A couple of questions on brands and split-king adjustable mattresses

[phoenix]

Hi vamosjackets,

[quote]Discovery Gel:

• Bamboo 4-way Stretch Knit Cover
• Quilted Fire Retardant Barrier
• 3" of 3lb Gel-Infused Open-Cell memory foam
• 7" of high density performance foam.
  From researching here, I think I’m right in assuming Phoenix is going to say that the 3" of 3lb foam on the top layer is a weak link.[/quote]

You’re absolutely right … I would consider the 3" of 3 lb memory foam to be a weak link in this mattress.

[quote]Symphony:

• FR Fiber
• Supersoft Foam
• Latex Lumbar Support
• Gel-Infused Memory Foam
• Supersoft Foam
• Foam Encased Wrapped Coil Unit
  No specifics were given as to the foam density or thicknesses, so this one is hard to judge. I read on the article about biggest mattress companies that Southerland is a mixed bag with their transparency and disclosure of construction details.[/quote]

If a retailer or manufacturer is either unable or unwilling to provide you with the specs you need to make an informed choice about the durability of the mattress I would avoid it completely. It’s almost certain that the supersoft foam and/or the gel infused memory foam would be low density and would be a weak link in the mattress. I treat “low quality/density” and “unknown quality/density” as the same thing because they almost always are.

Both felt good in the showroom. Both were around $1000 for a King. I was impressed with the 15 year warranty and especially the 0.75" indentation criteria for warranty, which seems to me to be twice as good as every other mattress company I’ve come across, who all say 1.5" indentation for warranty. I am looking to get a split-king adjustable.

Mattress warranties only cover manufacturing defects in a mattress and they don’t cover foam softening and the loss of comfort and support that goes with it (which is considered to be “normal” and not a defect) and the loss of comfort and/or support is generally the main reason that you would need to buy a new mattress. Warranties have little to nothing to do with the durability or useful life of a mattress and longer warranties are more about marketing than anything else (see post #174 here).

[quote]The salesman said that he sleeps on this and that it’s not a problem, as these are specifically designed as a split-king rather than just putting two twin-xl’s together. I think he meant that they are one unit in the middle and only split on the head and foot adjustable portions. He also said that the foam makes this a non-issue as it spreads into itself and makes the unit feel like one bed with no crack in the middle when both are lying flat.

So, then I come home and become obsessed researching mattresses and end up on this forum. After searching for a while, I’ve been seriously considering the Nest Alexander. I talked to someone over the phone and they said they don’t sell a specifically designed split-king adjustable but I would just have to order two twiin-xl’s.

I think I’m down to two things:

1. Can anyone give advice on my concerns with the split-king adjustable issue with the crack in the middle? Would a specifically designed split-king be a lot better than two separate twins put together as a split-king? Why can I not find the split-king adjustable specific designs in any of the highly recommended mattress lines given on this forum?[/quote]

A split eastern king adjustable bed or mattress and two twin XL adjustable beds or mattresses are exactly the same thing (whether you are referring to the adjustable bed itself or a split mattress to go on top of it). Adjustable beds don’t come in a single eastern king size and are only sold as split king sizes (two twin XL adjustable beds). They can generally be programmed to operate together with a single remote or each side can operate independently. You can use either a king size mattress or two twin XL mattresses on a split king adjustable bed.

If the “crack” you are concerned about refers to the adjustable bed itself then you wouldn’t be able to feel it under the mattress.

If you are concerned with the crack in between the mattresses themselves then whether you feel the crack in the middle and how much you feel it would depend on the specific design of the mattress and whether the top edges are flush to each other, the body type and sleeping positions of the people sleeping on it, and on how and where you sleep. There are some comments in post #8 here and in this topic that should help you decide on whether the pros and cons of a split king mattress are worth it to you.

2. What do you think about my process so far? Am I right in looking away from the Southerland and toward the Nest Alexander? I also looked at the sleepEZ configurable beds, but it seemed a bit too complicated and expensive. Should I just go with the Southerlands since I liked them in the showroom and they have the good warranty and indentation criteria and I like doing business locally?

I would avoid both of the Southerlands you were looking at unless you can find out the quality/density of the foam layers in the second one and confirm that it doesn’t have any lower quality materials or weak links in the design (which it probably does).

The Nest Bedding Alexander uses good quality materials and there are no lower quality materials or weak links in the mattress relative to your body weight so it would certainly be worth considering.

There is more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase in post #13 here but it comes down to suitability and PPP (which is all about how well you will sleep), the quality/durability of the materials inside it (which is all about how long you will sleep well before you need to replace the mattress) and value (which is all about how your mattress compares to all your other finalists based on PPP and all the other parts of your personal value equation that are important to you). It seems that you are taking all three (suitability, durability, and value) into account and the only comment I would make is that I really wouldn’t consider any mattress where you don’t have the information you need to assess the durability and useful life of the mattress.

The SleepEZ mattress is very simple to assemble and of course uses latex which is a higher quality and more costly and durable material which is the reason it’s in a higher budget range (it’s certainly less than many other similar mattresses) but it’s also great “value”. Component mattresses such as the SleepEZ latex mattresses also have the advantage of being able to customize the comfort and support of the mattress both before and after a purchase and to replace individual layers if one layer softens or breaks down before the others (usually the softer top layer) or if your needs or preferences change over time but of course if a mattress is outside your budget range then it probably wouldn’t be worth considering regardless of its quality, durability, or value.

Here is my background/details: I have a herniated disc in the lower back (been going on since last October) which is the primary reason for my new mattress purchase. My old mattress is about 10 years old and is sagging in the middle, and I’m noticing pain with sleeping and wake up with pain in the morning that subsides as I move around. I have better experiences when I sleep in hotels with good mattresses. I feel sure that I will see a big improvement from any of the mattress choices I’ve read about on here or with the Southerlands as well, as it wouldn’t take much for improvement. Also, if it helps, I’m 6’1", 200lbs. My wife is 5’9", 125lbs. I appreciate the info and chance to have this conversation on here and would welcome any suggestions/input/ideas for my search.

I don’t make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or materials because the first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress. There are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort” or PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) or how a mattress will “feel” to you based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more accurate than your own careful testing (using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).

There is more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best “match” for you in terms of PPP in post #2 here that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for once you actually sleep on your mattress but when you are making an online purchase and can’t test a mattress in person then the most reliable source of guidance is always a more detailed phone conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced retailer or manufacturer that has your best interests at heart (such as Nest Bedding) who can help “talk you through” the specifics of their mattresses and the options they have available that may be the best “match” for you based on the information you provide them, any local testing you have done or mattresses you have slept on and liked that they are familiar with, any special considerations or health issues you may have, and the “averages” of other customers that are similar to you. They will know more about “matching” their specific mattress designs or firmness options to different body types, sleeping positions, and preferences or even to other mattresses that they are familiar with than anyone else.

Phoenix