Australian dilemma - Heveya vs Natural Sleep latex mattress

[phoenix]

Hi jleb,

You’ve allayed some of my fears by stating that as it and the Heveya mattress are both 100% Dunlop latex there would be little difference between the two in terms of quality and durability (FYI this goes against the advice of the Heveya salesperson, who, unsurprisingly, repeatedly stated that the Belgian LatexCo, which is the parent company behind Heveya, provide a far superior product to Malaysian latex companies).

If they are both the same type and blend of latex then they would be closely comparable in terms of durability and both of them would be durable choices. Outside of the durability of the material itself … firmness also plays a secondary role in durability and firmer latex would be more durable than softer latex although I certainly wouldn’t choose a firmer mattress that wasn’t a good “match” for you in terms of PPP just for the sake of any additional durability since you would end up with a durable mattress that you wouldn’t sleep well on for many years. Of course it’s not surprising that a manufacturer says that their latex is the “best” but this is also coming from the same source of information that told you they were the only latex in the world that was certified organic which also isn’t accurate.

I will try the Natural Sleep company mattress again to be sure that it is the mattress for me. As you confirmed it is a concern that I won’t be able to try the 100% cotton quilting but I really don’t want to proceed with the 'bamboo" (if that is what it is), polyester and foam quilting, which I would have thought would affect the breathability of the mattress and hence its heat regulation.

While it’s certainly not a natural or organic product … polyfoam that is used for quilting is generally quite breathable and for most people it wouldn’t be an issue in terms of airflow and temperature regulation. Wool quilting in a cover would be more temperature regulating yet of course but would also be more costly. Rayon made from bamboo is a “semi synthetic” fiber and is also very breathable and moisture absorbent and has good temperature regulation as well.

This is important for me as I suffer from eczema (which is why I want a latex mattress in order to avoid house dust mites) and don’t wish it to be aggravated by excessive heat.

The most effective dust mite control strategy is a “multi pronged” approach that includes an allergy encasement for your mattress, pillows, and foundation, and a mattress protector that can easily be removed and washed in water hot enough to kill dust mites, in combination with other dust mite control methods that can help as well (such as humidity control in the home, regular vacuuming of surfaces that can provide a home for dust mites including any carpets, air filtration etc. Dust mites feed on skin flakes and take their moisture from the air and an allergy encasement prevents the food they require from reaching the mattress cover where they tend to live and lowering humidity deprives them of the moisture that they require from the air.

I was shown a cross-section of the quilting by the salesperson (which reminds me of another concern, that the mattress is fully contained with no zipping so the latex and quilting cannot be accessed), which revealed a very thin ‘bamboo’ top layer (the ticking?), quite a bit of polyester filling (maybe 2 inches?) and then a layer of foam of less than half an inch.

If a mattress contains more than “about an inch or so” of polyester fiber and/or polyfoam on top of the latex in the quilting or in the comfort layers then it can be subject to premature breakdown and impressions which can be a weak link in the mattress (see the quality/durability guidelines here). While “some” quilting can add to the comfort or “feel” of a mattress for those who prefer it (and many do) … if there is too much it can be a durability issue.

The other alternative offered for the quilting is Thermoplast Outlast, which seems to be mostly marketing hype as evidenced by mixed reviews online. There are some mattresses in-store with the Outlast quilting but unfortunately not on the one I am thinking of purchasing. Again, because of my skin condition I prefer natural fibres for the quilting.

If this is still a thick layer of synthetic fiber in combination with polyfoam then it could still be a weak link in the mattress. Outlast phase change materials either in synthetic fibers or in fabrics does have phase change properties so it would have “some effect” on temperature regulation but this tends to be more temporary rather than over the entire course of the night. The most reliable and long lasting method of temperature regulation is ventilation and moisture management In a mattress. Temperature regulation comes from the combined effect of all the layers and components that are closest to your skin which would include the mattress cover/quilting, any mattress encasement and mattress protector you are using, your sheets and bedding, and your bedclothes. There is more about the many variables that can effect temperature regulation in post #2 here.

Having said all that … if I was in your shoes though I would probably also be leaning towards natural fibers in the cover and quilting materials (as well as in my sheets). Wool quilting in particular is among the most effective temperature regulators.

Thank you also for pointing out the references to Naturatex elsewhere. However, my original concern remains that there are simply no reviews by Australian customers of their experiences dealing with Natural Sleep. As it is a company that has been established in Australia since 2005 I find this very odd.

In my North American research I often come across smaller local companies (usually that don’t sell online and don’t have online customers) have been in business for decades and don’t have any online reviews either and sell their mattresses mainly by local word of mouth although I agree that in the internet age this is rather uncommon.

Also, you state that “progressive technology” means that the layers of latex become progressively softer from the top to the bottom of the mattress. It doesn’t become firmer?

Oops … this was a typo and should have said “progressively softer from the bottom to the top of the mattress”. I’ve corrected it and thanks for catching my mistake

Once more, many thanks, and I greatly look foreword to any further advice you could supply.

The “best” advice I can provide is to …

1. Make sure you do some very careful testing so that you are confident that any mattress you are considering is a good match for you in terms of PPP. This is about how well you will likely sleep on the mattress.

2. Make sure you know the specifics of every layer in a mattress and that the information you are given about all the layers and components adds up to the thickness of the mattress so you can confirm that there are no lower quality materials or “weak links” in the mattress in terms of durability. This is about long you are likely to sleep well on a mattress.

3. If in spite of your testing you aren’t confident that the mattress is a good “match” for you in terms of PPP then I would pay particular attention to the exchange/return options that are available to you although I would also keep in mind that the cost of return/exchange policies are built into the cost of the mattress so the people that don’t return a mattress are the ones who pay for the ones that do.

4. When you are down to finalists that are all choices between “good and good” and you have confirmed that they are suitable for you in terms of PPP none of them have any weak links or lower quality materials in their design and if there are no clear winners between them then you are in the fortunate position that either of them would likely be a suitable choice and post #2 here can help you make a final choice based on your local testing or mattresses you have slept well on, your more detailed conversations with each of them, your confidence about the suitability of each one, their prices, the options you have after a purchase to change the firmness or exchange or return the mattress, any additional extras that are part of each purchase, and on “informed best judgement” based on all the other objective, subjective, and intangible parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.

5. I would also put significant “value” on the experience and knowledge of the store you are buying from and the guidance they are able to provide you. Some stores focus more on “educating” their customers and others focus more on “selling” their customers and who you purchase from can often be one of the most important parts of a successful mattress purchase.

Phoenix