Backstabbed to Sleep

My mattress of 8 years turned into my enemy when its springs poked through the cushion and stabbed me in my back each night. Morning after morning I’d wake up feeling like I got into an eight-hour knife fight with the Latin Kings, which would result in my back resembling Kunta Kinte’s in the movie “Roots.” I figured that a new mattress was far cheaper than the impending medical bills, so I borrowed an SUV and took a trip to Ikea.

When I entered Ikea’s mattress section, I quickly realized that I stepped into an unfamiliar territory. I’d never purchased a mattress before in my life and I wasn’t sure how to approach the purchasing process. Should I act like I was buying a used car and test drive every single one? Should I test its resilience and jump on it like a trampoline??

I couldn’t wrap my head around the different mattress options that were available to me. I had the option of firm, extra firm, soft, foam, memory foam, pillow-top, latex, coil, active response coil, spring, mattress pad, etc, etc, etc. I thought that there were only three types of mattresses: good, bad and alright. I stood in front of each mattress reading every single specification and trying to remember key details, as if my entrance into heaven depended on me remembering that the Sultan Hogla mattress was an active-response coil mattress that was filled with 100% polyurethane foam with 40% lyocell ticking.

One hour passed and I wasn’t any closer to reaching a decision. At this point, I was laying on a mattress, attempting to take a three minute nap so I could rate my sleeping experience. Somehow I couldn’t fall asleep with all of the people walking by and staring at me. Eventually I decided to choose a mattress at random, nullifying the mental pros and cons list for each mattress that I spent an hour developing.

When I got home, I threw the backstabbing mattress out of the house and I set up my new loving mattress in its place. When it came time for me to go to sleep, I realized that the mattress was utterly perfect. It didn’t make any noise when I moved, it didn’t tickle my spine with its sharp springs, and best of all it felt like I was sleeping on an ultra-comfortable cumulonimbus cloud! With the entrance of this new gem in my life, I can finally appreciate the importance of a nonviolent mattress and I like it!

  1. May 4, 2011 - Reply

    There is NOTHING comfortable about a cumulonimbus cloud!!! (Translation: thunderstorm) lol

  2. May 10, 2011 - Reply

    wait so which mattress did you decide on? i’m having the same problem picking one from ikea!

  3. May 10, 2011 - Reply

    Rachel, I got the SULTAN HANESTAD mattress. At first you’ll feel like you made the wrong decision because initially it feels like you’re sleeping on a sidewalk. Eventually the ACTIVE RESPONSE kicks in and things start to feel significantly better. I love my new mattress!

    When you make a decision, let me know which one you went with and if you like it.

  4. December 22, 2012 - Reply

    Apologies for the random comment, but how has the Hanestad held up? I liked it when I tried it out in the store, but I’ve heard some bad things about Ikea mattresses, plus it’s really inexpensive, so I’m worried it’ll sag or coils will pop out within a year or two.

  5. January 9, 2013 - Reply

    Mariam — as of right now, the mattress is still holding up pretty strong and it is still pretty comfortable. I’m actually impressed at how well it has held up so far!

  6. February 8, 2013 - Reply

    Thank you!

  7. April 14, 2013 - Reply

    I also bought the Hanestad 2 yrs ago. I like it alot. It’s a bit firm, but I like that.

    (Sometime’s I sleep on my girlfriend’s bed, which is very soft, and I usually wake up with a back ache.) Firmer beds aren’t as “cozy” but they provide good back support. I think humans were built to sleep on firm surfaces (not like rock hard, but firm with a little give). Through the history of our evolution, did we sleep usually on firm surfaces or super soft ones? My guess is firm. It’s American’s appetite for overindulgence that’s caused this ridiculous false need for the most uber soft, pillowy beds imaginable.

  8. June 14, 2013 - Reply

    It’s been awhile since someone posted a comment.

    I am highly considering on getting this mattress, my friend and her boyfriend have this bed and I fell in love with it and had the best sleep of my life. Now I want one. Is it still comfy? Should I really jump in my car and go get it once I wake up!!

    • July 11, 2013 - Reply

      @Cassandra Von

      Cassandra – You’ve probably already made the decision to either purchase the mattress or leave it alone, but here’s my follow-up review to it:

      Now that it’s two years later, I don’t see myself having this mattress for very much longer. I don’t know if it’s because I no longer prefer firm mattresses, or because I’m an insatiable sleeper who perpetually needs new mattresses in his life to remain happy. It has held up reasonably well, but I no longer experience the extreme comfort that I wrote about in this entry. A mattress pad might solve this issue. I will research and report back with my findings!

  9. February 15, 2014 - Reply

    Well how has it held up? Did you get a topper or a new mattress? :)

    • June 23, 2014 - Reply

      @runt

      It has actually held up pretty well, however, I am probably going to get another mattress in the next year or so. I am no longer a fan of very firm mattresses and this one is very much on the firm side.

  10. April 1, 2014 - Reply

    Just about to pull the trigger on this on a twin for my 3 year old, we co-sleep so might as well invest in something that’ll be around for her in the coming years (skip the kiddy bed). Your post gave me a bit of confidence choosing this one rather than the cheap-o mattress. Guess I’ll just flop on it and pretend I weigh 15% of my body weight

    • June 23, 2014 - Reply

      @Adam

      Did you end up purchasing the mattress? What are your thoughts?

      • January 17, 2019 - Reply

        @Geremy F.

        Yes I did! Five years later one of the springs broke (pokes up above top of mattress plane) but luckily it was on the side my daughter favours, so I just rotated it. In retrospect I probably should have been rotating it regularly – but since we picked up a bunk bed, with her bed being on top, that task was relegated to permanent back of the burner. Everything considered, I would buy it again.

  11. April 5, 2014 - Reply

    I just returned Ikea finiki foam mattress becuase it had a strong gassy smell that lastet for over 3 weeks….. Couldnt see my 3 year old sleeping there to strong smell. I am thinking to go with the hanestad any comments about experiencing a toxic smell???? Please help

    • June 23, 2014 - Reply

      @marisol

      Definitely no toxic or out-of-the-ordinary smells with the Sultan Hogla. It’s most likely due to the fact that it’s not a foam mattress, so it has room to breathe.

  12. July 31, 2014 - Reply

    The hanestad is the best one at ikea and very affordable. If you need a firm one, dont waste your time with anything else.

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