Hi mgblues,
I know you’ve read the overviews but I would also make sure you’ve read the mattress shopping tutorial here which includes all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice … and perhaps most importantly know how and why to avoid the worst ones.
You can read a little more about pressure mapping systems in post #2 here and post #4 here. While they can be helpful … I would be cautious about overemphasizing their importance compared to what your body tells you and using the testing guidelines in the tutorial post because they can help more for pressure testing than spinal alignment (pressure relief is not the same as spinal alignment and a mattress that does a great job relieving pressure is not necessarily the best choice in terms of alignment).
[quote]One of the mattresses that was recommended by the computer program was an Aireloom Enterprise and it contained many of the high quality components that were discussed on this site. It also features hand tufting and a very nice combination of latex, memory foam and high density steel inner coils that provided a very nice amount of support. I really liked the mattress and can honestly say that it was the only mattress that favorably compared to the Temurpedic Contour Elite and the Comfor Pedic IQ 170 F. The store manager agreed to extend a sale price that was run around Christmas on the mattress and flat boxspring to give me a price around $2100. He also arranged for favorable 48 month no interest financing to make the mattress more affordable for me.
What do you think? [/quote]
As you can see in the guidelines here, I would be very cautious about purchasing any mattress where you aren’t able to find out the specifics of all the layers and components inside it (see this article) and Aireloom isn’t normally transparent about the materials and components they use inside their mattresses (see this article).
A mattress is only as good as its construction and the quality of all the layers and materials inside it so if a mattresses uses “some” good quality materials … some of the lower quality materials that are also “in the mix” can still be a weak link in the mattress in terms of durability and the useful life of a mattress in which case it would be a much higher risk and I would avoid it.
If you can find out and list the specifics of all the layers and components in the Aireloom you are considering I’d be happy to make some comments about the quality of the materials inside it or help you identify any weak links in the mattress but it’s not likely that you will be able to find out all the information you need to make an informed buying choice or make meaningful comparisons to other mattresses.
The better options and possibilities I’m aware of in the Harrisburg area (subject to the “value” guidelines I linked) are included in the links to the forum lists in post #2 here.
The tutorial includes two links (in the optional online step) to lists of the better online options I’m aware of. One of them is to a list of the members of this site that sell mattresses online and the other is to a list of the better online memory foam options I’m aware of (some of which are members and some of which aren’t) that includes Christeli (with some overlap between them).
There is also more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase in post #13 here than can help you make more meaningful comparisons between mattresses.
Hope this helps!
Phoenix