Being a larger person myself, I have found that I really prefer an all-foam bed because they are better able to conform to your body, they relieve pressure, and they're more durable. A lot of us that are larger also have back issues. A medium-soft Tempur-Pedic cloud series would be an ideal choice. Tempur-Pedic is the only brand that has been thoroughly tested and shown to improve back issues in large enough studies.

That being said everyone has different comfort preferences, so I would make sure to take your time testing and comparing mattresses. I would avoid a really firm feeling bed. Also, I would avoid the thickest ultra plush pillow tops from spring mattress brands because they will probably develop excessive wear. So I recommend an all-foam option like Tempur-pedic with a comfort ranging between medium firm to very soft. (Avoiding extra firm, firm, and ultra soft)

Also, having a larger frame, it is important to get a nicer mattress in order to get the same level of comfort, support, and durability. If you have a budget of $500 or less in mind it's going to be better to wait, then spend more on a mattress after saving up. Also, most mattress store's have 0% interest financing.

(Note - this is a guest post by Back To Bed's Director of Customer Service.)

Harvey Berry
Director of Customer Service
Back To Bed
630-931-4602

Thanks Harv! - Kevin Williams

I would have to respectfully disagree and recommend an innerspring mattress. Focus on the strength of the steel in the coil. This can be measured by gauge. The lower the gauge, the thicker the steel and stronger the mattress will be. For our heavier customers, we recommend going with a 12 1/2 gauge coil system. This steel is very thick and does not compress much when weight is applied. It is also very durable.

Now this steel is very firm so we will need to add a comfort layer to conform to your body. I would recommend going with a high density foam for the top layer of your mattress. We use a 2.8 density polyfoam in our heavyweight model which is proven very successful. Unfortunately, this is a rare foam because of its high cost. 1.8 density foam is good too and easier to find. Also you have the option of memory or Latex foam. From experience, my company has had the most success with Talalay Natural Latex and Gel-infused 3.5 lb. memory foam. Test them out and go with your gut.

Good luck and be critical of the salesman when you shop around.

NN

For a coil bed, gauge of steel is important.

In the traditional market, 12 3/4 gauge is as heavy-duty as it gets. Luckily, in the specialty sleep market, Keetsa has beds with a 9 gauge steel coil. This is an individually pocketed coil with dense memory foam above it. We gave this bed to a family member who is a big guy.

To help with longevity, since it's all about weight, a medium firm or firm mattress will last longer...softer beds with polyfill or other fibers are bound to compact more quickly.

I agree with what Mr. Berry said 100%! Well said. The only thing I would add is to look at the warranty for how much "body impression " (dip) is allowed. Tempur Pedic uses 3/4 inch. The Extended Life series by comfort Solutions is 1 inch some go as bad as 2 inches.