It feels really dumb, but my advice is put on something comfortable and go try them.... ignore the fact that you have a stranger standing upright next to you and check out all your favorite sleeping positions, see how it feels to shoulders, hips, lower back. My favorite was the Duxiana and it was in no way going to fit into the budget any time soon or ever. I bought a Chiropractic International by Springwall and we've been happy with it - and it's on a bunky, not box springs. Matrress + bunky board makes the mattress top just slightly under waist high on my pine four poster, if on springs I couldn't have gotten into bed. I was assured by the store it did not void my warranty. Someone asked about the sleep number - that wasn't one I investigated but my sis stayed at a hotel in Boston recently that touted 'sleep number' in their advertising. She said - glorified air mattress :) So go try them. If you sleep with someone and not alone, try to time it so they can go too and lay down together so both weights are present. Roll around, try not to feel silly - it's a big purchase :) Here is a link that might be useful:

Sure its good to get recommendations, but if you solely go on what other people have said about their pacific experiences with their mattresses you could be very disappointed with their recommendations. Their are some very basic principals about mattress construction that when a manufacturer follows these principals, their mattresses will feel and sleep the same for many years. Once you understand what makes a high quality mattress, then you can choose the comfort to match your requirements. Its really that easy! Follow the link on my posts and/ or Consumer Reports has some good articles, IBC, Serta, Simmons, Sealy, Select Comfort and Tempur-Pedic are your major mattress producers and together have about 68% of the market. Here is a link that might be useful: mattresses 101

Hi-it is http://www.memoryfoam.com/ My paperwork has Mark's 1/2 Price Bedding on the top. We bought ours in 2004. We have the #24084 King Del Ray Mattress Kit with a #200753 King Talalay Latex 3" Core 35 ILD. So basically I think it arrived and I wanted it to be firmer or softer? do not remember and they talked with me and advised the 3" and it was perfect. They were great to work with-they did not get my order out promptly-a glitch as they were moving or remodeling or soemthing. But when I called they had it out that very day. I did a ton of research -including figuring out where it was manufactured etc. There a lot of temperapedic knockoffs but what you can learn when you get into it is that there are only a few factories that make the product like T. and you can go from there and save $$. See if this site has their question and answer section-it was very helpful. They also will chat with you on the phone.

I was just thinking of a memory foam topper - 1" thick. You can roll it up when not in use, but it will take up space so if your storage space is limited, that might not work. You could possibly roll it up, put it in a large plastic bag and store it under a bed. A topper would make the Aerobed so much comfortable. I sleep on an Aerobed when I go to my son's place as they don't have a dedicated guest room. I don't usually have back problems, but I do get a stiff lower back after sleeping on that for a couple of nights. We have two guest rooms, but when the whole gang comes, we need more sleeping space for adults-some on the elderly side. We finally broke down and got two very nice folding beds which could really be permanent beds. Not cheap, but they don't take up a lot of floor space and are very comfortable. If you have a large closet or basement storage, it might be worth consideration. Here's the link: Folding Bed