DLX - Classic vs. Premier Hybrid vs. Latex

[UberAlec]

Hello,

We’re in the business of getting a new mattress for the wife and I. We’ve been on a LONG journey, and I have browsed TMU for years and see DLX highly recommended. My main question is the gap in quality/luxury of the Classic vs. Premier Hybrid/Latex options? Will the Classic be good, or something approximating the comfort of the Premier Hybrid, or is the gap from the Classic to the Premier a rather large one?

We’ve slept on a Leesa Original, Saatva Classic Luxury-firm x2, Bear Elite Hybrid, Casper Select, Leesa Sappira Legend (Costco), and currently Costco’s most recent Leesa hybrid offering, which we hate as it’s way too soft. All these mattresses we slept on for at least multiple months, and I can go into more detail about each if needed.

I personally loved the Leesa Original memory foam offering, but my wife prefers a more buoyant mattress, so we’re aiming for a hybrid. We’ve slept on two Saatva Classics for about 1 1/2 years and enjoyed them quite a bit at first, before they became notably uncomfortable thanks to dips - I myself developed pain in my hips as a side sleeper and eventual back pain, which is generally what we saw with all previous mattresses listed above after some time, sans the Leesa Original (this was from 2016 so it’s possible that was maybe a higher quality foam in the past as well).

Ultimately, we’re looking for a hybrid that won’t have durability concerns. My wife prefers a firmer mattress, but usually has fewer complaints as she’s 125 lbs. I’m 6" 235 lbs and my biggest worry is comfort layer durability over time. I want to avoid wear out of cheap foams, and to avoid the eventual back pain and hip pain that could come with that. I prefer something medium-firm as opposed to outright firm, but I don’t mind a firmer bed. My only worry for myself would be hip pain from a mattress that’s too firm, and this would be my potential worry with a latex offering, but I know that might be avoided by using talalay vs. dunlop?

Anyways, we’d prefer to not spend $2,000 on a mattress again, and that’s why the Classic is intriguing. That being said, if the gap in comfort/durability and “features” is really that large, we’d possibly be willing to spend more again. If we were to buy the Classic will we get enough warranty coverage if we were to experience a “dip” issue with a couple of years? Would that warranty potentially give us the ability to step up to the Premier if we desired down the road? I’m also curious as to what slats would be recommended? We currently have a king bed frame with slats that are spaced 2" apart. They seem sturdy, but I’m not sure of their quality.

It’s late and I’m barely being coherrent thanks to poor sleep. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

@DLX

[DLX]

Thanks for all the info. It really helps. Based on what you’ve shared, I think you could get comfortable on one of our mattresses, but I want to be upfront: we don’t think there’s such a thing as a perfect mattress (ours included). Still, it might check a lot of the right boxes. I’ll walk through the key differences so you can decide if DLX is a good fit or if it makes sense to keep looking.

Both the Classic and the Premier are great options, and it’s not really about one being better than the other. It just comes down to personal preference and what kind of feel you’re after.

From what you’ve described, I’d lean toward recommending the Premier 14". As a side sleeper who prefers a medium feel, the extra cushioning in the Premier could make a big difference. It has 5.25" of material above the coil, compared to 2.25" in the Classic. That extra 3" goes a long way when it comes to pressure relief for your shoulders and hips.

The Classic has more of a traditional feel—firmer and less cushioned. Some people love that, but for your build and sleep position, it might be a bit too firm especially if you loved the Leesa Original. The Premier is also more versatile because it has a zippered top that lets you swap out the comfort layer if you want it softer or firmer later on.

If you loved the Leesa Original, I’ll be honest—we won’t be able to match that exact feel. That mattress uses a foam support base and you sleep directly on memory foam without a quilted cover, so it has that classic memory foam “hug.” If that’s what you’re aiming for, I wouldn’t suggest a hybrid or anything with springs. But it sounds like your wife didn’t love it, so I get that you’re trying to meet in the middle.

If you liked the Saatva Classic aside from the durability issues there’s a good chance the Premier Hybrid 14" Soft could work for you.

We understand your concerns about durability. Unfortunately, most of the other brands you mentioned don’t list detailed specs, so we can’t speak to them directly. What we can say is that we use 1.8 lb. foam in the quilt, whereas many larger brands use foam that ranges from 0.8 to 1.2 lb. That means our quilt foam is around 50% denser—and density does play a role in durability.

Another benefit of our Premier design is that you don’t have to replace the entire mattress if the comfort layer wears out. You can simply swap out the 3" top layer. We sell replacement layers to DLX owners, but it’s also a universal-sized piece, so you could technically hack it and use a 3" layer from another source if you prefer.

Just keep in mind that all materials soften over time—even the most durable ones. Some materials get overhyped as never compressing or softening—but we haven’t seen that to be true. Softer materials will naturally soften and compress faster than a super heavy-duty spring unit. That’s just how materials behave over time. The key is finding the right balance between comfort and durability.

Support is a huge factor and often overlooked. Given the issues you’ve had along with your height and weight, we would likely recommend replacing your current setup and opting for a heavy-duty support system. There are several ways to go about this—too many to list here—but it’s much easier if you let us know your current setup. The more details the better. Photos are always best. If you’re considering a new setup, let us know what style and aesthetics you’re going for.

Finally, speaking as a bigger guy, no matter what I did, my mattresses would eventually compress and soften—even the ones made with the best materials. I ended up building a support setup that’s basically the equivalent of the floor. You can stand anywhere on it without a creak or any flex—you could even jump on it. That made a big difference for me, but your experience may be different. Most people don’t need to go that far, but I share it as an anecdote to show how important proper support can be, especially if you’re burning through mattresses every year—even the ones made with high-quality materials.

Hope this was helpful and informative, and not too overwhelming.

[UberAlec]

Hello,

Thanks a ton for the informative reply.

I’ve posted the pictures of our current frame setup. The slats are just at 3 1/2" apart and are about 1/2" thick. It appears as if some of the slats actually have more “give” in them than I originally remember. They appear to be real wood, but maybe aren’t as sturdy as previously thought. The frame itself has a center support with the legs down the middle, that being said, the middle support doesn’t seem super wide or anything.

If just slats would fix the problem, that would be great. If not, I’m sure my wife would want something mid-century modern or more stylish and not just plainly basic, sadly, lol.

What’s your opinion on laying additional vertical slats on top of the pre-existing ones - it’s something I’ve seen from recent research, but no idea if it’s actually beneficial.

A question regarding the Warranty/Comfort Assurance Program: I think we’re currently leaning towards the Classic, because it appears to be more like the old traditional spring mattresses (my wife’s preference). Is it even remotely possible, say after a year or so we decide the Classic doesn’t work for us, we can step up to a Premier Hybrid? I’m seeing the 50% off current retail price, but I’m unsure if this just applies to the same exact models. It appears it is just the same model, but I’ll leave the question here if you want to give some further input.

Thanks again for your time it is appreciated,

Edit: Post only allows for one embedded media for newly registered members.

[DLX]

Thanks for the follow-up and for sharing the photos. If you want, you can always send photos or questions to us at [email protected]. But, always happy to have open discussions here, too.

We can’t say for sure based on the photo, but it looks like a bed frame we’ve seen before. The wood appears to be composite—you can see the splices and variations in shading. These types of slats tend to be flexible and have more give. That flex can contribute to a mattress feeling too soft or sagging over time.

We sell a 1.5" foundation that can sit right on top of your slats and help shore things up and provide more support for the mattress. People also sell bunkie boards, but be careful—based on what we’ve seen, most of them don’t help and some may actually make things worse than your current setup. Some are just double-walled corrugated cardboard, which won’t do anything in the long run. Others are sold in sections that don’t cover the entire bed, or claim to be “wood slats” but are just as flexible as what you already have or spaced more than 3" apart. We’re not trying to sell you ours—just make sure to double check. Feel free to ask us about any product you’re considering and we’ll let you know if it’s compatible.

Another option is to lay plywood over the slats. We recommend using ¾" MDF that’s smooth and sanded to avoid tearing the mattress fabric. In most cases, plywood or particle board is fine if your mattress is an innerspring or pocket coil with a quilted bottom that allows for airflow. However, for rooms prone to mildew or mold, we do not recommend placing our mattress—or any mattress, even an innerspring with a quilted bottom—on a solid surface, to avoid potential mildew or mold issues. Also, we do not recommend using a solid surface if your mattress has a cotton bottom fabric, or if it’s an all-foam design (like all-latex or all-memory foam), those setups need airflow to avoid mold or mildew.

Regarding comfort policies, for the Classic, we don’t offer exchanges. We’ll do our best to work with you to improve comfort if possible, but if it doesn’t work out, the return process involves donating or giving the mattress to someone in need within the first 120 nights.
For the Premier, you have more flexibility. Within the first 120 nights, you can request a comfort adjustment by replacing the 3" comfort layer. After the first 30 days, let us know and based on your feedback, we may suggest an in-home test and then send out a different layer to better suit your needs.
As part of our Comfort Assurance Program, if a couple of years down the line your mattress is no longer comfortable (but not defective), we offer a replacement mattress at 50% off the current listed price. With the Premier, you also have the option to purchase a new comfort layer at 50% off.

Let us know if you have any other questions—we’re always happy to help.

[UberAlec]

Are you able to share specs and cost on the 1.5" foundation? I’m guessing it’s unlisted, as I don’t see it on the website. Is it just additional heavy-duty slats?

How much do you guys usually charge for replacement comfort layers - ballpark that is? It’s not something I’ve given a lot of thought to but would be good to know.

[DLX]

Sorry about that—here’s the link to the 1.5" foundation:

It’s listed on our mattress foundation page—just use the height dropdown menu and select 1.5" to see that option. It’s labeled as a “bunkie board,” but to clarify, it’s our standard foundation design—just in a lower profile. The internal support and slats are identical to our full-height foundation.

As a reminder, not all bunkie boards are created equal. Most of the ones we’ve seen aren’t adequate, and we’re not trying to upsell—if you find something else that looks solid, feel free to run it by us.

Just a reminder on the replacement layers: this only applies to our Premier and LatexLux models, which have a zippered cover that allows access to the comfort layer. A king-size replacement layer would be around $275, but it would be $200 for you if you ever want to swap it out down the road. Just a quick note: we can’t guarantee that price forever. With inflation, it could be higher in 3–5 years (though hopefully not).

Also worth mentioning—the 3" layer is a universal component. While we sell replacements to DLX owners, you could technically use a 3" layer from another source if you find one that works better for your needs.