You Can Still Find a Good Two-Sided Mattress
Do they still make two sided mattresses? The answer is yes; it was commonly thought that a two-sided mattress was a thing of the past. Thanks to manufacturers like Campbell Mattress Company and Englander you can once again discover the benefits attained from the hard to find two sided bed. Now that double sided mattresses are back on the market, the people who loved them once again have an alternative to the mass produced one-sided mattress.
Simmons Mattress Co. first introduced the one sided No-Flip Design in 2000. Simmons claimed that their new mattress was not only an improvement, but was also a more maintenance free mattress compared to its 2-sided predecessors. Not to be out done Spring Air introduced The NeverTurn™ Mattress. Many other mattress manufacturers followed their lead with single sided beds and virtually maintenance free ad campaigns such as Sealy and Serta.
Nearly all remaining mattress companies followed suit when more government regulation of the industry was introduced. On July 1st, 2007 (CPSC) a safety law was passed requiring all mattress sets built & imported into the United States to comply within a strict performance standard involving fires. Before this time mattresses had a top and bottom side that made either surface useable for sleeping on. Most 2 sided mattress manufactures warranty guidelines required that the mattress not only be turned but also flipped completely over about 4 times a year. (Every three months) This turning and flipping of a mattress promoted more even wear in the sleeping surface of the bed.
Most double-sided mattresses were thin by today’s standards, and were heavy and limp. Each side of the coil spring unit was upholstered with natural materials such as cotton, coconut husks, and even horsehair as insulation padding. In the beginning buttons on both sides of the mattress were connected by a chain. This stabilization method was the primary way of keeping the upholstery from shifting and buckling. Later quilting machines and polyurethane foam eliminated the need for buttons and expensive natural fibers.
In the 1990’s up through 2007 the old mattresses with 2 sides were still a struggle for one person to flip and most people ignored or forgot to follow the warranty directions unknowingly voiding their warranties. Unfortunately this neglect causes the layers upon layers of foam and padding to compress. Today’s mattresses require just as much or if not more maintenance than ever before. It is the industries hope that sales people will recommend monthly flipping and rotation of the mattress when it is applicable, helping to extending mattress life.
An uncomfortable fact was thought to be that a one-sided mattress with its single sleeping surface would only last half as long and a double sided mattress. In the past many of these mattresses lived up to the concerns. Today mattress manufacturers seem to be replacing cheaper foams and polyester fiber with more durable materials such as latex and visco-elastic memory foam, which do not tend to flatten or break down as quick.
The jury is still out, but the thought is that the reintroduction of the 2 sided mattress and their two identically-finished sides, will offer a person twice as much life. The notion of having 2 sleeping surfaces also suggests that the Comfort Life® of a double side bed should be significantly increased as compared to mattresses that cannot be turned over. Two sleeping surfaces additionally provides users with a proverbial spare tire if you will, so if you were to spill something, the puppy makes a puddle, or bodily fluids were to create an irremovable stain, the other side could act as a back up sleeping surface.
Conspiracy thinkers contend that buyers only get half the mattress for the price while profits are on the increase. They will be happy to know that once again their love affair with the mattress that can be flipped over shall be rekindled. So now that all of us can once again find the good ole double sided mattress, all that is left to do is contact our local dealers and take one for a test rest. With that being said, this bedtime story ends just like every good story should on “an upside” now that two sided mattresses are back and we all once again have “a flip side” to our beds.
Is it true that two sided mattresses last longer than one sided?
What is the life expectancy of a two sided mattress?
Where can I buy a two sided mattres?
Comment by J.Occonner — February 25, 2008 @ 11:32 am
A two side mattress can be purchased at my store The Water Works Sleep Center http://www.stlbeds.com
Our Bedroom furniture and Mattress store uses Campbell Mattress Company out of Cape Girardeau, Fraenkel who manufactures Englander, and USA mattress brands. Each of these manufactures has available a large selection of 2 sided beds.
How long does a two-sided mattress last? If it is a cheepy maybe one year. A good average life for a double sided mattress is still around 8 to 10 years. Some hand made mattresses 15 years plus but tend to be out of the average mattress budget.
The question of one sided mattress vs. two sided mattress is currently being debated in the market place. It seams however price and convenience are winning out allowing the single sided bed to dominate sales. I think from a value standpoint most double sided mattresses offer more value dollar for dollar and apple to apple, but the customers vote with their dollars.
It is my opinion that two sided mattresses often have some tremendous advantages over one sided as mentioned in the above blog. The best advice I can offer those people who like the 2 sided beds better, is to first go out and find and choose the two sided mattress that feels the best them, offers the best guarantee and then simply buy it. This will ultimately assure that you and I can continue to find a decent selection of them in your local mattress stores. If we do not that will disappear in your mainstream mattress shops.
Comment by Doug — February 25, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
We bought a Sealy Posterpedic 1 year ago. Today we are looking for a new mattress. It is completely unsleepable. And yes it is a one-sided mattress. We did not realize that when we bought it. We’ve been looking in all the shops and cannot find a double sided mattress. Even some of the salesmen don’t realize all their mattresses are one sided. I would never buy a one sided mattress again. Hopefully I can still find a double sided mattress that won’t break the bank.
Comment by Robert — March 3, 2008 @ 7:41 am
That is a shame. When sales associates are introduced to a new line of innerspring mattresses, it is the job of the sales rep. to properly teach us all there is to know about the newest and latest model. This in turn helps us teach you.
In July most mattresses went away from the 2-sided design in order to help manage reasonable price points for their customers. Making a 2-sided mattress fire retardant on both sides is more expensive.
Personally I am still a fan of the double side on a mattress but there are some real advantages to having only one side. Soon I will blog that very topic please come back and visit.
Whether you live in the St. Louis area or not be sure to contact me and I will try to get you in touch with a manufacturer that can meet your two sided bedding needs.
Comment by Doug — March 3, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
At Verlo Mattress Factory we still offer nearly all of our beds 2 sided. We also offer a non-prorated guarantee. We see alot of people who bought a 1 sided mattress a year or two ago that are having problems. 2 sided does last longer and if you check and really look at what you are buying you will 2 sided are just about the same price if not cheeper sometimes than a 1 sided, if you are looking apples to apples.
Comment by Dan — March 14, 2008 @ 11:00 am
Thanks waterworks for keeping the double sided mattress flag flying!!!
Comment by shanne — April 24, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
Customer comment received by email:
I bought a new mattress 3.5 yrs ago. It has a 10 yr
warranty At this time the two areas I sleep on (by turning the
mattress around) are now imprinted with circular intention. Called the store where I bought same, they sent out a crew of two to measure the indention and said their \’boss\’ would call me tomorrow saying it would either be repaired or replaced…..depending on his decision. I paid $500 for this mattress made by Sealy and feel I should get more than 3.5 yrs service. I have read the article on two sided vs. one sided and agree……two sided works the best and never had back problems till lately. Please advise. Thanks, Patsy
Comment by Patsy — May 19, 2008 @ 7:29 am
The influx of single sided mattresses are some kind of exploit to increase profit margins at the expense of the consumers common sense. Single sided mattresses do not last as long as the their double sided counterparts. (consumer reports) The prices have increased and yet the manufactures are giving the consumer half the product we received previously. On principal, I will be purchasing an Englander or Ikea double sided product. Moreover, I’m going to advise my fellow consumers to do the same. Wake up Sealy, Simmons, and you other manufactures, the consumers want the two sided designs. And you WILL be overlooked if you do not meet this requirement.
Comment by David — July 12, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
You are so right about the no-flip matresses. They aren’t worth purchasing and a waste of money. I spend over $1,000 on a mattress with a 10 yr warranty 2 years ago and haven’t slept good in over a year. Thank God the double sided mattresses are back. I will be purchasing one soon. Bec in Arkansas
Comment by Bec — July 21, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
Comment # 7 David
I think you have made some great comments. However I do believe that your conspiracy theory suggesting that mattress industry’s change to a one-sided mattress was a profit based decision is incorrect. Simply look at the evidence.
You are 100 % correct; it does not make a bit of sense for mattress manufacturers to exploit their customers’ good common sense, after all without those customers who will buy mattresses? For that very reason I do not believe the industry is exploiting customers “good common sense”.
The main reason for one-sided mattress dominance in the market place:
The (CPSC) Consumer Product Safety Commission put into place new flame retardant standards on July 1 2007 for all mattresses, not the mattress industry.
The CPSC left it up to the mattress industry how to comply with the new standards.
Each independent mattress manufacturer established through their research what would be the most effecient way to comply with the new mandate. Most determined the answer was to go one-sided. The reason: two sided mattresses have a tougher time passing the new a flame standard, which requires 3 burn tests. Lets face it; it is more expensive to build a mattress that complies with this new standard, yet customers are demanding that mattress costs be affordable. The solution to meet both objectives, build a one-sided mattress.
Make no mistake about it ultimately customers still have the final say with the dollars they spend. Customers choose whether or the not one-sided mattress or the two-sided mattress survives or fails in the market place. Nothing has changed other than the fact there are fewer two sided mattresses to choose from in stores. However if people are willing to pay the extra money for 2-sided mattresses and they are truly the better built, mattress stores will display more of them and increase their inventory of them. You will then see a strong resurgence of 2-sided mattresses on mattress showroom floors. If not you will see the status quo.
This might be a great blog idea
Thanks David
Comment # 9
Bec, thanks for your comment.
Comment # 7 Patsy my advice is this, if you feel the one sided mattress is the reason for only getting 3.5 years out of your mattress then go out and support mattress manufacturers that are building the two sided mattresses. I really believe it is more complicated than this. It is most likely a deterioration of the padding. Cheap polyurethane foams and other materials that compress quickly and can also be used in constructing 2-sided mattresses so be careful. Just buying a two sided bed is not be enough.
Comment by Doug — July 22, 2008 @ 12:47 pm
Oh I cant agree more. We will not sell anything you cannot flip or doesnt have a removable cover. Keep doing what your doing!
You may want to read my newest blog post.
“Reintroducing the Two Sided Mattresses”.
We just had a local paper do a write up on us.
Comment by Shawn — November 11, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
I bought a one sided mattress- cost me over $1000.00! CANNOT sleep on it. and the dealer would not help me. once you make an indentation in it, there is nothing you can do.
Comment by vicky — November 21, 2008 @ 6:18 am
Your comment is a little vague I hope we can fill in some of the missing details.
Did you know you were buying a one sided mattress?
What did your sales people tell you about one-sided mattresses vs. 2-sided mattresses?
Does the store offer a comfort exchange or comfort guarantee?
How long have you been sleeping on the mattress? 30-90 days is usually necessary to determine if the mattress is right for you. This cannot be done in a week or two or a day or two.
Before you spent $1000.00 did you ask him or her what their comfort exchange policy was?
Because the mattress has an indentation in it is a ridiculous reason not to take a mattress back. However if it does meet the predetermined body impression measurement of your mattress manufacturers warranty then that is a whole different story. They will not cover it until it meets or exceeds the required number of inches of body indentation or impression.
Comment by Doug — November 21, 2008 @ 8:07 am
need prices
Comment by vicky — November 22, 2008 @ 8:11 pm
I LIVE IN HOSHAM, PENNA. AND CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND A STORE IN MY AREA
Comment by LOUIS R. HAHN — December 20, 2008 @ 10:15 am
We are a small Midwest family business with one location just south of St. Louis and the ability to ship our two sided mattresses from Campbell Mattress almost anywhere in the continental USA. The prices are great and the quality is even better. Hope you will give a chance to earn your business. Please feel free to Contact Us with any questions.
Comment by Doug — December 22, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Need a price on a CA King, mattress only.
Two sided, firmest available.
Lucettawho@aol.com
Comment by Lucetta Jenison — January 4, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
Hey Doug! Did you see the latest article in Bedroom Magazine! The days on one sided mattresses are growing shorter. Keep up the good work!
Comment by Shawn Robisnon — February 10, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
Thanks for the heads up. I did see Bedroom Magazines’ Englander 2 Sided Mattress article highlight for the Las Vegas World Furniture Expo. I was fortunate enough to make the trip and view the 3 models they had shown; yep I said 3 models, which they had displayed among their Shades of Green extravaganza.
It’s 2 sided movement! Ok so were only chipping away at the one side mattress giants feet, but it’s missing a pinky toe:)
Comment by Doug — February 13, 2009 @ 7:42 pm
Please help. i had a Kijngsdown brand mattress since about 1995. Just last year it started to die.. It was the best mattress. Since then my world has been turned upside down. i dont believe in the 1 sided mattresses. i’ve spend hundreds and over a thousand on new beds i can sleep on and returns. I just cant find what i want. i want my old one to be remade. Obviously that wont happen. I live in queens new york, . Is there anywhere i cant find a 2 sided old fashioned mattress? all these new ones are one big pillow. and i’m sick of these wolflike salesmen liars. i know what i want and i cant settle for less. I did contact kingsdown and they said they dont make that model i have anymore of course and they make nothiing similar. wow i felt great after that. all their new beds are junk to me. someone please help. oh i did check a place in long island that mde 2 sides still but they were too firm . mine was in between. i know i sound picky. but i know what i want. PLease PLease someone help
Comment by Heidi — February 28, 2009 @ 2:33 pm
The Kingsdown mattress that was built in 1995 is definitely different than what is being built in 2009. I carry Campbell Mattress. We can ship into Queens New York, however I do not have a store location in your area you would be able to try our mattresses. We offer 3 two sided models. Here is a link. http://www.stlbeds.com/two-sided-mattresses/ I would suggest if you are as picky as you suggested you are that you locate a store in your area or slightly outside of your area where you can test rest the different 2 sided models and find the one as they say “is just right” for Heidi. I think for you purchasing a mattress over the Internet would be a bad idea.
Comment by Doug — February 28, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
Bought a one sided mattress about 6 months ago. I paid about $1400.00 It was nice for about 3 months (maybe)…But if you are 170 lbs or above it becomes very uncomfortable. I had to go to Campbell’s Mattress in Cape Girardeau to get a regular mattress but I had to purchase it through Patrick’s Furniture. Now my 110 lb. daughter is sleeping on my $1400.00 mattress. She loves it….but she’s only 110 lbs…and I will stick to a regular double sided mattress, thank you!
Comment by Liz — May 10, 2009 @ 2:28 am
I bought the “high-end” Chatham-Wells mattress (one-sided) 2 yrs ag. Paid alot of money because I wanted a quality mattress. It began forming an indentation 3 months after purchase. I hate it. My back hurts and there’s no recourse. Does anyone know of a Northern California based 2 -sided mattress outlet or manufacturer? It’s sad and frustrating because everyone is making the one-sided mattresses now. And Chatham-Wells once was a quality product.
Comment by Debrah E. Lyons — June 11, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
SAME HERE I BOUGHT TWIN MATRESS LAST YR, I HAVE BEEN HAVING BACK PROBLEMS EVER SINCE, WHAT THE #@#*. BRING BACK THE 2 ISDED MATRESSES, I CANT AFFOR TO *#@ A MATRESS EVERY 6 MNTHS.
Comment by LISA — June 23, 2009 @ 11:32 pm
two-sided, flippable mattresses with two sleep surfaces are making a comeback, I hope. they are a much better value. Verlo and The Original Mattress Factory make them–they are factory directs. Other smaller factory directs still make them too. And so do Englander and Gold Bond and other assorted mattress manufacturers out there. although the publicly owned Big Boys of the mattress world are sticking with their more profitable one-sided beds. i hope that changes.
Comment by sleepspert — June 27, 2009 @ 5:58 pm
“Make no mistake about it ultimately customers still have the final say with the dollars they spend. Customers choose whether or the not one-sided mattress or the two-sided mattress survives or fails in the market place. Nothing has changed other than the fact there are fewer two sided mattresses to choose from in stores. However if people are willing to pay the extra money for 2-sided mattresses and they are truly the better built, mattress stores will display more of them and increase their inventory of them. You will then see a strong resurgence of 2-sided mattresses on mattress showroom floors. If not you will see the status quo.
This might be a great blog idea
Thanks David”
This naive idea that the market is driven by consumer and not by incessant advertisement and cost cutting by large manufacturers in order to sell the products with the largest profit margin is infantile.
Comment by Dmitri — June 28, 2009 @ 10:38 am
I have just wasted 2 grand on two one-sided mattress labeled as “plush” and “pillowtop” . they are packed with coils, weigh a ton, will never sag–and you’ll never get any sleep on them. The salesman at Sleepy’s told me they don’t make flippable mattresses anymore. They won’t give you your money back and only do one exchange within 30 days, which doesn’t matter since you can only pick out another mattress that feels like a springboard and won’t give you sleep. They always feel great in the store, but at home, after about an hour you feel them begin to drain all the energy out of your body. I’m about this close to hitting up yard sales looking for an old-school, stained, 2 sider for 30 bucks. I’m at the end of my rope. The manufacturers have screwed this up royally and are laughing all the way to the bank.
Comment by Ted — July 3, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
Okay… listen. The concept of a two sided mattress may seem appealing, but only to the uneducated person. The truth lies in the same field as it does for any other argument in the universe… physics. A two sided mattress has 3 downfalls: 1. springs only transfer energy in one direction, vertically. the force does not spread out except for the couple on inches in the foam at the top and the bottom. Therefore, you’re essentially breaking down both sides of the mattress at the same time. 2. The foam in a mattress accounts for at least 60% of the cost of the mattress in a one sider, and doubling that drives the cost way up without anything to show for it. 3. By having a soft layer under the coils, you’re undermining the foundation/support layer of the mattress. This is equivalent to building a skyscraper on the beach. I say this not only as a mattress expert, but also an engineer. The problem with your mattresses is choosing the wrong one. Find a salesman who actually understands you and your sleep habits. There are soe of us out there, and we want to help. Just understand that new age foams have potential benefits, but also may pose problems. If you have any further questions, write me at jvita972@hotmail.com
Comment by Jonathan — September 6, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
Jonathan you bring up some great points and lets face it this industry has many problems here are just a couple. It is nice to see industry professionals adding in their take and experience.
2 big of the mattresses biggest problems is the fact that most mattress brands require as much as 1 1/2 to 2 inches of body impression before they will replace it under warranty. Many end up with such impressions in the first year or two or less.
The other is the fact that most won’t take the mattress back if it has a simple scuff, mark, or smudge on it, which has nothing to do with the fact the bed is wearing excessively due to layer upon layer of low grade, low quality PU Foam. (A rule designed to protect industry professionals from handling mattresses with blood, urine, or perspiration. Just go to any forum, chat room, or review and you will see these two problems that are our industries Achilles Heel.
I agree that people choose the wrong mattress, which is both the fault of the salesman and the consumer for a whole host of reasons I think I’ll cover in a future blog.
I have always said that coil springs act like a cookie cutters and chew up the upholstery and the point that you bring up about both ends of the springs damaging both sides of the foam is a very good one.
In the day of 2 sided mattresses where the boxspring was sprung with steel and flexed, it helped to minimize wear like a shock absorber on car. This was not debated among the industry professionals. Today’s boxsprings are nothing more than platforms (foundations) or semi flexible decks for the mattress, which really is another way to say we cheapened it up, took out most of the steel and made it virtually non flexible and unable to absorb mattress energy.
I would be fine with a mattress that consists of 60% or even 100% foam as long as they stopped pawning off junk PU foam on the consumer. I will admit that 2 sided beds have and have had their own problems, but most of them came when they thickened them up and added lots of cheap PU Foam.
Comment by Doug — September 7, 2009 @ 11:22 am
I have never written a comment before on a website. However, I was on the internet, look for the website Chattam and Wells. I bought, what was supposed to be the new and latest one sided mattress a few years ago. It is the worst mattress i have ever had. After just a couple of months it started forming. You can imagine after a few years, how bad it is. If someone tells you you’ll never have to flip a mattress, Don’t listen. This mattress alone was over 2,500.00. What a dissapointment. One sided mattresses do not work !
Comment by Vinny DiCostanzo — September 12, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
The “innards” of today’s mattresses are all wrong. They have made the springs too stiff to prevent sagging down the road and then tried to offset this with layers of foam on top. Doesn’t work. You need the softer springs of yesteryear and cotton padding. Trust me. Somehow the manufactureres have convinced us that having to flip is a bad thing and that any one that sags needs to be replaced. Nonsense. I can’t get any sleep on these worthless one-siders –because of the innards–and it is killing me. Looks like competition ruined this one, just like the “loudness wars” have ruined CD record quality..Why the hell do you think these mattress “toppers” are so popular today? Because people are trying to soften the feel of their new mattresses. It’s fruitless.
Comment by Ted — September 17, 2009 @ 1:32 am
I even explained my above “theory” to a sales manager at a Sleepy’s and he said to me “you’re the first person that’s ever figured that out”. I knew I was right.
Comment by Ted — September 17, 2009 @ 1:40 am