Mastering the Mattress Search: Your Guide to buying a mattress in Canada

What Mattress Is Right For You? 

First off, why am I writing this? Because buying a mattress sucks, in person and online, there's a lot to know / learn and if you're even slightly cynical, the rabbit hole of marketing grey areas you get into can leave you wanting more. 

Choosing the perfect mattress is a lot like choosing your perfect home: it’s a long-term commitment that has a profound effect on your day-to-day life and overall well-being. When it comes to finding the perfect mattress, there is no “one size fits all”, and with a plethora of options, it can be confusing and overwhelming to navigate the mattress maze in hopes of finding a mattress that best suits your needs.

Here's the kicker though, I went into two mattress stores and quickly realized I didn't like the space, I don't like being sold that way, and ultimately wanted to do my own due diligence. The deeper I got, the more I felt like I went down rabbit holes that were hard to handle in store, and quite frankly felt like I was being sold more than advised. When I show a house to clients, I don't care whether they want to buy it or not, I care about giving them advice, insight, and valuable, I'm there to make sure it's the right one. 

So I found myself doing research online, you may likely land here because you're in the midst of doing the same thing. For me, the thing that really sucked is that I could (from a background in marketing) that there was A LOT of bad information out there, sites that were so well designed and marketed to make you think you're getting neutral information, when in reality, you were being sold or funneled. Everything from fake Reddit comments, reviews, articles, there were even big solely dedicated review sites that quite frankly felt like they were simple extensions of the marketing teams for mattress companies.

Fear not though, you can take my time and research to quickly get started with your own research, or just jump into who I ended up choosing (Silk & Snow).  

Whether you’re looking to furnish your new space or upgrade your current sleeping experience, here is my guide to the mattress I chose, resources I used, and my tips for finding the right mattress that caters to your unique preferences & needs.

Understanding Mattress Types

Before diving into where to find reliable reviews, it's important to understand the different types of mattresses available. This knowledge will help you filter through reviews with a basic foundation of what you're looking for.

• Innerspring Mattresses: Known for their traditional coil support system, offering a range of firmness levels and excellent breathability.
• Memory Foam Mattresses: Celebrated for their pressure relief and contouring abilities, these mattresses adapt to your body shape.
• Latex Mattresses: Durable and eco-friendly, they provide a responsive, cooling, and comfortable sleep experience.
• Hybrid Mattresses: Combining the support of coils with the comfort of foam or latex, hybrids offer the best of both worlds.
• Gel Mattresses: Gel mattresses incorporate a gel-infused foam layer, which is typically added to memory foam mattresses to reduce heat retention and provide a cooler sleeping surface.

Where to Look for Mattress Reviews

While I did knock some places for having fake reviews & posts, knowing that those exist, you can often read between the lines, there's some genuinely great feedback (post a few months / years of owning) feedback you can find about mattresses. 

My ultimate advice though, narrow your view down to a few, pick one, make sure they have a return policy that is easy, and if you like it, great. If not, return and try another. It sounds like a lot, but I've seen the comments of people looking and reading for months to find out what's best for them, it's truly subjective to you and anyone else sleeping on the bed. If you're shopping in person, do the same thing, find a place that lets you return it. 

The Sleepopolis-Casper Saga: A Glimpse into Mattress Industry Controversies

The tale of review site / channel Sleepopolis and Casper provides a fascinating insight into the competitive and often contentious world of online mattress reviews. Initially, Sleepopolis started as an independent review site, offering detailed assessments of various mattress brands, including Casper. However, the relationship between the reviewer and the company took a dramatic turn when Casper filed a lawsuit against Sleepopolis, citing issues related to the affiliate marketing model and the nature of the reviews.

This legal battle highlighted the complex interplay between mattress companies and review sites, raising questions about the impartiality of online reviews and the influence of affiliate marketing agreements. The controversy culminated in Casper financially backing the acquisition of Sleepopolis, leading to speculations about the independence of review sites and the potential for conflicts of interest in the mattress review industry.

This episode serves as a cautionary tale for consumers, emphasizing the need for critical engagement with online reviews and the importance of seeking out transparent, unbiased information when researching potential purchases.

Understanding sites like Naplabs.com

I myself was even fooled in the journey of finding a mattress. Stumbling across Naplabs.com the site presents itself as a comprehensive resource for mattress reviews, offering detailed breakdowns and comparisons. However, it's essential to recognize that while the site provides valuable information, it operates primarily as an affiliate marketing platform. This means they earn commissions from directing consumers to purchase products through their links.  I am not knocking this site, they're still doing a valuable service by providing a subset of reviews with unique testing, but scoring, preference, and execution may not be 100% on point. 

Reddit users have voiced concerns about the site's credibility. One user pointed out, "Be cautious with Naplabs.com, their reviews seem skewed towards certain brands, possibly due to affiliate relationships." Another comment highlighted, "It's hard to trust a review site when you can clearly see they're pushing specific products more aggressively than others." These criticisms suggest a need for readers to critically evaluate the reviews, looking out for any signs of bias or undue influence.  See this Do Not Trust Naplam.com reddit post. 

Their reviews, while seemingly thorough, may not always be impartial. The site's revenue model could  influence the content, potentially biasing their recommendations towards products that generate higher commissions. This doesn't necessarily invalidate the reviews, but it does mean that readers should approach the information with a critical eye.

Transparency is key in affiliate marketing, and consumers deserve to know when a recommendation may be influenced by potential earnings. While Naplabs.com might offer some genuine insights, it's crucial to cross-reference this information with other sources, especially those that don't have a financial stake in your purchasing decisions. Always look for multiple perspectives to ensure you're getting a well-rounded view of the product.

Social Proof and Community Feedback

• Forums and Subreddits: Platforms like Reddit have communities like r/Mattress where users share genuine experiences and advice.
• Mattress Brands To Avoid - General consensus of mattresses you may want to avoid and why.
• Social Media: Check out comments and feedback on social media platforms where people share unsponsored opinions.

Deciphering Real Reviews from Marketing Websites

• Learn to distinguish genuine reviews from promotional content. Watch out for repetitive language, overly positive tones, or a focus on persuading rather than informing.
• Be weary of sites that don't review MANY different brands. If they're always recommending 1-3 brands that should sound off some alarms.
• Be weary of Youtube channels that seem official. There are 'Mattress Experts' out there that are just people who label themselves with a fake title - and while their reviews mimic those of people who seem to do more in depth tests, their content always seems to gear towards select brands. Especially when you start seeing videos with lists "Best ______ Mattresses" which could be brand, for side sleepers, etc. When you hold the videos to one another the results / top picks don't really add up. 
• Find a site that reviews with ratings, this will give you a basis and easy way to prioritize to you. If the site just generally says "Best organic in our opinion" or has no real bearing / reasoning for their selection or guiding preferences, you're likely just watching an ad. 
• Know that it's still a business, no matter how good the site is. If you're on a site with a mattress expert, they're doing this for a profession and while they may not be getting paid directly to do the reviews, the reason their sites are so tailored to specific niches, and capturing you and your viewership is still their end goal. 

The Firmness Factor

Finding the sweet spot in mattress firmness is crucial. Too firm, and it's like sleeping on a board; too soft, and you risk that sinking feeling with inadequate support. The firmness of a mattress determines the amount of support your body receives, and impacts the health of your spine and overall well-being. I'll dive into some of the technical aspects of mattress firmness to help you strike the perfect balance. 

Beyond the Surface (Materials Matter)

What lies beneath the surface is just as important as what you see. As a long-term investment, it’s essential to buy a mattress that is made of high-quality materials that are breathable and cooling. Premium materials ensure a hygienic, cool and comfortable sleeping experience while extending a mattress’ lifespan. Mattresses made with consciously sourced materials and environmentally friendly practices may also be something important to consider when shopping. I know that sounds like a canned blanket response but here's a few things to consider that I learned a long the journey of mattress research...

Not all mattresses are made with quality materials, if you're importing from the US, they could have different regulations, if you're buying from Amazon or a drop ship place, just know that you may not be getting what you think you are, or you could be getting a mattress that has harmful flame retardant chemicals, unknown proprietary purple powders, or worse.. AND just remember, you live on this thing, you probably sleep a good 4-8 hours nightly on it, your kids, pets, and sometimes the entire house probably spend a good chunk of time on it, it's one of those purchases you really should take extra time in purchasing and being mindful of (this coming from someone who comes from more of a buy and move on typically) 

Sleeping Position Guide for Silk & Snow Mattresses

Choosing the right mattress can significantly impact your comfort based on your usual sleeping position. Here’s how each Silk & Snow mattress caters to different sleepers:

• Back Sleepers: Require a balance of support and contouring for the spine. For reference a point - the Silk & Snow Hybrid offers medium-firm support, ideal for maintaining spinal alignment.
• Side Sleepers: Need cushioning at pressure points like shoulders and hips. The Silk & Snow Mattress, with its high-density memory foam, provides excellent pressure relief.
• Stomach Sleepers: Best supported by a firmer mattress to prevent the hips from sinking too deeply. The Silk & Snow Organic Mattress offers firm support, keeping the spine neutrally aligned.
• Combination Sleepers: Benefit from a responsive mattress that facilitates easy movement. The Hybrid’s combination of foam and coils adapts quickly to changes in position.

Do Silk  & Snow Mattresses contain fiberglass? 

No. This was my biggest concern and I reached out to verify, personally I think the US standards may be lower and/or allow for different chemicals that we may not need, it's why we leaned more to a Canadian provider. 

Silk & Snow’s S&S Mattress

Canadian sleep essentials brand Silk & Snow has a show stopping 100% memory foam mattress, known as the S&S Mattress. The high-density layered memory foam has a body-contouring, responsive, and plush feel for a comforting sleeping experience. While a 100% memory foam mattress feels softer to the touch, there is a bottom layer for foundational support to avoid that “sinking” feeling. Due to this foundational support, the mattress isolates motion to help minimize sleep disruptions. 

Another noteworthy feature is that the memory foam is infused with cooling gel: this will help to maintain a consistent body temperature and reduce overheating for a more comfortable sleeping experience. This particular mattress is generally optimal for those who prefer more pressure relief and a softer, cradling mattress.I went into a local EQ3 in Deerfoot Meadows to test this mattress. I came from a thicker pillowtop (give you a big hug) type mattress and while I did appreciate the firmness of the S&S I do prefer a pillow top personally. 

Important to know

The Silk & Snow Mattress comes with a 100 night trial and a 15 year warranty. You can shop the mattress directly from the website to receive fast & free shipping.

The Silk & Snow Hybrid Mattress

This is the mattress I ultimately ended up choosing, Silk & Snow (mainly online) does have stores like EQ3 locally that have their mattresses in stock, ready for you to test out. It made the buying decision much easier and saved us a ton of time because we were ultimately sold on the organic initially but found it to be a little to firm for our liking in person and ultimately felt like the silk and snow hybrid was the way to go for us. 

Looking for the perfect balance of a plush and firm? The Silk & Snow Hybrid Mattress is a true medium-firm mattress. As its name suggests, it’s a hybrid mattress composed of memory foam sitting on heavy-gauged, pocketed coils. This mattress has an antimicrobial cover, followed by layers of dense memory foam, with 1200 Canadian steel coils that provide a supportive foundation. It has a vertical support zone for spinal alignment, meaning there’s more firmness in the middle (also referred to as zoned support) where your hips and back would rest, while the top and bottom of the mattress are more plush, providing that cradling-yet-supportive feel. This mattress also has firm, anti-sagging edge support, for those who sit on the edge of their beds. The Silk & Snow Hybrid mattress is suitable for a variety of sleepers catering to different sleeping positions for optimal comfort and support.

Important to know

The Silk & Snow Hybrid Mattress also comes with a 100 night trial and a 15 year warranty. You can shop the mattress directly from the website to receive fast & free shipping (not an affiliate link)

The Silk & Snow Organic Mattress

If you prefer a firmer mattress, or are looking for an organic alternative, Silk & Snow’s Organic Mattress may be a suitable option. This particular mattress is entirely non-toxic and uses GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton, and has a quilted fire-retardant layer made of ethically sourced organic New Zealand wool. For those who are conscious about material sourcing,  traceability and overall transparency from a company, Silk & Snow’s Organic Mattress is a great option. The mattress's responsiveness accommodates a diverse range of sleepers, allowing effortless movement and adjustment throughout the night. Along with the responsive and soft feel, this mattress has a base composed of 1200 pocketed coils to help to limit motion, while providing support and durability. A standout feature is its durability: it exhibits minimal signs of sagging and structural wear over time and does not have a weight limit, ensuring a longer lifespan. The Silk & Snow Organic Mattress is considered to be the firmest option among the three mattresses mentioned

Important to know: My favorite mattress of the pack, the Silk & Snow Organic Mattress comes with a 100 night trial period and a 15 year warranty. You can shop the mattress directly from the website to receive fast & free shipping. (Not an affiliate link)  

For a visual comparison with key features, see the table below

Whether you are furnishing a new bedroom or upgrading your current sleeping experience, the S&S Mattress, Hybrid Mattress & Organic Mattress are 3 options that cater to a variety of sleepers with differing needs and unique preferences. All 3 Silk & Snow Mattresses are prized for their use of high-quality materials, innovative design and overall comfortable support. Learn more about Silk & Snow mattresses and shop the brand HERE.