Has anyone ever experienced a good box spring mattress? I don’t mean good in the sense of “out of the box,” but rather ten+ years of facilitating comfortable, restful, ergonomically advantageous sleep. The issue is a pressing one for me, since my wife and I are currently victims of a particularly pernicious case of “box-spring mattress sag”; a case so advanced, in fact, that some nights it seems as if one of us might physically descend into the cavernous crevice in the center of the bed, vanishing into the same domestic netherworld as so many lost “dryer socks.”

Beds designed and manufactured by Axel Bloom.

The problem with most American beds, according to Austria’s Axel Bloom Beds (or “Schlafsysteme,” if you prefer) is an absurdly outdated technology. A quick summation of the failings of box spring mattresses includes a poor foundation for body alignment; “sag,” or insufficient upward resistance; and ineffective moisture dispersal. The box spring is a failed concept, they insist, since it’s based on the notion that the body (and each individual body) requires the same level of support from head to toe. Axel Bloom address these failings in two ways: 1. slat-suspension system bases, and 2. foam mattresses with variably-resistant “Lotus” micro-spring technology. In contrast to box springs, slat-suspension systems won’t sag, spread, or roll, thus maintaining the integrity of the all-important foundation for the mattress, as well as facillitating micro-adjustments for comfort or for body types on the outer edges of the spectrum. As to the mattress, “Lotus” refers to the shape of the airy contours within the foam, a feature that, unlike the steel spring, give and rebound in much the same way as the vaunted triangle, providing optimum resistance for a given level of pressure. Further, the stiffness of these components changes according to the contact point-the result is fine-tuned ergonomics for legs, back and head/shoulders (check out the “color-coding” in the foam). Finally, Axel Bloom addresses the issue of moisture absorption (which can increase body temperature, promoting shallow breathing, high pulse rates, and a generally poor night’s sleep) with moisture-dispersal features including removable covers with moisture-dissipating fabric and “breathable” air holes in the mattress core.

Lest you think Axel Bloom beds are only about functionality … have a look at their catalog. The elimination of the box spring opens up room for better aesthetics, including elegant, slim-profile frames suited for the well-lit, many-windowed spaces of contemporary design. Axel Bloom’s many models include “Varo,” available in beech, nut, or cherry with a sleigh-style headboard; “Piedi” in beech, light oak, or maple; and “Austroflex,” with upholstered headboard and frame-the menu of design options is just one more incentive to leave the sagging box spring behind and rise to a whole new level of soporific satisfaction. As if that aching back weren’t incentive enough…