over time. One way to increase the longevity of your mattress is to flip it regularly, particularly in its first few years. That said, a popular trend in beds today is the "no-flip" mattress, for which only one side is designed as a sleep surface. Naturally, this prevents the use of flipping as a means of avoiding body impressions; however manufacturers have generally offset this by replacing less durable padding materials like polyester fiber (which packs down over time) with longer-lasting materials like memory foam and latex. Contrary to popular belief, mattress durability does not correlate with warranty length. While warranties will protect you against defects in materials or workmanship, they are not a guarantee of durability, and do not offer protection against general deteriorations in comfort over time. 

Similarly, durability does not correlate with manufacturer brand—each mattress manufacturer makes a range of models at various levels of price, quality, and durability. You must also take into consideration that most recognized names are so for a reason. The fact that national advertising, corporate overhead, hidden costs and dealer kickbacks are included in the cost of the mattress and ultimately paid for by you, the consumer. 

Summary

Here is a list of the above factors you should remember when mattress shopping. Once you detiremine the factors that are suitable for your sleeping preferences and comfort your job of finding the mattress that most fits your needs will be easier.