Thursday, August 4, 2011

Sleep Number vs Tempurpedic

When purchasing a bed it is important to find the one that is “just right”, not only in size but also with comfort to help you fall asleep easy and stay asleep throughout the night. The Sleep Number and the Tempurpedic are two choices in a long line of bedding options. What are the comparisons between the Sleep Number vs Tempurpedic? See full vs queen size bed for more information.

[caption id="attachment_1461" align="alignright" width="296" caption="Sleep Number vs Tempurpedic - Personal Mattress Comfort"][/caption]

The Sleep Number is made of hypoallergenic material which is helpful for those that have allergies. Its construction is created in a way that dust mites cannot live and breed. The Sleep Number is one of the most comfortable beds on the market today because it is capable of reducing pressure points and will support the back due to the ability to adjust according to your “number” of firmness on each side of the bed independently. The bed is lightweight, its cover is washable and most retailers will give you an in-home trial. Common complaints about the Sleep Number are; air leaks, the foam divider in the middle of the bed is uncomfortable, tends to be too firm or too soft, the air pump is noisy, mold can grow between the air pump and the mattress and air pump failure. Air pump failure and air leaks are the two major problems reported.

The Tempurpedic mattress molds to the person’s body which also alleviates pressure points and benefits the back because it responds to body heat for therapeutic support. The memory foam prevents transfer of movement so there is no disturbance of waking your partner. Some people feel the memory foam is too hard as it may respond to a cool room. The opposite is also found as some models become too soft in a warm room and people complain they sleep too hot because the memory foam retains heat. Chemicals in the mattress are very noticeable at first and may be harmful for those with allergies, but this smell dissipates in time. Some find that this mattress may lose its original shape after years of use. A memory foam mattress is very heavy and difficult to move and some covers cannot be removed for washing.

The construction of a Tempurpedic is temperature and weight-sensitive memory foam to mold to the sleeper's body while Sleep Number mainly relies on air chambers to achieve personalized firmness and comfort (but may also use some memory foam). Sleep Number feels more like a conventional spring mattress than the unconventional memory foam with Tempurpedic.

As I stated before, the main complaints about the Sleep Number Bed (air pump failure and air leaks) make its durability due to a mechanical nature, while Tempurpedic's most common criticism is that it  might soften with age. Since research refers to durability as how well a product avoids the development of problems, Tempurpedic wins this round. Life expectancy of both beds is roughly the same, around nine years and even though the Sleep Number Bed has mechanical issues, these parts can be replaced. Owners of the Tempurpedic feel their bed is better because the look and heaviness of the quality vs its light-weight competitor, the Sleep Number Bed.

Both beds perform well when it comes to pain relief and only 8% report new or increased pain. A complaint about the Sleep Number Bed, that causes increased pain, is that the bed is too firm even on the softest setting. Tempurpedic customers can’t control their bed’s firmness and many find that the bed is too firm in cool rooms or too soft in warm rooms. The memory foam in some models retains heat and many (10%) complain that they sleep too hot. A memory foam mattress wins when comes to motion isolation that prevents movement in the bed from disrupting their partner’s sleep, but the Sleep Number Bed’s firmness can be adjusted for each side of the bed making this bed more couple friendly. However, the area where the two air chambers meet can be quite uncomfortable because it is right in the middle of the bed making many marriage sleep positions impossible. Also the Sleep Numbers air pump is noisy.

[caption id="attachment_1463" align="alignright" width="279" caption="Sleep Number vs Tempurpedic - Firmness Difference"][/caption]

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received complaints with Sleep Number customer service, but none with Tempurpedic, therefore its rating for Sleep Number is B vs Tempurpedic’s A+. They both have a return policy, Sleep Number is 45 days and you have to pay for the return and original shipping, while Tempurpedic you have 90 days and only pay for the return shipping. They both have a limited 20-year warranty, but the specifics vary. Sleep Number no cost to owner the first two years then between 2 and 20 years the owner pays 20% of the cost plus 4% of the repair for each year from the original purchase date. Tempurpedic no cost to owner to repair or replace from 0-10 years then the owner pays a percentage of the cost from 11 to 20 years. Tempurpedic warranty covers significant sagging; it will likely not cover the development of excessive softness.

So do you get more bang for your buck with Tempurpedic? The beds vary due to model, retailer and area (LA vs Timbuktu), but they are more expensive than  the Sleep Number beds. Their original twin starts at $700 and the Grand King is $7000. Sleep Number C2 twin is $625 and their most expensive king is $4200. Even though there is a large difference between the king size beds most customers feel they are getting what they paid for.

Choosing a Sleep Number or Tempurpedic really comes down to assessing your own personal choice, and looking into mattress brand comparisons. If you are at all considering buying a new bed, then it is essential to go to a mattress/bed store and conduct a personal evaluation of each product. Think about how you sleep, what has worked for you in the past and what your needs are for the future. When you are ready to buy, make sure you get an in-home trial to make sure you have picked the right mattress for you. If you can't afford a Tempurpedic mattress but would like to get added support for your bed try a Tempurpedic Mattress Topper.

The content provided in Sleep Number vs Tempurpedic is for information purposes only, intended to raise the awareness of different solutions for you or your families sleep problems and should not be considered medical advice. For medical diagnosis and treatment, please see your qualified health-care professional.

 
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