Looking for a new bed - slat frame vs box spring

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Lizard1977

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#203141 19-Sep-2016 15:50

We might be in the market to buy a new bed, so just doing some research prior to going out a looking at different options. I found this thread from March 2016 which had some interesting suggestions, but the question I have is whether to go for a slat frame or a box spring. Our current bed is a box spring, but I started wondering whether a slat frame would be better. Aside from being able to dismantle to make it easier when shifting (admittedly, not a common occurrence), does the slat frame offer any advantages over a box spring?

Secondly, are there any brands people highly recommend or warn against? I'm aware it's a very subjective issue, and I'll test several models in store, but I'm curious to know whether the notable brands (e.g. Sealy, Sleepyhead) at major chains (Harvey Norman, Farmers) are worth it. Is "Posturepedic" all that it's cracked up to be?

richms

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#1635943 19-Sep-2016 15:54

I find the bar in the middle of a slat bed annoying. It has less sag then the rest of it so is a firmer part.

Richard rich.ms

MikeAqua

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#1635945 19-Sep-2016 16:07

Slat beds can be very noisy.

Mike

Lizard1977

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#1635946 19-Sep-2016 16:10

Can you put any mattress on a slat frame, or do you need a "special" mattress for slat frames?

Disrespective

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#1635960 19-Sep-2016 16:41

We recently moved from a slat bed to a box spring and base and I found:

- A firm mattress on a box spring is VERY firm. A firm mattress on a slat bed is just firm.
- A slat bed provides a lower bed height. Our box spring base is a bigger base, but we couldn't buy one anywhere near as low as our slat bed.
- A slat bed can accommodate storing of *stuff* under the bed. Our box spring base does have drawers, but can't hide away larger things like unused posters/art/prints etc.
- A box spring bed base will still need a headboard. Our old slat bed had its one built in.

neb

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#1636211 19-Sep-2016 22:28

Lizard1977:
Secondly, are there any brands people highly recommend or warn against? I'm aware it's a very subjective issue, and I'll test several models in store, but I'm curious to know whether the notable brands (e.g. Sealy, Sleepyhead) at major chains (Harvey Norman, Farmers) are worth it. Is "Posturepedic" all that it's cracked up to be?

No. If NZ follows the US model for mattress marketing, and it looks like it does fairly closely, then mattresses are an outright scam, with a small number of manufacturers making more or less the same thing, but with infinite different names and woo-woo add-ons to ensure you can't comparison-shop. So you might find exactly the same mattress sold under a dozen different names in one area, to make sure you can't easily compare it with the same thing from a different seller. For example the Sealeys queen size pillow top mattress, just one single specific mattress type, is sold under more than thirty different names in the US. Do a Google for mattress + scam to find info on this racket. Actually one of the first hits it mattressscam.com, which is as good a starting point as any.

To find the best mattress for the best price, go to somewhere that has a pile of Asian importers of bedding and go lie on each mattress until you find the one that you like best. You won't get all the woo-woo that you get from Noel Leeming and Harvey Norman and the like, just a mattress that suits you. I did this when I needed a new mattress a few years ago, when I got to the one I now have I didn't bother going any further because I knew it was the perfect mattress. Two sets of house guests have also said, unprompted, that it was the most comfortable mattress they'd ever slept on. Cost $600 for a King.

zjacka

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#1636834 20-Sep-2016 20:37

When your considering between a frame or base the main consideration what look you are going for.
Buy a frame if you prefer the look or if you have access issue's, it gets put together in the room. If you go for a frame it's best to get a solid slat frame rather than a flexible slat. Particularly avoid the import frames that come with a metal frame holding the flexible slats, the slats and shoes(slat holders) are weak and break.
If you go for a standard base most manufacturers now use solid slats in the base not springs. You can also get a choice of fabric colours for the base in most cases, no need for an annoying valance.
When getting a new mattress be aware that using the mattress on the wrong type of base (solid, spring or flexi) can void your warranty and will definitely change how it feels. The build quality from most of the main manufacturers on the mid ranges and up is pretty similar. Generally as you go up the ranges you gain features but eventually you do end up paying high dollars for very specialised features such as temperature regulation. You'll find while there does seem to be some duplication amongst same brand beds at different retailers they won't be the same bed. Even by using the same layers but changing the order you can change the feel quite a lot. Imported mattresses can be good value but there is also some good looking stuff that is rubbish on the inside. If you go for an imported mattress try to get one that comes via a larger NZ based importer rather than a smaller importer/retailer. The larger one will have more control over the quality and probably be around longer to look after you warranty.
Easiest way to pick a mattress is decide out what features you want, chiropractic support (zoned spring system), cutting out partner disturbance (independent springs like pocket springs) or pressure relief (the type and amount of padding on top). Combine those choices with the firmness that suits you and the way you sleep (front and back sleepers will generally go firmer than side sleepers) and you should only have to look at 4 or 5 mattresses in shop.

3puttssuck

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#1636870 20-Sep-2016 21:22

neb:
Lizard1977:

Secondly, are there any brands people highly recommend or warn against? I'm aware it's a very subjective issue, and I'll test several models in store, but I'm curious to know whether the notable brands (e.g. Sealy, Sleepyhead) at major chains (Harvey Norman, Farmers) are worth it. Is "Posturepedic" all that it's cracked up to be?

No. If NZ follows the US model for mattress marketing, and it looks like it does fairly closely, then mattresses are an outright scam, with a small number of manufacturers making more or less the same thing, but with infinite different names and woo-woo add-ons to ensure you can't comparison-shop. So you might find exactly the same mattress sold under a dozen different names in one area, to make sure you can't easily compare it with the same thing from a different seller. For example the Sealeys queen size pillow top mattress, just one single specific mattress type, is sold under more than thirty different names in the US. Do a Google for mattress + scam to find info on this racket. Actually one of the first hits it mattressscam.com, which is as good a starting point as any. To find the best mattress for the best price, go to somewhere that has a pile of Asian importers of bedding and go lie on each mattress until you find the one that you like best. You won't get all the woo-woo that you get from Noel Leeming and Harvey Norman and the like, just a mattress that suits you. I did this when I needed a new mattress a few years ago, when I got to the one I now have I didn't bother going any further because I knew it was the perfect mattress. Two sets of house guests have also said, unprompted, that it was the most comfortable mattress they'd ever slept on. Cost $600 for a King.

mattressscam.com is nowhere representative of how mattress' are made or marketed in NZ. Typical U.S b******t. The example that is used with the Sealy Queen size Pillow Top is only relevant in the U.S because Sealy is a Franchise and their technology & build methods vary from country to country. Avoid buying cheap Asian imports as they are junk. If you have every seen inside of them you would understand. Sure they represent good value for money if you pay low and are prepared to replace every 3 to 5 years. Buy a NZ made mattress with a 10 year warranty and have peace of mind. I've never seen a bed in a Noel Leeming store. Harvey Norman are the number 1 bedding retailer in NZ, I doubt they got there on woo-woo alone. Worth a think about ! No, I do not work for Harvey Norman but I do work in the industry, so I speak with knowledge.

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neb

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#1636885 20-Sep-2016 21:41

3puttssuck:
Avoid buying cheap Asian imports as they are junk. If you have every seen inside of them you would understand. Sure they represent good value for money if you pay low and are prepared to replace every 3 to 5 years.

My cheap Chinese junk mattress as you put it has been rated top-notch by three different people who slept on it. It's also already past your 3-5 year limit without showing the slightest sign of a problem.

mattressscam.com is nowhere representative of how mattress' are made or marketed in NZ. Typical U.S b******t.

OK, let's use a New Zealand source:

Manufacturers make minor modifications to their mattresses — for example, changing the exterior cover and model name — for each retailer. This means that the same mattress will be sold by different retailers under different names and most likely at different prices.

Straight from a NZ source, saying the same thing as the US source.

Buy a NZ made mattress with a 10 year warranty and have peace of mind.

"Buy a $4,000 NZ made mattress, better than a $600 imported one, because I say so!".

Harvey Norman are the number 1 bedding retailer in NZ, I doubt they got there on woo-woo alone. Worth think about !

Monster Cable are a top seller of audio cables, I doubt they got there on woo-woo alone. Worth think about! [sic]

No I do not work for Harvey Norman but I do work in the industry, so I speck with knowledge.

Ah, that explains your comments. As I said in my original post (and this is directed to the original poster), ignore the mattress woo-woo and just try out a series of them to see which one you find most comfortable. I found a $600 imported mattress that was better than anything I could find at Harvey Norman at any price (as for the other vendor I mentioned, I was thinking of Bedpost, not Noel Leeming, they're in the same retail park I went to).

Also, back to 3puttssuck, if you're going to shill for your employer you really need to do it a bit better than that. Or get their marketing guys to handle it for you.

3puttssuck

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#1636893 20-Sep-2016 21:48

neb:
3puttssuck:

Avoid buying cheap Asian imports as they are junk. If you have every seen inside of them you would understand. Sure they represent good value for money if you pay low and are prepared to replace every 3 to 5 years.

My cheap Chinese junk mattress as you put it has been rated top-notch by three different people who slept on it. It's also already past your 3-5 year limit without showing the slightest sign of a problem.

mattressscam.com is nowhere representative of how mattress' are made or marketed in NZ. Typical U.S b******t.

OK, let's use a New Zealand source: Manufacturers make minor modifications to their mattresses — for example, changing the exterior cover and model name — for each retailer. This means that the same mattress will be sold by different retailers under different names and most likely at different prices. Straight from a NZ source, saying the same thing as the US source.

Buy a NZ made mattress with a 10 year warranty and have peace of mind.

"Buy a $4,000 NZ made mattress, better than a $600 imported one, because I say so!".

Harvey Norman are the number 1 bedding retailer in NZ, I doubt they got there on woo-woo alone. Worth think about !

Monster Cable are a top seller of audio cables, I doubt they got there on woo-woo alone. Worth think about! [sic]

No I do not work for Harvey Norman but I do work in the industry, so I speck with knowledge.

Ah, that explains your comments. As I said in my original post (and this is directed to the original poster), ignore the mattress woo-woo and just try out a series of them to see which one you find most comfortable. I found a $600 imported mattress that was better than anything I could find at Harvey Norman at any price (as for the other vendor I mentioned, I was thinking of Bedpost, not Noel Leeming, they're in the same retail park I went to). Also, back to 3puttssuck, if you're going to shill for your employer you really need to do it a bit better than that. Or get their marketing guys to handle it for you.

Ok, I'll go back under my rock now. LOL.

That New Zealand Source you quoted, it was on Stuff but a direct quote from the Washington Post, is it not ? Look at the bottom of the article.

I'll get our marketing team to get in touch.

neb

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#1636899 20-Sep-2016 21:57

Aww, that spoils all the fun :-).

All I was saying really was to shop around and buy based on what you feel is the most comfortable, and that you don't have to pay top dollar to get a nice mattress.

3puttssuck

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#1636902 20-Sep-2016 22:03

neb: Aww, that spoils all the fun :-). All I was saying really was to shop around and buy based on what you feel is the most comfortable, and that you don't have to pay top dollar to get a nice mattress.

Yes, I agree with everything you just said. You don't have to pay top dollar. I never mentioned price at all. My comment around Asian imports is based on how many problems they have based on numbers sold. You may have lucked out and got a good one. Well done.