supports your body, keeps your spine aligned comfortably
the topper
how "firm" it feels
there is a "right" foundation/core for ones height+weight+body-shape and preferred sleep position (side, stomach, back)
the topper is mostly personal preference (soft vs hard, "memory-foamy" or not)
everything else is frills
when testing in store, it's easy to fall for just the topper feel, and miss the core support experience (which is more important)
you need to lay on a bed for at least a minute to get a proper feel
advice for what to look for in links above
the best value is not in the budget mattresses
can pay 3x, but get 3-4x lifetime, and better comfort
for a queen size...
< $1000
budget
spring mattresses (big box stores), or cheap foam (online companies, like Casper)
don't last very long (start to sag/deform within 5-7 years)
more comfortable ones are available
$1000 - $2500
the sweet spot, can be long lasting (15-20 years) and can achieve optimal comfort
BUT...
many stores will sell budget-grade mattresses at these prices
> $2500
over-priced, same materials and build can be sourced for < $2500
(a friend of mine paid ~$5500 for a 100% latex mattress, which had the same inner materials and build as a $2000 model from a different brand)
a lot of pseudo-science (or just straight BS), particularly in the high-end
plus "featuritis" - features that increase price and seeming value, but decrease material cost and lifetime of the mattress
do you really need edge support? fire-shield? 6 layers?
my general recommendation:
a foam or latex mattress with customized layers for each sleeper (in a removable cover)
"build your own mattress"
customized layers for each sleeper
couples often have different body types (height, weight, fitness) and different preferred sleeping position (stomach, side, back - although those can change with a different mattress)
often, both individuals won't be properly served by the same core-stiffness
with typical pre-built mattresses, one of them compromises (often without knowing)
it is possible to "build your own mattress", with separate layers for each side
at minimum: 2 core layers, 1 topper, 1 cover (IMO good enough)
can get fancier: transition layers, 2 toppers, 4 toppers (flippable for winter/summer)
premium mattresses are often high quality foam or latex anyway
any box store mattress can likely be recreated cheaper via a "build your own" route
bonuses:
often cheaper to "build your own" than get a pre-built with unnecessary frills
can remove cover to clean (or replace)
can swap out or add layers in the future, at a fraction of the cost
...if preferences change, body changes, partner changes, or certain parts degrade faster
offer a "white glove" in-person experience (Barrie), but only pure latex mattresses
multiple layers + multiple sections per layer (overkill?)
(~$3l to 4k, depending on thickness, 20 year warranty, 99 day re-work-your-layers to fit guarantee)
ordering latex directly could be cheaper
foamite has a hybrid latex for ~$2.5k
you might be able to get away with a thinner mattress by varying the firmness of the material (ie. a 6" can be made to feel like a 12", at 50% less materials – and cost)
latex vs foam
latex is very pricey, TBH, probably not worth over high quality foam
latex is "all natural" (made from rubber tree sap) vs "synthetic foam" (from petrochemicals)
but, both are chemically processed and not bio-degradable
if you want your mattress to last 20 years, you don't want it to be bio-degradable
latex is made from renewable sources
latex and rubber have different feels to them, but both have multiple variations of feel (latex: talalay vs dunlop; foam: memory foam vs others) and stiffness