Walker, MI- You spend a third of your life on your mattress so you should know what you're buying. Kim Covington didn't lose any sleep putting two popular mattresses to a long term test. Gail Masck and her husband Greg see a chiropractor because they wake up almost every night in pain. Greg says,?Often I feel worse than when I went to sleep at night." They're like 60% of Americans.
Dr. Kilpatrick says,?You're feeling stiff, you tossed and turned all night, that's a pretty good indication you need to look at your bed." But before Greg and Gail go shopping, we asked them to try something different.
We tossed out their 17-year-old mattress and asked them to go to sleep on the Tempur Pedic and the Sleep Number beds for two months. The Tempur Pedic looks like a big sponge. Originally developed by NASA, the material is supposed to conform to the shape of your body. Greg and Gail say, ?Oh, wow holy cow. I think I like it already.? Kim asks, "How does it feel?? Greg says, "I feel like I'm being swallowed up.? Gail says, "It feels like laying on a marshmallow." Greg says,?There's a even pressure across my body." Kim says,"So you guys don't mind trying this for 30 days?? Gail and Greg say,? No.?
After a month, the warm material and the smell took some getting used to. Gail says,"There was a real strong chemical smell. But on a scale from one to 10 I?ll give it an 8 and half.? Greg says,"Our previous mattress left me some shoulder and back pain and I don't feel any of that now."
We switched mattresses again and replaced the Tempur Pedic with the Select Comfort Sleep Number bed. It claims air is the secret to optimal sleep and is more supportive than foam. Greg says,"Oh wow this great." Gail says, "It's very comfortable. I like the pillow top. Because we're sleeping on a traditional bed and this is more like a traditional feel." A remote allows you to adjust the air in the mattress from zero to 100. Gail?s Sleep Number was 45. Greg had trouble finding his individual number.
A month later it was Greg and Gail's wedding anniversary and they weren't celebrating. Gail says,"It really felt like sleeping on a blow up mattress with a comforter on the top." Greg says,"My shoulder does hurt a little bit which I didn't notice the previous month when we sleeping on the other mattress."
So after trying both mattresses for 30 days Gail and Greg plan to buy the Tempur Pedic. So maybe now the couple can have happier night's.
Both the queen size classic Tempur Pedic and Sleep Number Beds cost about $1,700. You can find the Sleep Number at its Woodland Mall Store and you can buy them both at their online websites.
Kim CovingtonIn your voice
