Sealy Posturepedic Mattress -- Is the Best Selling Bed also the Best Mattress On the Market?

The Sealy Posturepedic mattress combines quality of materials with comfort and durable construction. The Sealy brand has been tested over time, and it holds up well compared to similar models by other big-name brands.

The Sealy Posturepedic mattress encompasses an entire line of beds, offering different types of construction, varying levels of firmness, and multiple types of padding and other features. It is great for consumers to have these multiple choices so they can find the one that's just right for their bodies and their budgets. But it makes shopping much more complicated.

Added to the number of choices is the fact that the exact model you are looking for goes by a dozen different names depending on which retail outlet you're shopping at. No wonder most people dread mattress shopping more than any other large-ticket household item. No one makes it easy to buy a mattress.

First, let's get one thing straight -- the Sealy Posturepedic mattress line includes both innerspring, latex foam (called Spring Free) and memory foam (called True Form) mattresses. In this article we'll explore the innerspring collection.

The Sealy Posturepedic Mattress Hierarchy

Sealy is upfront about its "Good, Better, Best" system, so there are no surprises -- you know that each category will have more features than the one below it, and a higher price to go with it.

And with mattresses, the thickness of the mattress also goes up with the price and added features, so you can often tell if you're looking at the more luxurious line. If you feel you might need a stepping stool to hop into bed, you can bet you're going to be paying big bucks for that mattress.

So as price goes up, there are more goodies inside the bed. But they might not be at all necessary to your actual comfort. For example, if you do not like memory foam, you will be able to save money on that expensive padding feature. If you prefer a firm mattress, and are neither very overweight nor very slender or petite, you will also be able to save some money.

But what if thick, plush padding on top of a high-coil-count mattress (with "pressure-relief zones" built into it) gives you a night of blissful, solid slumber instead of uncomfortable tossing and turning? Then that top-of-the-line "best" mattress is worth every penny as long as the comfort holds up over time. Remember comfort AND durability together makes an outstanding bed.

Sealy Posturepedic Mattress -- Preferred Series

This model is Sealy's "Good" category, the least expensive of the Posturepedic line. As a best-seller, it will undoubtedly have different names according to the retailer you visit. This category sells for $600-$900 for a queen, with price variations of $100 or more due to special discounts, inflated prices or just the whim of the retailer.

Because of the naming fiasco in the mattress industry, it is important to shop by features, price and appearance, in order to know what you're looking at. So here are the comparison points of the Posturepedic Preferred Series:

Features:

• Coil Count: 732
• Coil Type: PostureTech
• Coil Gauge: 14
• Tempered Coil: Yes
• Firmness Options: Firm, Cushion Firm, Plush, Ultra Plush
• Top Padding Options: Euro Pillowtop, Regular
• Pressure Relief Inlay: 3-Zone, with extra foam in the center/hips area
• Mattress Thickness: 8-10 inches
• Boxspring Options: 9 or 5 inches
• Flipping: No flip/rotate
• Warranty: 10 Years

For Sealy Posturepedic mattress reviews and discussion of pros and cons, click here:

For a discussion on coil type, count, and gauge, click here:

Sealy Posturepedic Mattress -- Reserve Series

The Reserve Series is the next step "up" in this line. The improvements over the Preferred line include a higher coil count, extra layers in the pressure relief inlay, and extra, thicker layers in the padding, which gives a more luxurious feel.

Features of the Reserve series

• Coil Count: 782
• Coil Type: PostureTech
• Coil Gauge: 14
• Tempered Coil: Yes
• Firmness Options: Firm, Cushion Firm, Plush, Ultra Plush
• Top Padding Options: Euro Pillowtop, Regular
• Pressure Relief Inlay: 3-zone, with memory (viscoelastic) foam in the center/hips area
• Mattress Thickness: 10-13 inches
• Boxspring Options: 9 or 5 inches
• Flipping: No flip
• Warranty: 10 Years

Sealy Posturepedic Mattress -- Signature Series

The Signature Series is the top or "best" category of the Posturepedic collection. It has the same coil count as the Preferred series, but extra layers in both the pressure relief zone and the top padding. Both memory foam and latex foam are included in this mattress.

Features of the Signature series:

• Coil Count: 782
• Coil Type: PostureTech
• Coil Gauge: 14
• Tempered Coil: Yes
• Firmness Options: Firm, Cushion Firm, Plush, Ultra Plush
• Top Padding Options: Euro Pillowtop, Boxtop, Regular
• Pressure Relief Inlay: 7-zone, with memory (viscoelastic) foam in the head and knees area, and latex in the center/hips area
• Mattress Thickness: 13-18 inches
• Boxspring Options: 9 or 5 inches
• Flipping: No flip
• Warranty: 10 years

Bottom Line:

The Sealy Posturepedic mattress collection of innerspring beds offers quality at reasonable prices and plenty of options. Sealy uses tempered steel coils and a generous coil count, which offers long-lasting durability. Durability gives you the best long-term value, so if you can keep your mattress 10 years rather than five years, you have just doubled your return on investment!

The so-called comfort features in the Sealy Posturepedic -- the pressure relief zones and top padding -- might not be as luxurious as other mattress brands, and Sealy does not go out of their way to offer natural choices in fabrics or padding or latex foam.

Also, if you are looking for pocketed coils, Sealy does not seem to offer that option in their Posturepedic line in the U.S. at this time (although you will have better luck in Australia and other countries).

However, that could change at any time, as the mattress industry is constantly striving for better sales and bigger market shares.