We spend, what? A third of our lives in bed? A comfortable mattress is essential. I think Wirecutter has excellent information about mattresses (and many other things people buy). Their recommendations get updated every year. They're not getting money from mattress companies. They're not infallible--I hate their toaster recommendation, for example, but it's a starting place. Consumer Reports rates mattresses, too. They're independent. Again, not infallible, but a place to start.

For next time, if you don't want an innerspring mattress--the kind with metal springs--you might consider getting a latex mattress. They're a little more expensive but they're highly durable and hypoallergenic, which is important to me.

Mattresses have become absurdly tall.