Hi swidorest,
I completely agree that sleeping on the sofa “sucks”! I know from personal experience on too many nights when I’m answering posts or doing research till late at night (or usually early in the morning) and need to lie down on the sofa to “rest my eyes” for “just a few minutes” only to end up crashing and falling asleep for the night 
I’m looking forward to finding out what you end up deciding.
Phoenix
This is the exact same question I currently have with the exact same conundrum. Too much information that just won’t process right or contradicts!
My hubby and I however are both overweight. I want something soft but supportive and he swears as long as it’s not concrete, he’s happy. I am definitely leaning more towards latex at the moment over all foam, but mostly because we sleep hot and the foam topper on the bed now is just too hot. I am worried a bit that my research says latex is firmer than foam. My issue with that is, none of the local mattress stores carry any latex at all. We’ve tried out the memory foam ones and the innerspring foam hybrids, but alas, no latex so I’m hesitant to dive in without trying first. Nearest bigger city is Tallahassee… and that’s just too much of a drive just for mattress testing. I really don’t know where to go up there if we did decide to tackle the two hour trip LOL.
Anyhow, thanks Phoenix! This site and your knowledge has been vastly helpful!!! I’ve got about a month before we’re set to splurge anyways, so I’ve got time to wreck my brain more! :lol:
Given a large enough budget, it certainly appears that anybody who is interested should be able to get an all latex mattress that should suit all body types, comfort desires, and last much longer than the various alternatives. Sleepez’s 13,000 mattress, for example, comes in what, compared to many other mattresses, is a not-that-high $2400, and has 4 different, configurable 3" latex layers, which can even be split differently between each side - it seems almost certain that they should be able to build something that suits anybody. For us larger folks, they just start with firmer bases, but all signs point to them being able to make something that’s “soft” - it’s just that for us, “soft” is done using a firmer layer than it would be for somebody lighter.
$2400 is out of my price range at the moment, so I’m looking at things like Brooklyn Bedding’s Aloe Alexis, which has two latex comfort layers over a foam support core. They also have a number of single latex layer over foam beds, though that gets trickier for me, given my lighter wife - I just “drop right through” a comfort layer that’s good enough for her. It’s possible that with both people being heavy, a single, firmer layer might be enough… but then it gets back into the quantum theory of weight vs sleeping position vs firmness vs layer combinations vs…!
In any case, unless I decide to splurge on the infinite configurability of a sleepez bed, I expect I’ll be spending some money with Brooklyn Bedding today, and I’ll stop back in after it arrives to say how it all works out.
Oh please let me know how you like the Aloe Alexis. It’s in my top five at the moment. 
Can you elaborate a little more on the 7lb foam vs 5.3lb foam? I was unaware of the 7lb foam, which beds is that used in? Is it in the top layer? I’m assuming the 7lb foam would be more durable.
Reading through some of the links Phoenix posted, it does seem that the large difference for the higher density foams is in fact durability - he explains in some posts that you can actually have a 7lb foam that feels softer than a 5lb foam. The higher density foams are available in beds from non-Tempurpedic companies; SelectFoam, for example, sells a number of beds that have an 8lb comfort layer over a 5.3lb layer.
I did decide to go with the Aloe Alexis, though, so for me, I’ll be sleeping in a world of ILDs instead of lb densities. I’ll be back in a few weeks to let everybody know how it goes.
Hi swidrosest, gcrain, and cjwest,
A few comments from scanning your posts …
If you let me know your city or zip I may be able to point you in the direction of some latex that you can test locally.
With higher weights it becomes more important to choose more durable versions of any foam in a mattress … especially in the comfort layers. With higher weights I would consider memory foam (or gel memory foam) that is 5 lbs or higher … especially in the layers that are closer to the surface. With latex I would consider firmer versions (about 28 ILD or higher or at a minimum 24 ILD) because softer latex will be less durable than firmer latex with higher weights, and with polyfoam I would use 1.8 lb density as a good minimum density.
There are other factors involved in the sleeping temperature of your mattress so it may not only be the “foam” that is the reason for sleeping too hot … although some types of memory foam tend to be warmer than the other two types of foam materials (you can read more about the factors involved in sleeping temperature in post #2 here).
Latex is a foam … along with memory foam and polyfoam (the 3 main types of foam). All foams come in a range of softness and firmness levels so it would never be accurate to say one type of foam is softer of firmer than another because they all have different versions. Having said that … memory foam is all in the “soft” range (which is why it isn’t used as a deep support layer) but how it feels can vary widely with conditions.
Memory foam (and gel memory foam) responds according to pressure, heat, humidity, and the length of time it is compressed and its softness and firmness is variable depending on conditions. Latex and polyfoam respond primarily to pressure alone and aren’t “time dependent”. You can read more about how memory foam responds and the many factors that can change how soft or firm it “feels” in different conditions in post #9 here and post #8 here.
You can also read more about comparing memory foam to latex in post #2 here but it’s always best to use your own personal experience because each person may have very different perceptions or describe the differences between then in very different ways.
Higher densities in memory foam are more durable but any density in memory foam can be made with a wide variety of different properties and types of response (see the earlier links in this post). Density is the most significant factor in the durability of memory foam up to about 6 lbs or so and after this the benefits of increased density are diminished. Higher density beyond this point has more of an effect on the feel, response, and compression of the foam. Tempurpedic uses their 7 lb Tempur - HD memory foam in the top layer of the Rhapsody, Allura, and Grandbed and in the second layer (under the 4 lb memory foam) in the Cloud Luxe.
Phoenix
Hi Swidrosest,
Congratulations on your new mattress. You certainly made a good choice … especially with the extra layer of latex which is a good idea with higher weights IMO.
I’m looking forward to your feedback when you’ve had the chance to sleep on it for a while.
Phoenix
Thanks Phoenix. I still have more research to do apparently. We are closest to Panama City, Fl, which is an hour away. The next nearest city is Tallahassee which is two hours away one way. Yay for living in the boonies, right? PC only has one mattress store that I am aware off save for places like SAM’S Club, which is where we got our current mattress, and furniture stores that only sell ones out of our price range and are marked up. I will not buy from Sam’s again as our mattress now is horrid. The one store had very helpful sales’s people but was mostly Tempurpedic or “I’d have to take out a second mortgage to purchase” ones.
As for sleeping hot; our current mattress was a cheap Serta pillowtop innerspring that tested great in store, but the first night we used it, it was worse than a rock. “Pillow” is no where near the description I would have used. Granite maybe? I got the topper to somewhat offset that and the fact it started sagging right away. And this was when we were a lot lighter LOL. (Eh, we had just got married and our budget was more into buying the flat screen TV instead of a mattress. I still love our TV, but I’d trade it for better sleep any day. We were also anxious to just get the shopping over with and didn’t really shop around at all.) The topper has helped some, but it is hotter than just the mattress and after it softens, I still sleep on the rock that is left. So I’ll just leave that to conjecture. It wasn’t exactly a top of the line topper and was only meant to bridge the in between until we had money to get something better.
Thanks for all your advice and I hope you enjoy your new mattress swidrosest. This time I am least putting way more effort into my choice instead of buy at the first place we go. I also have a bigger budget so that helps a little bit.
Hi cjest,
I’m still not sure exactly where you are but it sounds like you are either North or East of Tallahassee. The forum lists that are closest would be for Tallahassee, FL here and next would be for Pensacola, FL here.
I did a quick look around Panama City, FL and there are a couple of dozen mattress stores in the area but I would only consider a few of them as possibilities (I’ve included other options as well besides just latex for others that may be in the area) …
http://www.fowhandfurniture.com/ Panama City, FL. Carry Englander (incl a 6" latex over polyfoam) and Golden (incl latex hybrids and gel memory foam) Family owned for 60 years.
http://www.visitsecond2none.com/bedroom/ Panama City, FL. Carry Golden but I didn’t talk with them so I don’t know if they carry their latex hybrids.
http://www.destinsleepcenter.com/ Destin, FL. mLily (imported memory foam) and Symbol but probably not any latex.
http://www.mattressoutletllc.com/index.php Miramar Beach, Pensacola, FL. Pure Latex Bliss, Therapedic (some of which may have latex).
http://www.dothansleepcenter.com/ Dothan, AL. Pure Latex Bliss
https://www.floridamattresscenters.com/index.html Pure Talalay Bliss and some memory foam.
Jamison Bedding also makes all latex mattresses and may have some retailers near you that carry them (see their retail store finder here)
Phoenix
Thanks Phoenix, I didn’t even think about Dothan or Crestview. We have to head that way in a few weeks anyhow, so will have to stop and test the Pure Latex Bliss out, although I’m sure it’s out of my price range That’s okay though as I just want to see if I’ll even like latex before I get too serious about my decision. Our budget is $2000 tops, prefer more around $1500 as we will need a new foundation too, and our bed size is Cal. King. I’m hoping i can hit a sale if I like latex.
I really appreciate all your help. Thank you so much.
I wanted to put in my two cents on the latex mattresses. I purchased one of the top line latex mattresses from Serta in 2009 after ruling out pillow tops. ( I didn’t even consider memory foam then). My wife and I selected the latex because of its comfort/firmness and its ability to retain its shape without any sagging and did not purchase it due to allergies, etc. Well fast forward to this summer and a large sag had developed and I feel like I’m sleeping in a bowl. My wife seems to sleep “above” me as I feel so low. We contacted Mattress Firm and were told that in 2009 latex was the hit of the mattress world and the one we purchased was a big factor as to why they don’t carry latex anymore. A technician was sent out to take measurements and he determined that there was indeed a warranty issue with the sagging. Mattress Firm gave us full credit from our original purchase ($2400) and we applied it to a Tempur Pedic Rhapsody Breeze. I absolute love the Grand Bed and the feel was amazing but I couldn’t justify the $3500 difference from what we selected to the Grand Bed. I’m not putting down latex as it was very comfortable but based on our purchase I’m not sure how long it will really last without breaking down. BTW, I’m 5’ 10" and 180lbs and my wife is 5" 4" and 100lbs.
Hi frankpentangeli,
Unfortunately … like so many other consumers … you may have been the victim of some misinformation.
I’m guessing you are talking about the Vera Wang mattresses which were relatively popular at the time and most of which unfortunately had significant amounts of soft lower density polyfoam and synthetic fibers in the comfort layers which of course is the main cause of impressions in a mattress.
The current Sealy Luxury Latex mattresses are very similar and have several inches of polyfoam in the upper layers and the same thing happens with them.
It’s somewhat sad to me that people who believe they are sleeping on a so called “latex mattress” are really sleeping on layers of polyfoam that are much more likely to soften and compress than latex. They also used very soft convoluted latex (and all soft versions of a material are less durable than firmer versions of the same material). With the combination of soft materials and too much lower quality foam and fibers … these are not good examples of a good latex mattress design and it’s not surprising at all that there were (and are) so many problems with them.
This is also the reason that I stress so strongly that consumers always know all the specifics of what is in their mattress … especially in the comfort layers of the mattress. The law tag will tell you the type of materials as a percentage by weight (which can be a good caution to make sure you know the specifics of the design as soon as you see polyurethane foam or synthetic fibers) but it doesn’t include any information about the quality of the layers or where they are located in the mattress and it’s important to make sure that the top layers use durable materials because these are the ones that are most likely to soften and break down.
Your story is still being repeated by many others who believed they purchased a so called "latex mattress. The Dr Breus mattresses are another example where the low end of the line contains about 18% latex (by weight and even less by thickness because latex is heavier) and even the top end is only in the range of 50% latex and yet many people who purchase them are told and believe they have purchased a latex mattress.
You can see a video here of a firmer single layer all latex mattress which was used for well over 40 years and the latex was still in remarkably good condition.
Phoenix
Phoenix,
Thanks for the great and informative reply. Fortunately (or unfortunately), I have to keep sleeping on my old mattress until the 30th when the Tempur Pedic arrives. I’m going home tonight and going to get the specific information off the tag as well as the name of the mattress. It was sold to us as a latex mattress but I never thought to second guess the components of the layers within. I’ll post my findings afterwards.
Frank
Hi frankpentangeli,
It will be interesting to see what you discover
Phoenix
Took a look at my “latex” mattress and here’s the information from the tag and label:
Serta Pure Comfort Serenity
Date of Manufacture: 11/18/09
Model: 820672 - 350
Prototype ID: M1
59% Polyurethane Foam
18% Polyester Fiber Batting
16% Latex Foam Rubber
7% Resin Fiber Pad
Sag noticed in mattress July of 2013, mattress inspected September 2013 and determined to be defective. Full credit given for faulty mattress.
Hi franktentangeli,
Thanks for sharing the information on the law tag.
As you can see the mattress has very little latex and is mostly polyfoam and synthetic fibers. latex is also much heavier than polyfoam so the latex content as a percentage of thickness would be even less than it’s percentage based on weight.
The law tag doesn’t show the thickness of the layers, the quality/density of the polyfoam, or how they are layered but the odds are that it’s lower density polyfoam and fiber in the comfort layers that are the cause of the impression issues. This really isn’t a latex mattress and depending on it’s construction may not even be what could reasonably be called a latex hybrid (where all or most of the comfort layers are latex).
You are fortunate that you received credit and that the amount of sagging was more than the warranty exclusion because this is not the norm and most warranty claims are denied. That’s the “good news” in all of this
Phoenix
When the third party inspector came to look at the mattress his measurements came to 1" of sag and the warranty stated that we needed 1 1/2" so we were disappointed and thought that we were stuck with the sagging mattress but to our suprise we received a letter from Mattress Firm that said we were getting full credit. :woohoo: The inspector even said that the mattress was bad but he was hired just to take measurements…
Hi frankpentangeli,
I think you may be the first one I’ve heard of that actually received a warranty exchange with a sag that was less than the warranty exclusion.
I’d consider buying a lottery ticket as well
Phoenix
I’ll be completely satisfied when Monday comes around and the new mattress is delivered and the faulty one taken away…