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What To Look for When Shopping For An Adjustable Mattress
 From the Desk of Eben Goresko
When it comes to shopping for and selecting an adjustable, flexible, or articulating bed base, most folks tend to get caught up in the wizardry of the technological features of the adjustable bed much like they would when shopping for a TV, and forget to spend time selecting the best sleep surface.
I would advise you to go to a few stores, and try a mattress or two on several adjustable beds. Nowadays, competition is fierce for adjustable bed bases, and
I've seen prices at industry trade shows fall through the floor, so look for a good deal. If adjustable air beds seem comfortable to you, remember that there are not many adjustable bases that work well with air bed systems. One good idea is to buy your mattress first (remember that it should be a flexible material, specifically designed for use on an adjustable base). If memory foam is your preference, try a Tempur-Pedic or a good knock-off product, which will save you thousands of dollars. Here's a link Tempur-Pedic's page about their adjustable bed, though it is very expensive.
If you are comfortable with a coil or coil-foam combination, try them as well, but on an adjustable base if possible. Almost any adjustable base available in the U.S. market today will offer a two point articulation system, meaning that it folds in two places, dividing the mattress into 3 sections, the head section, the middle section, and the foot section. Each sleep surface, or mattress, will react differently when folded and bent on an adjustable base. If you are serious about an adjustable bed, then you should realize that few side sleepers will have a use for an adjustable bed in any other position than flat, so understand your sleeping habits and how they are affected by the use of a bed whose purpose is used mostly to elevate your head or legs.
Most conventional coil mattresses are not designed for use on an adjustable bed, and it is important to use a mattress, especially if you already have one or if you are intending to buy your adjustable base separate from your mattress, that is capable of being folded with minimal resistance and does not lose the original qualities for which you purchased it, when in an articulated (folded or upright) position. An air bed mattress, for example, that is not designed to be used on an adjustable base, may not fold or bend in a way that properly distributes air through the bladder system, thus resulting in deflation or over inflated areas. A foam bed that is constructed of high density foam that is rigid, may completely resist bending or folding at all.
My best advice: buy the adjustable base separately, shop it thoroughly on line, then buy the mattress, just making sure it will work with your base. If you want a good overview of the different adjustable bed options, see this article on Understanding Adjustable Beds.
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