We bought our Eastern King sleep number five years ago after I had some excrutiating hip and knee pain following a difficult pregnancy. We bought it based on my mom's very happy experience with her nearly 15-year old mattress.

We could not be happier. It is the best, most comfortable bed I have ever slept on. I travel a lot for work and have had the opportunity to test out the Westin Heavenly Bed, those foam mattresses, and any number of feather beds.

I don't know how it compares to cheaper air mattresses, but my guess is the warranty. After 15 years, my mom had her mattress essentially re-built: new air bladders, new foam supports, new foam pillow top, new COVER. Because of the warranty, it cost her $250 for what was for all intents and purposes a brand new mattress (she even got a new remote). She's been using the rebuilt mattress for the past year without any problems (and the warranty will allow her to do that again -- that mattress is probably going to last for the rest of her life). To me, that makes the price worth it.

We've had a king size Select Comfort Sleep Number bed for about 8 years. We are similar in size to you and your DH at 110lbs for me and 195lbs for DH. DH has arthritis in his hip. We've had quite a few mattresses in our 22 years of marriage, and this is by far the most comfortable for both of us. DH prefers his side to be similar to cement, and I like something just a little softer so my bony shoulders, elbows, and knees don't hurt in the morning. I can't make promises about the "hot" factor. DH does get hot sometimes. There have been some mold problems reported (check the internet), and when we discovered some mold after 5 years, they sent us a brand new bed for free right away -- no questions asked. I think they have made some changes/improvements to prevent mold. I would definitely recommend it!

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Thanks, sarschlos and happy! Those are outstanding endorsements.

I'd read about the possible mold troubles. Will ask the dealer before we buy -- about mold and warranties.

I'm a little disappointed that the pillow tops are foam because of the heat and breakdown factors. Maybe they have alternative tops! (I'd even bought a featherbed top for our bed but that was ever *hotter*.)

A former MD loved her airbed. Said she was reluctant to take vacations because she'd have to leave it.

OK, I guess we can head out and try one of these now. Thanks again!

Oh, what should we expect to pay for a complete King or pair of X-Long Twins? Any idea?

Chisue -

Sorry, I don't remember what we paid. We have a basic model -- no pillow top. At one point I did buy a memory foam topper at Costco, but found that it developed saggy body indentations and also added to the "hot" factor. We are happier with no topper at all.

We have had a Sleep Number bed for about five years, and I think they have other toppers than foam. It was actually "hotter" than a regular bed the first few months, but then maybe I adjusted to it. My raves about it: the whole bed doesn't "shake and quake" when my heavier husband gets up or turns over (less awakening on my part), and the softness lets a side-and/or-stomach sleeper like me get comfortable in any position. I didn't know about mold issues...what causes it and where is it found?

chisue, we don't currently have this bed but our next one will be. We have several friends who swear by them.

By the way, QVC, Inc (a home shopping channel) sells them a little less expensive than the stores. Try www.qvc.com

Good luck!

There was a long thread on sleep number beds not too long ago.
Most owners felt it depended on what your physical problem was as to whether you ended up liking them.

I owned one.......and it's now out in my shop waiting for DS to pick it up. I loved it but after 1 1/2 years my back and hip got worse. I discovered I needed a slightly firmer bed that would give my back more support.
DH never could find a setting that he was happy with.

I found "Habitat Furnishings" online. They sell latex beds and air beds. They have a BBB rating -- usually impresses me. Their King bed is about $2500/20 year warranty/180 day return policy. We might try this one.

I'm still concerned about the 'hot' factor though!

A lady on the "Home Finances" forum suggested sheepskin. ???

Chisue -

Have you been to a Select Comfort store? Even if you decide to go with a different manufacturer or order off the internet, you might want to test out a bed first in person, or as Select Comfort calls it, a Test Rest.

happy -- Yes, I plan to test one before we go further with this.

The best bed we ever had was our first one. It was a Verlo (independent manufacturer in Midwest). I only got rid of it because I'd begun to have asthmatic problems and figured it was full of dust mites after 12 years! (Could be we just remember it fondly -- we were young; no arthritis!) I see Verlo now markets an airbed...hmmm.

Oh yeah! I've been to a Verlo store in Boulder, Co while visiting the in-laws. DH bought a pillow there last year to keep at his folks house for when we visited, but when we returned for our visit this summer it had mysteriously disappeared!

On the shopping channel on TV where select # is sold , I saw them demonstating them with a silver "sheet" made for space travel that is supposed to stop heat radiating from the foam.
We have had a sleep# bed 11 years , its nice not to have to flip the mattress and not to feel the other person tossing and turning.

I enjoy regular air mattresses and the trick is to use a great sheepskin for breathability and temp relief. Mine is a real sheepskin, so I do not know if there is a difference between a skin and the manufactured type mattress cover. The "silver sheet" is interesting and for almost nothing, easy to try, simply using an emergency blanket.

A feather bed will also help keep the air circulating and you'll stay cooler. Sounds crazy, but it's true.

We have five Select Comfort mattresses. And a bunch of feather beds!

Warning, do not use a feather bed on top of an air mattress, the quill of a feather can puncture your air mattress.

Have you had this happen to you, bodica? Just curious...

I have been researching mattresses lately and am pretty much sold on the idea of latex mattresses. Latex mattresses have been known to last 30 years or more, don't sleep "hot", and support and conform to your body. Several online stores sell "kits" that let you customize each side of the mattress.

The link below has lots of good information about all sorts of mattresses, including latex.

Here is a link that might be useful: What's the best mattress

We've had our sleep number bed for two years now and we couldn't be happier. My DH would be happy sleeping on the hardwood floor and I like a slightly softer setting, so this was the only bed we could come up with that would make both of us happy. It's not uncommon for one or both of us to sigh and say something like "I love this bed" when we crawl in at night. Its the most comfortable thing either one of us have ever slept on.

As for the heat retention, my dh sleeps incredibly hot and he doesn't seem to have any problems with it. We do have to change out the 700 fill down comforter for something a little lighter in the summer, but the bed itself doesn't seem to make either one of us too hot.

Bri

Yes, amysrq, I lost several air mattresses before I realized that is what was causing the punctures. No problem since I switched to my thick natural sheepskin. Note, I no longer have select comfort, I am speaking of regular air mattresses.

"Warning, do not use a feather bed on top of an air mattress, the quill of a feather can puncture your air mattress"

I can truly, honestly say that there is absolutely NO WAY that a feather bed topper, duvet or pillow will puncture the bladders of a sleep number mattress through the quilted mattress cover. If that were true, I would have been in BIG trouble when I kept deflating my mattress more and more and more as I got to my largest pregnant whale size!

I'm with you sarschlos. Just can't imagine it.

We have had our sleep number for close to 10 years and still are happy with it. I read about the "mold" and immediately stripped our bed and unzipped the chamber and looked. NO MOLD !!!!! Maybe this occurs in very humid areas...no wait...I live in the Ohio valley area and we are humid !!!!