I'm 6'2" and around 260 lbs. I've been through three mattresses in the last two years and they all do the same thing: my hips sink down like they're in a hammock, but my shoulders stay basically on top of the bed. It's not a 'bad back' thing exactly, but I wake up with my hip feeling jammed and my shoulder feeling like it's taking all the pressure. Is this a weight distribution thing? Do I need something firmer? Softer? I'm losing my mind.
Sleep comfort
Why do my hips sink but my shoulders don't
Hips are denser and have more mass than shoulders for a lot of people. If your mattress is too soft in the middle, the heaviest part goes down first. Sounds like you need more support under your pelvis, not necessarily a harder bed overall.
Same stats as you, roughly. I fixed it with a mattress that has a zoned support layer—firmer in the middle third. Shoulders still get some give, hips don't bottom out. Not saying it's magic, but it was the first time I didn't wake up feeling folded in half
@GrumpyOtter that's interesting. Did you have to go with a specific brand or just look for 'zoned' in the description? I keep seeing that word but half the time it's marketing fluff.
You might also be a side sleeper who needs a pillow between the knees. I know that sounds like grandma advice but it stops your hips from rotating into the mattress and digging.
Both, honestly. The one I ended up with was from a smaller company that listed the ILD (firmness) of each layer. The big brands just say 'zoned' and won't tell you numbers. I'd ask for specs before buying.
Also worth checking if your foundation is saggijg. A weak box spring can make the middle of any mattress dip, which exaggerates the hip sink. Put a straight edge across the bed and see if there's a bowl in the middle.
lol 'hammock' is exactly the word I use. I gave up and got a latex hybrid. Hips don't sink, shoulders don't hate me. Expensive but I stopped returning mattresses every 8 months, though.
Didn't even think about the foundation. I have an old box spring from a previous bed. That might be part of it. Thanks for the straight edge tip, FrostedMuffin.
Latex hybrid is the answer for a lot of heavy folks but nobody wants to hear it because of the price. If you go that route, make sure the latex is at least 3 inches on top of coils. Otherwise it's just a firm brick with a soft lid.
Agree on the foundation point. Cheapest fix first: throw a sheet of plywood over the box spring slats or swap to a platform base. If that helps, you saved yourself a grand.