Hi levelcaller,
I edited #BestBedEver to #BestMattressEver which is the mattress being discussed in this topic and I’m assuming is what you meant. I’m also assuming that the mattress you are comparing it to is the Dreamfoam Ultimate Dreams latex here (they have several other latex hybrid mattresses). If this is the case then the base foam layer is 1.8 lb density.
The underlying premise of your question is that the only difference between these mattresses is an additional 1" of latex but there are several other differences between them all of which could contribute to any differences you may feel between each mattress in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences).
Every layer and component in a mattress including the cover and any quilting material in the cover will have an effect on the layers and components both above and below it and on the mattress “as a whole”. This includes the type and blend of the latex layers, the thickness of each layer, and the firmness of each layer.
The #BestMattressEver includes a cotton cover quilted with less than an inch of polyfoam, 2" of Blended Talalay latex, 2" of synthetic continuous pour Dunlop latex, and a 6" 2 lb polyfoam base layer. The firmness of the latex layers would depend on the firmness you chose for the mattress.
The Ultimate Dreams Latex includes a cotton cover quilted with about 1.5" of polyfoam, a 3" layer of blended Talalay latex, and a 6" 1.8 lb polyfoam base layer. The firmness of the latex would depend on the firmness choice you made.
Different body types and sleeping styles can also affect which of the layers you will tend to “feel” as well and there are also different types of firmness and softness that different people may be sensitive to that can affect how they “rate” a mattress as well (see post #15 here) so different people can have very different opinions about how two mattresses compare to each other. In other words … there are too many differences between them and too many variables involved to be able to predict how they would compare for any specific person based on the specs of each mattress alone.
There are also some other differences between them than could affect the “value” of each mattress relative to different people as well and the information in this post and this post may be helpful but the primary differences outside of the materials in each mattress is the cost and the trial period and return policy which can both be important parts of each person’s personal value equation and the “value” of a mattress purchase.
When you 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 (which would certainly include both of the “sister” manufacturers you listed) and who can help “talk you through” the specifics of their mattresses and the properties and “feel” of the materials they are using (fast or slow response, resilience, firmness etc) 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 or other mattresses you are considering that they are familiar with, and the “averages” of other customers that are similar to you. They will know more about “matching” their specific mattress designs and firmness levels to different body types, sleeping positions, and preferences (or to other mattresses that they are familiar with) than anyone else.
Once you have narrowed down your options to a list of finalists that are all choices between “good and good” (which you have) and none of them have any lower quality materials or “weak links” in their design (which they don’t) and if at this point there are no clear winners between them (which is usually a good indication that you have done some good research) then you are in the fortunate position that any 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 PPP and the suitability of each one, their prices, your preferences for different types of materials, the options you have after a purchase to fine tune the mattress or exchange or return the mattress or individual layers, 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.
Phoenix