You may be confusing the design of a mattress itself with the foundation or platform bed that it needs to support it. The mattress and the the foundation/platform bed that is used underneath it are separate parts of a sleeping system. The 7" base in the Aloe Alexis is the firmest part … not the “sturdiest” part (latex is more durable than polyfoam). The 10" abscond is latex from top to bottom and isn’t a polyfoam/latex hybrid so it doesn’t need a polyfoam support core. They are completely different mattresses with different designs and components that interact together differently. The Abscond doesn’t need a polyfoam support core underneath it since it is all latex.
Both of them would need to be placed on a foundation or a platform bed that will provide even and non flexing support under the mattress.
PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) is a function of the complete design of the mattress, the firmness of each layer, and how all the layers and components interact together … not just on how much of one material or another is in the mattress. Any material can come in a range of firmness levels and can be either “supportive” or “pressure relieving”. There is more about primary support, secondary support, and pressure relief in post #4 here and more about some of the specs that are part of the feel and performance of a mattress in post #2 here but you may be getting overinvolved in “mattress design theory” which is a very long learning curve that can take years … although it’s a very interesting study (at least for me)
Ok that’s what i meant. I was reading last night and it struck me that maybe I was missing something crucial. I guess what i am asking is… based on those 2 mattresses, which one would be longer lasting for me (for my size/weight). For some reason I think it’s alexia due to 7" core and being able to replace latex layers down the line>? Obviously my thinking could be flawed?
I read the post 2 linked earlier and had to re-read it a few times. Still, it seems overly complex to me, so i may have to re-read it again.
It would depend to some degree on the firmness choices you made (firmness is a factor in durability) but both of them use latex in the top 6". The Brooklyn Bedding Alexis is blended Talalay and the Spindle Abscond is 100% natural Dunlop and both of these are high quality materials and neither one has any weak links in the design so they would be very similar in terms of durability since the upper layers are the single biggest factor in the durability and useful life of a mattress. There is more about the different types and blends of latex in post #6 here.
Hi
that’s a very good point. i generally prefer firmed mattresses, such as i like them not to be as hard as a board but i also don’t like to sink is, so I guess level 5 for alexis?
When you can’t test a mattress in person … the best source of guidance for comfort choices is a more detailed phone conversation with the manufacturer themselves who will know more about their own mattresses than anyone else and can help “talk you through” the options they have available that have the best chance of “matching” different body types, sleeping styles, and preferences based on the “averages” of their customers that are similar to you (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
Would you happen to know any places which have similar all latex beds that I can try. Zipcode is 02904. Providence, RI.
it would be either dunlop or other. I just want to make sure i like it first.
The better options or possibilities I’m aware of in the Providence, RI area (subject to the guidelines here) are listed in post #4 here but you would need to check their websites or call them to find out the specifics of the mattresses they have on their floor.
Adjustable beds (also referred to as electric beds) www.arisemobility.co.uk offer additional features driven by electrical motors designed to help you move in bed, support your position in bed or get in and out of the bed. The features are operated using a hand control and powered by mains power.
You wrote: When you can’t test a mattress in person … the best source of guidance for comfort choices is a more detailed phone conversation with the manufacturer themselves who will know more about their own mattresses than anyone else and can help “talk you through” the options they have available that have the best chance of “matching” different body types, sleeping styles, and preferences based on the “averages” of their customers that are similar to you (see post #2 here).
I’ve been reading MattressUnderground now for 4 days solid, read all your very helpful information about selection, etc. But I’m still concerned about taking a leap of faith on a mattress by buying site unseen and untested. I’ve been talking with the folks at Brooklyn Bedding who have been helpful, but there is no place to see, sit, lay and try one of their mattress. And for that matter I have been looking all over for any store that offers a full natural latex mattress to see and try. The gentleman at BB said that fully natural latex mattress feels firmer than all other mattress types and I should go with something one step softer than I normally use (Firm traditional mattress). I asked if I could get a better idea by trying one of the big name foam mattresses for comparison, but he said that was really not possible (i.e. try brand xyz model and it will be equivalent firmness to ours). I respect that. But…
But how does someone really understand what firmness they need when the manufacturers admit that firmness levels in natural latex is not the same as other types. Even your site suggests that natural latex mattress for slide sleeper should be just a little softer than you’re used to. I’m looking at Brooklyn Bedding’s Essence and at over $2K without knowing if you’re getting the right firmness or able to see first hand the finished quality of the product, it is worrisome.
I switched your post to a new topic so your questions won’t get mixed up inside someone else’s existing topic.
There is more about the pros and cons of an online purchase vs a local purchase in post #2 here and in this topic.
Like any choice that involve some degree of “risk” … these are choices that involve “risk tolerance” and “risk management” and you will find that different people will be most comfortable with a different choices based on the cost, quality, and value of the mattresses they are considering and on how they compare to the other local and online options they have available along with the options they have after a purchase to fine tune or make changes to the mattress (be rearranging or exchanging layers for example) or to exchange or return it. The goal is always to replace hindsight with foresight as much as possible so that you have reasonable expectations and have taken all the many parts of your personal value equation that may turn out to be important to you into account as part of the “value” of your purchase. There is no “best or worst” choice here … only a purchase that you feel best about and you are most comfortable making.
There are many people that are happy to make an online purchase if there are good options available after a purchase that can lower their risk if their purchase doesn’t turn out as well as they hoped and there are even some that make an online purchase where the options they have after a purchase are limited or non existent because price is the only thing that matters (although I don’t suggest this approach). There are also many people (probably the majority of consumers) that would only consider a purchase that they can test in person before a purchase regardless of any of the options that may be available to them after a purchase but of course their options are limited to the relative “value” of their local options.
Testing similar types of mattresses locally (if they are available) can give you a general sense of how different types of latex and different firmness levels will feel to you … even if they aren’t the same as an online purchase you are considering … and in combination with the options they have after a purchase may be “close enough” for some people while for others it may still feel too risky.
These are all parts of the relative “value” of a mattress purchase (see post #13 here) and are questions that only each person can answer for themselves based on their own local testing, their conversations with online suppliers, their confidence in their choices or their local testing, the options they have available before and after a purchase, their risk tolerance, where they are in the “princess and the pea” to “I can sleep on anything” range, and all the other parts of their personal value equation that are most important to them.
I think if you haven’t received a reply in a day or so it would be fairly safe to assume that either your original email or their reply has somehow gone astray (possibly filtered out by a spam filter or sitting in a spam folder) and I would either email them again or better yet call them.
It would depend on the type of mattress you decide to purchase but I would follow the guidelines in the foundation post here. The gaps in the Nature’s Sleep are a little far apart for an all latex mattress but it would be OK for a mattress that had a polyfoam base.
There are also some similar comments about the Nature’s Sleep foundation in post #4 here.
With higher weights especially … more slats, narrower gaps, and stronger wood is better.
Phoenix
PS : edited in response to the edit in the previous post … Spindle’s foundation would be suitable for any of their mattresses.
