Component Hybrid Mattress

[phoenix]

Hi beths,

Welcome to the Mattress Forum!

[quote]
My husband and I bought a S&F Estate Abby Lynn in 2011, and we loved it. However, within the first six months we had body indents in each side. This mattress has a pillow top, so no matter how many times we call the big store at which we bought the mattress, and and they send out someone to measure, we don’t meet the 1.5" indent required. The pillow top, just bounces right back when you take weight off of it
[/quote].
I’m sorry that your Stearns & foster mattress hasn’t worked out as well for you as you had hoped . It is unfortunately a common situation that with lower density foams, and mattresses that are made with too much foam, low quality convoluted foams or fibers, or a combination of many of these things, that body impressions can quickly develop, and worse, the development of what I term “virtual” or “phantom” body impressions, where they don’t show up when measured by someone testing for a warranty challenge, but the excessive softening of the foams in the area where you sleep is felt when lying upon the mattress. The 1.5" depression is considered a “standard” within the innerspring industry for a warrantable defect, but there is no measurement for loss of comfort (this is not covered under a normal mattress warranty, as that would be too subjective).

We know one thing for sure: we want another hybrid mattress, or possibly an innerspring with a latex topper… Even though I know they are the least durable, I prefer the innerspring or spring/foam/latex hybrid feel. I don’t like the feel of just latex or just foam.

A mattress using a pocketed coil innerspring unit, combined with high quality foam and comfort layers in the upholstery and quilt layers, can be a very durable product. There’s nothing wrong with choosing to go in this direction if this is your personal preference.

From reading some of your previous posts, I gather that the springs are not usually the problem when a mattress breaks down, but the comfort layers. So, it would make sense to find a hybrid spring/foam/latex mattress where the foam or latex layer could be replaced down the road if it starts to break down.

Excellent observations! Yes, innersprings aren’t usually the weak link of a mattress – the comfort layers are usually what breaks down and causes a consumer to replace a mattress.

I would like to find a company where I can just call up a year from now and pay for a replacement comfort level.
Do you know of any such companies?

While not a complete list, starting with the members listed in post #21 here, who are all very experienced and knowledgeable, Mattresses.net, Bay Bed, and Luma (Hybrid Slumber System) all offer some sort of a spring/foam component system with replaceable layers. Post #2 here also has a listing of some hybrid (spring/latex) mattress offerings (with a few repeats), some of which are customizable. The component post here has a listing of latex, memory foam, innerspring and mattress cover suppliers, should you desire to go with a complete DIY system.

As I mentioned, this listing isn’t complete, as I don’t keep a record of the individual mattresses or their specs that the retailers and manufacturers in the hundreds of forum lists throughout the site carry on their floor or have available online (it would be a bigger job than anyone could keep up with in a constantly changing market). If you do come across any specific models, make sure that you find out the information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the durability guidelines here to make sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase. You can also post any information here and I’ll be happy to comment upon what you find out.

Phoenix