Bed

[liuzhou]

Let me make this clear. I have nothing against bed. I think it's an excellent idea. Only last night, I employed my bed for several hours.

So I am discombobulated to learn that I've been doing it all wrong.

After more years in China than makes sense, having employed beds almost every day, I have discovered that I am not a true expatriate on account of my failing to take heed of the kind person who informs me that "the number one piece of advice I will give to expats ... get a Slumber Maax mattress or topper".

I have seen their ads often enough on Facebook, but today, for some reason actually clicked on the link.

What they seem to be selling is a big lump of foam. We had those back in the 1960s when we went camping. They were uncomfortable then, but no doubt modern technology has rendered them essential to the true expat experience. (They always used to smell of 'wet'. I shall not enlarge on that topic.)

So, I am left wondering. Are there actually any real expats who buy such contrivances? For around ¥5000+? And what's a topper? Where I come from it is a hat only worn by the likes of dickheads like David Cameron and his chums at Eton.

http://www.slumbermaax.com/

[anonymoose]

I prefer a firm bedding. Most of the places I've rented in China have come with a matress, and I've just used whatever was there. One place, though, had just the wooden bed frame without a matress. (The landlady said she slept directly on the wooden frame! Although I think she was lying.) So I just bought a cheap thin (less than 5 cm probably) matress from Ikea. Placed directly on the wooden frame, it didn't have a lot of give. But I think it was one of the most comfortable beds I have had. I don't like those memory foam and all other soft matresses. I definitely wouldn't want a Slumbermaax. Sounds very uncomfortable.

[Demonic_Duck]

Some people swear by 'em, but I fail to see what it has to do with being an expat. Personally, I've slept on one before (a memory foam matress, not that specific brand) and had no strong opinion of it either way.

[imron]

I also prefer firm beds.

[Lu]

Ever since sleeping at a very thin (5 cm at most) mattress on top of a wooden board for a year in BLCU, I've also preferred firm beds. Fortunately all Chinese mattresses I've ever slept on for a longer time were very firm, of the kind you can put a glass of water on without worrying it falls over. Even the firmest Dutch mattress is not going to be that firm.

[gougou]

Although I think she was lying.

Why yes, how else do you sleep in a bed?

[jasoninchina]

When I first moved to China, I spent the better part of the first year on a standard Chinese mattress. It never felt right for me. Especially when I would roll onto my side, I would often wake up with a sore hip. My wife and I finally decided to buy a mattress topper from taobao. I think it was around 1k and increased the quality of my sleep 10 fold. After two years though, it had become rather squishy. So when we moved to a new apartment last year we bought one of those 8 inch memory foam mattresses(again from taobao). I love it. It's super firm but you do sink into it ever so slightly. And now that my wife is preggo, I really don't think she could get comfortable otherwise.

I really think it's a matter of preference. I always struggle to sleep on regular mattresses. Obviously, if you're just studying in China, maybe less than two years, it's probably not worth it to buy anything. But if you're here for the long haul and not satisfied with your bed, I would completely recommend trying it out.

[skylee]

I like firm mattresses, and have bought from the local brand Seahorse 海馬 several times, mainly because their mattresses are firm and cheap. They used to advertise that their mattresses were 好似木板那麽堅硬, and they have lived up to this promise, so much that I found I could not sleep on my current mattress because it was too firm. So I went back to buy a topper, and the staff there told me that it was not uncommon that their mattresses were too hard for some customers. With the topper it feels perfect.

[liuzhou]

The landlady said she slept directly on the wooden frame! Although I think she was lying.

Despite gougouo's perspicuity, I believe her. I know people who do. They also get up at 5 am to walk backwards for a few hours, so may not be entirely sane.

[anonymoose]

You are of course free to believe a second-hand account on the internet of someone totally unfamiliar to you if you wish, but having first-hand knowledge of the bed frame and its widely spaced loose wooden slats inclines me to think otherwise.

[roddy]

It's advanced technology, Liuzhou. Like the phonograph. What's that you say? Wax cylinders always been good enough for you? Fair enough...

Used to have a memory foam pillow, it was great. Would happily try a memory foam mattress topper (a memory foam mattress seems overkill, how far as you going to sink in?). Comparisons to cheap camping mattresses are wildly inaccurate.

Go on, Liuzhou, get one. You're worth it. Pay attention, here comes the science bit. Read this:

NASA

Can't argue with NASA. They invented velcro, and space.

[frankwall]

Firm beds are the way to go.

[liuzhou]

Firm beds are the way to go.

Filth!