Side sleeper here, about 260 lbs. My old mattress is killing my shoulder and hip. I wake up numb and achy. Looking for something that actually supports a heavier side sleeper without feeling like I'm sinking through. What has worked for you?
Mattresses
I'm 260 lbs and sleep mostly on my side, what works
I'm around 250 and also side sleep. A latex hybrid worked for me. The latex gives pushback instead of letting you sink, and the coils handle the weight.
How long have you had the latex hybrid? I've heard latex can feel really firm for side sleeping.
About two years. It's firm but not hard. The key was the top layer being soft enough for the shoulder. Took a couple weeks to adjust, though.
I weigh close to 300 and side sleep half the night. Honestly, most mattresses I tried weren't supportive enough. I ended up with a firm pocket coil base and a 3-inch soft talalay latex topper. That combination let me get pressure relief without wrecking my spine.
Did you try any all-foam beds? I keep seeing ads for those but I'd worry about sinking at your weight.
I did. All-foam felt good for about a month, then started sagging where my hips were. If you go foam, you need a really high-density base, and even then durability is a gamble.
Second the coil plus topper idea. I'm 230 and side sleep. A medium-firm hybrid on its own was too soft in the shoulder area, but a topper fixed it.
What firmness are you considering? For 260 side sleeping, medium-firm is usually the sweet spot, but it depends on how broad your shoulders are.
i was leaning medium-firm. My shoulders are fairly wide, and my hips are the main problem area.
Then I'd look at something with zoned support. More coils or firmer foam under the hips, softer under the shoulders. Helped me a lot.
Have you checked the warranty and weight limits? Some brands void coverage or sag warranty above a certain weight. That was a surprise for me.
This is a good point.I didn't check and later found out my last mattress had a 250 lb per-sleeper limit. Probably why it died early.
Also, if you can, go try some in person. Online reviews are useful, but feel is personal. And bring your own pillow.
I'd avoid anything labeled plush. My partner is 240 and side sleeps, and plush just meant his hip bottomed out.
How do you all feel about sleep number beds? Worth it for heavier side sleepers or not?
I tried one in a store. Adjustability is nice, but the air chambers felt different from foam or coils. At my weight, I could feel the edges more. Not for me, but some people swear by them.
One more thing. A firm foundation matters as much as the mattress. A weak slatted frame can make a good bed feel bad.