flakzilla's recent activity
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Comment on Twiddler: Configurability for me, but not for thee. (From the coiner of "enshittification") in ~tech
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Comment on What are your DIY mattress experiences? in ~life.home_improvement
flakzilla Link ParentHey, if you're getting good sleep now, then why mess with a good thing? No need to fix what isn't broken. For those who aren't, though, I'd contend that DIY is not as crazy as it sounds. It almost...Hey, if you're getting good sleep now, then why mess with a good thing? No need to fix what isn't broken. For those who aren't, though, I'd contend that DIY is not as crazy as it sounds. It almost doesn't matter that you can't test components beforehand, because it's expected that adjustments will be needed no matter what you do at first. The idea is to start with a generic configuration (these are extensively documented online) and gradually learn the properties of the different materials so you can make adjustments. Just have to accept that it'll turn into a fairly involved long-term effort, with some "wasted" components, and set expectations accordingly. I kept the extra components in a storage unit for a while then sold them on craigslist once I was sure I'd learned what I needed to from them and wouldn't need them again.
Also, thanks for the encouragement. This thread aged out before I had time to write more, and I don't have much else to add for OP's benefit anyway... but I did wanna say, 13/10 doggo would experience back pain again. :)
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Comment on What are your DIY mattress experiences? in ~life.home_improvement
flakzilla Link ParentWell, I can only speak for my own experience, but as someone who's done this, it was because: The mattress industry is pretty shady, and one way to avoid being ripped off is to buy known materials...- Exemplary
Well, I can only speak for my own experience, but as someone who's done this, it was because:
- The mattress industry is pretty shady, and one way to avoid being ripped off is to buy known materials from reputable vendors
- It's easy to commit to the wrong store-bought mattress and have to suffer with it or go through an involved return process
- I was so unhappy with my mattress that I was willing to spend time, energy, and money understanding the problem so that I could fix it directly
For the average store-bought mattress, there is only a loose relationship between price and materials quality/sleep quality. An extravagant mattress might give you terrible sleep, and a cheap basic mattress might be the most comfortable thing your body has experienced. A mattress made of high quality materials will last many years, whereas one made of cheap materials will fail quickly. A typical mattress retailer will happily sell you a high-priced mattress that is made of cheap materials and also isn't comfortable for you.
For me, the objective with DIY wasn't to save money. It was to empirically determine the composition that gives the best sleep, and allow for adjustment of that composition over time (e.g. in reaction to weight gain/loss). Nobody gets it right the first time, there's always a process of gradual observation and configuration changes, and what's "right" changes over time anyway. The ramp-up learning period may cost more than going to the mattress store, but once you've reached a steady state, you have a detailed understanding of your body's preferences that can't be obtained otherwise, and have enough knowledge to react to change intelligently. Reaching that steady state is the objective.
I found DIY to be challenging, but ultimately it was a positive experience that precipitated some self-reflection. But, it's certainly a little weird, and probably not for everyone. However, there are mattress retailers out there that offer DIY-esque experiences, one I'd recommend is Flobeds. Their product is essentially a DIY mattress, but the components are well-integrated and their support staff can help newbies learn the ropes. Another similar retailer is Comfort Option.
This is getting long so I'll stop here, but hope this gives some perspective on it.
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Comment on What mattress brand do you recommend? in ~life.home_improvement
flakzilla LinkUnfortunately, brand is not a good proxy for suitability to you and your body (height, BMI, body type and weight distribution, sleeping position, etc). The only way to find the "right" mattress is...Unfortunately, brand is not a good proxy for suitability to you and your body (height, BMI, body type and weight distribution, sleeping position, etc). The only way to find the "right" mattress is to learn what your body wants.
That is to say, a cheap crappy mattress might be the most comfortable thing you've ever slept on (but won't last due to crappy materials and construction), whereas an expensive premium mattress may give you horrible sleep (even though it's able to last for 20 years).
An overwhelming majority of internet-based consumer advice has been poisoned by brands that purchase favorable coverage, it's very difficult to find objective information (not that reviews mean anything, since the reviewer has no idea who you are and can't tell you how a given mattress will suit your body). However, Sleep Like The Dead (already linked in another comment) is a resource that is at least impartial. The Mattress Underground website has some good writeups on how to orient yourself mentally before wading into the mire.
It's worth taking the time to understand what makes a mattress good for you, because there's no other way to get a good mattress.
He publishes primarily on his own website (https://pluralistic.net/) but deliberately allows syndication and makes extensive use of other platforms (the "POSSE" method). Paraphrasing, the idea is to spread the ideas he wants to write about as widely as possible. If you can get through a bit of navel gazing, he has a pretty good writeup about his publication process here: https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/20/fore/