So I've been through maybe 5 mattresses in 3 years. I'm 6'3" and about 290 lbs, broad shoulders, narrow hips. Every time I buy based on firmness ratings (went from medium-firm to extra firm), I still wake up with lower back pain. A buddy told me to stop focusing on firmness and look at how my body actually contacts the mattress. Wide shoulders need more give up top, but hips need support. Is this a real thing or is he just messing with me? Anyone else shaped like a dorito and found a mattress that works?
body shape
Anyone else find their body shape matters more than mattress firmness?
He's not messing with you. I'm 6'1" 260 with a big chest and small waist. A uniform firm mattress makes my shoulders ache because they can't sink in, and my lower back arches because my hips are too light to sink. I ended up with a hybrid with zoned coils. The shoulder area is softer, and the middle is firmer. Night and day difference.
I'm 5'9" 240 and mostly belly. I don't have the shoulder problem, but I do sink too much in the middle. Zoned mattresses actualy made it worse for me because the 'firmer middle' was still too soft. Went with a basic innerspring and a mattress topper. Way cheaper and I can swap the topper when it sags.
Body shape is huge. I'm a side sleeper with wide shoulders, and every 'extra firm' mattress I tried made my arm go numb. People think firm = supportive, but if your shoulder can't sink in, your spine is out of line no matter how firm the base is.
TunaSurprise that's interesting about the zoned thing backfiring. What topper did you get? And does it slide around?
Got a 2-inch latex topper, medium-soft. It shifts maybe an inch a week but I just push it back. Not a big deal. The bigger issue is the topper itself starts to compress after abbout 8 months where my gut is. But it's $150 vs $1500 for a new mattress.
Have you actually measured your shoulder width vs your waist? Like lying down. I did that and realized I basically need a mattress that lets my shoulders sink 2 inches but keeps my hips up. That's not a firmness rating, that's a geometry problem. Ended up putting a foam wedge under my waist. Cheap hack but it works.
All this analysis. Just sleep on the floor for two weeks and then any mattress feels great.
GrumpyGus found the guy who's never had lower back pain from an unsupportive mattress. Floor works until it doesn't.
PixelatedOwl since you're a fellow tall/broad guy: look for mattresses that list coil gauge by zone,or at least ask the manufacturer. If they can't tell you, they probably don't know and the 'zoned' label is marketing. Also, firmness is subjective and useless across brands. A 'medium' from one brand is a 'firm' from another. Body contact area matters way more.
notabot the wedge under your waist is genius and also sounds incredibly annoying to set up every night. Do you actually do that every single night?
TunaSurprise I taped it to the mattress pad. It's been there for 4 months. My wife thinks it's ugly. She's right. But my back doesnt hurt.
Alright, I'm convinced. Going to try the topper + wedge combo before dropping another grand. Thanks for the reality check. GrumpyGus I'll pass on the floor experiment.