When I go visit a family member in San Diego, I sleep on a $300 (full size set) bargain basement department store “S” brand mattress that was purchased 15 years ago but only has about 3 years of total use on it by me. Despite flipping it (which you can no longer do on current spring mattresses) it is quite hard to where you can feel the springs and a 2″ mattress topper doesn’t really help (it alleviates the spring feeling, but feels like a pillow-top where you sink in).
My main mattress is a Tempur-Pedic that I’ve had for about 10 years feels excellent as it provides firmness with comfort. After spending a couple days mattress shopping in San Diego county, I’m astonished at how expensive a firm inner spring mattress with good support costs–minimum $700 full mattress only. The shopping experience isn’t that pleasant either. The $300 special of 15 years ago has been replaced by mattresses where you sink in immediately and receive no support. I can’t justify spending $700 for a mattress that will only get 3 months us use each year with a gamble on longevity. $400 is my max.
Costco’s $400 mattress set doesn’t seem that firm to me when I feel it with my hands. I visited a couple stores that sold name brand mattresses with no box springs, and you could only try the mattress by placing it on the floor, which might be deceptive in determining firmness vs using a traditional box spring.
What are your suggestions for a firm seasonal use mattress under $400? I know it’s not wise to go to a car dealership and tell the salesperson how much you want to spend, but is it different for a mattress?
Try using a mattress without a box spring. We’ve had a platform bed for years, and we absolutely love it. No noise, no bouncing around when the other person moves, and it automatically makes it more firm.
If you like a firm mattress, check out Ikea. Their mattresses are super inexpensive and all of them are quite firm. Queen size ranges from $170 – $850. We bought a $250 one for our guest guest bedroom and I liked it so much I bought another one for the RV. They have a 90 day return policy.
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