Hi Basilio,
Thanks for your response, I have read this site and do understand what I should be basing my mattress choice on, I am not basing it on which one last the longest, it might have come across that I was looking for the longest lasting. I had originally posted quite a bit more in this post but removed some when I edited it. Here is how the visit happened.
I walked into the store, told him I was looking for a mattress, told him I was a side sleeper and that I was now waking up with back pain on my current mattress that goes away after I get up. I told him that it was 3 inches of 24-26 ILD Talalay latex, over 15/16 gauge Quantum coils. Then I told him that I have not had this mattress a long time, 3, maybe 4 years. That is when he said that memory foam holds up better and lasts longer than latex. Did not mention specific densities, did not say he preferred it, just made a statement that memory foam in general held up better and lasted longer than latex.
I told him that everything that I have seen says the opposite and he said he knows but they have been making mattresses with these materials for a long time. So, without specifically saying it, he was saying that he was basing it on that. I explained this in my original post so people would know that and was asked if I had considered they might be honestly reporting their experience about latex and memory foam. Yes, that is why I said it that way but I have changed it to clarify. He then went on to say that latex can break down and develop soft spots. Because he was talking like this, I did not try the latex version of the mattress, only the memory foam version.
I sent a pm to Phoenix because that did not seem right to me. Maybe 5lb memory foam vs soft latex but not in general as he presented it. I also filled out the contact form on their website, explaining what I was told and the person who responded I would guess is the highest position in the company based on his title, and he said there are factors involved when comparing the two materials based on densities , which is true.
He was very nice, told me I could call him any time and talk. His comments reflected accurate information. The showroom person did say that the memory foam was 4lb. Since I am 204 lbs right now, I would imagine that that is close to if not borderline for me if I recall what I read on here correctly. I believe it said low 200s.
I went to another one of their showrooms on Saturday, and another person told me that memory foam lasts longer than latex. 2 people form the same company. Both showroom people sleep on the 4lb memory foam mattress. The first person is very similar to my size, the second person said he had been up around 300 pounds, has had the 4lb memory foam mattress for 6 years and it has not compressed.
The second guy said he used to make the mattresses. I tried the latex and asked what the ILD was and he did not know. The higher up guy had previously responded back to me and had told me he likes to use 28ILD and up, and 4 lb memory foam to balance comfort and durability, but I wanted to know what it was for that mattress, I tried.
They had 2 latex over coils, 2 inch and 3 inch Talalay. To be honest, the 2 inch seems firmer than my current mattress, since I am a side sleeper and occasionally wake up with shoulder pain not sure that would be a good fit. The 3 inch Talalay, seems like it might be a hair soft. He said that is their most returned mattress.
I did not ask him any more questions about the build specs. I am going to fill out the contact form again and expect to get all the info I ask for. Just for the record, this is a Trusted Member on this site, which surprised me more than if it was not. I expected Trusted Member showroom people, who I figured would be highly knowledgeable people to know all the specs. Maybe I had unreal expectations.
My current mattress seems strange to me. I bought it online but it is a highly certified mattress, using high quality materials. It does not feel like any other latex over coils mattress that I have tried.
It feels somewhat soft but instead of contouring to different areas, it seems more like a general area is being compressed. I don’t remember if it always felt this soft or if it has worn quickly, but I am disappointed.
I have tried 3 latex over coils at 2 different companies, both mattress makers that have been making them for decades, one is a trusted member, one is not. The first latex I tried at the place who is not a trusted member had a breakdown on the mattress.
ORGANIC COTTON FABRIC WITH UPHOLSTERY GRADE BORDER
USA MADE THERMALLY BONDED JONES COTTON FIRE BARRIER (JONES COTTON)
- 2" 100% NATURAL FSC CERTIFIED FOAM RUBBER COMFORT LAYER (N2 TALALAY)
- 1" THERMALLY BONDED FIBER FLEX-O-LATOR INSULATOR LAYER
- 789 QUANTUM EDGE 7 ZONE ENCASED COIL INNERSPRING 14/15 GUAGE
- ALL ADHESIVES ARE 100% GREEN GUARD GOLD CERTIFIED
He said the latex was 28ILD, not sure if there is an insulator under the coils and a base foam or not, it is not listed.
This mattress while firmer than mine, seemed to slightly counter to different areas and provide more support than my current mattress, my fear, is that if mine is softer and sometimes I have sore shoulders, how can this be better, if it is a little firmer. My other choice is, this 4lb memory foam that is probably borderline for my weight, and I am not sure how it will hold up.
First thing I am going to do, is, get all the specifics for the 4lb memory foam and latex at this place and then try to decide. I am not excited about the 3 inch latex, I would go with the 2 inch, at either place, or the 4lb memory foam. To be honest, if I knew it would hold up, I might give the memory foam a shot because the latex seem a little firmer and I am worried about sore shoulders. It did not bother me in the showroom but I was not on it for hours.
I would be curious to hear expert opinions on whether it could be possible to sleep on a little firmer latex and not get sore shoulders and what you think about 4lb memory foam at 204 lbs.