Hi elotrolado,
Online reviews can be helpful but they are usually written close to the time of purchase and are generally more reflective of the price someone pays or the “deal” they believe they got than they are of the quality of a mattress or the materials in it. Many people will also write a review based on how “comfortable” a mattress is and mistake comfort for quality. Even the lowest quality materials can be comfortable at the time of purchase and for a while after that. Most people who write reviews don’t really have the knowledge to know the difference between higher quality and lower quality materials. While Sleep Like The Dead itself does a tremendous job with putting together feedback from many sources which can certainly be very helpful … reviews themselves have limitations and don’t really take into account the kind of long term experiences or more factual information that are just as important. Buying a mattress based on other people’s experiences can also lead to some “not so good” choices.You can read more about the difference between reading reviews and mattress research and what reviews can be useful for and what they can’t in post #13 here.
The quality and value of a mattress is determined by the quality of the materials in it. Lower density foams are just not as durable and are also a much less expensive component in a mattress. While density is not the only factor in durability (and you can see more of the many factors that determine the durability of a mattress in post #2 here) … it is the single biggest factor by itself. Higher quality materials cost more and keep their comfort and support and other qualities longer.
This is mostly true but using “averages” for lifespan isn’t something I would subscribe to. It depends on the mattress as much as the individual sleeping on it. In some cases low density materials can soften enough in the first 3 months to make a mattress unsleepable for some people even though for others the same mattress may last a few years. Higher quality materials may last some people who made a good choice and were well inside their range of pressure relief and alignment needs for 15 years. When it comes to durability … averages can be very misleading. Mattresses generally become unsleepable because of foam softening before the foam has actually “worn out” or completely degraded and shows the type of impressions that would be covered by a warranty.
I don’t buy it because it’s just not true. Some time spent reading on the PFA site (and other authoritative industry sites) will confirm that density (or to be more technically correct … the unfilled polymer density) of a foam is still the primary factor in foam durability. It is also one of the biggest factors in the cost of a foam. It is true that there are higher performance and lower performance foams of the same density (which can be more or less costly) such as lower density foams that have higher resiliency or a higher sag factor (or other properties) but density is still the primary factor in durability and how long a foam continues to perform at or closer to its original specs.
There are different types of gel foams (which you can read about in post #2 here) and it depends on the type and the density of the memory foam which is used as a base and the amount and type of gel that is added which will determine whether it will increase or decrease durability compared to a similar density 'regular" memory foam. If the gel is the “mixed” type where two liquids are mixed together then it would be a good option IMO. If it is the particulate type then I would tend to avoid it.
There is also more at the end of post #4 here about how different types of gel and cooling technologies can have a cooling effect on a mattress but in general they are only one part of temperature regulation and the mattresses that regulate temperature the best in “real life” include moisture and humidity control which is the primary temperature regulating mechanism of any mattress including gel foams. Gel can be a piece of a larger puzzle but in general will only affect temperature until temperatures equalize (usually for a period of time when you are going to sleep) at which point the foam becomes an insulator.
Yes … I and others have talked with them about the discrepancy between the quality of their base layers and the quality of their comfort layers (and they have acknowledged this to me). I suspect that you may see an increase in their comfort layer density at some point so the quality of the two layers are closer together. If the memory foam wears out … you would need to remove the old memory foam and replace it with a new layer (not add the new layer over top which would only follow the softened foam under it and probably compromise support.
Actually I frequently recommend online sellers and there is a list of members of this site in post #21 here who specialize in online “and on the phone” sales who do a tremendous job and are among the best in the country. I normally recommend that people look locally first because if there are good quality and value choices available locally it can be less risky and you would have the best of both worlds but online manufacturers make great value available for those who are in an area where the local value is not as good as many other areas of the country.
Most of the better online outlets offer a return period that doesn’t involve heavy costs for returning the mattress. Many also offer a layer exchange so the mattress can be customized after a purchase without having to return the whole mattress. These types of services are fairly common with online manufacturers and those that don’t offer them will usually have lower prices instead (returns ad exchanges are built in to the cost of the mattress).
Returning a mattress can be a hassle (and exchanging layers is much simpler) but they do have a good return policy yes. They also have good service and good integrity IMO (they will err on the side of the customer). They really are good people but they made a mistake in the design of their mattress IMO.
The return period is not long enough though for the effects of low density foams to really be felt except in a few cases where the initial softening of the foam over the first 90 days may put a few people “over the line” in terms of their needs and preferences … but this would not be the norm (and they would receive a refund anyway). After the first 90 days or so … foam softening is a more gradual process (faster with lower density foams) and then the final stage of foam breakdown is when it starts to completely degrade and show deeper impressions.
Phoenix